The International Awareness Summit, organized under the coordination of MUSIAD Women, was held at Istanbul AKM. Speaking at the summit held with the theme "Transformation Begins with Us", MUSIAD Women's President Meryem İlbahar said that MUSIAD Women, who are involved in all areas of life, continue on their way stronger with awareness-raising activities.

International Awareness Summit organized by MUSIAD Women - IAS'22 (International Awareness Summit), Deputy Minister of Family and Social Policies Rıdvan Duran, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Özgül Özkan Yavuz, Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) President Mahmut Asmalı, Foreign Economics Relations Board (DEİK), Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) President Şekib Avdagiç, Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM) Chairman of the Board of Trustees Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, MUSIAD Women's President Meryem İlbahar, Bahçelievler Mayor Dr. Hakan Bahadır, Young MUSIAD President Yunus Furkan Akbal, MUSIAD Board Members, MUSIAD Women Branch Presidents, MUSIAD members and guests from all over Turkey, was held at Istanbul Taksim Atatürk Cultural Center. At the event, Environment and Health, Migration, Entrepreneurship and Digital issues were discussed comprehensively from the eyes of women.

Women's participation in the workforce contributes positively to employment and the country's economy.

Making evaluations at the International Awareness Summit, MUSIAD Women's President Meryem İlbahar said that MUSIAD Women, who are involved in all areas of life, continue on their way stronger with awareness-raising activities. İlbahar made the following statements in his statement:

"As the business women's community, we believe that increasing the number of female employers in the business world, developing and strengthening this potential will undoubtedly contribute positively to both employment and the country's economy. The participation of women in the workforce is also very important for the sustainability of economic and social life." We say 'sustainability' because the development and dissemination of practices that maintain the balance of work and private life will bring about an increase in productivity and motivation. At the same time, digital entrepreneurship has an important place in terms of contributing to both economic growth, employment opportunities and innovation. It is important for women in business life. One of our areas of work is to support women's entrepreneurship and strengthen existing initiatives.In this sense, we are committed to providing training and mentoring infrastructure to entrepreneurial activities, facilitating access to the network and acting as a bridge. We are aware of our responsibility.”

"No one migrates willingly in crisis areas"

Pointing to the "Migration" panel held within the scope of IAS'22 in his assessment, Mayor İlbahar underlined that no one voluntarily migrated in crisis regions and that people were forced to migrate in these regions. İlbahar continued:

"During our visit to the countryside of Idlib in Ramadan, we witnessed the wind blowing like a lament in these lands. Experiences hit people's faces. Today, we talked about the issue of migration with the contributions of our invaluable speakers. We talked about social cohesion, preventive policies and other solution proposals. Yes, migration, migrant "Our civilization is full of examples where people from different geographies, races and languages ​​can live together. We must strive to regain these colors and to highlight the good, the beautiful and the virtuous."

MUSIAD Women works hard to increase the number of women entrepreneurs

Stating that after the 26th Ordinary General Assembly of MUSIAD, held on September 11, 2021, MUSIAD Women were transformed into a more dynamic structure, MUSIAD Chairman Mahmut Asmalı said that this transformation was also reflected in the field with the International Awareness Summit. President Asmalı also mentioned the role of MUSIAD Women in women's initiative and pointed out that intense efforts are being made to increase the number of employer women:

"In recent years, women's participation in working life to a large extent and their involvement in entrepreneurship activities by taking a more active role has a strategic importance for developing economies. The way to activate the potential that cannot be used in both production and employment and to create new business fields is to encourage women's entrepreneurship and employment. In this context, we support the policies and projects of our MUSIAD Women's organization that will enable women to take more part 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 The increase in women's employment in our country, especially in recent years, is remarkable. When we look at the employment status of the employed, 71.1 percent of women are paid, 9.5 percent are self-employed, and 1.7 percent are employed.
It is seen that one of them works in the employer position. At this point, MUSIAD Woman puts forth an intense effort to increase our employer women, that is, this ratio of 1.7."

Within the scope of IAS'22, Environment and Health, Migration, Entrepreneurship and Digital were discussed from the eyes of women

In the "Migration" session of the International Awareness Summit, Karam Foundation Founder Lina Sergie Attar, Vassalam Foundation Founder Nazan Yalçınkaya and Director Tülay Gökçimen evaluated the developments in the crisis regions and suggested solutions. After the migration session, Syrian Academician Fatma Hüseyin shared her thoughts. While the summit continued with the Entrepreneurship and Digital panel, technology investor Hande Enes, TOBB Istanbul Women Entrepreneurs Board President Hatice Kal and MeloApp Founder Melis Bilgili made evaluations under the moderation of Pelin Çift. The Environment and Health panel, the last panel session of the event, discussed the climate crisis. In the program, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Özgül Özkan Yavuz, Sustainable Living Coach Dilara Koçak and Horizon Consulting Co-founder Eser Erginoğlu shared their thoughts under the moderation of Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) Environment and Cleaner Production Council President Mihrimah Kocabıyık. In the closing program of the International Awareness Summit, which was held with the motto "Transformation Begins with Us", Prof. Dr. Ümit Meriç evaluated 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.

Modern calligraphy exhibition and recycled products became the focus of attention

Within the of IAS'22, artist Bilal Akkaya's "Harmony of Lines" modern calligraphy exhibition was presented to the guests. The exhibition, which carries traces from the roots to the future, was followed with interest by the participants. The area where the recycled products by Bahçelievler Municipality were exhibited was the scene of colorful images.