As announced by the World Business Angels Investment Forum, H.E. Ziad Alexandre Hayek, President of the Association of PPP Units & Professionals and Vice-Chair of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Working Party on PPP, has been appointed as High Commissioner for Lebanon.
High Commissioner Hayek is to represent Lebanon at the Grand Assembly of the World Business Angels Investment Forum. The inclusion of Lebanon in WBAF provides a wide range of opportunities for Lebanon’s start-ups, scaleups and high growth businesses and opens doors for economic development.
With this new appointment, Lebanon has joined the largest forum of the world’s equity investment markets and will now be able to connect more with the global investors market, which will open up splendid opportunities for the country. Now local Lebanon angel investors, incubation centres, accelerators, private equity funds, co-investment funds, technology parks, corporate ventures and aspiring entrepreneurs will have more opportunity to connect with global leaders in the same field.
The inclusion of Lebanon in WBAF provides a wide range of opportunities for Lebanon’s start-ups, scaleups and high growth businesses and opens doors for economic development.
Baybars Altuntas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the World Business Angels Investment Forum says “As an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnerships for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), the WBAF supports start-ups, develops entrepreneurial ecosystems, and helps venture capital and companies connect with international companies, fin-techs and other relevant institutions. We are confident about our contribution to the economic development of the country by facilitating connections with entrepreneurial ecosystems. We strongly believe that Lebanon will soon become a country that can foster the development of its economy in a more entrepreneurial atmosphere.”
About the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF)
As an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) is committed to collaborating globally to empower the economic development of the world by fostering innovative financial instruments for startups, scaleups, innovators, entrepreneurs and SMEs and to promoting gender equality and women’s participation in all sectors of the world economy. WBAF invites you to join our global efforts to ease access to finance, promote financial inclusion, and create more jobs and social justice.
WBAF accomplishes its mission through various parties and channels. These include: 138 high commissioners, senators and international partners from 79 countries; 7 country offices on 5 continents; the WBAF Business School and its more than 50 faculty members from 32 countries; and 5 international working committees. WBAF also has an angel investment fund, partnerships with 12 global institutions, and economic cooperation agreements with 5 governments. The WBAF World Congress, held in February of each year, hosts at least 5 summits and numerous other events, including a Global Fundraising Stage and a World Excellence Awards ceremony. WBAF also boasts a number of publications, among which are the WBAF Business School Journal, World Class Startup Magazine, and Angel Investor Review Online.
www.wbaforum.org
About GPFI
The Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) is an inclusive platform for all G20 countries, interested non-G20 countries, and relevant stakeholders to carry forward work on financial inclusion, including implementation of the G20 Financial Inclusion Action Plan endorsed at the G20 Summit in Seoul. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is the Honorary Patron of the GPFI.
www.gpfi.org
About Hayek
H.E. Ziad Alexandre Hayek has 39 years of experience in Public Policy, Economic Policy, International Development, Investment Banking, International Finance, Structured Finance, Project Finance, Corporate Strategy and Corporate Governance. He is the President of the World Association of PPP Units and Professionals; Vice-Chair of the Working Party on PPP of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe; Managing Partner of Hayek Associates LLC; and ex-Secretary General of Lebanon’s High Council for Privatization and PPP. In early 2019, Hayek was nominated to the Presidency of the World Bank. Hayek is member of the Board of Trustees of USEK University, the Investment Committee of YMCA World Alliance, and the governing boards of several NGOs on behalf of the Carlos Slim Foundation. Previously, Hayek was CEO of Lonbridge Associates (London), a boutique investment bank specializing in telecom technology and renewable energy; Senior Managing Director of Investment Banking at Bear Stearns (New York); Managing Director of Banque Indosuez Capital Latin America (Paris); President of Indosuez Mexico (Mexico City); Vice President of Salomon Brothers (New York); and Vice President of Citibank NA, where he occupied posts including Treasurer for West Africa, structured finance specialist for Latin America and finally Head of the Bank’s International Securitization Department. Hayek was also a member of the US Council on Foreign Relations; a Senior Consultant to the Reagan Administration’s Enterprise Program; and member of the board of directors of various local and multinational companies. He holds an MA in International Management from the University of Texas at Dallas and studied Business Administration at the University of Houston and at the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico. Hayek is conversant with 11 languages.
