Manama: Bahrain Business and Professional Women International Federation (BPW) announced that The 63rd World Congress of Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises Mondiales (FCEM), which will be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain from March 23 to 26th, will feature a session led by Ms. Namira Salim, a prominent Pakistani artist and adventurer based in the Principality of Monaco. She is the first person from South Asia, Middle East and Monaco to go to space aboard the Virgin Galactic –the first private space-liner in the world.
Ms. Salim, who is attending the conference as part of the Association des Femmes Chefs d’Entrepris (AFCEM) Monaco, a group of leading female entrepreneurs from the Principality, will speak to delegates about her many expeditions both to the three world poles of the world and space. She will also highlight the benefits of the current era of the commercialisation of space, which will open space to all sectors including education, research, low earth orbit satellites and payloads. Her remarks will also set out to explain why the privatisation of space is set to make space the final frontier for peace between all nations.
In addition to being a private space traveler and adventurer, her accomplishments are broad ranging. She holds a Masters Degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and has practiced unconventional ways of promoting peace and diplomacy via her peace expeditions. Ms. Salim also pioneered diplomatic relations between the Principality of Monaco and Pakistan in 2009 and served as the first Honourary Consul of Pakistan to Monaco from 2011 to 2013. She is the proprietor and chief designer of “A Soul Affair” arts, collectibles and jewels from Monaco.
The congress, which expects to attract more than 500 delegates from around the world, is taking place under the theme “Our Bridges to the World”, with the aim of connecting female business leaders and entrepreneurs. It is being held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW). It is the second time the event will be hosted in an Arab country. The first was Morocco.
“I am greatly honoured to attend the 63rd FCEM World Congress in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as part of the AFCEM delegation of Monaco. As the First Pakistani and First woman from Monaco to have touched all three poles of the world and as a Founder and Future Astronaut of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, it will be a privilege for me to share my experiences with the a distinguished and inspirational group of women leaders and professionals. I sincerely thank the Monaco delegation for providing me with this esteemed opportunity,” Salim, said.
“We are delighted to welcome Ms. Salim and other inspiring female pioneers and leaders to the Kingdom of Bahrain to share experiences, foster cooperation and create opportunities for the development of new cross border ventures and business opportunities. Ms. Salim is a great example to all women of the many avenues and opportunities open to them globally. We look forward to hearing from her and our other highly talented speakers and entrepreneurs whose success stories we aim to showcase and encourage attendees to replicate around the world,” Shaikha Hind Bint Salman Al Khalifa, President of BPW Bahrain added.
It was also recently announced that congress will feature a series of special B2B events which will serve as a platform to encourage networking among attendees and for the creation of new business partnerships across borders and sectors. Women taking part are some of the most successful entrepreneurs from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.
Joining BPW Bahrain in the organization of the event is the Council of Arab Business Women (CABW) headed by Her Highness Shaikha Hissah Bint Saad AbdualAllah Salem Al -Sabah of Kuwait, the FCEM Ambassadress for the Arab World. Support is also being extended by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and Tamkeen as strategic partners.