Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, mediation has been gaining currency in recent times, as a dispute resolution method that is economical, efficient, effective, preserves relationships and builds harmony, whether the disputing parties are from corporates or communities. At the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) for example, the caseload for the first half of this year is almost that of the whole of 2020, which was itself a record year. The recent entry into force in Sep 2020 of the landmark Singapore Convention on Mediation has further increased international confidence in the use of mediation as an enforceable tool to resolve disputes.
2 On 17 July, the leading lights in the Judiciary, Government, Legal and Business sectors in India and Singapore will join the India-Singapore Mediation Summit 2021 (ISMS2021) to discuss these issues and developments, and the next steps to move mediation into the mainstream in India, Singapore and beyond. This is the first event of its kind involving such high-level leaders converging on the topic of mediation.
3 In conjunction with ISMS2021, SIMC and its strategic partners in India, CAMP Arbitration and Mediation Practice (CAMP), and Mediation Mantras, are embarking on several new and upcoming initiatives. These include a new cross-border mediation service for businesses operating along the busy India-Singapore trade corridor during the Covid-19 pandemic, a declaration to encourage business and related chambers and companies to consider mediation, and mediation training programmes.
Key Event Features
4 ISMS 2021 will kick off with a series of important speeches centring on the role of mediation. The speeches will be followed by a high-powered fireside chat reflecting on the themes invoked in the speeches. The discussions are expected to focus on the benefits and importance of mediation to resolve disputes in India, Singapore and elsewhere, the latest developments and trends in the field, and the catalysts for making mediation mainstream.
5 The speakers at ISMS2021 include*:
- The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Chief Justice of Singapore
- The Honourable Mr Justice N. V. Ramana, Chief Justice of India
- Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong SC
- National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) CEO Amitabh Kant
6 Joining the fireside chat are:
| Panellists from Singapore | Permanent Secretary (Law) and Second Permanent Secretary (Education) Lai Wei Lin; SIMC Chairman George Lim SC |
| Panellists from India | International Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court and former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, A. K. Sikri; Senior Advocate and Mediator Sriram Panchu; Head of Legal at Tata International Ltd Mayuri Khatu |
| Moderator | Law Society of Singapore President Gregory Vijayendran SC |
7 The profiles of the participants are available at the conference website: www.isms.asia. As of 15 July, there were more than 2,300 registrations, including from the Judicial and Legal, Government, Business and Academic sectors.
*Full list of profiles for speakers and fireside chat participants available at www.isms.asia.