The Women’s Move in Technology seminar was hosted by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Family and Social Policies and the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Transportation, Marine and Communications, in cooperation with Vodafone Turkey Foundation, KAGIDER and TBV on March 9-10 at Izmir Sabancı Kültür Sarayı.

The Women’s Move in Technology project was announced at a press conference which was held on the 9^th of March, head of KAGIDER Gülden Türktan was one of the first speakers at the conference. Türktan mentioned that women who are either looking for jobs or not looking for jobs need mobile technology and that they are aiming to make their lives easier in the area of economics. She also added that the population of women who are in the working age is 27 million and only 6.9 million are actually working which is relatively low compared to the world average.

The head of Informatics Foundation of Turkey Faruk Eczacıbaşı made his speech after Gulden Turktan. Eczacıbaşı acknowledged that after World Women’s Day, participating in a project like this was very important to them; he added that with 6% of women starting full-time work, the poverty rate would drop by 15%.

Vodafone’s CEO Serpil Timuray began her speech by mentioning that gender equality was an essential condition of today’s economy. She also included that they want to ensure opportunity and equality in their economic and social life, and as Vodafone Turkey they want to introduce women to the opportunities that technology presents.

The Minister of Family and Social Policies Fatma Şahin stated that in history, communities which had attained knowledge, had power and built empires. She also said that communities which have lacked in knowledge have in the past entered periods of collapse. Republic of Turkey Ministry of Transportation, Marine and Communications Binali Yıldırım announced that having a project so important for women such as the Women’s Move in Technology in Izmir on the day after World Women’s Day meant a lot.

Following the press conference, entrepreneurship seminars were held for women already in the business world, and information and technology seminars for women not yet in the business world. On March 10^th, participants familiar with the business world attended personal development seminars and participants who were not familiar attended 2^nd level information and communication seminars. After their two day workshops, the participants received certificates.