Mauritius: World Jurist Association holds Conference on International Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution

The World Jurist Association Conference on International Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)-Impact on the Rule of Law, organised jointly with the Judiciary of Mauritius, is being held at the Grand Baie International Conference Centre till April 7. Yesterday at the opening ceremony the Attorney General, Mr. Yatin Varma, said that in Mauritius we have made significant headway in our efforts to position ourselves as a state-of–the-art, attractive and unique venue to conduct international arbitration and international investment arbitration proceedings.

The Attorney General recalled that under the International Arbitration Act, the Permanent Office of the Permanent Court of arbitration would be set up in Mauritius and this would be the first of such an office outside the Hague, created as a result of the Host Country Agreement which the Government of Mauritius concluded with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in April 2009.Mr. Varma underlined that new emerging sectors in the financial sector, coupled with the more traditional and contemporary international commercial disputes, have given a new meaning to international arbitration and ADR.

The Chief Justice, Mr. Bernard Yeung Sik Yuen, GOSK, in his allocution said the theme of the Conference is in line with the intention of the Government to promote Mauritius as an international arbitration centre of excellence. He added that there are clear indications that it is an efficient mechanism for resolving civil and commercial disputes and the exchange of information from mediation practitioners from other jurisdictions will help sharpen our knowledge of the finer techniques of efficient mediation.

Chief Justices, judges, and eminent lawyers, prosecutors and law professionals as well as top officials from more than twenty countries are participating in this Conference. Discussions are focused on a range of topics including: the importance of international arbitration and ADR to developing countries; issues to consider in drafting an international arbitral/ADR agreement; and enforcing an international arbitration award, amongst others.