Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the signing ceremony, TOBB Board Member Işınsu Kestelli stated that it is impossible to speak of sustainable growth or genuine development without the full reflection of women’s power and labor in the economy.

Kestelli noted that Türkiye needs more entrepreneurs for its prosperity and development, adding, “This is precisely why we at TOBB place such great importance on entrepreneurship. As you all know, our TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council, established in 2007 under the leadership of our Union President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, has become the largest, most comprehensive, and most competent entrepreneurship network in this region today. With our growing family, we have become Europe’s largest entrepreneurship network.”

Noting that approximately 7,000 female entrepreneurs who are members of the council are actively working in the field under the coordination of chambers of commerce and stock exchanges, Kestelli stated that they are developing joint projects with Türkiye’s and the world’s largest companies, providing training, mentoring, and support in many areas ranging from digital and green transformation to e-commerce, and from artificial intelligence to exports, and explained that they are opening new doors for entrepreneurs through the entrepreneurship centers they have established across every corner of Anatolia.

Kestelli said: “We are carrying out role-model and guiding initiatives to encourage and develop entrepreneurship among our young women in the field. At this stage, our Councils have become more widely recognized abroad as well. We have established women’s entrepreneurship councils within the World Chambers Federation, where our Union President serves as President; Eurochambers, where he serves as Vice President; the Islamic Chamber of Commerce; and the Turkish CCI. This has enabled our women entrepreneurs to actively participate in international networks. The cooperation protocol we will sign today will be the most concrete reflection of this vision in practice.”

Noting that the partnership combines UN Women’s international experience, standards, and vision with TOBB’s robust organizational structure - which is deeply rooted in all 81 provinces and capable of reaching even women in the most remote corners of Türkiye - Kestelli stated: “The most tangible outcomes of this agreement will be bringing our programs and projects centered on women entrepreneurs to the international stage and showcasing the success stories and potential of our women entrepreneurs to the world. We believe that this partnership will increase the recognition of our Councils both domestically and abroad, and enable us to reach even more women. This partnership will create a powerful multiplier effect that will help our women entrepreneurs access global markets, gain competitive strength in the digital world, and develop sustainable business models.”

- “We will both create commercial markets and expand regional cooperation opportunities”

Nurten Öztürk, Chair of the TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council, stated that this strategic partnership, whose first seeds were sown in mid-2025, has now been formalized through the commitment of both institutions.

Öztürk, speaking as Türkiye’s largest network of women entrepreneurs—which guides thousands of women on their entrepreneurial journeys across all 81 provinces—emphasized their belief that women must attain the power they deserve not only in the economy but in every aspect of social life, explained that this protocol—which combines UN Women’s global expertise with TOBB’s immense on-the-ground capacity—is built around five key pillars to help women achieve economic independence and rise to leadership positions in the business world.

Öztürk, Chair of the TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council, continued her remarks: “Through the goal-oriented workshops and awareness programs we will implement, we will promote an equitable work culture. Accurately interpreting the field in data collection and research is the first prerequisite for generating effective solutions. We will conduct in-depth research on the gender equality challenges faced by TOBB members in partnership with UN Women and develop policies based on concrete data.”

By showcasing the success stories of women entrepreneurs in Anatolia and our joint projects on international platforms, we will demonstrate the potential of Turkish women to the world. While designing new programs aimed at integrating into existing initiatives and economically empowering women through education, we will expand the successful projects currently being carried out by both the UN Women Türkiye Office and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) and our local chambers by integrating them with one another. Through collaboration in major events—such as trade fairs and large-scale organizations—we will create commercial markets for our women entrepreneurs while expanding regional cooperation opportunities.”

UN Women Türkiye Country Director Maryse Guimond noted that they draw inspiration from TOBB’s long-standing efforts to support SMEs, entrepreneurship, vocational training, local development, innovation, and the green transition across Türkiye.

Guimond stated, “These efforts lay a strong foundation for further advancing women’s entrepreneurship and leadership in the economy. Through this partnership, we hope to jointly expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs, support women-led businesses across provinces, and strengthen gender-sensitive business ecosystems.”

- “This is precisely what makes the protocol we are signing today so valuable”

Nurtaç Ziyal Afridi, a member of the TOBB Women Entrepreneurs High Council, said that women’s participation in the economy is not merely a matter of equality but also one of the most important driving forces behind development, prosperity, and sustainable growth.

Afridi said, “Research conducted in many countries around the world today shows that societies where women’s participation in the workforce, entrepreneurship, and leadership increase build more innovative, productive, and resilient economies. However, we all know that women entrepreneurs still face various barriers, ranging from access to financing and markets to educational opportunities and networking. This is precisely why strong inter-institutional collaborations are of great importance. This is exactly what makes the protocol we are signing today so valuable,” she said.

Nurtaç Ziyal Afridi continued: “This collaboration is not merely a document signed between two institutions; it is an expression of a shared vision and a shared commitment to accelerating women’s economic empowerment. Our goal is to increase women entrepreneurs’ access to knowledge, opportunities, and resources; to create a more inclusive structure within the entrepreneurial ecosystem; and to support women in becoming not just business founders, but actors who grow their businesses, create jobs, and lead economic transformation.”

Afridi emphasized that they consider it extremely important to support young women, women working in the technology sector, entrepreneurs operating in rural areas, and businesses with high growth potential, stating, “Because unlocking women’s potential is unlocking the potential of the entire society.”

Following the speeches, a protocol was signed between TOBB Board Member Işınsu Kestelli, TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council Chair Nurten Öztürk, UN Women Türkiye Country Director Maryse Guimond, and TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Supreme Council Member Nurtaç Ziyal Afridi.

(A.A.)