Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Held in TOBB İstanbul building Turkey-Kazakhstan Women Entrepreneurs attended by business women from Kazakhstan and TOBB Women’s Initiatives Board members’ Turkish business women.

Speaking at the forum TOBB Board Member Cengiz Günay, stating that Turkish companies making investments worth of 2 billion dollars in many areas including food, health sector as well as defence industry and chemical industry in Kazakhstan, commented as "Our companies in Kazakhstan provide employment for more than 15 thousand people. Also our construction companies carried out 20 billion dollar worth project. Our firms engage in these investments because they believe in relations between Turkey-Kazakhstan as well as the future of Kazakhstan”

Stating that they consider Kazakhstan’s “2050 Strategy” and “Nurlu Yol” programs important, Günay said followings: “This is very important for industrialisation of Kazakhstan and further development of their private sector. We know this because in the past I experienced the same thing. We, as Turkey, had an exceeding transformation in the last 35 years.

We become a giant industrial country achieving 160 billion dollars of exportation whereas 35 years ago we used to be agricultural country achieving only 3 billion dollars of exportation. We achieved success stories in many sectors. We become 17^th largest economy in the world.

However, my dear friends we have realised this. During that period we neglected one thing; our women. The calculations that we made showed us that is brought in our women to the business life as much as in developed countries, we would be, not 17^th but the 12^th largest economy in the world. In other words, for years we tried to fly with only one wing.”

-“In our 81 cities 6 thousand 500 women entrepreneurs work actively for the boards”

Telling that as TOBB, they set off by saying “woman touch to the economy” Günay told that they formed Women Initiative Board in 2007 in order to make women more active in business life.

Stating that they achieved Europe’s largest women’s initiative network, Günay also said “Presently in our 81 cities, 6 thousand 500 women entrepreneurs work actively for these boards. When we started the women entrepreneur rate in Turkey was 6 percent. Now that rate reached to 9 percent.”

Günay thanked to Kazakhstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for their cooperation.

 -“We are encouraging our women for technology-oriented businesses.”

TOBB Women’s Initiative Vice-president Ruhsar Pekcan, stating that carry out works for enabling woman entrepreneurs accessing financial sources, also said “Welfare increases by women’s participation to social and economic life. I personally believe that also wars will come to end by further involvement of women to social and economic life. We encourage our women for technology oriented businesses. Our “Women Writing Future” project has received excessive number of applications.”

Telling about the availability of many business possibilities between Turkey and Kazakhstan Pekcan said they would like to build new projects between the women of two countries.

-“We are ready to work with Turkish woman entrepreneurs”

Kazak Women Delegation President Bagila Bisembayeva, stating that they benefitted advance experience of Turkey while they were setting up chambers and exchanges union in Kazakhstan, also said “Women in Kazakhstan are intellectually qualified and educated. 55 percent of civil servants are women. In Kazakhstan, women’s contribution to business improvement is increasing. 47 percent of private enterprises and 26 percent of agricultural enterprises are being managed by women.”

Stating that women entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan is 10 years behind Turkey, Bisembayeva, said that they had many things to learn from women entrepreneurship in Turkey.

Mentioning the trade between two countries, Bisembayeva said “We have trading volume between Turkey and Kazakhstan worth over 1.5 billion dollars. To carry that further levels, the steps that we, as women entrepreneurs would take together within promising business lines shall be excessively decisive.”

Telling that co-operation manner formed between women entrepreneurs shall bring developments for both countries, Bisembayeva also said “Currently in Kazakhstan, privatisation is the discussion topic. Endorsement of some sectors and businesses to private sector is topical issue. Business which shall be privatised in service sector announced last year.    Lists of the businesses which shall be privatised in many areas had already been made. We are ready to work together with Turkish women entrepreneurs. There are excessive amount of work that we shall be conducting together. Because I know how active and productive the women in Turkey are, I am accordingly full of hope for our common future.”

-“Average wage in Kazakhstan is 300-350 dollars”

Republic of Kazakhstan Ambassador to Ankara Abzal Saparbekuly, reminding that in 1991 Turkey recognised Kazakhstan’s independence within a record breaking time of 30 minutes is a sister country, also stated that Turkey was the first country who opened first embassy to Kazakhstan.

Saparbekuly, specifying the facilities provided for foreign investors in his country, told “Generally speaking the average wage is round 300-350 dollars. You can find both qualified and cheap workforce. Electricity and gas prices are one fourth of Turkey’s. When you arrive you shall be not only seeing regional business stakeholders but also major companies of the world operating in Kazakhstan.”