A pioneering space traveller and adventurer will offer her thoughts on the space race and more at a global forum for businesswomen which opens its doors in Bahrain today.

Pakistanti artist and adventurer Namira Salim will be one of the keynote speakers as the 63rd World Congress of Femmes Chefs d'Entreprises Mondiales (FCEM), gets under way at the Gulf hotel with more than 500 delegates in attendance.

The four-day FCEM is organised by the Bahrain Business & Professional Women International Federation (BPW) and held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty King Hamad and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW). 

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, Salim 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.

She 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 traveller and adventurer, Salim’s accomplishments are broad ranging. She holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University and has practiced unconventional ways of promoting peace and diplomacy via her peace expeditions. 

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 the second time the event will be hosted in an Arab country; the first was Morocco.

Salim says: “I am honoured to attend the world congress.  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 such a distinguished and inspirational group of women leaders and professionals. 

Shaikha Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa, President of BPW Bahrain, says: “We are delighted to welcome 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. 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." 

The 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 organisation 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.

FCEM was founded in France in 1945 and unites women business owners from all over the world. 

The forum has also drawn the support of Italian luxury jewellery house Damiani, which will be present with its local partner Asia Jewellers.