KUTSO Project Wins Award for Empowering Women in Industry

KÜTAHYA – March, 2025 — The Kütahya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KUTSO) received a prestigious national award for its pioneering “Sanayide Kadın Eli” (Woman’s Hand in Industry) project. The initiative was recognized at the World Women’s Day Event and “Woman’s Hand in Industry” Project Award Ceremony held on March 8, 2025, by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB). Kütahya was honored for achieving the highest rate of female employment and for being the first pilot province for the project.

The program directly addresses the gender gap in traditionally male-dominated sectors by providing qualified vocational training for women in technical fields such as welding and machine operation. Since August 2021, the project has facilitated the employment of 14,754 women in Kütahya’s industrial sector through İŞKUR (Turkish Employment Agency). For instance, a specific “Woman Welder Training Project” achieved a remarkable 100% employment rate for its graduates, demonstrating the immediate success of this targeted approach.

Expanding Support for All Female Entrepreneurs

While driving integration into industry, KUTSO maintains a comprehensive strategy for empowering all women entrepreneurs. The successful outcomes of the industrial project provided the foundation for the establishment of the KUTSO Women Entrepreneurship Office in June 2023.

This office serves as a critical resource, supporting women with various business ideas—including the city’s numerous folk artists and craftswomen. Through the office, KUTSO provides vital consulting on business development, access to grants and incentives, and guidance on commercialization and market integration. This initiative aligns with KUTSO’s ambitious strategic goal to increase the female employment rate in Kütahya to 40% by the end of 2026, ensuring economic opportunities across both modern industry and traditional craft sectors.