World Turkish Business Council (DTİK) Balkans Women’s Meeting was held in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, North Macedonian State Minister Zülfikar Zeynula, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Skopje Fatih Ulusoy, North Macedonian MPs, DTİK North Macedonia Representative Fatih Şahbaz, DEİK and DTİK representatives, Turkish and local institutions and organizations and diaspora representatives in the country, Turkish women entrepreneur business people operating in the Balkans and many guests were invited to the program organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) and DTİK. attended.
In his speech, Ambassador Ulusoy said that Türkiye and North Macedonia are two friendly and allied countries with deep historical and cultural ties and high-level relations.
Pointing out that Türkiye is one of the largest trade partners of North Macedonia, Ulusoy said, “Our bilateral trade volume has approached 1 billion dollars and we have a common will to increase it to 2 billion dollars.” he said.
Expressing that they are proud to see women in managerial positions in many large-scale Turkish investments, Ulusoy said, “As Turkey, we continue to support this friendly, ally and sister country with an approach that covers and embraces all segments of North Macedonia.” he said.
DEİK Board of Directors and DTİK Executive Board Member Berna Gözbaşı also informed the participants about the work of DEİK and DTİK.
Stating that they brought Turks and Turkish friends together today, Gözbaşı said, “The Balkans is an important geography for all of us.” he said.
“Stronger foundations are formed in economies touched by women’s hands”
DTİK Balkans Representative Board President and DTİK Greece Representative Levent Sadık Ahmet said that it was their chance to realize the dreams of their ancestors who fought and shed tears for the Turkish world and Islam in the Balkans.
Ahmet said, “That’s why today we are writing history together with our women and youth in the lands of Evlad-ı Fatihan, in the lands where we were born and raised, and I am very proud of doing this together with our women.” he said.
Meltem Taylan Aydın, Chairman of Halkbank’s Board of Directors, also pointed out that they witness that economies where women are involved in production and decision-making mechanisms grow much faster every day, and said, “Stronger foundations are formed in economies touched by women’s hands. As Halkbank, we see women’s entrepreneurship as one of our priority areas of activity, and we define ourselves as the bank of women who produce.” made his assessment.
Şahbaz said that they brought together women from different countries of the Balkans who produce, invest, provide employment, pursue new ideas and add value to their society.
Shahbaz said, “We now know that women’s strong participation in economic life does not only mean women’s empowerment. It also means stronger companies, more innovative economies and more inclusive development.” made his assessment.
