Analysis of project based supports evaluated by KOSGEB in the framework of internationalization: The case of Tekirdağ province

With the globalization in the world, the importance of internationalization activities of enterprises is increasing. With the concept of internationalization gaining importance in our country, support systems that increase exports and reduce the current account deficit have begun to be established in government policies and strategic plans. In this direction, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Administration (KOSGEB), which is among the main implementers of the state's support policies, carries out its activities at the point of adaptation of government policies to the economy with programs that support the foreign trade activities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in our country. SMEs, which constitute the majority of enterprises in the world and in our country, make positive contributions by playing a major role in creating employment, their ability to quickly adapt to economic variability, competitive stance and reducing interregional economic imbalances. KOSGEB support programs are implemented to provide positive effectiveness to these roles, to encourage and support their opening to world markets. In this study, by analyzing the project-based supports implemented by KOSGEB, suggestions were tried to be put forward in order to maximize the compatibility of the support activities with government programs and national-international targets. The study consists of four parts. In the first part of the study, the definition of SME and the importance of SMEs, the situation of SMEs and their importance in terms of the country's economy are mentioned. In this section, the concept of SMEs in the world and in Turkey is discussed and the role of SMEs in the market is explained by drawing attention to the effect of SMEs on foreign trade. In the second part, the existence of KOSGEB and its contribution to businesses and the country are discussed. The history of KOSGEB, its general structure, the supports provided and the application principles of project-based supports were examined and information about the legislation definitions was given. In the third part, Tekirdag province and its industry, foreign trade situation in Tekirdag, special economic zones of the province and KOSGEB support data that has been utilized in Tekirdag are presented. In the fourth and last chapter, first of all, the aim and method of the research, the method of data collection, the scope and limits of the research are presented under the headings. In this last section, together with the research, the pre-support and post-support situations of the enterprises benefiting from the project-based supports evaluated by KOSGEB in Tekirdağ province were analyzed. Project-based parts of the supports for SMEs in Tekirdağ province are discussed over the supports provided. The supports were concluded by conducting research within the framework of the Tekirdağ province example. By including the financial data and results analyzed in the SPSS program, the supports were connected to the country and Tekirdağ with the analysis information that emerged within the framework of internationalization, and the results and suggestions section. KOSGEB has been transferring public resources to SMEs since its establishment in 1990 and has been providing uninterrupted support to businesses in Turkey with project-based support programs since 2010. With the study, how many enterprises benefited from project-based support programs in Tekirdağ province, the analysis of the total sales and foreign sales of the enterprises that benefited from these support programs before and after the support, and the data of these companies that benefited from the support and the project-based support received by these companies within the framework of internationalization were evaluated.