The first of the planned “Local Opportunities for a Green Future and Digital Transformation” conferences, aimed at fostering new collaborations in green and digital transformation across different provinces, was held in Konya on October 23, 2025. The event was organized in cooperation with Konya Metropolitan Municipality and the Mevlana Development Agency (MEVKA) at the Mevlana Cultural Center Sultan Veled Hall.

The opening session featured speeches by İhsan Bostancı, Secretary General of MEVKA; Bülent Özcan, Director General of Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU Affairs; Hasan Kılca, Mayor of Karatay; Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality; and İbrahim Akın, Governor of Konya. The speakers highlighted the importance of combating climate change, the role of digital transformation in local development, and the effective use of EU grants.

The first panel, titled “EU Grants for a Green Future and Digital Transformation”, was moderated by A. Hakan Atik. Panelists Cemre Güzel, Mehmet Yunus İnan, and Dr. Selda Coşkun shared insights on EU funding opportunities supporting green and digital transformation initiatives.

The second session addressed “Access to International Finance for Cities”, moderated by Hasan Fehmi Tığlı. Panelists Begüm İrhan (EBRD), Canan Yıldız (World Bank), Ali Bekin (JICA), and Mustafa Akdemir (Konya Metropolitan Municipality) discussed opportunities for cities to access international funding for green infrastructure and sustainable projects.

The conference continued with sessions providing information on various EU programs and project presentations. The event served as a productive platform to raise awareness among local authorities about green and digital transformation and to promote more effective use of EU support at the local level.