ISTANBUL 

The World Bank Group is seeking ways to enhance women's participation in the transport field by hosting a conference, Women in Transport: Supporting Women as Leaders and as Employees, in the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul.

The two-day event, which began on Thursday, focuses on the Women in Transport (WiT) Network, which covers Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa regions, aiming to empower women across all areas of the transportation sector.

Turkish Infrastructure and Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said at the opening ceremony that for many years, the transportation and logistics sector was seen as a profession dominated by men, but now it is well known that there is no gender-based profession.

"In fact, in this context, important steps have been taken in recent years to strengthen the position of women in business life," he said.

For example, the term "businessman" has been replaced by “businessperson,” Uraloglu said, adding that this seemingly small change means a great deal.

He said because language shapes thoughts; therefore, this transformation in language is an important step towards making women's presence in the business world visible and strengthening the perception of equality.

"At this point, this network, which aims to increase the role of women in the transportation sector, create an egalitarian working environment in the sector, and ensure gender equality, will contribute to a more inclusive future not only for our sector but also for our societies," he said.