Four Companies Supported By TSKB Under The Women's Employment Loan Program Awarded Kagider Equal Opportunity Model Certificate
Hayat Kimya, Yapı Merkezi Holding, Ulusoy Un and Nemport, to which TSKB provided financing under the “Women’s Employment Loan Program”, were awarded the Equal Opportunity Model (FEM) certificate issued by KAGIDER with the support of the Bank. The program was initiated by TSKB to support inclusive development and has directly and indirectly provided a total of USD 445 million to 269 projects to date.
Speaking at the certificate ceremony held at TSKB Headquarters on May 10, 2023, TSKB CEO Murat Bilgiç said, “Increasing women’s employment in the business world means a more qualified growth in the economy. Undoubtedly, becoming a gender and equal opportunity-oriented company is a journey that requires taking systematic steps. For this systemic approach, certifications with internationally recognized metrics are of great importance. As a bank, we encourage our business partners to obtain KAGIDER-FEM Certification within the scope of our ‘Women’s Employment Loan Program’. We sincerely congratulate our companies that have received their certificates today, and we would like to thank KAGIDER and all our fund providers, especially the French Development Agency, who contributed to the process.”
Actively promoting gender and opportunity equality in its working environment, management levels, and all its operations for many years, TSKB (Industrial Development Bank of Türkiye) has been providing financing and consultancy opportunities to the real sector to contribute to the transformation of the sector towards gender and opportunity equality.
The Bank supports the inclusive development of our country by securing “Gender Equality” themed funds from global organizations such as IFC (International Finance Corporation) and IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development). In 2016, the Bank signed the first phase of the fund agreement, and in 2019, it signed the second phase with AFD (French Development Agency).
With the “Women’s Employment Loan Program”, a pioneering and innovative model in the finance sector, TSKB has provided USD 380 million in direct loans to 92 projects and USD 65 million in indirect loans to 177 SMEs through the wholesale banking channel. TSKB has also been running a “Technical Assistance Program” in cooperation with AFD since the beginning of the funding agreement to help companies draw the roadmap they need on gender equality, support them with the necessary actions and increase their access to good practices on women’s employment.
Hayat Kimya, Ulusoy Un, Nemport and Yapı Merkezi Holding, which increased the number of female employees and strengthened gender equality practices in the workplace through action plans implemented under TSKB’s “Women’s Employment Loan Program”, were awarded the Equal Opportunity Model (FEM) certificate by KAGIDER (Women Entrepreneurs Association of Türkiye) after completing an independent evaluation process. Bahçeşehir University and Modern Ambalaj, which are supported within the same scope, are also taking firm steps towards obtaining FEM certification with the agreement signed with KAGIDER.
The certificates of the companies that successfully passed the 7-stage evaluation prepared by KAGIDER to identify inequalities in processes such as recruitment, training and career planning and to put an end to gender discriminatory approaches in business life were presented by TSKB CEO Murat Bilgiç and KAGIDER President Emine Erdem at a ceremony held at TSKB’s Headquarters on May 10.
TSKB CEO Murat Bilgiç: “Increasing women’s employment in the business world means a more qualified growth in the economy”
Speaking at the ceremony, TSKB CEO Murat Bilgiç stated that creating a development story that includes all segments of the society, especially women, has become a necessity rather than a preference and added: “Increasing women’s employment in the business world means a more qualified growth in the economy. Undoubtedly, becoming a gender and equal opportunity-oriented company is a journey that requires taking systematic steps. For this systemic approach, certifications with internationally recognized metrics are of great importance. In this context, we believe that the Equal Opportunity Model (FEM) certificate, which is issued by KAGIDER, one of the most important civil society initiatives of our country, with the technical support of the World Bank and includes independent audit steps, is important in terms of improving women’s employment and empowering women in our country. As TSKB, we encourage our business partners to obtain FEM certification as part of our “Women’s Employment Loan Program”. I sincerely congratulate the companies that attach importance to gender equality and contribute to women’s employment through their policies and internal practices. I would also like to thank KAGIDER for conducting the FEM certification, our audit companies, AFD for contributing to this process and all other fund providers for raising the bar in this transformation. As key actors of our country’s development, we will make significant progress in the field of women’s employment in a short period of time thanks to the activities we carry out with great sensitivity and commitment to opportunity and gender equality. I believe that achieving equal representation of women in all fields should be a duty, especially as we approach the 100th anniversary of our Republic.”
Cécile Couprie, AFD Regional Director for Balkans, Middle East and Asia: “We rely on TSKB’s leadership to extend this approach developed in Türkiye to neighboring countries through IDFC”
Making evaluations at the FEM Certificate presentation ceremony, Cécile Couprie, AFD Regional Director for Balkans, Middle East and Asia, noted: “First of all, I would like to thank TSKB for this exciting work we are doing together in the field of gender equality. Over the years, TSKB has developed real expertise on the theme of gender equality. Thanks to this experience, TSKB leads the Gender Equality working group within the IDFC (International Development Finance Club), which brings together the world’s leading development banks to implement the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement agendas. We rely on TSKB’s leadership to extend this approach developed in Türkiye to neighboring countries through IDFC.”
KAGIDER President Emine Erdem: “We know that equal opportunities for women and men in society and companies have the potential to reduce poverty and enrich the world”
Speaking at the ceremony, KAGIDER President Emine Erdem stated that as of 2023, the 100th anniversary of our Republic, only 11 million of the 32 million women of working age are in the labor force, that is, only one third of them are employed. Erdem underlined that the biggest competitive advantage of a country is its talented and educated human resources and that the potential of women in our country should be used effectively and added: “We know that equal opportunities for women and men in society and companies have the potential to reduce poverty and enrich the world. According to a report published by the McKinsey consulting firm in 2015, the global economy could grow by USD 28 trillion in 2025 with increased participation of women in the workforce. More equality means more efficiency! More equality means a better educated and more developed country! At KAGIDER, we initiated the Equal Opportunity Model-FEM certification program in 2010 with the assistance of the World Bank, aiming to promote and implement equality in corporate cultures of companies in Türkiye and raise awareness about women’s empowerment. In 2017, TSKB began the FEM certification process and successfully obtained the FEM certificate after an independent evaluation, demonstrating its commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment in both national and international contexts. The importance TSKB attaches to women’s employment and equal opportunities and the work it carries out sets an example for many other institutions. TSKB also encourages its subsidiaries and business partners, which it knows to be on the same page with, to be involved in the FEM process, and has brought us all together here today. On behalf of myself and the Board of Directors of KAGIDER, of which I am the chairperson, I would like to thank TSKB and the officials of our esteemed institutions who participated in the process for their dedication to women's employment and equal opportunities.”
