Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

In the meeting attended by TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council Vice Presidents Hatice Güner Kal, Fatma Aydoğdu and Serap Kocaoğlu, as responsible project leaders, information was shared on behalf of the Council and about the projects followed locally.

In the opening speech of the meeting, TOBB Hakkâri Women Entrepreneurs Council President and Eastern Anatolia Regional Representative Sevda Keskin said, “I would like to express my gratitude to our esteemed TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, who established the Councils under TOBB’s umbrella in 2007 and who is instrumental in bringing us together here today and establishing strong ties with our sisters in 81 provinces, TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council is the most comprehensive women entrepreneur organization in our country with more than 7,000 members. The TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council, which ensures and supports women to be strong in terms of quality and quantity with its vision and mission, is moving forward with the work done by women who are pioneers with the principle of volunteerism in 81 provinces.”

Stating that there has been a significant increase in the number of women entrepreneurs in Hakkâri, Keskin said, “In the first period we took office, we provided 400 women with KOSGEB-supported entrepreneurship training. We provided consultancy support for women to open their own workplaces. We participated in social support programs and gave courses to many women in different fields. We established the only women's cooperative in our region in 2015 under the leadership of our Women Entrepreneurs Council. We started cooperatives with 16 women in Kırıkdağ village of our provincial center. With our Hakkâri Essence of Flowers Women's Production and Business Cooperative, we produce natural local products with traditional methods with the labor of 50 women in our supplier range.”

In her speech, Servet Taş, President of Hakkâri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that entrepreneurship is one of the most effective areas where women can reflect their knowledge, skills and experience and that it is important to support it.

Taş said, “The presence of women in business life is the most important indicator of development. Women's participation in the labor force is one of the most important elements of sustainable development. As in every field, a cultural and mental change must begin at this point. Where there are no women, there is no production, no development, no prosperity. As the Presidents of TOBB Provincial Women Entrepreneurs Council, we have faith that you will bring us new horizons with the activities organized in our Chambers and Exchanges and that you will always be a role model for our people.”

Nuran Özyılmaz, owner of Kars Goose House Restaurant, participated in the program as a role model woman entrepreneur and shared her success story.

Prior to the regional meeting, TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council Vice Presidents Hatice Güner Kal, Fatma Aydoğdu, Serap Kocaoğlu, Eastern Anatolia Regional Representative Sevda Keskin, provincial presidents Edibe Yıldırım Demircan (Ağrı), Bermal Akbay (Bitlis), Duygu Kılıçtek (Iğdır), Müge Kaya (Kars), Semra Odabaşı (Van) together with Council members visited Hakkari Governor Ali Çelik in his office and gave information about the work of the Council.