In line with INGEV’s mission to support the development of the economy and trade in Şanlıurfa, the Şanlıurfa Business Development Center continues to provide training and consultancy services to SMEs in the city despite the pandemic. During the online opening event of the center, managers and leaders of INGEV, DRC and the Şanlıurfa Chamber of Industry and Commerce came together to share their thoughts on how the business development center will contribute to the development of Şanlıurfa’s economy and employment:
INGEV President Vural Çakır “Şanlıurfa is one of the cities where social cohesion can be measured best in our country. It is critical that both the host and the refugee population possess professional skills and have access to adequate living conditions and sources of sustainable income in both the short- and long-term.
Halil Ibrahim Peltek, President of Şanlıurfa Chamber of Commerce and Industry ”
“Training qualified personnel with the aim of developing entrepreneurship and employment is top priority for Urfa. Between 2018-2020, 1864 companies were founded in Urfa, which is much higher than the national average. We hope that this will have a lasting positive effect on social cohesion.”
Danish Refugee Council / Dansk Flygtningehjælp Laila Zulkaphil: “Our aim as DRC is to offer a good life for displaced peoples, and for this reason we recognize the importance of Şanlıurfa. We are working to create 53 new start-ups this year in the city.”
INGEV Şanlıurfa Business Development Center has provided entrepreneurship and SME capacity building training to more than 300 beneficiaries so far, and will continue to provide its services with company establishment, legal assistance, consultancy, and networking. These grants and programs aiming to bring new companies into the Şanlıurfa and Kilis business ecosystems are being provided in cooperation with the Danish Refugee Council (the DRC) with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Cooperation and Development and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We completed the first Incubation Program with the participation of 21 entrepreneurs in the Sanliurfa Business Development Center within the scope of our project aimed at improving the capacities of the entrepreneurs living in Sanliurfa and bringing new companies to the Sanliurfa economic ecosystem. 10 entrepreneurs had a chance to get a grant with the detailed and prolonged evaluation of our committee consists of the representatives of INGEV, DRC, and Harran University.
What Training programs will be available in the next term?
The new application period for the Incubation and Small Grant Program was opened in February, with new program training beginning in March. At least 50 people are expected to participate in the current two-month training program, and the training sessions are set to continue into the next period as well for SME owners and employees located in Şanlıurfa and Kilis.