Overview

• Event: UNCTAD High-level IIA Conference: “Taking Stock of Phase 2 Reform Actions”
• Date: Wednesday, 13 November 2019
• Location: Palais des Nations, Geneva

UNCTAD’s High-level IIA Conference 2019 will take place in Geneva on Wednesday, 13 November. International investment policymaking is in a dynamic phase, with far-reaching implications. The High-level IIA Conference will bring together representatives of States, intergovernmental organizations and other stakeholders to take stock of IIA reform progress and lessons learned. The Conference will be held in conjunction with the 11th session of the UNCTAD Investment, Enterprise and Development Commission from 11–15 November 2019.

Taking Stock of Phase 2 Reform Actions

UNCTAD’s policy tools for Phase 2 of IIA Reform have spurred initial action to modernize old-generation treaties. Increasingly, countries interpret, amend, replace or terminate outdated treaties. While IIA reform is progressing, much remains to be done. The stock of old-generation treaties is 10 times larger than the number of modern, reform-oriented treaties, and investors continue to resort to old-generation treaties when bringing investor–State dispute settlement cases. The High-level IIA Conference will aim to pave the way for further inclusive, transparent and synchronized IIA reform processes in the pursuit of sustainable development.

Event pictures > click to download

Video > click to download

Break-out sessions: rapporteurs' report back > click to download

Break-out sessions: Multilateral processes related to investment policymaking and their contribution to Phases 1 and 2 of Sustainable Development-oriented IIA Reform

• Preserving the right to regulate, while providing protection
• Reforming investment dispute settlement
• Promoting and facilitating investment
  
• Ensuring responsible investment

Break-out sessions: Regional investment policy processes and their contribution to Phases 1 and 2 of Sustainable Development-oriented IIA Reform

• Developing countries: Africa
• Developing countries: Asia
  
• Economies in transition
• Developed countries
  

* These reports represent the views of the rapporteurs on the discussions among the participants of the respective break-out session. They do not represent the views of the UNCTAD Secretariat or its member States.

** Audio recording "Unctad Investment Enterprise and Development Commission 11th Session" -> Closing plenary from 16h30 till 18h00 available here with interpretation

Logistics, documents and resources

Programme

• Programme (download full programme as of 14.11.2019)
• List of confirmed speakers and co-chairs (statements now available)

Past High-Level IIA Conferences

• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014

UNCTAD Reports on IIA and ISDS Policy Trends

• World Investment Report 2019 - Chapter III: Recent Policy Developments and Key Issues Download
• Reforming Investment Dispute Settlement: A Stocktaking (March 2019) Download
• Fact Sheet on Investor–State Dispute Settlement Cases in 2018 (May 2019) Download
• Taking Stock of IIA Reform: Recent Developments (June 2019) Download
• Review of ISDS Decisions in 2018: Selected IIA Reform Issues (July 2019) Download

UNCTAD Policy Tools for IIA Reform

• Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development (2015) Download
• Reform Package for the International Investment Regime (2018) Download

UNCTAD Investment Policy Online Databases

• International Investment Agreements Navigator Browse
• IIA Mapping Project Browse
• Investment Dispute Settlement Navigator Browse
• Investment Laws Navigator Browse

Conference background note by the Secretariat

• English
• French
• Spanish
• Russian
• Arabic
• Chinese

(See video in gif format here)