Engagements and Connections Beyond Anniversary Celebrations at Singapore Convention Week 2024
This year’s Singapore Convention Week 2024 (SC Week 2024) was extra special for SIMC, as it coincided with our 10th Anniversary celebration, Mediation: The Next Frontier. We are proud to celebrate a decade of promoting mediation and its benefits on a global scale.
Centred around the theme of ‘Separating Disruptions from Distractions in an Evolving World’, there were over 40 events happening throughout this year SC Week. While preparing for our own celebration, SIMC also participated in several key events.
SIMC participated in the UNCITRAL Academy Conference and Industry Workshop in multiple capacities. SIMC’s Chairman, Mr. George Lim SC, spoke at the live panel discussion on "The Use of Mediation to Resolve Disputes Involving States." Additionally, at the UNCITRAL Academy Industry Capacity-Building Workshop, "The Best of Both Worlds: Mediation in Arbitration," the Ministry of Law approached SIMC to recommend the panel members, which included Mr. Edwin Glasgow CBE KC, Professor Andrea Hulbert, Ms. Koh Swee Yen SC, and Mr. Sun Wei.
SIMC’s CEO, Mr. Chuan Wee Meng, was a panellist at the CIArb-IPOS IP & Tech Dispute Resolution Conference organized by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Singapore) and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore. This event is an associated event of IP Week @SG 2024 which was held during the SC Week 2024. The panel session discussed the benefits of IP & Tech Mediation in preserving and enhancing parties’ relationships while providing speedy settlements compared to other forms of dispute resolution. Additionally, SIMC’s Director of Strategic Engagement, Antony Lee, participated in a webinar dialogue on ‘Mediation in Avoiding Conflicts and Resolving Construction Disputes’, organized by the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers. The webinar dialogue brings together construction legal practitioners and mediation experts from Asia to discuss the benefits of mediation, including its effectiveness in resolving disputes efficiently, preserving relationships, and offering flexible, interest-based solutions with institutional support.
SIMC is immensely grateful to the partners who have contributed to our growth over the past decade. During SC Week, we had the pleasure of reconnecting with many of our overseas partners at our 10th anniversary celebration. SIMC’s Chairman, Mr. George Lim SC, and CEO, Mr. Chuan Wee Meng, hosted a local dinner featuring tze char and chilli crab for our guests from China, Costa Rica, India, Japan, Korea, Maldives, Spain, and Vietnam. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our shared journey and express our appreciation.
SIMC also signed an MOU with the China International Contractors Association (CHINCA) to enhance cross-border dispute resolution, particularly in relation to the Belt and Road Initiative. The collaboration provides for cross referral of commercial disputes, training and promotion of mediation.
We also took time to meet in person with both new and long-standing partners, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, the Bahrain Delegations, the Bar Council of Bhutan, MICADR Pakistan, the Deputy Secretary General of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the Shanghai Bar Association. In-person meetings provided a personal touch to these collaborations, enhancing the relationships we’ve built over the years.
Bottom: Representatives from different CHINCA Member Companies.
With all the excitement of SC Week, SIMC will continue to focus on building connections, forging collaborations, and growing a stronger international mediation community. We look forward to participating in more events that will allow us to raise awareness of mediation’s benefits and promote its use in various industries and regions. By expanding our reach, we hope to strengthen our efforts in fostering effective dispute resolution and building lasting professional relationships across borders.