The International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce and the Secretariat of the ICC Court have decided to locate their new offices in Hong Kong and Singapore.

 

In recognition of the growing importance of the Asia Pacific region to ICC Dispute Resolution Services and the ICC International Court of Arbitration, ICC announced in September 2007 its intention to establish a branch of the Court’s Secretariat in Asia to administer ICC cases in the region.

 

ICC has now decided on two important initiatives:

 

  • It will open a branch of the Secretariat of the Court in Hong Kong with a case management team to administer cases in the region under the ICC Rules of Arbitration.

  • It will locate the Director, ICC Arbitration and Amicable Dispute Resolution Asia in Singapore, where it will open a liaison office dedicated to ICC Dispute Resolution Services.

Both initiatives will be implemented in the last quarter of 2008 and should be fully operational by the end of the year.

 

The Secretary General of the ICC Court, Jason Fry, commented: “We are very excited by these two steps which reflect our conviction that the Asia Pacific region is of significant importance to the future of ICC Dispute Resolution Services. Our desire was to respond to an increasing demand for the provision of high quality services locally. ICC is a truly international organization and as such wishes to ensure its global reach to the international business community.”

 

He added: “We are grateful for the encouragement we have received from the governments of Singapore and Hong Kong to come to the region. Both Singapore and Hong Kong are recognized hubs for international dispute resolution. That fact is reflected in this two pronged approach to the region.”

 

The Chairman of the ICC Court, Pierre Tercier, said: “This important step will be a milestone in the development of ICC Dispute Resolution Services. It will increase our presence in Asia and demonstrate once more the international character of the institution.”

 

ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban said: “We are very pleased to announce this key decision that reflects one of the main conclusions of a strategic survey conducted by ICC in 2007, namely to recognize the growing importance of Asia as one part of the world where ICC should have a greater presence and increased visibility.”

 

For more information, please contact:

Valerie Daunas

Secretariat of the ICC International Court of Arbitration

Telephone: +33 1 49 53 29 41

Email: valerie.daunas@iccwbo.org