For Immediate Release
Press Release
Today the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) opened a representative office of the Women in Logistics and Transport Association (WiLAT) in the Kyrgyz Republic, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This office will provide capacity building and career support for women in the logistics and transport industry.
The Kyrgyz Republic office will provide access to WiLAT's training and mentoring programs and enable networking by connecting women and men who support women in the logistics and transport industry of the Kyrgyz Republic and the broader Central Asia region.
With the support of USAID’s Trade Central Asia activity, WiLAT has previously launched offices in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. WiLAT is a professional global network that unites women in logistics and transport around the world, promotes women's development, enhances their skills, and creates a platform for networking, connecting and exchanging experiences.
Chaired by Marina Kuznechevskaya, CEO of flydubai's representative office in Kazakhstan, the WiLAT Representative Office in Central Asia was established in March 2021. At this stage, the total number of WiLAT members in Central Asia is about 35, including leading women in the logistics and transport industry, such as CEOs, chairpersons and other senior business leaders.
Since the founding of WiLAT Central Asia in March 2021, 40 events have been organized, including webinars, training programs, official openings and trainings, to support professional development, ensure career growth, and strengthen women’s position in the logistics and transport industry.
Officially launched in June 2013, WiLAT Global now has more than 3,250 members in 35 countries and continues to grow. The organization has formal management accountability structures and four strategic directions underpinning all its activities, which include Leadership, Mentoring, Entrepreneurship, and Empowerment.
The goal of USAID’s Trade Central Asia activity is to improve region-wide trade connectivity to accelerate economic growth and increase economic opportunity in Central Asia through harmonizing customs and border procedures, increasing public-private dialogue on trade and investment, improving cross-border firm-to-firm connectivity, and addressing gender-relevant trade issues. USAID’s Trade Central Asia activity supports women traders and businesses in the region by reviewing current trade policies and practices for biases against women, and designing activities to help women overcome these challenges.