# International Arbitration Act

Date of Commencement: 27 January 1995
Provision omitted: Original section 36(1) (Arbitration (Foreign Awards) Act repealed)
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THE STATUTES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION ACT (CHAPTER 143A)
Act 23 of 1994
REVISED EDITION 1995 (15th March 1995) PRINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, SINGAPORE 1995
International Arbitration Act
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Part I Preliminary :
| Section | |
| 1. | Short title. |
| Part II International Commercial Arbitration ||
| 2. | Interpretation of Part II. |
| 3. | Model Law to have force of law. |
| 4. | Interpretation of Model Law by use of extrinsic material. |
| 5. | Application of Part II. |
| 6. | Enforcement of international arbitration agreement. |
| 7. | Court’s powers on stay of Admiralty proceedings. |
| 8. | Authorities specified for purposes of Article 6 of Model Law. |
| 9. | Number of arbitrators for purposes of Article 10 (2) of Model Law. |
| 10. | Appeal under Article 16 (3) of Model Law. |
| 11. | Public policy and arbitrability. |
| 12. | Powers of arbitral tribunal. |
| 13. | Witnesses may be summoned by subpoena. |
| 14. | Power to compel attendance of witness. |
| 15. | Settlement or resolution of dispute otherwise than in accordance with Model Law. |
| 16. | Appointment of conciliator. |
| 17. | Power of arbitrator to act as conciliator. |
| 18. | Award by consent. |
| 19. | Enforcement of awards. |
| 20. | Interest on awards. |
| 21. | Taxation of costs. |
| 22. | Proceedings to be heard otherwise than in open court. |
| 23. | Restrictions on reporting of proceedings heard otherwise than in open court. |
| 24. | Court may set aside award. ​ |
| 25. | Liability of arbitrator. |
| 26. | Transitional provisions. |
| Part III Foreign Awards ||
| 27. | Interpretation of Part III. |
| 28. | Application of Part III. |
| 29. | Recognition and enforcement of foreign awards. |
| 30. | Evidence. |
| 31. | Refusal of enforcement. |
| 32. | Convention countries. |
| 33. | Enforcement of awards under other provisions of law. |
| Part IV General ||
| 34. | Act to bind Government. |
| 35. | Rules of Court. |
| 36. | Transitional. |
| | First Schedule—UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration. |
| | Second Schedule—Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards Concluded at New York on 10th June 1958. |
An Act to make provision for the conduct of international commercial arbitrations based on the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and conciliation proceedings and to give effect to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards and for matters connected therewith.
[27th January 1995]
Part I Preliminary
Short title. 1. This Act may be cited as the International Arbitration Act.
Part II International Commercial Arbitration
Interpretation of Part II. 2.—(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—
“arbitral tribunal” means a sole arbitrator or a panel of arbitrators or a permanent arbitral institution;
“arbitration agreement” means an agreement in writing referred to in Article 7 of the Model Law and includes an arbitration clause contained or incorporated by reference in a bill of lading;
“award” means a decision of the arbitral tribunal on the substance of the dispute and includes any interim, interlocutory or partial award;
“Model Law” means the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on 21st June 1985, the text in English of which is set out in the First Schedule;
“party” means a party to an arbitration agreement or, in any case where an arbitration does not involve all of the parties to the arbitration agreement, means a party to the arbitration.
(2) Except so far as the contrary intention appears, a word or expression that is used both in this Part and in the Model Law (whether or not a particular meaning is given to it by the Model Law) has, in the Model Law, the same meaning as it has in this Part.
Model Law to have force of law. 3.—(1) Subject to this Act, the Model Law, with the exception of Chapter VIII thereof, shall have the force of law in Singapore.
(2) In the Model Law— “State” means Singapore and any country other than Singapore;
“this State” means Singapore.
​Interpretation of Model Law by use of extrinsic material. 4.—(1) For the purposes of interpreting the Model Law, reference may be made to the documents of—
    (a) the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law; and
    (b) its working group for the preparation of the Model
Law, relating to the Model Law.
(2) Subsection (1) shall not affect the application of section 9A of the Interpretation ActCap. 1. for the purposes of interpreting this Act.
Application of Part II. 5.—(1) This Part and the Model Law shall not apply to an arbitration which is not an international arbitration unless the parties agree in writing that this Part or the Model Law shall apply to that arbitration.
(2) Notwithstanding Article 1 (3) of the Model Law, an arbitration is international if—
    (a) at least one of the parties to an arbitration agreement, at the time of the conclusion of the agreement, has its place of business in any State other than Singapore; or
    (b) one of the following places is situated outside the State in which the parties have their places of business:
       (i) the place of arbitration if determined in, or pursuant to, the arbitration agreement;
       (ii) any place where a substantial part of the obligations of the commercial relationship is to be performed or the place with which the subject-matter of the dispute is most closely connected; or
    (c) the parties have expressly agreed that the subject-matter of the arbitration agreement relates to more than one country.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)—
    (a) if a party has more than one place of business, the place of business shall be that which has the closest relationship to the arbitration agreement; ​
    (b) if a party does not have a place of business, a reference to his place of business shall be construed as a reference to his habitual residence.
(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Arbitration ActCap. 10., that Act shall not apply to any arbitration to which this Part applies.
Enforcement of international arbitration agreement. 6.—(1) Without prejudice to Article 8 of the Model Law, where any party to an arbitration agreement to which this Act applies institutes any legal proceedings in any court in Singapore against any other party to the agreement in respect of any matter which is the subject of the agreement, any party to the agreement may, at any time after appearance and before delivering any pleadings or taking any other steps in the proceedings, apply to that court to stay the proceedings.
(2) The court to which an application has been made in accordance with subsection (1) shall make an order, upon such terms or conditions as it may think fit, staying the proceedings unless it is satisfied that the arbitration agreement is null and void, inoperative or incapable of being performed.
