Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the council meeting of the İZTB of which the ceremony was a part of, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship in the development of countries, giving the example of Germany and Japan post-WWII.

Stating that as far as entrepreneurship is concerned, half of Turkey’s population is completely inactive, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

“The ratio of our women entrepreneurs to the whole population is only 6% while the female population is 50% of total. In the last year, the number of women entrepreneurs has increased by 20,000 in comparison to last year and I feel very proud as someone who contributed to this endeavor. The ratio of women entrepreneurs in chamber councils has increased by 33%. We have our second woman council president. I would like to congratulate the İzmir Commodity Exchange in this regard. You generally will not find any women in exchanges unlike chambers of commerce or industry. For the first time in Turkey, a woman has become the council president of a commodity exchange; the oldest commodity exchange of Turkey, no less. This is the revolution of mentality. I am proud to be working with Ms. Işınsu.”

Stating that women need to share their success stories with the public, Hisarcıklıoğlu said this would facilitate women becoming entrepreneurs.

- İZTB Council President Işınsu Kestelli

İZTB Board of Directors President Işınsu Kestelli emphasized that unless the participation of woman in Turkey reaches a ratio of 50% to the total population and the number of woman entrepreneurs does not reach 1 million, it will not be feasible to attain a sustainable competitive power. Stating the need for the proliferation of woman-focused policies, Kestelli reported that the number of İzmir Woman Entrepreneurs Council members has increased to 200 from 50 and that the goal is 561.

DEÜ Management Faculty Prof. Dr. Yasemin Arbak and TOBB İzmir Province Woman Entrepreneurs Council President Aynur Tartan provided information regarding the program.

As a part of the training program for which the protocol was signed, 3rd and 4th grade female students at the DEÜ Management Faculty will be able to take entrepreneurship classes as selective courses.