The International Awareness Summit, organized under the coordination of MÜSİAD Women, was held at the İstanbul AKM. Speaking at the summit, organized with the theme "Transformation Begins with Us", MÜSİAD Women President Meryem İlbahar said that MÜSİAD Women, which takes part in every area of life, is continuing on its path more strongly with awareness-raising work.
The International Awareness Summit - IAS'22 (International Awareness Summit), organized by MÜSİAD Women, was held at the İstanbul Taksim Atatürk Cultural Centre with the participation of Deputy Minister of Family and Social Policies Rıdvan Duran, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Özgül Özkan Yavuz, Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) President Mahmut Asmalı, the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK), İstanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) President Şekib Avdagiç, Women and Democracy Association (KADEM) Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, MÜSİAD Women President Meryem İlbahar, Bahçelievler Mayor Dr. Hakan Bahadır, Young MÜSİAD President Yunus Furkan Akbal, MÜSİAD Board of Directors Members, MÜSİAD Women Branch Presidents, MÜSİAD members and guests from all four corners of Türkiye. At the event, the subjects of Environment and Health, Migration, Entrepreneurship and Digital were addressed comprehensively through women's eyes.
Women's participation in the labour force contributes positively to employment and to the country's economy
MÜSİAD Women President Meryem İlbahar, who shared her assessments at the International Awareness Summit, said that MÜSİAD Women, which takes part in every area of life, is continuing on its path more strongly with awareness-raising work. İlbahar made the following statements in her remarks:
"As a community of businesswomen, we believe that increasing the number of women employers in the business world and developing and strengthening this potential will undoubtedly make positive contributions both to employment and to the country's economy. Women's participation in the labour force is at the same time very important in terms of the sustainability of economic and social life. We say 'sustainability' because developing and disseminating practices that preserve the balance between work and private life will also bring with it an increase in productivity and motivation. At the same time, digital entrepreneurship holds an important place in terms of contributing to economic growth, to employment opportunities and to innovation. As women in business life, one of our important fields of work is the support of women's entrepreneurship and the strengthening of existing ventures. In this sense, we are aware of the responsibility that falls upon us in providing a training and mentoring infrastructure for entrepreneurial activities, in facilitating access to networks and in serving as a bridge."
"In crisis regions no one migrates willingly"
Pointing in her assessment to the "Migration" panel organized within the scope of IAS'22, President İlbahar underlined that no one in crisis regions migrates willingly and that people in these regions are forced to migrate. İlbahar continued her remarks as follows:
"During our visit to rural İdlib in the month of Ramadan, we witnessed the wind blowing over these lands like a lament. Lived experiences struck one in the face. Today, with the contributions of our very valuable speakers, we told what has gone untold about the issue of migration. We discussed social cohesion, preventive policies and other solution proposals. Yes, migration is a trial for the one who migrates, but it is also an occasion of trial for us who open our doors to them. Our civilization is full of examples in which people of different geographies, of different races and languages have been able to live together. We must strive for these colours to be regained and for the good, the beautiful and the virtuous to be brought to the fore."
MÜSİAD Women is making intense efforts to increase the number of women entrepreneurs
MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı, who stated that MÜSİAD Women had been transformed into a more dynamic structure after the MÜSİAD 26th Ordinary General Assembly held on 11 September 2021, said that this transformation had also been reflected in the field with the International Awareness Summit. In his speech, in which he also touched upon the role of MÜSİAD Women in women's entrepreneurship, President Asmalı pointed out that intense efforts are being made to increase the number of women employers:
"In recent years, the participation of women in working life to a great extent and their taking a more active role in entrepreneurial activities are of strategic importance for developing economies. The way to activate the potential that cannot be used both in production and in employment and to create new fields of work runs through encouraging women's entrepreneurship and employment. In this context, we support the policies and projects of our MÜSİAD Women structure that will enable women to take a greater place in economic life. In Europe, although 52 percent of the population is women, 34.4 percent of those working in their own businesses and 30 percent of start-up entrepreneurs are women. In our country too, the increase in women's employment particularly in recent years draws attention. When we look at the status of those employed in their work, we see that 71.1 percent of women work as wage earners, 9.5 percent on their own account and 1.7 percent in the position of employer. At this point, MÜSİAD Women is putting forward an intense effort to increase the number of our women employers, that is, this rate of 1.7."
Within the scope of IAS'22, Environment and Health, Migration, Entrepreneurship and Digital were addressed through women's eyes
At the "Migration" session of the International Awareness Summit, Karam Foundation Founder Lina Sergie Attar, Vassalam Foundation Founder Nazan Yalçınkaya and director Tülay Gökçimen assessed the developments experienced in crisis regions and the solution proposals. After the migration session, Syrian academic Fatma Hüseyin shared her thoughts. As the summit continued with the Entrepreneurship and Digital panel, technology investor Hande Enes, TOBB İstanbul Women Entrepreneurs Board President Hatice Kal and MeloApp Founder Melis Bilgili shared their assessments under the moderation of Pelin Çift. The Environment and Health panel, the last panel session of the event, addressed the climate crisis. At the program, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Özgül Özkan Yavuz, sustainable life coach Dilara Koçak and Horizon Consultancy Founding Partner Eser Erginoğlu shared their thoughts under the moderation of Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) Environment and Clean Production Council President Mihrimah Kocabıyık. At the closing program of the International Awareness Summit, organized with the motto "Transformation Begins with Us", Prof. Dr. Ümit Meriç assessed the effects of global crises on social life. The International Awareness Summit ended with the presentation of plaques to the event sponsors and a family photo.
The modern calligraphy art exhibition and the recycled products became the centre of attention
Within the framework of IAS'22, artist Bilal Akkaya's "Harmony of the Line" modern calligraphy art exhibition was presented for the guests' viewing. The exhibition, which carries traces from the roots to the future, was followed with interest by the participants. The area where the products recycled by the Bahçelievler Municipality were exhibited, meanwhile, was the scene of colourful images.