(3) Where a court makes an order under subsection (2), the court may, for the purpose of preserving the rights of parties, make such interim or supplementary orders as it may think fit in relation to any property which is the subject of the dispute to which the order under that subsection relates.
(4) For the purposes of subsections (1), (2) and (3), a reference to a party includes a reference to any person claiming through or under such party.
Court’s powers on stay of Admiralty proceedings. 7.—(1) Where a court stays Admiralty proceedings under section 6, the court may, if in those proceedings property has been arrested or bail or other security has been given to prevent or obtain release from arrest, order—
    (a) that the property arrested be retained as security for the satisfaction of any award made on the arbitration; or ​
    (b) that the stay be conditional on the provision of equivalent security for the satisfaction of any such award.
(2) Subject to Rules of Court and to any necessary modification, the same law and practice shall apply in relation to property retained in pursuance of an order under this section as would apply if it were held for the purposes of proceedings in the court which made the order.
Authorities specified for purposes of Article 6 of Model Law. 8.—(1) The High Court in Singapore shall be taken to have been specified in Article 6 of the Model Law as courts competent to perform the functions referred to in that Article except for Article 11 (3) and (4) of the Model Law.
(2) The Chairman for the time being of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, or such other person as the Chief Justice may by notification published in the Gazette appoint, shall be taken to have been specified as the authority competent to perform the function under Article 11 (3) and (4) of the Model Law.
Number of arbitrators for purposes of Article 10 (2) of Model Law. 9. Notwithstanding Article 10 (2) of the Model Law, if the number of arbitrators is not determined by the parties, there shall be a single arbitrator.
Appeal under Article 16 (3) of Model Law. 10. Notwithstanding Article 16 (3) of the Model Law, an appeal from a decision of the High Court made under Article 16 (3) of the Model Law shall lie to the Court of Appeal only with the leave of the High Court; and there shall be no appeal against a refusal for grant of such leave.
Public policy and arbitrability. 11.—(1) Any dispute which the parties have agreed to submit to arbitration under an arbitration agreement may be determined by arbitration unless the arbitration agreement is contrary to public policy.
(2) The fact that any written law confers jurisdiction in respect of any matter on any court of law but does not refer to the determination of that matter by arbitration shall not, of itself, indicate that a dispute about that matter is not capable of determination by arbitration.
Powers of arbitral tribunal. 12.—(1) Without prejudice to the powers set out in any other provision of this Act and in the Model Law, an arbitral ​tribunal shall have powers to make orders or give directions to any party for—
    (a) security for costs;
    (b) discovery of documents and interrogatories;
    (c) giving of evidence by affidavit;
    (d) the preservation, interim custody or sale of any property which is the subject-matter of the dispute;
    (e) securing the amount in dispute;
    (f) ensuring that any award which may be made in the arbitral proceedings is not rendered ineffectual by the dissipation of assets by a party; and
    (g) an interim injunction or any other interim measure.
(2) An arbitral tribunal shall, unless the parties to an arbitration agreement have (whether in the arbitration agreement or in any other document in writing) agreed to the contrary, have power to administer oaths to or take affirmations of the parties and witnesses.
(3) An arbitral tribunal shall, unless the parties to an arbitration agreement have (whether in the arbitration agreement or in any other document in writing) agreed to the contrary, have power to adopt if it thinks fit inquisitorial processes.
(4) Without prejudice to the application of Article 28 of the Model Law, an arbitral tribunal, in deciding the dispute that is the subject of the arbitral proceedings—
    (a) may award any remedy or relief that could have been ordered by the High Court if the dispute had been the subject of civil proceedings in that Court;
    (b) may award interest (including interest on a compound basis) on the whole or any part of any sum which—
       (i) is awarded to any party, for the whole or any part of the period up to the date of the award; or
       (ii) is in issue in the arbitral proceedings but is paid before the date of the award, for the ​whole or any part of the period up to the date of payment.
(5) All orders or directions made or given by an arbitral tribunal in the course of an arbitration shall, by leave of the High Court or a Judge thereof, be enforceable in the same manner as if they were orders made by a court and, where leave is so given, judgment may be entered in terms of the order or direction.
(6) The High Court or a Judge thereof shall have, for the purpose of and in relation to an arbitration to which this Part applies, the same power of making orders in respect of any of the matters set out in subsection (1) as it has for the purpose of and in relation to an action or matter in the court.
Witnesses may be summoned by subponea 13. Any party to an arbitration agreement may take out a writ of subpoena ad testificandum or a writ of subpoena duces tecum, but no person shall be compelled under any such writ to produce any document which he could not be compelled to produce on the trial of an action.
Power to compel attendance of witness. 14.—(1) The High Court or a Judge thereof may order that a writ of subpoena ad testificandum or a writ of sub­ poena duces tecum shall issue to compel the attendance before an arbitral tribunal of a witness wherever he may be within Singapore.
(2) The High Court or a Judge thereof may also issue an order under section 27 of the Prisons ActCap. 247. to bring up a prisoner for examination before an arbitral tribunal.
Settlement or resolution of dispute otherwise than in accordance with Model Law. 15. If the parties to an arbitration agreement have (whether in the arbitration agreement or in any other document in writing) agreed that any dispute that has arisen or may arise between them is to be settled or resolved otherwise than in accordance with this Part or the Model Law, this Part and the Model Law shall not apply in relation to the settlement or resolution of that dispute.
