Second Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators

On November 2–4, 2008, co-organizers IISD, the South Centre, and the Moroccan Department of Investment held the 2nd Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators in Marrakech, Morocco. The First Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators was held in Singapore on October 1–2, 2007, and was attended by over 30 negotiators from 25 developing countries.

The Second Annual Forum updated participants on key issues in the International Investment Law regime today. These issues included: the changes in this field at the multilateral, regional and bilateral levels; the role of development policy space and home country and investor obligations; the link between investment agreements and climate change; and other relevant topics. The background papers and presentations are posted below.

Planning is currently underway for the Third Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators, which will be held in Ecuador.

Forum materials

Session I: Recent Developments in Investment Negotiations in Bilateral, Regional and Multilateral Treaty Instruments

Session II: Negotiating IIAs - The Importance of Defining Terms and Concepts; State of the art on key terms

Session III: Negotiating IIAs - Advances in Investor-State Arbitration Issues; The Debate on Transparency in Investor-State Arbitration

Session IV: Negotiating IIAs - Defining Investor Obligations and Ensuring Development Policy Space for Host Countries

Session V: Buyer Beware: The Linkages Between International Investment Treaties and Investment Contracts Between Foreign Investors and Host Governments

Session VI: Climate Change, Energy Investments and International Investment Agreements