The “Panel on Support for Women in Rural Areas”, coordinated by Pamukkale University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Labor Economics and Industrial Relations faculty member Prof. Dr. Handan KUMAŞ, was held on March 6, 2026, at the Honaz Public Education Center. The panel, which started with opening speeches by Honaz District Governor Vahit YILMAZ and Honaz Mayor Yüksel KEPENEK, included representatives from KOSGEB, TKDK, İŞKUR, and the Soroptimist Club, who shared support mechanisms for rural women entrepreneurship.

Within the scope of the traditional March 8 International Women’s Day activities of Pamukkale University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (PAU FEAS), this year the district of Honaz hosted the event. The “Panel on Support for Women in Rural Areas”, organized in cooperation with Denizli district governorates and public institutions, was held on March 6, 2026, at the Honaz Public Education Center. The event, attended by district residents, institution representatives, local leaders, members of the Labor Economics Community, and students of the Department of Labor Economics and Industrial Relations, was chaired by PAU FEAS Department of Labor Economics and Industrial Relations faculty member Prof. Dr. Handan KUMAŞ.

Following the opening speeches of Honaz District Governor Vahit YILMAZ and Honaz Mayor Yüksel KEPENEK, four speakers comprehensively discussed the support opportunities for women entrepreneurship in rural areas. KOSGEB Denizli Provincial Director Sadullah DÜLGER presented entrepreneurship support programs; Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution (TKDK) Denizli Provincial Coordinator Bilal TAŞTEPE shared information on grants and project supports provided by their institution; and Director of Denizli Provincial Office of the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) Çağrı ÇELİKTAŞ introduced vocational training programs and entrepreneurial grant support of up to 550,000 TRY for disabled and formerly incarcerated individuals.

Denizli Soroptimist Club Association Term President and PAU Faculty of Technology, Department of Biomedical Engineering faculty member Meltem BALABAN addressed women entrepreneurship from an NGO perspective and shared economic empowerment projects implemented in the districts of Bozkurt and Buldan. In their presentations, DÜLGER and TAŞTEPE particularly highlighted application requirements, types of support, and examples of women entrepreneurs supported by their institutions for women who want to establish or expand their initiatives in rural areas.

The panel, in which Denizli Soroptimist Club members conducted handcraft activities with children and women, concluded with a question-and-answer session, followed by Prof. Dr. KUMAŞ presenting a book gift to a female participant from Honaz and a group photo.