Evaluation of development agency support programs in terms of SMES and export targets: An example of the TR81 region

With the spread of liberal policies in the world, the economic and political importance of international trade has increased. In line with the plans and targets set in this context, government supports are provided in terms of improving the marketing capabilities of enterprises, increasing their competitiveness in the international arena, and improving their production capabilities. SMEs have been determined as the focus group in the plans and programs since they are spread over wide areas. Continuing its activities in the TR81 Region examined in the study, the Western Black Sea Development Agency was established with the aim of reducing the intra-country development disparities and spreading the development throughout the country, and supports projects that serve national and regional goals. In the study, the financial and technical support provided in the TR81 Region, socio-economic differences within the region and between regions within the scope of SE-GE data, the distribution of enterprises that offer projects for investment purposes according to provinces and districts, the distribution according to their fields of activity and the effect of business characteristics on exports were examined. Within the scope of TOBB sector database, regional potential and structure of SMEs and with TIM and TUIK data, exported products and export markets were examined. In this context, it is suggested that SMEs and export-oriented financing supports to increase the share of enterprises in international trade should be created by taking into account the prominent fields of activity in the region, regional specialization, financial sources, natural resources and human capital.