Women contribute to Turkey's foreign trade

Nineteen women, working under the umbrella of Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), manages Turkey's foreign trade relations with several countries, the group said Saturday.

DEIK's 19 country-based business councils include Canada, Italy, Brazil, and Mozambique.

"DEIK supports the rise of women in all areas of the business world," the group said.

Chairwomen represent the commercial diplomacy mission of DEIK and the power of Turkish businesswomen in the world, it added.

Nail Olpak, the head of DEIK, said the board is more powerful with chairwomen.

The number of chairwomen rose to 19 from 14 in the last general assembly of DEIK in January, he said.

"Chairwomen contribute to increase bilateral investments and reach commercial targets with 19 countries, which equal to $40 billion business volume.”

Meanwhile, 19 chairwomen issued a joint news release for the March 8 Women's Day. "We see that no society, in which women do not play an active role especially in the business area, has made progress.

"Turkish women will always be the key to the development of our country in every field," they said.