[RECAP VAW 2026] International Arbitration Institutions Roundtable: Institutional Developments and Practical Experiences in International Arbitration

Overview of the Roundtable

In the afternoon of 26 May 2026 in Hanoi, as part of the Vietnam ADR Week 2026 (VAW 2026), the International Arbitration Institutions Roundtable: Institutional Developments and Practical Experiences in International Arbitration concluded successfully, bringing together representatives from nine of Asia's and the world's leading arbitral institutions. The event served as an open forum for institutions to share notable updates, emerging caseload trends, and innovation strategies, collectively affirming Asia's growing prominence in the global arbitration landscape.

Mr. Vu Anh Duong delivers opening remarks at the Roundtable

Mr. Vu Anh Duong – Permanent Vice President cum Secretary General of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) officially opened the session by underscoring the eastward shift of international arbitration's centre of gravity. He observed that in the context of geopolitical tensions disrupting cross-continental supply chains, commercial disputes have grown not only in number but also in complexity and institutional demands. The rise of Asia in arbitration, he noted, is no coincidence but the result of sustained institutional effort, progressive legal reform, and a maturing community of world-class practitioners. Mr. Vu Anh Duong encouraged all participating institutions to speak candidly about their reforms, innovations, and competitive pressures, expressing confidence that the exchange would contribute meaningfully to VIAC's and Vietnam's development as a regional arbitration hub.

Dr. Dang Xuan Hop at the Roundtable

The first session of the programme focused on institutional updates from participating arbitral bodies, moderated by Dr. Dang Xuan Hop – Chairman, HopDang's Chambers, VIAC Listed Arbitrator.

Ms. Vu Thi Hang presents at the Roundtable

Ms. Vu Thi Hang – Chief of Secretariat and Member of Scientific Council, VIAC, opened the session with an overview of Vietnam's evolving economic and legal landscape. She highlighted a surge in large-scale infrastructure projects, FDI inflows, and institutional reforms, all of which are creating a favourable environment for the growth of arbitration. Of particular note was the launch of the International Financial Centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang in late 2025, each incorporating a dedicated international arbitration centre — a clear signal of Vietnam's ADR-first strategy for its investment environment. Ms. Vu Thi Hang also shared VIAC's caseload statistics, reflecting strong growth and increasing diversification in the types of international commercial disputes handled.

Ms. Irene Mira presents at the Roundtable

Ms. Irene Mira – Deputy Director, Arbitration & ADR, South Asia, ICC Dispute Resolution Services, presented ICC's notable figures for 2025: 881 new cases filed under the ICC Rules, involving 2,389 parties from 141 countries, with an aggregate amount in dispute of USD 299 billion. ICC also reached the milestone of its 30,000th case. Ms. Mira further introduced the ICC Arbitration Rules 2026, which entered into force on 1 June 2026, featuring key updates including the Highly Expedited Arbitration Procedure (HEAP), revised provisions for Emergency Arbitrators and the Expedited Procedure, removal of the mandatory Terms of Reference (TOR), enhanced Early Determination mechanisms, and strengthened requirements for arbitrator independence and impartiality.

Mr. Matthew Brown presents at the Roundtable

Mr. Matthew Brown – Deputy Registrar, Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), outlined innovations under the SIAC Rules alongside key procedural tools, emphasising improvements in case management efficiency and procedural flexibility to meet the demands of increasingly complex disputes.

Ms. Michelle Cheung presents at the Roundtable

Ms. Michelle Cheung – Counsel, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), reported that 2025 was a record year for HKIAC, with 388 new arbitrations commenced under 578 contracts and a total amount in dispute of USD 16.2 billion, of which 84% of cases were international in nature. Ms. Cheung highlighted the effectiveness of the Hong Kong–Mainland China Arrangement on Interim Measures, with 34 applications submitted to 13 different Mainland courts in 2025 alone, securing assets valued at over RMB 5 billion.

Ms. AN Ping presents at the Roundtable

Ms. AN Ping – Deputy Secretary-General, CIETAC Sichuan Sub-Commission & Chengdu International Arbitration Center, shared CIETAC's impressive 2025 statistics: 5,736 new cases filed and a total dispute value of RMB 228.6 billion, representing approximately 21% year-on-year growth, with 806 foreign-related cases spanning 97 countries and regions. She also introduced CIETAC's Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Arbitration, issued on 18 July 2025 — the first normative guidance on AI use by an arbitral institution in China and across the entire Asia-Pacific region.

Ms. Young Shin Um – Senior Counsel presents at the Roundtable

Ms. Young Shin Um – Senior Counsel, KCAB International, presented reforms under the KCAB International Arbitration Rules 2026, with particular emphasis on quality control mechanisms through the scrutiny of awards process and time-limit provisions for issuance of awards to ensure efficiency and enforceability.

Dr. Huala Adolf presents at the Roundtable

Dr. Huala Adolf – Vice Chairman, BANI Arbitration Center (Indonesia), outlined BANI's recent developments, including the application of its 2025 Emergency Arbitration Rules, amendments to its Code of Ethics, and Indonesia's proposed amendments to the 1999 Arbitration Law — particularly regarding provisions on the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards.

Mr. Albert Leung presents at the Roundtable

Mr. Albert Leung – Acting Chief Executive Officer, eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre, introduced eBRAM's ODR platforms and advances in integrating AI into dispute resolution, including real-time multilingual transcription and translation services. He highlighted the launch of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Online Dispute Resolution Collaboration Platform in 2024, connecting 13 arbitration and mediation institutions across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. Mr. Leung also announced the signing of an MoU between eBRAM and VIAC in 2026, committing to joint initiatives in capacity building, digital innovation, and cross-border dispute resolution.

Mr. Suriyapong Tubtimtae presents at the Roundtable

Mr. Suriyapong Tubtimtae – Managing Director, Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC), presented THAC's three-pillar development strategy: hardware (physical infrastructure and facilities), software (new rules, ODR, e-filing, and AI integration), and peopleware (training for arbitrators, mediators, and THAC's internal team). THAC also announced the upcoming THailand ADR Conference 2026, to be held from 2 to 4 September 2026 in Bangkok.

The second session was an open roundtable discussion on "The Eastward Shift: Asia as the New Centre of Gravity in International Arbitration". Participants engaged substantively with the central question of whether Asia has truly become the new destination for international arbitration, and how this shift affects users, institutions, and the broader community of practitioners.

The discussion surfaced several core themes: balancing international procedural standards with local commercial sensibilities; the role of award scrutiny mechanisms in ensuring enforceability; and the growing integration of AI and digital processes in arbitration proceedings. Speakers also underscored the increasingly visible role of emerging jurisdictions — including Vietnam — as major commercial centres in the region continue to attract cross-border investment and complex multinational disputes.

To close the session, each panellist shared a single keyword defining the future of the Asian arbitration ecosystem — reflecting broad consensus on the critical importance of institutional innovation, technology, and regional integration in the years ahead.

The programme concluded with a lively Q&A session, drawing active engagement from delegates in attendance. The International Arbitration Institutions Roundtable, held as part of VAW 2026, was widely regarded as a substantive and high-value forum, reinforcing VIAC's and Vietnam's standing on the regional and international arbitration map.