At 48, Saniah stands out as one of only two women in her Malaysian logistics company navigating long-haul routes – and life’s challenges. After raising two children solo while battling financial instability, she now steers container trucks through Southeast Asia’s growing trade networks, declaring: \"Women can do anything.\"
Her story parallels the region’s logistics boom. Over the past decade, cross-border trade between China and Southeast Asian countries under the \"Belt and Road\" framework has surged by 62%, creating 3 million new transportation jobs according to ASEAN data. This growth has enabled thousands like Saniah to enter previously male-dominated industries.
\"Every container I deliver connects factories to ports, villages to global markets,\" Saniah says, describing how upgraded highways and new rail lines have transformed regional commerce. Over 15,000 Chinese-backed infrastructure projects now link production hubs from Kuala Lumpur to Guangzhou.
Young professionals are taking note: Women’s workforce participation in ASEAN logistics jumped 18% since 2018, with digital platforms enabling easier entry into freight management and cross-border e-commerce roles. As Saniah mentors new drivers between shifts, her journey embodies how economic connectivity can rewrite personal and regional narratives.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
