ASO PRESIDENT SEYIT ARDIC: “WE CANNOT REACH OUR DEVELOPMENT GOALS WITHOUT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS”

The meeting, held at the ASO Zafer Çağlayan Assembly Hall, marked the start of a new working year for the TOBB Ankara Women Entrepreneurs Council. Attendees included ASO President Seyit Ardıç, ASO Board Member Burcu Özbozkurt, TOBB Ankara Women Entrepreneurs Council President Hande Öztürk, and numerous Council members.

In his speech, President Ardıç congratulated the Council for its effective and productive work and emphasized the importance of encouraging women to join the business world and become entrepreneurs. He stated, “Your encouragement of women to participate in business, and guiding them with your knowledge and experience, is invaluable. You have achieved significant success in various sectors, and each of you has a unique story. Our shared belief is to add new success stories and build a sustainable future by ensuring women have a stronger presence in business life.”

ARDIÇ: TWO-THIRDS OF WOMEN IN OUR COUNTRY DO NOT ENGAGE IN INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES

Ardıç highlighted the low number of working women in Turkey, stating, “There are 33.3 million women of working age in our country, but unfortunately, only 36.6% of them are employed or seeking employment. In most OECD countries, this rate is between 65-70%. Regrettably, two-thirds of the women of working age in Turkey are not engaged in any income-generating activities.”

He also noted that economic dependence increases the risk of women being subjected to physical, psychological, and sexual violence, stating, “Violence against women, including femicides, remains one of the most serious issues in our country. Sadly, we are shocked by news of another femicide almost every day. I believe that the increased presence of women in the workforce will greatly contribute to reducing violence against women. As the number of economically independent women increases, the risk of them being subjected to violence will decrease.”

Discussing global efforts towards gender equality, Ardıç said, “According to the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, it could take 134 years to achieve full gender equality at the current pace of progress. Europe is the region with the highest closure of the gender gap, at 75%. Iceland ranks first with 93.5%, while our country unfortunately ranks towards the bottom. In the Global Gender Gap Index, Turkey ranks 127th out of 146 countries. Saudi Arabia has risen five places over the last year to rank 126th, surpassing us. These figures show that we have a long way to go and much to do to achieve gender equality in Turkey. It is impossible to reach our development goals without increasing women’s participation in the workforce and the number of women entrepreneurs.”

ARDIÇ: ALL INSTITUTIONS MUST WORK TOGETHER TO REMOVE OBSTACLES

President Ardıç emphasized that empowering women and spreading an entrepreneurial culture are key components of economic growth and sustainable development. He noted that women entrepreneurs not only establish businesses but also contribute to women’s employment and address social, environmental, and economic issues through innovation. He continued, “According to TURKSTAT data, in 2023, 9.2% of our female workforce is self-employed, while only 1.7% are employers. Of the 5.4 million employers and self-employed individuals, only 924,000 are women entrepreneurs. Socio-cultural issues, problems in accessing financial resources and education, unfortunately, remain obstacles to women’s participation in business life. All institutions and organizations must work in harmony and determination to remove these barriers. Our TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council is one of the most important stakeholders in this ecosystem.”

ARDIÇ: I HOPE FOR A TURKEY WHERE WOMEN ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR SUCCESS STORIES IN EVERY FIELD

President Ardıç, who closely follows the work of the TOBB Ankara Women Entrepreneurs Council, said, “You inspire our women entrepreneurs with your active and effective activities. I hope this new working year opens the door to new opportunities and successes for our women. I fully believe that by increasing our collaborations, strengthening our solidarity, and overcoming challenges together, we will walk toward a stronger future. I wish for a Turkey where women are not subjected to violence but are known for their success stories in every field.”

TOBB Ankara Women Entrepreneurs Council President Hande Öztürk stated in her speech that the Council has 378 women entrepreneur members from eight chambers and commodity exchanges in Ankara. She added that these members provide employment for 10,000 people and generate $500 million in revenue. “We export to over 60 countries around the world. Our Council includes members ranging from micro-scale cooperative members to large-scale companies, even those ranking among the top 500. I am proud to be part of this Council, which consists of the largest women entrepreneurs in Ankara in both quantity and quality,” Öztürk said. She also expressed her gratitude to ASO President Seyit Ardıç for his continued support of women entrepreneurs.

At the meeting, the heads of the Working Committees provided information on their activities, and ASO Economic Advisor Prof. Dr. Murat Çetinkaya delivered a presentation titled “A Strategic Perspective on Turkey’s Economy and Expectations in Light of Global Developments.”

Kaynak: Industrial News Agency