Law Minister Edwin Tong announced Singapore's bid to host a proposed international tribunal for investment disputes and the launch of a new arbitration research centre.
Key facts
- •Singapore plans to provide a dedicated building for the proposed Multilateral Investment Tribunal if its bid is accepted.
- •As of the end of 2025, there were 1,463 known treaty-based investor-state dispute settlement cases globally.
- •The WTO appellate body has been unable to hear appeals since 2017 due to blocked appointments, with over 30 appeals pending as of late 2025.
- •The new Centre for Arbitration and International Dispute Resolution will be led by Professor Stavros Brekoulakis, the Michael and Laura Hwang Chair in International Arbitration at NUS.
- •The centre will prioritize research into investor-state dispute settlement, ethics, and professional governance.
Singapore is bidding to host a proposed Multilateral Investment Tribunal, an institution currently under discussion by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). Law Minister Edwin Tong announced the bid on Tuesday, August 25, citing a global need for a credible and trusted system to resolve investment disputes. If successful, Singapore plans to house the tribunal in a dedicated building equipped with facilities for hearings, registry operations, and tribunal members.
By the numbers
Addressing Strains in Global Dispute Resolution
Minister Tong noted that while treaty-based investor-state dispute settlement cases have increased over the last decade, the current framework faces challenges including inconsistent decisions and concerns regarding arbitrator impartiality. He emphasized that the legitimacy of the system is under pressure as states increasingly regulate areas such as energy security, climate change, and public health. According to a Ministry of Law factsheet, there were 1,463 known treaty-based investor-state dispute settlement cases as of the end of 2025. Singapore argues that it offers a neutral, stable jurisdiction grounded in the rule of law to host such an institution. Mr. Tong stated that as a small nation, Singapore relies on a stable, rules-based international order and seeks to prevent a scenario where global outcomes are determined solely by size and power.
New Centre for Arbitration and International Dispute Resolution
In addition to the tribunal bid, the Ministry of Law and the National University of Singapore (NUS) are establishing a Centre for Arbitration and International Dispute Resolution. The centre aims to drive research, policy development, and thought leadership on sustaining the rules-based international framework. Led by Professor Stavros Brekoulakis, the centre will focus on topics such as transparency, accountability, and professional governance in international arbitration. It will also launch an advanced studies programme for practitioners and provide a platform for international conventions and publications.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Channel NewsAsia.
