Importance of women entrepreneurs in regional development: case of Igdır

Nowadays women entrepreneurship is gaining importance and like in many developing countries it is an important element of development in Turkey. Woman entrepreneurs support regional development by being active in different areas, transforming them and making these areas more visible. In this context, women entrepreneurs, who have the potential to create jobs, play an important role for themselves, their families and their community in the process of advancing the level of development. In this study the effect of women entrepreneurs on regional development was analyzed using relevant criteria for Igdir province. Obstacles of women entrepreneurs in Igdir were described, consequences of overcoming these challenges for the city and the region were characterized. Furthermore, challenges of women entrepreneurs were identified, and possible solutions and suggested policies were listed in the conclusion section. According to the results, women entrepreneurs play an important role in regional development, and as the education level of women rises, they pursue entrepreneurial activities independently from their spouses. Expectations of women entrepreneurs are to support their families and sustain their business. In addition, if women work for more than five years, it is an important indicator of the sustainability of their contribution to the province economy.