How has the pandemic affected women entrepreneurs in Turkey?

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The financial, social and psychological effects of the pandemic on women entrepreneurs have been documented in a recent report.

"Women Entrepreneurs in Pandemic" report prepared by the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGİDER) in collaboration with the Ipsos research company sheds light on the ways in which women entrepreneurs have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey.

Based on the findings of a study conducted in February 2021, the KAGİDER report has shown that three major problems of women entrepreneurs in Turkey are economic problems (30 percent), coronavirus pandemic (23 percent) and justice and law (15 percent) While 42 percent of the respondents think that the pandemic will be taken under control by the end of 2021, 34 percent think that it will happen at a later date.

Business volume has shrunk

76 percent of the respondents answering the questions of the KAGİDER have said that they are having difficulty during the pandemic. 56 percent have said that they have been indebted in this period. 5 percent of women entrepreneurs have had to close their businesses temporarily.

The findings of the report have also indicated that the business volumes and financial turnover of the companies have shrunk in this period.

Anxiety and increasing workload

The daily lives of women have also become more difficult in the days of coronavirus. 31 percent of the participants have said that they are deeply concerned about their families' possible infection with the virus, the destruction of their investments, their inability to pay their debts and the closure of their businesses. While 13 percent have defined their feelings as "tiredness", 12 percent have defined how they feel as "weariness."

In this period, six out of every 10 women entrepreneurs have allocated more time for household chores, cooking and care for children and five out of every 10 women have allocated more time for work.

Need for support and incentive

Commenting on the findings of the report, KAGİDER Executive Board Chair Emine Erdem has noted that support and incentive packages must be introduced as soon as possible so that the damages incurred during the pandemic can be eliminated and a new process of growth can start.

(EMK/SD)

* Click here for the full report (in Turkish)