Breakbulk Middle East (BBME), the GCC’s leading breakbulk and project cargo event, held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, successfully wrapped up its Digital Special, last month.

The event was participated by high-level officials and professionals from the breakbulk and project cargo industry. Day two of the event featured two critical sessions Women in Breakbulk Leadership Forum and Education Day. The event has endorsed both these causes since quite some time as they are crucial for the growth of the industry. Leveraging the success of 2020’s Women in Breakbulk networking session, the Women’s Forum brought together women thought leaders from different sectors in the industry, who shared their success stories. Through the Education Day session, the Digital Special enlightened students about the opportunities awaiting them.

Over the years, Breakbulk Middle East has demonstrated great support to achieve gender equality within the industry. The Women’s Forum highlighted the need to bridge the gender gap through two sessions – The Many Paths to Female Leadership: A Career Blueprint and How Women Are Contributing to a Post-Covid Business Recovery. Both sessions stressed on the career trajectories of women leaders, their strategies to cope with the pandemic and enhance the growth of their companies.

Princess Sarah Al Saud, Director of Maritime Business Development at the International Forum for Maritime Transport, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Alexandria, explained: “The world today has become progressive. People’s minds are opening up to the fact that women have the power to transform. According to Grant Thorton’s Women in Business 2020 report, 87 per cent of global mid-market companies have at least one woman in a senior management role in 2020. This figure is proof of the changing world.”