Appointment of conciliator. 16.—(1) In any case where an agreement provides for the appointment of a conciliator by a person who is not one of the parties and that person refuses to make the appointment or does not make it within the time specified in the agreement or, if no time is so specified, within a reasonable ​time of being requested by any party to the agreement to make the appointment, the Chairman for the time being of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre may, on the application of any party to the agreement, appoint a conciliator who shall have the like powers to act in the conciliation proceedings as if he had been appointed in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
(2) The Chief Justice may if he thinks fit, by notification published in the Gazette, appoint any other person to exercise the powers of the Chairman of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre under subsection (1).
(3) Where an arbitration agreement provides for the appointment of a conciliator and further provides that the person so appointed shall act as an arbitrator in the event of the conciliation proceedings failing to produce a settlement acceptable to the parties—
    (a) no objection shall be taken to the appointment of such person as an arbitrator, or to his conduct of the arbitral proceedings, solely on the ground that he had acted previously as a conciliator in connection with some or all of the matters referred to arbitration;
    (b) if such person declines to act as an arbitrator, any other person appointed as an arbitrator shall not be required first to act as a conciliator unless a contrary intention appears in the arbitration agreement.
(4) Unless a contrary intention appears therein, an agreement which provides for the appointment of a conciliator shall be deemed to contain a provision that in the event of the conciliation proceedings failing to produce a settlement acceptable to the parties within 4 months, or such longer period as the parties may agree to, of the date of the appointment of the conciliator or, where he is appointed by name in the agreement, of the receipt by him of written notification of the existence of a dispute, the conciliation proceedings shall thereupon terminate.
Power of arbitrator to act as conciliator. 17.—(1) If all parties to any arbitral proceedings consent in writing and for so long as no party has withdrawn his consent in writing, an arbitrator or umpire may act as a conciliator.
​(2) An arbitrator or umpire acting as conciliator—
    (a) may communicate with the parties to the arbitral proceedings collectively or separately; and
    (b) shall treat information obtained by him from a party to the arbitral proceedings as confidential, unless that party otherwise agrees or unless subsection (3) applies.
(3) Where confidential information is obtained by an arbitrator or umpire from a party to the arbitral proceedings during conciliation proceedings and those proceedings terminate without the parties reaching agreement in settlement of their dispute, the arbitrator or umpire shall before resuming the arbitral proceedings disclose to all other parties to the arbitral proceedings as much of that information as he considers material to the arbitral proceedings.
(4) No objection shall be taken to the conduct of arbitral proceedings by a person solely on the ground that that person had acted previously as a conciliator in accordance with this section.
Award by consent. 18. If the parties to an arbitration agreement reach agreement in settlement of their dispute and the arbitral tribunal has recorded the terms of settlement in the form of an arbitral award on agreed terms in accordance with Article 30 of the Model Law, the award shall be treated as an award on an arbitration agreement and may, by leave of the High Court or a Judge thereof, be enforced in the same manner as a judgment or order to the same effect, and where leave is so given, judgment may be entered in terms of the award.
Enforcement of awards. 19. An award on an arbitration agreement may, by leave of the High Court or a Judge thereof, be enforced in the same manner as a judgment or order to the same effect and, where leave is so given, judgment may be entered in terms of the award.
Interest on awards. 20. Where an award directs a sum to be paid, that sum shall, unless the award otherwise directs, carry interest as from the date of the award and at the same rate as a judgment debt.
Taxation of costs. 21.—(1) Any costs directed by an award to be paid shall, unless the award otherwise directs, be taxable by the ​Registrar of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (referred to in this section as the Registrar).
(2) Unless the fees of the arbitral tribunal have been fixed by a written agreement or where such agreement has provided for determination of the fees by a person or institution agreed to by the parties, any party to the arbitration may require that such fees be taxed by the Registrar.
(3) A certificate signed by the Registrar on the amount of costs or fees taxed shall form part of the award of the arbitral tribunal.
(4) The Chief Justice may if he thinks fit, by notification published in the Gazette, appoint any other person to exercise the powers of the Registrar under this section.
Proceedings to be heard otherwise than in open court. 22. Proceedings under this Act in any court shall, on the application of any party to the proceedings, be heard otherwise than in open court.
Restrictions on reporting of proceedings heard otherwise than in open court. 23.—(1) This section shall apply to proceedings under this Act in any court heard otherwise than in open court.
(2) A court hearing any proceedings to which this section applies shall, on the application of any party to the proceedings, give directions as to whether any and, if so, what information relating to the proceedings may be published.
(3) A court shall not give a direction under subsection (2) permitting information to be published unless—
    (a) all parties to the proceedings agree that such information may be published; or
    (b) the court is satisfied that the information, if published in accordance with such directions as it may give, would not reveal any matter, including the identity of any party to the proceedings, that any party to the proceedings reasonably wishes to remain confidential.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), where a court gives grounds of decision for a judgment in respect of proceedings to which this section applies and considers that judgment to be of major legal interest, the court shall direct that reports ​of the judgment may be published in law reports and professional publications but, if any party to the proceedings reasonably wishes to conceal any matter, including the fact that he was such a party, the court shall—
    (a) give directions as to the action that shall be taken to conceal that matter in those reports; and
    (b) if it considers that a report published in accordance with directions given under paragraph (a) would be likely to reveal that matter, direct that no report shall be published until after the end of such period, not exceeding 10 years, as it considers appropriate.
Court may set aside award. 24. Notwithstanding Article 34 (1) of the Model Law, the High Court may, in addition to the grounds set out in Article 34 (2) of the Model Law, set aside the award of the arbitral tribunal if—
    (a) the making of the award was induced or affected by fraud or corruption; or
    (b) a breach of the rules of natural justice occurred in connection with the making of the award by which the rights of any party have been prejudiced.
Liability of arbitrator. 25. An arbitrator shall not be liable for—
    (a) negligence in respect of anything done or omitted to be done in the capacity of arbitrator; and
    (b) any mistake in law, fact or procedure made in the course of arbitral proceedings or in the making of an arbitral award.
