19.11.2022 Ankara
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his speech at the Türkiye’s Entrepreneurial Women Power Competition Award Ceremony, said that if obstacles are not put in front of them, there is nothing that women cannot do. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Reason and success have no gender, and if women are strong, society and country will be strong.”
Organized through the
cooperation of TOBB, TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council (KGK) and Türkiye
Economic Policy Research Foundation (TEPAV), Türkiye's Entrepreneurial Women
Power Competition Awards were presented. In the ceremony that started with TOBB
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council
President Nurten Öztürk's opening speeches, In two main categories: “Most
Increased Women's Employment Company” and “Entrepreneurial Women's Power”
awards were given.
TOBB President
Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his speech here, said that the TOBB Women Entrepreneurs
Council was established on October 29, 2007 and pioneered the development of
entrepreneurship culture among women.
Emphasizing that the Council
continues to guide women entrepreneurs from industry to agriculture, from
logistics to e-commerce, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “They work in the field in 81
provinces and 160 districts. TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council, which is the
largest, most comprehensive and most competent 'network' of this geography, has
become a brand in the chamber community in the world. In our country and in
different countries, business world organizations take this structure as an
example and establish networks of women entrepreneurs.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that Türkiye is also getting stronger as women take more and more part in
business life.
- “The employment of
women in our companies is increasing day by day”
Stating that women
deserve their place and even further with their achievements in all areas of
life, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:
“Today, we will reward
our top 10 companies that have increased the number of women employees the most
in the 2020-2021 period. This category was open to all our companies without
any restrictions. The female employment rate of our applicant companies
increased by 16 percent compared to the previous year. In other words, the
employment of women in our companies is increasing day by day. 7 of our 10
award-winning companies are managed by women. This means that companies run by
women place much more emphasis on women's employment. Our 'Entrepreneurial
Women Power' category was only open to applications from our women entrepreneurs.
Here, our women entrepreneurs, who are growing the fastest, increasing their
exports the most, becoming the most digital and the most environmentally
friendly, were evaluated according to their performance in the 2019-2021
period.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that women entrepreneurs from 22 provinces applied to the competition and
reported that women entrepreneurs grew 2 times faster than Türkiye's national
income growth.
Pointing out that 73
percent of the companies applying to the competition export, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “74 percent of our exporting companies in the 2019-2021 period have
exports to at least 3 countries. You are successful because you do not listen
to those who say 'you can't do it', and because you continue on your way with
determination. Let everyone see that if they are given the opportunity and if
obstacles are not put in their way, there is nothing that women cannot do. I
wholeheartedly congratulate our precious women entrepreneurs who have achieved
such magnificent successes.”
- “If women are strong
then society and the country will be strong.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
addressed women entrepreneurs and asked them to be role models for young people
and to direct them to entrepreneurship.
Pointing out that the
most important potential here is universities, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:
“Last March 8,
International Women's Day, I called on you. 'Visit universities, get together
with student clubs, establish entrepreneurial clubs.' Our women entrepreneur
boards have taken action. Efforts have started in nearly 20 universities. I
hope that these activities will continue increasingly. Our most current issue
is access to finance. In this context, there is a loan package supported by the
Credit Guarantee Fund that is only for women entrepreneurs. Three of our banks
can extend this loan. Use these loans supported by the Credit Guarantee Fund
and announce them to our women entrepreneurs. Reason and success have no
gender. If women are strong, society and country will be strong. What we say,
if there are women, there is tomorrow. I believe in you, I trust you. I
wholeheartedly congratulate our esteemed entrepreneurs who will receive awards
in Türkiye's Entrepreneurial Women Power Contest and wish you continued
success. Happy 19 November International Women Entrepreneurship Day.”
- “We want to take competition
to the international level”
TOBB Women
Entrepreneurs Council President Nurten Öztürk stated that the way for the
long-term and sustainable development of countries is to increase women's labor
force participation rates.
Emphasizing that
healthy growth cannot be expected from an economy in which women, who
constitute half of the total population of working age, cannot participate
effectively, Öztürk said, “We wanted to support the organizations that increase
women's employment the most with the competition and to ensure that they set an
example for other companies. Calling a woman a job means going home. Having
women in business life is a corporate responsibility. We want to hold the
competition not only in Türkiye, but also to carry it to the international
level.”
The companies which
received awards in Türkiye's Entrepreneurial Women Power Competition by
increasing women's employment the most are as follows:
Patiswiss Chocolate,
Aslı Textile Confection Industry Co. Inc., Gedik Resource Industry Co. Inc.,
Ideal Health Consultancy Training Services Occupational Safety Materials
Internal and External. Co. Inc., USB Certification Audit Surveillance and
Certification Services Inc., Sardes Food Industry and Agricultural Products
Trade, Import, Export Co. Inc., Ardent Plastic Industry Co. Inc., Sampa
Automotive Industry Co. Inc., Mutlu Metal Industry Co. Inc., TB Sewtech Türkiye
Automotive.
The companies that
received awards in the 'Entrepreneurial Women's Power' category in the
competition are as follows:
“The Most
Environmentally Friendly Women Entrepreneurs,” Alışan Lojistik Co. Inc. and
Netpak Ambalaj Co. Inc.; “The Most Digitalized Women Entrepreneurs,” Düşyeri IT
and Animation Co. Inc. and Harga Co. Inc.; “The Women Entrepreneurs Who
Increased Their Exports the Most,” Umdasch Madosan Shelving Systems Co. Inc.,
Simsoft Computer Technologies, Edsa Textile Ltd. and Uyar Agricultural Products
Co. Inc., “The Fastest Growing Women Entrepreneurs, Patiswiss Çikolata and
Atlantis Global Food Co. Inc.