WIPO and Singapore Partner in the Field of Alternative Dispute Resolution

GENEVA/SINGAPORE - An agreement signed by Mr. Francis Gurry, director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and Mr. K Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, has paved the way for the establishment of the Singapore Office of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, which will officially open in January 2010, according to WIPO.

The Singapore Office of the WIPO Center, located at Maxwell Chambers – Singapore’s international dispute resolution centre – will focus on promoting alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services in the Asia Pacific Region.

As the only WIPO Center in the region, it will provide training and advice on procedures such as arbitration, mediation and expert determination, and will administer and facilitate hearings in cases conducted under the WIPO Rules in Singapore.

The Singapore Office of the WIPO Center aims to cater to regional needs and to make WIPO’s experience and expertise in intellectual property ADR more accessible in the Asia Pacific Region.

“Singapore is honored to be chosen as the location for the WIPO Center in the Asia Pacific Region. The expansion of WIPO’s presence here bears testimony to Singapore’s commitment to the protection of intellectual assets and our support of WIPO’s efforts to develop the international IP regime,” Mr.  Shanmugam said.

“WIPO’s decision to set up its WIPO Center office in Maxwell Chambers, a dedicated facility for international dispute resolution, augments our efforts to develop Singapore as a venue of choice for international arbitration and mediation in Asia,” he added.

Gurry thanked the Government of Singapore for supporting this initiative, which he said would offer companies and other actors in the region a cost-effective dispute resolution option and help boost the availability of fully trained professionals to effectively deliver ADR services throughout the region.

“ADR is an important cost-saving alternative to traditional litigation and