Transitional provisions. 26.—(1) This Part shall not apply in relation to an international arbitration between parties to an arbitration agreement that was commenced before 27th January 1995 unless the parties have (whether in the agreement or in any other document in writing) otherwise agreed.
(2) Subject to subsection (1), where the arbitral proceedings were commenced before 27th January 1995, the law governing the arbitration agreement and the arbitration shall be the law which would have applied if this Act had not been enacted.
​(3) In any written law, agreement in writing or other document, a reference to arbitration under the Arbitration ActCap. 10. shall, so far as relevant and unless the contrary intention appears, be construed to include a reference to arbitration under this Act.
(4) For the purposes of this section, arbitral proceedings are to be taken as having commenced on the date of the receipt by the respondent of a request for the dispute to be referred to arbitration, or, where the parties have agreed in writing that any other date is to be taken as the date of commencement of the arbitral proceedings, then on that date.
Part III Foreign Awards
Interpretation of Part III. 27.—(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—
“agreement in writing” includes an agreement contained in an exchange of letters, telegrams, tele­facsimile or in a communication by teleprinter;
“arbitral award” has the same meaning as in the Convention;
“arbitration agreement” means an agreement in writing of the kind referred to in paragraph 1 of Article II of the Convention;
“Convention” means the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards adopted in 1958 by the United Nations Conference on International Commercial Arbitration at its twenty-fourth meeting, the English text of which is set out in the Second Schedule;
“Convention country” means a country (other than Singapore) that is a Contracting State within the meaning of the Convention;
“court” means the High Court in Singapore;
“foreign award” means an arbitral award made in pursuance of an arbitration agreement in the territory of a Convention country other than Singapore.
​(2) In this Part, where the context so admits, “enforcement”, in relation to a foreign award, includes the recognition of the award as binding for any purpose, and “enforce” and “enforced” have corresponding meanings.
(3) For the purposes of this Part, a body corporate shall be taken to be habitually resident in a country if it is incorporated or has its principal place of business in that country.
Application of Part III. 28.—(1) This Part shall apply to arbitration agreements made before 27th January 1995 as it applies to arbitration agreements made on or after that date.
(2) This Part shall not apply to foreign awards made before 19th November 1986.
Recognition and enforcement of foreign awards. 29.—(1) Subject to this Part, a foreign award may be enforced in a court either by action or in the same manner as an award of an arbitrator made in Singapore is enforceable under section 19.
(2) Any foreign award which is enforceable under subsection (1) shall be recognised as binding for all purposes upon the persons between whom it was made and may accordingly be relied upon by any of those parties by way of defence, set-off or otherwise in any legal proceedings in Singapore.
Evidence. 30.—(1) In any proceedings in which a person seeks to enforce a foreign award by virtue of this Part, he shall produce to the court—
    (a) the duly authenticated original award or a duly certified copy thereof;
    (b) the original arbitration agreement under which the award purports to have been made, or a duly certified copy thereof; and
    (c) where the award or agreement is in a foreign language, a translation of it in the English language, duly certified in English as a correct translation by a sworn translator or by an official or by a diplomatic or consular agent of the country in which the award was made.
​(2) A document produced to a court in accordance with this section shall, upon mere production, be received by the court as prima facie evidence of the matters to which it relates.
Refusal of enforcement. 31.—(1) In any proceedings in which the enforcement of a foreign award is sought by virtue of this Part, the party against whom the enforcement is sought may request that the enforcement be refused, and the enforcement in any of the cases mentioned in subsections (2) and (4) may be refused but not otherwise.
(2) A court so requested may refuse enforcement of a foreign award if the person against whom enforcement is sought proves to the satisfaction of the court that—
    (a) a party to the arbitration agreement in pursuance of which the award was made was, under the law applicable to him, under some incapacity at the time when the agreement was made;
    (b) the arbitration agreement is not valid under the law to which the parties have subjected it or, in the absence of any indication in that respect, under the law of the country where the award was made;
    (c) he was not given proper notice of the appointment of the arbitrator or of the arbitration proceedings or was otherwise unable to present his case in the arbitration proceedings;
    (d) subject to subsection (3), the award deals with a difference not contemplated by, or not falling within the terms of, the submission to arbitration or contains a decision on the matter beyond the scope of the submission to arbitration;
    (e) the composition of the arbitral authority or the arbitral procedure was not in accordance with the agreement of the parties or, failing such agreement, was not in accordance with the law of the country where the arbitration took place; or
    (f) the award has not yet become binding on the parties to the arbitral award or has been set aside or suspended by a competent authority of ​the country in which, or under the law of which, the award was made.
(3) When a foreign award referred to in subsection (2) (d)contains decisions on matters not submitted to arbitration but those decisions can be separated from decisions on matters submitted to arbitration, the award may be enforced to the extent that it contains decisions on matters so submitted.
(4) In any proceedings in which the enforcement of a foreign award is sought by virtue of this Part, the court may refuse to enforce the award if it finds that—
    (a) the subject-matter of the difference between the parties to the award is not capable of settlement by arbitration under the law of Singapore; or
    (b) enforcement of the award would be contrary to the public policy of Singapore.
(5) Where, in any proceedings in which the enforcement of a foreign award is sought by virtue of this Part, the court is satisfied that an application for the setting aside or for the suspension of the award has been made to a competent authority of the country in which, or under the law of which, the award was made, the court may, if the court considers it proper to do so, adjourn the proceedings or, as the case may be, so much of the proceedings as relates to the award and may, on the application of the party seeking to enforce the award, order the other party to give suitable security.
Convention countries. 32.—(1) Where the Minister by an order published in the Gazette declares that any State specified in the order is a Convention country, the order, while in force, shall be evidence of that fact.
