Hong Kong Arbitration Centre Eyes Middle East, Africa Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Neutrality and predictability are being presented as Hong Kong’s main advantages as the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre explores opportunities in the Middle East and Africa amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Domitille Baizeau, co-chairwoman of the centre, said Hong Kong had benefited from an overall shift in global business growth from Europe to Asia. She said overseas businesses were increasingly choosing Hong Kong to arbitrate disputes.

Baizeau, an international commercial arbitration specialist, made the remarks on the sidelines of the ADR in Asia Conference, an event organised by the centre last week.

Focus on new markets

The conference brought legal practitioners together to discuss the latest developments in alternative dispute resolution and the use of artificial intelligence in the field.

The centre’s exploration of business opportunities in the Middle East and Africa comes as it identifies Hong Kong’s neutrality and predictability as key draws for new markets. Its stated outreach is also linked to rising geopolitical tensions and changes in the direction of global business growth.

Baizeau’s remarks connected that wider shift with the growing choice by overseas businesses to use Hong Kong for dispute arbitration. The centre’s regional interest was presented alongside discussions on developments in dispute resolution and the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice.

Source: South China Morning Post