In November 2015, G20 leaders (heads of government / heads of state) met in Antalya for its tenth annual meeting under the theme of Inclusive Growth: Global Economy, Growth Strategies, Employment and Investment Strategies. Then in 2016, Antalya hosted EXPO 2016, an international horticultural exhibition that, with the intoxicating scent of flowers and the laughter of children, brought hopes for a greener world.
In October 2022, the City of Antalya will host the 2022 WBAF World Congress of Angel Investors, whose theme will be Digital Transformation for Post-Pandemic Economies. The World Business Angels Investment Forum is an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership of Financial Inclusion (GPFI), which is chaired by Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
Antalya is not only a regular destination of world leaders; it is also a favourite destination for Hollywood stars and world celebrities. It has hosted the Golden Orange Film Festival since 1963, and Elton John famously performed in the province of Antalya at Aspendos, a great city of antiquity that boasts one of the world’s best-preserved amphitheatres, dating back to the second century A.D.
Antalya was slated to host its 2021 World Congress of Angel Investors (WBAF), but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed. The new date is 25–26 October 2022.
Ersin Yazici, Governor of Antalya, says that the 2022 WBAF World Congress will be the best-organised WBAF congress ever. He adds that it will be the third major international event that Antalya has hosted, following the G20 Summit and Expo 2016.
Ali Bahar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Antalya Organized Industrial Zone and the Antalya Organized Industrial Zone Technopark, says that Antalya is now taking a huge step toward turning the city into a world-class innovation hub. He believes that creating new jobs and restoring competitiveness is the best way to promote entrepreneurship globally.
Baybars Altuntas, World President and Executive Chairman of the World Business Angels Investment Forum, says, ‘the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), under the Saudi Arabia Presidency, issued a statement reaffirming the G20’s commitment to its Action Plan, which outlines its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Business Angels Investment Forum is a signatory of the Action Plan. To reflect WBAF’s commitment to the Action Plan, the agenda of its 2022 Congress will focus on financial inclusion, digital transformation, and connecting startups with angel investors’.
He adds that ‘the ultimate goal of all Congress keynotes, panel discussions, presentations, and workshops will be to agree on a common roadmap for entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs that will enable them to emerge from the pandemic period even stronger than they were before’.
The Congress will host four global summits as part of its agenda: a Global Startup Summit; a Global Women Leaders Summit; a Science, Technology and Innovation Summit; and an Ethical Governance Summit. 100 selected startups will pitch on the Global Fundraising Stage after an investment readiness workshop and a one-on-one mentoring session. During the Congress, the WBAF Business School will deliver short courses, workshops, masterclasses, and the Qualified Angel Investors Certification Course. The 2022 Grand Assembly will take place on 24 October, before the Congress starts. WBAF has 1,352 Senior Associates, High Commissioners, Senior Senators, Senators and International Partners from 132 countries. The Congress will also host the Annual Meeting of WBAF Country Offices, to be attended by the Country Directors and board members of each office. WBAF has 10 country offices on 4 continents. WBAF 2022 will also host a regional summit as a part of its official agenda – the Mediterranean Regional Summit of Angel Investors 2022, which is being organized by the Antalya Organized Industrial Zone Technopark.
The VIP Gala Dinner will feature its annual World Excellence Awards, which celebrate high growth and success in the angel and early-stage investment market, recognising the fastest-growing brands and acknowledging the founders, angel investors, crowd-funders, early-stage venture capital investors, NGO leaders, and the policymakers behind them.
The official website of the Congress is now live for early bird registrations. www.wbaf2022.org