(2) For the purposes of this Part, a certificate signed by the Minister stating that a State specified in the certificate but not specified in any order made under subsection (1) which is in force is, or was at a time specified in the certificate, a Convention country shall, upon mere production, be prima facie evidence of that fact.
Enforcement of awards under other provisions of law. 33.—(1) Nothing in this Part shall affect the right of any person to enforce an arbitral award otherwise than as is provided for in this Part.
​(2) Notwithstanding section 3 (5) of the Reciprocal Enforcement of Commonwealth Judgments ActCap. 264., where a foreign award is both enforceable under this Part and registrable as a judgment under that Act, proceedings to enforce the award under this Part may be commenced without any disentitlement to recover any costs of the proceedings, unless otherwise ordered by the court.
(3) Notwithstanding section 7 of the Reciprocal Enforcement of Foreign Judgments ActCap. 265., proceedings to enforce a foreign award under this Part may be commenced where the award is both enforceable under this Part and registrable as a judgment under that Act.
Part IV General
Act to bind Government. 34. This Act shall bind the Government.
Rules of Court Cap. 322 35. The Rules Committee constituted under section 80 of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act may make Rules of Court regulating the practice and procedure of any court in respect of any matter under this Act.
Transitional. Cap. 10A 36. Any proceedings commenced by virtue of a provision under the repealed Arbitration (Foreign Awards) Act shall continue as if it had commenced by virtue of the corresponding provision of this Act.
UNCITRAL MODEL LAW ON INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION (As adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on 21st June 1985)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1. Scope of application
(1) This Law applies to international commercial arbitration, subject to any agreement in force between this State and any other State or States.
(2) The provisions of this Law, except Articles 8, 9, 35 and 36, apply only if the place of arbitration is in the territory of this State.
(3) An arbitration is international if:
    (a) the parties to an arbitration agreement have, at the time of the conclusion of that agreement, their places of business in different States; or
    (b) one of the following places is situated outside the State in which the parties have their places of business:
       (i) the place of arbitration if determined in, or pursuant to, the arbitration agreement;
       (ii) any place where a substantial part of the obligations of the commercial relationship is to be performed or the place with which the subject-matter of the dispute is most closely connected; or
    (c) the parties have expressly agreed that the subject-matter of the arbitration agreement relates to more than one country.
​(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3) of this Article:
    (a) if a party has more than one place of business, the place of business is that which has the closest relationship to the arbitration agreement;
    (b) if a party does not have a place of business, reference is to be made to his habitual residence.
(5) This Law shall not affect any other law of this State by virtue of which certain disputes may not be submitted to arbitration or may be submitted to arbitration only according to provisions other than those of this Law.
Article 2. Definitions and rules of interpretation
For the purposes of this Law:
    (a) “arbitration” means any arbitration whether or not administered by a permanent arbitral institution;
    (b) “arbitral tribunal” means a sole arbitrator or a panel of arbitrators;
    (c) “court” means a body or organ of the judicial system of a State;
    (d) where a provision of this Law, except Article 28, leaves the parties free to determine a certain issue, such freedom includes the right of the parties to authorise a third party, including an institution, to make that determination;
    (e) where a provision of this Law refers to the fact that the parties have agreed or that they may agree or in any other way refers to an agreement of the parties, such agreement includes any arbitration rules referred to in that agreement;
    (f) where a provision of this Law, other than in Articles 25 (a) and 32 (2) (a), refers to a claim, it also applies to a counter-claim, and where it refers to a defence, it also applies to a defence to such counter-claim.
​Article 3. Receipt of written communications
(1) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties:
    (a) any written communication is deemed to have been received if it is delivered to the addressee personally or if it is delivered at his place of business, habitual residence or mailing address; if none of these can be found after making a reasonable inquiry, a written communication is deemed to have been received if it is sent to the addressee’s last-known place of business, habitual residence or mailing address by registered letter or any other means which provides a record of the attempt to deliver it;
    (b) the communication is deemed to have been received on the day it is so delivered.
(2) The provisions of this Article do not apply to communications in court proceedings.
Article 4. Waiver of right to object
A party who knows that any provision of this Law from which the parties may derogate or any requirement under the arbitration agreement has not been complied with and yet proceeds with the arbitration without stating his objection to such non-compliance without undue delay or, if a time-limit is provided therefor, within such period of time, shall be deemed to have waived his right to object.
Article 5. Extent of court intervention
In matters governed by this Law, no court shall intervene except where so provided in this Law.
Article 6. Court or other authority for certain functions of arbitration assistance and supervision
The functions referred to in Articles 11 (3), 11 (4), 13 (3), 14,16 (3) and 34 (2) shall be performed by . . . . . . . . . . [Each State enacting this Model Law specifies the court, courts or, where referred to therein, other authority competent to perform these functions.]
Chapter II Arbitration Agreement
Article 7. Definition and form of arbitration agreement
(1) “Arbitration agreement” is an agreement by the parties to submit to arbitration all or certain disputes which have arisen or which may arise between them in respect of a defined legal relationship, whether contractual or not. An arbitration agreement may be in the ​form of an arbitration clause in a contract or in the form of a separate agreement.
(2) The arbitration agreement shall be in writing. An agreement is in writing if it is contained in a document signed by the parties or in an exchange of letters, telex, telegrams or other means of telecommunication which provide a record of the agreement, or in an exchange of statements of claim and defence in which the existence of an agreement is alleged by one party and not denied by another. The reference in a contract to a document containing an arbitration clause constitutes an arbitration agreement provided that the contract is in writing and the reference is such as to make that clause part of the contract.
Article 8. Arbitration agreement and substantive claim before court
(1) A court before which an action is brought in a matter which is the subject of an arbitration agreement shall, if a party so requests not later than when submitting his first statement on the substance of the dispute, refer the parties to arbitration unless it finds that the agreement is null and void, inoperative or incapable of being performed.
