KAGİDER Traditional February Breakfast Meeting

This month's guest of KAGİDER Traditional Breakfast Meeting is Prof. Dr. Emre Alkin.

KAGİDER (Turkish Women Entrepreneurs Association) February breakfast meeting was held with the participation of Topkapı University Rector and Economist Prof. Dr. Emre Alkin.

“We are working with all our strength in the Earthquake Zone”

KAGİDER President Esra Bezircioğlu made the opening speech at the breakfast meeting attended by KAGİDER members. Bezircioğlu, who started his speech by commemorating those who lost their lives during this period where a year has passed since the February 6 Earthquakes, said that they will continue to work to support those who were affected by the disaster and those who are trying to heal their wounds. Bezircioğlu said, “As KAGİDER, we continue to produce sustainable projects for the development of the region by using the resources we have correctly and effectively.” Talking about the difficulties of being an entrepreneur in the turbulent times of the world economy, Bezircioğlu said, "As KAGİDER, we are working hard to expand our sphere of influence in every region in Türkiye, from the earthquake zone to international platforms."

Talking about her activities in February, Esra Bezircioğlu also shared an important development for KAGİDER: "KAGİDER has been selected as one of the "Enlargement Candidate Country Members" of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) to represent Türkiye. EESC, one of the important institutions of the European Union, has a very important status in decision-making processes and creates recommendations for the European Union in every field. "With its election as an enlargement candidate member of the European Economic and Social Committee, KAGİDER has taken an important step for Türkiye to move towards an inclusive and sustainable future and to play an important role in the European Union process."

“We need women's compassion as well as their intelligence.”

At the meeting titled "Where is Türkiye Towards", Topkapi University Rector and Economist Prof. Dr. Emre Alkin reminded the founding philosophy of the Republic of Türkiye and said, “The Republic of Türkiye; It is a project in which free will is carefully placed within democracy and men and women walk towards civilization with equal rights. "Therefore, if we want to move in the right direction, we will accept what we are experiencing today as temporary and will do our best to prevent it from becoming permanent," he said. Stating that women have a great responsibility, Alkin said, “This duty started before the establishment of the Republic and will continue forever with the Republic. Fighting darkness requires accepting the existence of darkness in the first place. There have always been women who illuminate the darkness in Türkiye."

Alkin continued his words as follows: “Leaving a major modernization of this scale to men with a very high average age and in critical decision-making positions would be the biggest mistake to make. Therefore, to stay away from subjective concepts and approaches in every field from academia to industry, from medicine to art, from culture to civilization, to be equal and inclusive to everyone, to do this through the education of human resources, a strong digital infrastructure and the justice, mercy, love, compassion, rationality, leadership and the most appropriate for us. Most importantly, there is a great benefit in doing it with a sense of loyalty. In today's world, manipulation is now done without the use of violence. Therefore, we need women's compassion at least as much as their intelligence. I am aware of the high level of intelligence of women, but we should not forget that their emotional intelligence is also very high. We, as men, do not forget. You women had better not forget it either.”

About KAGİDER:

The Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGİDER) is a non-governmental organization that aims to empower women through entrepreneurship. It aims to empower women not only economically but also politically and socially. KAGİDER; It supports women's entrepreneurship as it will strengthen the economic and social role of women.

Since its establishment, it has been developing and carrying out projects and studies towards this goal with many stakeholders from the public, private sector and civil society at local, national and international levels. KAGİDER, which has nearly 500 members, provides training, guidance and mentoring support to strengthen women entrepreneurs, in line with its vision and mission, and works to strengthen women's economic position and equal opportunities.