Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

30 female entrepreneurs who were entitled to a total of 765,000 liras of business development grant support within the scope of the “My Sister Grant Program” implemented to support entrepreneurial women operating in the food sector were announced at an online ceremony.

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu remotely attended the award ceremony of the program organized in cooperation with TOBB, Coca-Cola Turkey and Habitat Association.

Stating that they reached 20,000 female entrepreneurs with My Sister Project, Hisarcıklıoğlu explained that they provide education and mentoring support, branding, financial literacy training programs, as well as grant support to 10,000 female entrepreneurs.

Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that this year's “Local Flavor Grant Program” is of particular importance, “As you know, the food and drink sector is perhaps among the sectors most affected by the pandemic period. On this occasion, we have doubled the amount of grant support and the number of beneficiaries this year. According to the results to be announced today, I congratulate all 30 female entrepreneurs who will be eligible for grants.”

Noting that women are aware of their transformative power in every field they are in, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they will continue to take part in these and similar projects in order to support female entrepreneurs.

- Coca-Cola Turkey General Manager Başak Karaca

Coca-Cola Turkey General Manager Başak Karaca said that the project, which started with small steps in 2015, in ongoing with great momentum.

Karaca stated that they believe investing in women as a company, wherever they are in the world, is an investment in the future. “‎In particular, we are aware that the economic empowerment of women plays a transformative role in the global economy.‎ Based on this belief, we are working to strengthen women's place in society in the countries where we operate.”

Karaca said the project aims to support the participation of 250,000 women in social and economic life by the end of the year.

- Habitat Association Chairman Sezai Hazır

Habitat Association Chairman Sezai Hazır noted that as an association, they have attached importance to digitalization for many years.

“Our aim is to contribute to the promotion of the products produced by entrepreneurial women, to increase their visibility and to strengthen their socio-economic position.”

Following the speeches, the winners were announced by Canan Özdemir İşmen, Member of the Upper Board of TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council, and Chef Somer Sivrioğlu.

- About the program

The grant program was announced on November 20, 2020 and received applications from nearly 360 women entrepreneurs and women's cooperatives.

As a result of the interviews, 50 participants from 28 different provinces in 7 regions were selected. In April 2021, they participated in online training camps to support the field they serve with their education such as finance, e-commerce, food label literacy, business management. On 27-30 April 2021, the final stage of the jury was completed.

In this context, 29 female entrepreneurs will be supported with a total of 765,000 liras of business development grants, including 25,000 liras and 1 female entrepreneur 40,000 lira jury special award.

- 30 entrepreneurial women who won grant support in My Sister Project announced

Applications of entrepreneurial women were evaluated by a jury consisting of directors of TOBB, Habitat Association, Coca-Cola Turkey, Turkish Women Entrepreneurs Association (KAGİDER) and Arya Women.

Hülya Elibol received the special jury award within the scope of My Sister Project Grant Program, while the other grant support winners are as follows:

Aslı Kaya, Ayşe Çakır Yazgel, Derya Kübra Er, Ece Çiftçi, Elmas Taşpınar, Emine Çap, Esra Çakır, Hatice Dikyol, Hatice Kudal, Hatun Demiray, Hüsniye Pekmez, Leman Ceyhan, Melike Çaça, Meryem Koçoğlu, Mevlude Tülek, Miray Yerliyurt, Naime Yiğit, Nefise Değirmenci, Nermin Özcan, Nilüfer Kart, Nuray Polat, Nuray Üstünel, Öznur Şahin, Saniye Gümüşçıbık, Seher Önel, Sennur Çetin, Suzan Soygür, Tuğçe Arca, Yıldız Gündüz.