FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, announced that Kawal Preet, President of FedEx Express, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region, has signed the CEO statement of support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) – Equality Means Business.
Established by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and the United Nations Global Compact, the WEPs are a set of seven actions that companies choose to adopt to advance gender equality and empower women in the workplace and community.
Preet endorsed the statement of support in the presence of regional leadership and team members in Hong Kong.
Across the AMEA region, women are underrepresented in the establishment and growth of small businesses and cross-border trade. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised new barriers to build inclusive and prosperous economies and societies, resulting in an increase in closing the global gender gap by a generation from 99.5 years to 135.6 years.
Recognizing that companies play a major role in improving gender balance in the workplace, Preet said, “Embracing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is part of who we are and what we do. DEI is an integral part of our culture and a vital business priority to deliver a better future for all team members, customers and communities. Endorsing the WEPs is another important step towards building an engaged and inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to participate and succeed.”
With People-Service-Profit philosophy at the heart of the company, FedEx is a strong supporter of gender equality both inside and outside of the organization and was named one of the Best Workplaces in Asia TM for 2021 by Great Place to Work®.