Mr. George Lim SC, Chairman of SIMC presented on the development of international mediation to 200 business leaders from China and Singapore at the recent Singapore-China Economic Partnership Conference. SIMC also signed MOU with CCPIT on the establishment of a joint mediators panel for BRI-related disputes at the conference.

SCMA and SIMC introduced our inaugural batch of the SCMA-SIMC Maritime Mediators (13 in total) at the Singapore Maritime Foundation's New Year Convention event.

The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation and SIMC have come together to collaborate on Asia's first specialized mediation framework for the aviation industry.Both institutions inked an MOU to promote the adoption and facilitation of mediation in aviation-related disputes in Asia at the Singapore Airshow.

SIMC CEO Mr. Chuan Wee Meng delivered a keynote speech at the 2024 CAI Costa Rica Conference on the topic: Effective International ADR: Combining the Best Tools as Trusted Cousel. He also met with Mr. Manuel Morales Díaz, Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica to promote the ratification of the Singapore Convention. Following the trip, Costa Rica's Special Standing Committee on International Relations and Foreign Trade unanimously approved the Singapore Convention. It is now pending Plenary of the Legislative Assembly to approve and ratify the Convention.

In January, Mr. George Lim SC and Mr. Chuan Wee Meng co-hosted seminars with the Vietnam Mediation Centre in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. They also engaged with the Hanoi Bar Association and law firms to promote mediation as an appropriate dispute resolution.

SIMC, represented by Deputy Chairman Mr. Lok Vi Ming SC, was invited to speak at a seminar organized by JIMC-Kyoto as a celebratory event for their 5th Anniversary. Vi Ming shared insights on the growing cross-border mediation between Singapore and Japan.

22 lawyers and in-house practitioners who attended the Korea Specialist Mediators Workshop in last October were empaneled at the SIMC Seminar. This was hosted by Yulchon LLP during the Seoul ADR Festival. SIMC also participated in several other events throughout the week, including the ADR special session on ISDS reform and the KCAB Women’s Interest Committee Networking Event.

SIMC hosted a Mediator Accreditation Workshop from 4 - 8 December in Colombo. The workshop was supported by the USAID’s Efficient and Effective Justice Activity in Sri Lanka which aims to create a pool of mediators to assist in the Commercial Mediation Pilot Program in Sri Lanka.

Two Specialist Mediators Workshops (SMWs) were conducted in Singapore (October) and Shenzhen (November) before we wrapped up for 2023. The Shenzhen SMW marked SIMC's return to China post-pandemic with 24 lawyers participating. In Singapore, 21 participants completed the 2-day training workshop.

In end December, as part of SIMC CSR initiative, we completed a beach cleaning exercise along the shores of the Changi Beach Park. It was a fantastic team bonding activity and our way of contributing to a greener and more sustainable Singapore!