International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes launches office in Singapore
26 August 2026 Posted in Press releases
1. The Singapore Office of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) was officially launched on 26 August 2026 by Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Mr Edwin Tong SC and ICSID Secretary-General Ms Martina Polasek.
2. This official launch follows the signing on 25 August 2025 of a Letter of Intent between the Singapore Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and ICSID to formalise the establishment of the ICSID Singapore Office.
ICSID Singapore Office to serve as Regional Hub
3. The Singapore Office is ICSID’s first staffed office outside its Washington, D.C. headquarters. It will be led by ICSID Chief Counsel Frauke Nitschke and Senior Legal Counsel Jon Chevry, alongside Legal Counsel Yuichiro Omori and Carlos Molina Esteban. The Office will be housed at 10 Marina Boulevard, joining the other four World Bank Group Organisations at the Singapore Office, which oversees operations across Asia and the Pacific, employs approximately 300 staff members, and stands as one of the largest World Bank Group offices outside Washington, D.C.
4. The ICSID Singapore Office will serve as the Centre’s regional hub for Asia and the Pacific, providing support to parties and counsel, deepening outreach to States, investors, and legal practitioners, and raising awareness of the full scope of ICSID’s offerings. The Office will enable ICSID to better serve the region’s needs in investment dispute prevention, management, and resolution. ICSID will also have a presence at Maxwell Chambers Suites, a unique ecosystem of local and regional offices of international dispute resolution institutions, law firms, chambers and ancillary services.
5. Minister Tong said: “In today’s geopolitical environment, investors and states alike are operating with much less certainty than before. Credible and neutral multilateral institutions for resolving investment disputes, like ICSID, are more important than ever. We are honoured to serve as ICSID’s hub and base for the region. This geographical proximity will translate into an in-depth understanding of the region’s dynamics, and will allow ICSID to better serve the dispute prevention and resolution needs of governments and investors across Asia, especially at a time when the volume and complexity of such disputes continues to grow.”
6. Ms Polasek said: “We deeply appreciate the support and partnership of the Singapore Ministry of Law and the Government of Singapore for this initiative. The opening of the Singapore Office is more than a milestone for ICSID — it is a signal of our confidence in Singapore and the region, and in the central role that fair and effective dispute resolution plays in building the investment climates the world needs. We stand ready to work with Asia-Pacific States, whether already party to the ICSID Convention or considering membership, across the full range of what we offer, including helping them prevent and effectively manage investment disputes.”
Background
7. ICSID’s primary purpose is to promote the mobilization of private capital across borders by providing a neutral, efficient, and reliable forum for the resolution of disputes between investors and States. By reducing perceived investment risk, ICSID helps foster stable conditions that attract foreign capital and build trust between States and investors. Through this work, ICSID plays a role in the World Bank Group’s strategy to accelerate job creation at scale — one centred on investing in the physical and human infrastructure that people and businesses need to thrive, supporting business-enabling environments, and mobilizing private capital. As of August 2026, ICSID has 159 Member States
MINISTRY OF LAW
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR SETTLEMENT OF INVESTMENT DISPUTES
26 AUGUST 2026
Last updated on 28 August 2026