(2) Where an action referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article has been brought, arbitral proceedings may nevertheless be commenced or continued, and an award may be made, while the issue is pending before the court.
Article 9. Arbitration agreement and interim measures by court
It is not incompatible with an arbitration agreement for a party to request, before or during arbitral proceedings, from a court an interim measure of protection and for a court to grant such measure.
Chapter III Composition of Arbitral Tribunal
Article 10. Number of arbitrators
(1) The parties are free to determine the number of arbitrators.
(2) Failing such determination, the number of arbitrators shall be three.
Article 11. Appointment of arbitrators
(1) No person shall be precluded by reason of his nationality from acting as an arbitrator, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.
​(2) The parties are free to agree on a procedure of appointing the arbitrator or arbitrators, subject to the provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5) of this Article.
(3) Failing such agreement,
    (a) in an arbitration with three arbitrators, each party shall appoint one arbitrator, and the two arbitrators thus appointed shall appoint the third arbitrator; if a party fails to appoint the arbitrator within thirty days of receipt of a request to do so from the other party, or if the two arbitrators fail to agree on the third arbitrator within thirty days of their appointment, the appointment shall be made, upon request of a party, by the court or other authority specified in Article 6;
    (b) in an arbitration with a sole arbitrator, if the parties are unable to agree on the arbitrator, he shall be appointed, upon request of a party, by the court or other authority specified in Article 6.
(4) Where, under an appointment procedure agreed upon by the parties,
    (a) a party fails to act as required under such procedure; or
    (b) the parties, or two arbitrators, are unable to reach an agreement expected of them under such procedure; or
    (c) a third party, including an institution, fails to perform any function entrusted to it under such procedure,
any party may request the court or other authority specified in Article 6 to take the necessary measure, unless the agreement on the appointment procedure provides other means for securing the appointment.
(5) A decision on a matter entrusted by paragraph (3) or (4) of this Article to the court or other authority specified in Article 6 shall be subject to no appeal. The court or other authority, in appointing an arbitrator, shall have due regard to any qualifications required of the arbitrator by the agreement of the parties and to such considerations as are likely to secure the appointment of an independent and impartial arbitrator and, in the case of a sole or third arbitrator, shall take into account as well the advisability of appointing an arbitrator of a nationality other than those of the parties.
Article 12. Grounds for challenge
(1) When a person is approached in connection with his possible appointment as an arbitrator, he shall disclose any circumstances likely ​to give rise to justifiable doubts as to his impartiality or independence. An arbitrator, from the time of his appointment and throughout the arbitral proceedings, shall without delay disclose any such circumstances to the parties unless they have already been informed of them by him.
(2) An arbitrator may be challenged only if circumstances exist that give rise to justifiable doubts as to his impartiality or independence, or if he does not possess qualifications agreed to by the parties. A party may challenge an arbitrator appointed by him, or in whose appointment he has participated, only for reasons of which he becomes aware after the appointment has been made.
Article 13. Challenge procedure
(1) The parties are free to agree on a procedure for challenging an arbitrator, subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Article.
(2) Failing such agreement, a party who intends to challenge an arbitrator shall, within fifteen days after becoming aware of the constitution of the arbitral tribunal or after becoming aware of any circumstance referred to in Article 12 (2), send a written statement of the reasons for the challenge to the arbitral tribunal. Unless the challenged arbitrator withdraws from his office or the other party agrees to the challenge, the arbitral tribunal shall decide on the challenge.
(3) If a challenge under any procedure agreed upon by the parties or under the procedure of paragraph (2) of this Article is not successful, the challenging party may request, within thirty days after having received notice of the decision rejecting the challenge, the court or other authority specified in Article 6 to decide on the challenge, which decision shall be subject to no appeal; while such a request is pending, the arbitral tribunal, including the challenged arbitrator, may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award.
Article 14. Failure or impossibility to act
(1) If an arbitrator becomes de jure or de facto unable to perform his functions or for other reasons fails to act without undue delay, his mandate terminates if he withdraws from his office or if the parties agree on the termination. Otherwise, if a controversy remains concerning any of these grounds, any party may request the court or other authority specified in Article 6 to decide on the termination of the mandate, which decision shall be subject to no appeal.
(2) If, under this Article or Article 13 (2), an arbitrator withdraws from his office or a party agrees to the termination of the mandate of an arbitrator, this does not imply acceptance of the validity of any ground referred to in this Article or Article 12 (2).
​Article 15. Appointment of substitute arbitrator
Where the mandate of an arbitrator terminates under Article 13 or 14 or because of his withdrawal from office for any other reason or because of the revocation of his mandate by agreement of the parties or in any other case of termination of his mandate, a substitute arbitrator shall be appointed according to the rules that were applicable to the appointment of the arbitrator being replaced.
Chapter IV Jurisdiction of Arbitral Tribunal
Article 16. Competence of arbitral tribunal to rule on its jurisdiction
(1) The arbitral tribunal may rule on its own jurisdiction, including any objections with respect to the existence or validity of the arbitration agreement. For that purpose, an arbitration clause which forms part of a contract shall be treated as an agreement independent of the other terms of the contract. A decision by the arbitral tribunal that the contract is null and void shall not entail ipso jure the invalidity of the arbitration clause.
(2) A plea that the arbitral tribunal does not have jurisdiction shall be raised not later than the submission of the statement of defence. A party is not precluded from raising such a plea by the fact that he has appointed, or participated in the appointment of, an arbitrator. A plea that the arbitral tribunal is exceeding the scope of its authority shall be raised as soon as the matter alleged to be beyond the scope of its authority is raised during the arbitral proceedings. The arbitral tribunal may, in either case, admit a later plea if it considers the delay justified.
