Bahrain’s delegation hosts discussion panel with ICSID – World Bank Group in Vienna

Vienna, Sep. 24 (BNA): The Kingdom of Bahrain’s delegation, participating in the 52nd Session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group on Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform, hosted a discussion panel in Vienna, in cooperation with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, part of the World Bank Group.

The discussion panel opened with remarks delivered by Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary of UNCITRAL, while Martina Polasek, Secretary-General of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, moderated the session. The panel included the Deputy Secretary-General and Principal Legal Counsel of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, in addition to delegations from Canada, Singapore, and Thailand.

Speakers discussed procedural reforms in the field of investor-state disputes, sharing practical experience in implementing similar provisions within institutional arbitration rules. The session also addressed challenges and opportunities associated with the effective application of these evolving procedural rules in investor-state arbitration proceedings.

Concluding the event, Professor Marike Patrani Paulsson, Secretary-General of the Bahrain Council for International Dispute Resolution and Head of Bahrain’s delegation to UNCITRAL Working Groups, affirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting the development of effective dispute resolution frameworks that contribute to fostering foreign direct investment. She noted Bahrain’s role in advancing international arbitration and showcasing leadership in dispute resolution on the global stage through institutional partnerships and capacity-building efforts.