Asia-Pacific Workshop on UNCTAD's Phase 3 of IIA Reform: Improving investment policy coherence and synergies

This workshop takes a close look at the reform of international investment agreements (IIAs). It considers how states can ensure that their own IIA networks show a consistent approach across treaties, what it means for IIAs to interact with other types of investment law instruments, and related issues.

Prepared specifically for the Asia–Pacific region, this training will consider related guidance, policy options, and tools that address two main risks: the prospects of "nationality planning" by investors as they consider where investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims could be brought, along with the possibility of treaty obligations being "imported" from one treaty to another through a most-favoured-nation clause.

These topics are part of the third phase of the IIA Reform Package for the International Investment Regime, developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The workshop will also draw on UNCTAD's IIA Reform Accelerator, which was published in 2020.

Participants in the workshop will also describe their own experiences, lessons learned, and ideas in this field, along with how to ensure that policy approaches lead to coherent outcomes. The workshop builds on prior events involving UNCTAD’s IIA Reform Package.

The workshop’s co-organizers are the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD), UNCTAD, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

Please note that attendance is by invitation only.