Support Program for Women Entrepreneurs

Our holistic supports for women entrepreneurs are 18 years old!

As Garanti BBVA, we have long recognised the importance of women's increased and active participation in the economy for sustainable economic development and social progress, and we underline this at every opportunity. In this way, we approach our activities for women entrepreneurs under four main headings: ‘providing financing’, ‘encouragement’, ‘training’ and ‘opening to new markets’. We started to provide the first financing support for women entrepreneurs with the ‘Women Entrepreneur Support Loan’ in 2006. In addition, we became the first bank in Turkey to sign the United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs). On the encouragement side, we launched the 18th Turkey's Woman Entrepreneur Competition in cooperation with KAGİDER and Ekonomist Magazine in order to make the voices of women entrepreneurs heard and to help them inspire other entrepreneurs like themselves. In 2012, we launched the ‘Women Entrepreneur Academy of Turkey’ programme in cooperation with Boğaziçi University Lifelong Learning Centre. In addition, we cooperate with the Women of Commerce Platform, which was launched under the leadership of KAGİDER, with the idea of ‘what can we do to strengthen the side of finding new markets and customers?’. Celebrating its 18th anniversary with our women entrepreneur programme, we will continue to provide comprehensive and sustainable support to more women in the areas they need as a stakeholder playing an active role in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.