Refugee Entrepreneurship in Türkiye: Opportunities, Challenges and Solutions

Authors : Nazlı Kazanoğlu

Pages : 251-260

Doi:10.25294/auiibfd.1334717

View : 95 | Download : 153

Publication Date : 2023-11-29

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Syrian Civil War led nearly thirty-five million Syrians to leave their homes and due to geographical and cultural proximity Türkiye became one of the countries that welcomes most Syrians. As of 2022, Türkiye has been hosting approximately 3.6 million Syrians. Although these Syrian refugees were considered as ‘guests’ during the first years of their arrival and their basic needs were met by the Turkish government, they have now reached the capacity to work in an income-generating job. While most still work precariously in labour-intensive sectors, the number of those who have started their own businesses has also increased rapidly. Since their establishment, these Syrian businesses contribute not only to inclusive economic growth in Türkiye by creating new jobs and providing livelihoods to Syrian refugees but also to their integration process. Yet, it is also important to note that these Syrian businesses face a number of problems that have not been faced by local businesses. Within this context, this article aims to examine the problems that prevent Syrian businesses from realizing their potential and to develop a model to help them overcome these problems.
Keywords : Girişimcilik, Göç, Mülteci Girişimciliği, KOBİ, Suriye İç Savaşı, Zorunlu Göç