(3) The arbitral tribunal may rule on a plea referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article either as a preliminary question or in an award on the merits. If the arbitral tribunal rules as a preliminary question that it has jurisdiction, any party may request, within thirty days after having received notice of that ruling, the court specified in Article 6 to decide the matter, which decision shall be subject to no appeal; while such a request is pending, the arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award.
Article 17. Power of arbitral tribunal to order interim measures
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral tribunal may, at the request of a party, order any party to take such interim measure of protection as the arbitral tribunal may consider necessary in respect of the subject-matter of the dispute. The arbitral tribunal may require any party to provide appropriate security in connection with such measure.
Chapter V Conduct of Arbitral Proceedings
Article 18. Equal treatment of parties
The parties shall be treated with equality and each party shall be given a full opportunity of presenting his case.
Article 19. Determination of rules of procedure
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Law, the parties are free to agree on the procedure to be followed by the arbitral tribunal in conducting the proceedings.
(2) Failing such agreement, the arbitral tribunal may, subject to the provisions of this Law, conduct the arbitration in such manner as it considers appropriate. The power conferred upon the arbitral tribunal includes the power to determine the admissibility, relevance, materiality and weight of any evidence.
Article 20. Place of arbitration
(1) The parties are free to agree on the place of arbitration. Failing such agreement, the place of arbitration shall be determined by the arbitral tribunal having regard to the circumstances of the case, including the convenience of the parties.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article, the arbitral tribunal may, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, meet at any place it considers appropriate for consultation among its members, for hearing witnesses, experts or the parties, or for inspection of goods, other property or documents.
Article 21. Commencement of arbitral proceedings
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral proceedings in respect of a particular dispute commence on the date on which a request for that dispute to be referred to arbitration is received by the respondent.
Article 22. Language
(1) The parties are free to agree on the language or languages to be used in the arbitral proceedings. Failing such agreement, the arbitral tribunal shall determine the language or languages to be used in the proceedings. This agreement or determination, unless otherwise specified therein, shall apply to any written statement by a party, any hearing and any award, decision or other communication by the arbitral tribunal.
​(2) The arbitral tribunal may order that any documentary evidence shall be accompanied by a translation into the language or languages agreed upon by the parties or determined by the arbitral tribunal.
Article 23. Statements of claim and defence
(1) Within the period of time agreed by the parties or determined by the arbitral tribunal, the claimant shall state the facts supporting his claim, the points at issue and the relief or remedy sought, and the respondent shall state his defence in respect of these particulars, unless the parties have otherwise agreed as to the required elements of such statements. The parties may submit with their statements all documents they consider to be relevant or may add a reference to the documents or other evidence they will submit.
(2) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, either party may amend or supplement his claim or defence during the course of the arbitral proceedings, unless the arbitral tribunal considers it inappropriate to allow such amendment having regard to the delay in making it.
Article 24. Hearings and written proceedings
(1) Subject to any contrary agreement by the parties, the arbitral tribunal shall decide whether to hold oral hearings for the presentation of evidence or for oral argument, or whether the proceedings shall be conducted on the basis of documents and other materials. However, unless the parties have agreed that no hearings shall be held, the arbitral tribunal shall hold such hearings at an appropriate stage of the proceedings, if so requested by a party.
(2) The parties shall be given sufficient advance notice of any hearing and of any meeting of the arbitral tribunal for the purposes of inspection of goods, other property or documents.
(3) All statements, documents or other information supplied to the arbitral tribunal by one party shall be communicated to the other party. Also any expert report or evidentiary document on which the arbitral tribunal may rely in making its decision shall be communicated to the parties.
Article 25. Default of a party
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, if, without showing sufficient cause—
    (a) the claimant fails to communicate his statement of claim in accordance with Article 23 (1), the arbitral tribunal shall terminate the proceedings; ​
    (b) the respondent fails to communicate his statement of defence in accordance with Article 23 (1), the arbitral tribunal shall continue the proceedings without treating such failure in itself as an admission of the claimant’s allegations;
    (c) any party fails to appear at a hearing or to produce docu­ mentary evidence, the arbitral tribunal may continue the proceedings and make the award on the evidence before it.
Article 26. Expert appointed by arbitral tribunal
(1) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral tribunal—
    (a) may appoint one or more experts to report to it on specific issues to be determined by the arbitral tribunal;
    (b) may require a party to give the expert any relevant information or to produce, or to provide access to, any relevant documents, goods or other property for his inspection.
(2) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, if a party so requests or if the arbitral tribunal considers it necessary, the expert shall, after delivery of his written or oral report, participate in a hearing where the parties have the opportunity to put questions to him and to present expert witnesses in order to testify on the points at issue.
Article 27. Court assistance in taking evidence
The arbitral tribunal or a party with the approval of the arbitral tribunal may request from a competent court of this State assistance in taking evidence. The court may execute the request within its competence and according to its rules on taking evidence.
Chapter VI Making of Award and Termination of Proceedings
Article 28. Rules applicable to substance of dispute
(1) The arbitral tribunal shall decide the dispute in accordance with such rules of law as are chosen by the parties as applicable to the substance of the dispute. Any designation of the law or legal system of a given State shall be construed, unless otherwise expressed, as directly referring to the substantive law of that State and not to its conflict of laws rules.
(2) Failing any designation by the parties, the arbitral tribunal shall apply the law determined by the conflict of laws rules which it considers applicable.
​(3) The arbitral tribunal shall decide ex aequo et bono or as amiable compositeur only if the parties have expressly authorised it to do so.
(4) In all cases, the arbitral tribunal shall decide in accordance with the terms of the contract and shall take into account the usages of the trade applicable to the transaction.
