Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, who attended the meeting by video conference method, stated that there is nothing that women cannot achieve when given the opportunity, and said, “We want women to take a more active role in social life, business life, politics.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the increasing involvement of women in business makes Turkey stronger.

Noting that an economy that is untouched by women cannot grow, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “That's why we say that our women can achieve everything. With this vision, we established our TOBB Women Entrepreneur Councils in 81 provinces in 2007. Thanks to you, we have become the largest women's professional organization in our country.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that the structure has completed its institutionalization and has become a brand in the chamber community in Turkey and around the world.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that there is nothing that women cannot accomplish when given the opportunity.

“We have a goal. We want women to take a more active role in social life, business, politics. In this way and with the efforts of women, we believe that our country will be stronger and improved. We are proud of our women who have achieved great success in business, politics, science, education, culture, art and sports life.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu, who also advises the TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council, said, “Be a role model for our young girls and lead them to entrepreneurship. Here at the most important potential universities. Visit, meet the rector, meet with student clubs, set up entrepreneurial clubs.”

- “Perceptual view and cultural phenomena are an obstacle to our women”

Nurten Öztürk, the TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council President, stated that sustainable growth and development are the main objectives of all countries, adding that, “The long-term and sustainable development of countries depends on increasing women's participation rates in the workforce.”

Öztürk stated that healthy and efficient growth cannot be expected from an economy where women cannot participate effectively, and said that increasing women's participation in the workforce is also vital for poverty reduction.

Öztürk noted that there is nothing a woman cannot do:

“Everything without a woman is lacking. Perceptual gaze and cultural phenomena are unfortunately a major obstacle for our women. Our goal is to show that business has no gender; that women can exist successfully in all areas of working life within the framework of the principle of equal opportunity.”

Öztürk stated that the “Women's Hand in Industry” project, which was implemented in order to contribute to increasing women's employment in the industry and meeting the need for qualified employment in this field, started its infrastructure efforts in Kocaeli, Düzce, Bolu, İzmir, Bursa after the pilot province of Kütahya.