Arab Women in Logistics & Fashion
The logistics sector is incorporating Machine Learning equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cloud Computing .Realistically logistics is an area which defies complete automation as manual input is required for storing and collection of inventory data on Cloud Computing. Automating logistics does cut down on the overall cost of acquiring and transporting materials and products to the end user while capital investment remains wary of its efficacy in the long run.
Women have been under represented in the logistics sector and as recent as the year 2022 women accounted for 19 % of executive positions in logistics supply chain organisations with many tasked to package sorting , courier duties and only few were assigned truck driving and ground operations management . Perhaps due to under representation instances of female pilots flying commercial cargo planes is excessively highlighted as illustrated in the case of First Officer and Pilot Stefanie Lee who has to strike a balance between being a mother and flying 777 planes for FedEx.
Credit: Fedex Business
INGO’s Role in reducing Gender Disparity in Logistics
Throughout Europe and Central Asia women constitute 23 % of workforce in transport and logistics and are usually employed as low paid staff however the World Bank and International Maritime Organization (IMO) are insisting on an enabling environment for inducting more women in the logistics supply chain instead of being labelled as backend employees relegated to performing engineering, driving and managerial roles. Lack of policies to curb sexual harassment at workplaces has traditionally discouraged women from pursuing careers in logistics. Different countries are progressing at their own pace and South Africa plans to induct more women in the maritime sector and improve its shameful statistics of only 2 % percent of women working in the logistics and maritime sector. Central Asian economies like Azerbaijan and Turkey are inducting women in the logistic sector whereas Muslim countries in South Asia lag behind.
Credit: Logistics Middle East (Arab women defying odds)
Credit : Arabian Business
Women CEO’s in Free Zones
Salma Hareb became the CEO of Dubai free zone of Jebel Ali .She is the first woman in the Middle East to lead a free zone having the distinction of attracting around 20 % of UAE’s foreign direct investment. Salma Hareb stated as a lab technologist, then as a planner for JAFZA and in the year 2005 was appointed the CEO of JAFZA .
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia despite its highly conservative character has appointed women as CEO’s of many corporates . The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani ) with the participation of its women executives in the year 2023 initiated significant upgrades at the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam by investing almost $2 billion to develop and operate two advanced container terminals.
African Mexican Arab Women as Role Models
Credit : TFN
African women are also entering the logistics sector and an example is Yasmine Abdel Karim who co-founded African on-demand logistics startup Yalla Fel Sekka in the year 2020 dealing in instant delivery and dark store management .
Credit : Crowley (Hispanic women making noise in the logistical sector)
In the Hispanic region women suffered from a stereotype of being too “feeble” to perform heavy tasks .Now we see women striding into the maritime and logistics sector.
Credit : We-Fi Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (Mexican Women in logistics)
Credit : The Standard since 1902 . Elizabeth Marami has the distinction of being Kenya’s first female marine pilot.
Credit: Forbes Middle East
Razan Alazzouni fashion brand influence on the Saudi fashion industry was recently highlighted when she participated in Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Saudi Vision 2030 campaign.
Arwa Al Banawi runs her namesake ready-to-wear brand with the slogan “The Suitable Woman”
Honayda Serafi a successful Arab dress designer and mother of 7 attires have been worn by celebrities including Lupita Nyong’o, Priyanka Chopra, Shay Mitchell, Dove Cameron and Angham. Her designs are available in Middle East, Europe and the Americas.
Nora Al Shaikh is headquarters in Saudi Arabia from where she manages a luxury ready-to-wear line in . Her designs have been worn by celebrities including Fergie, Dove Cameron and Julia Michaels and featured in Arab Fashion Week the LA Times.
Dana Mohamad Al Alami is the co-founder and chairman of Dana Alalami Jewelry, worn by Saudi royals such as Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel. Al Alami is collaborating with Russia’s Alrosa to launch an auction of $100 million worth of diamonds. She is a board member of the Council of Saudi Chambers and a member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce’s committee of precious metals and gems traders.
Nourah Al Faisal runs a boutique called Nuun Jewels in Paris’s high end shopping district . Her designs are an intricate combination of French and Arab culture. Nourah Al Faisal supports the design industry in Saudi Arabia.
Shahd AlShehail has a luxury clothing brand sported by Queen Rania of Jordan . AlShehail has prepared dresses for the Saudi delegation to the UN.
Nour AlTamimi’s Nou Project is an online store that showcases art from contemporary artists on limited edition sneakers.
Fatima Batook is the first licensed female fitness instructor in Saudi Arabia and manages her fitness studio with branches in Alkhobar and Jeddah.
Asian Perspective and Belt and Road Initiative
Many in Asia , particularly in the logistics domain believe that until it reaches the optimal point freight transport would not bear fruitful results from the Asian standpoint. Such despondency extends to the Belt and Road Initiative by China as India and Pakistan need to carve out interlinked routes for freight traffic whether by rail or waterborne transport. To put things into perspective the European Union (EU) has directed European members to shift to rail or waterborne transport at the most by the 2030s .South East Asia should take a cue from the drive in Eurasia to boost logistic operations. No doubt it’s a daunting logistical challenge in view of its sheer land mass , an array of land to connect sea ports with railway tracks in order to conduct logistic operations seamlessly. Upgrading state of rail transport is the need of hour by developing high speed rails on the pattern of Mercitalia Fast ( Italian model) . The Yemen based Houthi attacks on bulk, container and fuel shipping has caused spikes in ocean freight rates besides increasing causing delays of many days as the shipping lines adopt secure routes. India , China and Pakistan need to redesign its logistics paradigm on an emergent basis .
Authored by Nadir Mumtaz
Credit :
https://press.un.org/en/2023/gaef3587.doc.htm
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/07/opportunities-and-risks-the-china-pakistan-economic-corridor/
https://www.railway-technology.com/features/mercitalia-fast-service/?cf-view&cf-closed
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/09/why-we-need-more-women-in-maritime-industries/
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/02/women-transport-logistics-jobs/
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