The second event of the “I Can Manage My Business” Program, which focuses on enabling SMEs to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to realize their growth potential, took place in Diyarbakır during its fifth year. The program provided information to SMEs, as well as representatives from the business world, public sector, and civil society organizations, on topics such as accessing finance, resilience in businesses, disaster preparedness, international trade, e-export, and digital marketing.

Diyarbakır, June 15, 2023 – The “I Can Manage My Business” Program, launched in 2019 with the support of 30 banks and e-money institutions, in partnership with the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED), Visa, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), continued to meet with SMEs in Anatolia in Diyarbakır during its fifth operational period.

The second event of the program in the new period was organized by the Federation of Associations of Industrialists and Businesspeople of Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia (DOGÜNSİFED). Representatives from SMEs, as well as the public sector and civil society organizations, participated in the event.

Süleyman Sönmez: “SMEs have limited resources but great visions”

Süleyman Sönmez, Chairman of the Board of TÜRKONFED, delivered the opening speech of the event, emphasizing the importance of SMEs as the locomotives of the economy for sustainable development and social welfare. He stated, “Just like in the rest of the world, Turkey also has our SMEs, which are behind all major companies, many startups, innovations, and patents, established with limited resources but great visions. In order to increase social welfare and create generations that generate employment while our country grows, we need to support the production and value creation efforts of our SMEs, encourage entrepreneurship, and provide guidance.”

“We are focusing on SMEs in the digital, green, and social transformation”

Sönmez stated that they have changed the way SMEs do business with the environmentally friendly and sustainable perspectives provided in the “I Can Manage My Business” Program. He continued, “With the social impact analysis we conducted, we observed an increase of around 66% in the revenue of SMEs participating in the program, a 28% increase in the use of social media and digital marketing tools, a 35% increase in developing strategies and business plans, and approximately 20% increase in setting goals and tracking them. This supports our goal of putting SMEs at the center of digital, green, and social transformation.”

Aziz Özkılıç: “Diyarbakır is progressing as a significant economic center in the region”

Aziz Özkılıç, Chairman of the Board of DOGÜNSİFED, expressed that they guide SMEs on their transformation journey by increasing the value they create through the “I Can Manage My Business” Program. He said, “We focus on the potential of our Anatolia, which we see as the driving force of sustainable development. One of the most concrete examples of this potential is Diyarbakır, which has a strong presence in trade and industry, recently gained significant tourism potential, and has become the center of interest for investors with its population of over 2 million, rising as a star in the Southeastern Anatolia Region. Our city, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with its natural beauty and history, is also progressing as a significant economic center with its strong textile industry and growing tourism sector in the region.”

Academics and industry professionals providing education

Following the opening speeches, Arda Batu, General Secretary & Board Member of TÜRKONFED, introduced the “I Can Manage My Business” Program. In the educational section of the program, Prof. Dr. Serhat Yanık, Faculty Member of Istanbul University Faculty of Political Sciences, provided information to SMEs on “The Basic Operational Cycle of Businesses and Access to Finance,” while Prof. Dr. Şerif Barış from Kocaeli University spoke about “Resilience in Businesses.” Prof. Dr. Barış also conducted practical training on “Preparation of Businesses for Disasters and Risks.” Meltem Polat, Director of International Sales and Business Development at Vakko Holding, discussed “International Trade and E-Export,” while Azade Özaltun, Corporate Communications Director at TransferChain, explained “Digital Marketing.”

In the first four years of the “I Can Manage My Business” Program, 4,166 SME representatives were reached through online and face-to-face training in different cities across Turkey. Additionally, 315 SMEs received free e-commerce and e-export infrastructure and digital marketing consultancy as part of the digitalization support.

The development of training content and support tailored to the needs of SMEs will continue this year based on the work and research conducted under the project. Digitalization support through the TÜSİAD (Turkish Industry and Business Association) “From Boss to Mentor” Program will continue in response to the demands received from SMEs during field training. Coaching support is also planned in areas such as finance, marketing, digitalization, management, and institutionalization.

For more information:

Bahar Paykoç, UNDP Turkey, bahar.paykoc@undp.org

Zişan Eda Gökalp, Corporate Communications Manager at TÜRKONFED, +90 537 391 22 43, egokalp@turkonfed.org / www.turkonfed.org / info@turkonfed.org

TÜRKONFED, which consists of 30 federations and over 300 national and international associations, represents over 60,000 companies. It accounts for 83% of total (excluding energy) foreign trade and approximately 55% of non-agricultural and non-public registered employment. TÜRKONFED’s members include Istanbul, Western Anatolia, Marmara and Central Anatolia, Thrace, Western Black Sea, Central Black Sea, Central Anatolia, Northern Anatolia, Eastern Black Sea, South Aegean, Eastern Marmara, Western Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean, South Marmara, Cukurova, Northern Marmara, Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia, Southeast, Zafer, Silk Road, Cappadocia, Mevlana, Eastern, Serhat, Dicle, and Fırat Industrialists and Businessmen Federations, as well as the Sectoral Associations Federation, Fashion and Ready-to-Wear Federation, and Building Products Manufacturers Federation. TÜRKONFED is a member of SMEunited, the umbrella organization for European SMEs, representing 12 million companies and 55 million employees.

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