ISTANBUL

Turkish women are increasingly spearheading the nation’s economic leap as they take on leading roles from heavy industry and high-tech defense to sustainable agriculture.

Marking March 8, International Women’s Day, Anadolu's "Women Strengthening through Production" news series highlights female entrepreneurs and executives who are transforming sectors that have been traditionally dominated by men.

From developing indigenous carbon-capture technologies to managing Industry 4.0-compliant smart factories, women now account for more than 26% of international patent applications from Türkiye, making the country rank first globally in that category.

Government incentives and R&D support have played a crucial role, boosting the number of women in value-added sectors eightfold over the last decade.

As these pioneers expand their reach into global markets across three continents, they are not only driving financial growth but also inspiring a new generation of female leaders.

Women lead national technology

Türkiye over the last 23 years has surpassed many European nations in women’s representation, said Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir.

Women are now active in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence, polar expeditions, and the homegrown car project Togg.

Within a decade, the number of women in R&D sectors shot up from 7,000 to more than 61,000.

Türkiye also ranks first in the world for the ratio of female inventors in international patent applications at 26.1%.

Empowering women in sustainable agriculture

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is working to transform Turkish women into registered entrepreneurs and investors in the food system.

Ayseguk Selisik, the assistant FAO representative in Türkiye, said women’s participation in their "Strong Agriculture, Resilient Society" projects has reached 50%.

The FAO supports 39 women’s cooperatives in 18 provinces through digital platforms to ensure direct access to consumers.

The organization also prioritizes training women on climate change and water scarcity to ensure agricultural sustainability.

Women’s share of exports hits record highs

The share of women working in exporting firms rose from 24% in 2013 to 29.1% in 2024 – a record high.

Their contribution to total exports reached $60.1 billion last year, accounting for 23.6% of the national total.

In high-tech sectors, women’s participation climbed to 20.1%.

The clothing sector remains the leader in female employment with a rate of 49.17%.

Tracking student safety with indigenous software

Gozde Diker, the head of Türkiye's Women Entrepreneurs Association, developed Serviscell, a digital platform that connects schools, parents, and shuttle firms for real-time student tracking.

The system, which was a first in Türkiye when it was launched in 2012, ensures student safety by recording every boarding and drop-off.

Hundreds of thousands of families use the app to monitor their children's school journeys.

The company plans to expand the domestic technology to the Turkic republics and other international markets.

Female engineers lead Industry 4.0 dairy facility

A high-capacity milk processing plant in the capital Ankara, supported by the country's Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution, is managed and operated primarily by women.

General Manager Hande Ozturk said the facility utilizes Industry 4.0 standards and employs 22 women in technical, software and production roles.

The plant processes 40 tons of milk daily and hopes to soon reach a 100-ton capacity.

Exports to Dubai, Iraq, and Georgia are planned in the near future.

Turkish high heels reach 3 continents via e-commerce

Entrepreneur Demet Tekdemir produces custom high-heeled shoes ranging in height from 11 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) for both celebrities and designers.

Her workshop exports to numerous countries, including the US, Germany, and Greece, through digital trade platforms.

The brand is preparing to launch a new collection featuring traditional Turkish motifs to promote national culture abroad.

Tekdemir stressed that persistence is the key for women to succeed in the manufacturing sector.

Healing through art: Mosaic objects go global

Serra Hale Ozkan turned to mosaic art as a therapeutic outlet before establishing her professional workshop in Ankara.

She creates decorative objects with intricate motifs and wants to reach international markets through global handmade-product platforms.

European countries have shown significant interest in her artisanal designs, which she produces using specialized techniques.

Ozkan said she believes her production journey was instrumental in overcoming personal health challenges and depression.

Domestic polymer production for biotech markets

Biologist Seda Cakir founded her company with government startup support to produce chitosan polymer from domestic sources like shrimp and mushroom waste.

Chitosan is a highly functional material used in medicine, textiles, and cosmetics for its antimicrobial and healing properties.

By producing locally, Cakir provides technical support to Turkish industrial players who previously relied on imports.

Her goal is to boost Türkiye's share of the rapidly growing global biotechnology market.

Carbon capture technology exported to 7 nations

Businesswoman Gizem Uysal developed "metal-organic frameworks" that capture carbon dioxide from industrial chimneys with low energy consumption.

Her innovative material is exported to seven countries, including Japan, Canada, and the US.

The technology has diverse applications, ranging from environmental sustainability to detecting toxic gases in defense industry gear.

Uysal is seeking new investments to scale up her production and meet high global demand.

Lighting the way without electricity

Chemist Humeyra Ergin Işık founded her firm at Teknopark Istanbul to develop "electricity-free lighting" solutions using pigment technology.

Inspired by a personal fear of the dark following Türkiye’s devastating 1999 earthquake in the Marmara region, she created a pigment that charges in five seconds and provides light.

Her products are used in road markings, signage, and urban lighting, and won a gold medal at the International Invention Fair.

The company is expanding into "Bio-Cube" projects that integrate microorganisms to enhance light levels.

Food sector exclusion to leadership

Melisa Tokgoz Mutlu, head of the Turkish Exporters Assembly's Fruit and Vegetable Products Board, shared her 25-year journey in the male-dominated food industry.

At a meeting early in her career, she was told, "You don't belong here" – an experience that spurred her to work even harder.

Today, she leads the same boards and manages international export contracts that she once only saw from the sidelines.

Mutlu credits her upbringing in an entrepreneurial family for her resilience and success in global trade.