There are many support programs for women entrepreneurs who want to step into e-commerce, from KOSGEB to public banks, from the Ministry of Trade to development agencies. There are many public supports for women entrepreneurs seeking answers to the questions 'How do I start e-commerce, where do I find capital?'
While many incentive programs are being run by numerous institutions such as KOSGEB, the Ministry of Trade, public banks, and various development agencies to support women entrepreneurs in Turkey, the utilization rates of these supports are far below potential. POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION KOSGEB is at the forefront of the most important support mechanisms for women entrepreneurs.
Within the scope of the institution's Entrepreneur Support Program, additional support advantages are provided to women entrepreneurs. Women entrepreneurs can benefit from additional supports within the scope of positive discrimination during the business establishment and development stages. Under the Credit Financing Support, up to 1 million TL in working capital support is offered to facilitate access to finance for women and young entrepreneurs.
Under the business development support, entrepreneurs are offered repayable support of up to 1.5 million TL. If the entrepreneur is a woman, an additional 150,000 TL is added to the upper limit. The expenses of businesses for personnel, machinery, equipment, molds, software and service procurement (training, consultancy and mentoring, certification, testing and analysis, marketing, design, and industrial property rights) are covered.
The Ministry of Trade's e-export supports stand out for women entrepreneurs who want to sell their products not only in Turkey but also abroad. SPECIAL CREDIT PACKAGES Public banks, especially Halkbank, implement credit programs for women entrepreneurs that offer low interest rates or interest advantages under certain conditions.
Working capital needs, equipment investments, and digital transformation projects can be financed under these credits. Some programs also offer special advantages for women who are starting a business for the first time. In the bank's current program, there is a credit opportunity of up to 600,000 TL for women entrepreneurs who have just started a business, and up to 1 million TL for women entrepreneurs who have already established their business.
There are also Ziraat Bank Women Entrepreneur Financing Packages and VakıfBank Women Entrepreneur Loans. Thousands of women in Turkey sell via social media, but a significant portion cannot transition to the incorporation and branding stage. However, setting up an e-commerce site and opening a digital store with low budgets thanks to government supports is now much easier than in the past.
Even a small-scale social media venture can turn into a brand operating on a national or even global scale in a short time thanks to supports. SUPPORT FROM KGF TOO Apart from KOSGEB, public banks, and the Ministry of Trade E-Export Supports, there are other supports and incentives for women entrepreneurs.
There are numerous programs such as KGF Guarantee Support, KOOP-DES support, Development Agency Supports, and Financing Packages for Women's Cooperatives. KOSGEB ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT PROGRAM Establishment Support: Standard grant for sole proprietorship + 10,000 TL additional (special for women entrepreneurs), up to 20,000 TL non-repayable grant for capital companies.
Personnel Support: For each period when the total number of SGK premium days of the personnel employed in the business is 360 or more; a non-repayable support equal to the total employer cost of 1 month's gross minimum wage is provided each year for 3 years. Business Development Support: Standard upper limit of support is 1.5 million TL, additional 150,000 TL for women entrepreneurs, total upper limit for women entrepreneurs is 1 million 650 thousand TL.
Credit Financing Support: Up to 1 million TL in working capital support is offered to facilitate access to finance for women and young entrepreneurs. Women entrepreneurs with a jury score of 50 and above can benefit from this credit support even if they cannot enter the ranking. Maximum credit maturity is 36 months. SGK AND İŞKUR WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT INCENTIVES Support per female employee: 65,
000 TL up to 65,000 TL in premium, tax, and wage support is provided. Care support for women with children: Monthly support is provided to working mothers who have a child aged 0-24 months and employ insured caregivers. Monthly financial support of 510 euros is provided to mothers residing in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir. Single mothers or mothers with children with special needs are provided with monthly support of 560 euros.
BANK LOANS: SPECIAL FINANCING FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS Halkbank Women Entrepreneur Loan: Halkbank offers a credit opportunity of 200,000 TL to women entrepreneurs who have just started a business or whose establishment does not exceed 6 months. Up to 125,000 TL interest-free loan for young women entrepreneurs under the age of 30, and up to 300,000 TL interest-free loan for women entrepreneurs with a master's certificate and at least 3 years of work experience.
İGE Guaranteed Women Exporter Loan: Guaranteed credit is offered to women entrepreneurs with exporting businesses in cooperation with Garanti BBVA and İhracatı Geliştirme Anonim Şirketi (İGE). To benefit from the loan, the business must meet KOSGEB's SME definition.
WOMEN IN EXPORT SUPPORT PACKAGE Micro Credit: For Small-Scale Enterprises, the Ministry of Family and Social Services offers micro credit financing to support the small-scale enterprises of low-income women. Development Agencies: Development agencies operating across Turkey offer special grants regionally to women entrepreneurs.
These supports are generally project-based and competitive in nature. THE RISING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING TRUCK IN MARDIN The Rising Women Entrepreneurship Training Truck, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and Halkbank, arrived in Mardin. Entrepreneurship training was provided to 80 women in 2 sessions in the training truck.
In the trainings, information was provided on digitalization, e-commerce fundamentals, personal branding, finance, legal processes, company establishment and micro credit promotion, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. At the promotion stand of the Mardin Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services set up in the same area, brochures about the services of the Ministry of Family and Social Services were distributed.
