Turkish industrial sectors focus on increasing female employment and entrepreneurship

Efforts to increase female employment and entrepreneurship in Turkey's industrial sectors are gaining momentum through regional initiatives and research. In Sivas, the Sivas Chamber of Commerce and Industry (STSO) hosted a meeting with members of the GAIA Women's Industry Platform to discuss strengthening women's roles in production processes and enhancing vocational skills.

STSO President Zeki Özdemir emphasized that active female participation in industry contributes significantly to production capacity and economic development. The initiative, titled ‘Women's Hand in Industry is the Foundation of Development’, focuses on supporting women through vocational training and increased employment in industrial organizations.

In Ankara, the Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) released a report titled ‘Transformation Gap in Women's Entrepreneurship: The Ankara Example’. The study, based on surveys and interviews with female entrepreneurs, identified a ‘transformation gap’ between high education/innovation levels and actual economic outcomes. While 93% of surveyed entrepreneurs held at least a bachelor's degree, only 29% were engaged in exporting.

To bridge this gap, ASO proposed five application packages, including a ‘Care and Time Cost Package’ which suggests providing childcare services in organized industrial zones and technoparks to alleviate barriers to participation.