Article 29. Decision-making by panel of arbitrators
In arbitral proceedings with more than one arbitrator, any decision of the arbitral tribunal shall be made, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, by a majority of all its members. However, questions of procedure may be decided by a presiding arbitrator, if so authorised by the parties or all members of the arbitral tribunal.
Article 30. Settlement
(1) If, during arbitral proceedings, the parties settle the dispute, the arbitral tribunal shall terminate the proceedings and, if requested by the parties and not objected to by the arbitral tribunal, record the settlement in the form of an arbitral award on agreed terms.
(2) An award on agreed terms shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Article 31 and shall state that it is an award. Such an award has the same status and effect as any other award on the merits of the case.
Article 31. Form and contents of award
(1) The award shall be made in writing and shall be signed by the arbitrator or arbitrators. In arbitral proceedings with more than one arbitrator, the signatures of the majority of all members of the arbitral tribunal shall suffice, provided that the reason for any omitted signature is stated.
(2) The award shall state the reasons upon which it is based, unless the parties have agreed that no reasons are to be given or the award is an award on agreed terms under Article 30.
(3) The award shall state its date and the place of arbitration as determined in accordance with Article 20 (1). The award shall be deemed to have been made at that place.
(4) After the award is made, a copy signed by the arbitrators in accordance with paragraph (1) of this Article shall be delivered to each party.
​Article 32. Termination of proceedings
(1) The arbitral proceedings are terminated by the final award or by an order of the arbitral tribunal in accordance with paragraph (2) of this Article.
(2) The arbitral tribunal shall issue an order for the termination of the arbitral proceedings when:
    (a) the claimant withdraws his claim, unless the respondent objects thereto and the arbitral tribunal recognises a legitimate interest on his part in obtaining a final settlement of the dispute;
    (b) the parties agree on the termination of the proceedings;
    (c) the arbitral tribunal finds that the continuation of the proceedings has for any other reason become unnecessary or impossible.
(3) The mandate of the arbitral tribunal terminates with the termination of the arbitral proceedings, subject to the provisions of Articles 33 and 34 (4).
Article 33. Correction and interpretation of award; additional award
(1) Within thirty days of receipt of the award, unless another period of time has been agreed upon by the parties:
    (a) a party, with notice to the other party, may request the arbitral tribunal to correct in the award any errors in computation, any clerical or typographical errors or any errors of similar nature;
    (b) if so agreed by the parties, a party, with notice to the other party, may request the arbitral tribunal to give an interpretation of a specific point or part of the award.
If the arbitral tribunal considers the request to be justified, it shall make the correction or give the interpretation within thirty days of receipt of the request. The interpretation shall form part of the award.
(2) The arbitral tribunal may correct any error of the type referred to in paragraph (1) (a) of this Article on its own initiative within thirty days of the date of the award.
(3) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, a party, with notice to the other party, may request, within thirty days of receipt of the award, the arbitral tribunal to make an additional award as to claims presented ​in the arbitral proceedings but omitted from the award. If the arbitral tribunal considers the request to be justified, it shall make the additional award within sixty days.
(4) The arbitral tribunal may extend, if necessary, the period of time within which it shall make a correction, interpretation or an additional award under paragraph (1) or (3) of this Article.
(5) The provisions of Article 31 shall apply to a correction or interpretation of the award or to an additional award.
Chapter VII Recourse Against Award
Article 34. Application for setting aside as exclusive recourse against arbitral award
(1) Recourse to a court against an arbitral award may be made only by an application for setting aside in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Article.
(2) An arbitral award may be set aside by the court specified in Article 6 only if:
    (a) the party making the application furnishes proof that:
       (i) a party to the arbitration agreement referred to in Article 7 was under some incapacity; or the said agreement is not valid under the law to which the parties have subjected it or, failing any indication thereon, under the law of this State; or
       (ii) the party making the application was not given proper notice of the appointment of an arbitrator or of the arbitral proceedings or was otherwise unable to present his case; or
       (iii) the award deals with a dispute not contemplated by or not falling within the terms of the submission to arbitration, or contains decisions on matters beyond the scope of the submission to arbitration, provided that, if the decisions on matters submitted to arbitration can be separated from those not so submitted, only that part of the award which contains decisions on matters not submitted to arbitration may be set aside; or
       (iv) the composition of the arbitral tribunal or the arbitral procedure was not in accordance with ​the agreement of the parties, unless such agreement was in conflict with a provision of this Law from which the parties cannot derogate, or, failing such agreement, was not in accordance with this Law; or
    (b) the court finds that:
       (i) the subject-matter of the dispute is not capable of settlement by arbitration under the law of this State; or
       (ii) the award is in conflict with the public policy of this State.
(3) An application for setting aside may not be made after three months have elapsed from the date on which the party making that application had received the award or, if a request had been made under Article 33, from the date on which that request had been disposed of by the arbitral tribunal.
(4) The court, when asked to set aside an award, may, where appropriate and so requested by a party, suspend the setting aside proceedings for a period of time determined by it in order to give the arbitral tribunal an opportunity to resume the arbitral proceedings or to take such other action as in the arbitral tribunal’s opinion will eliminate the grounds for setting aside.
Chapter VIII Recognition and Enforcement of Awards
Article 35. Recognition and enforcement
(1) An arbitral award, irrespective of the country in which it was made, shall be recognised as binding and, upon application in writing to the competent court, shall be enforced subject to the provisions of this Article and of Article 36.
(2) The party relying on an award or applying for its enforcement shall supply the duly authenticated original award or a duly certified copy thereof, and the original arbitration agreement referred to in Article 7 or a duly certified copy thereof. If the award or agreement is not made in an official language of this State, the party shall supply a duly certified translation thereof into such language.
​Article 36. Grounds for refusing recognition or enforcement
(1) Recognition or enforcement of an arbitral award, irrespective of the country in which it was made, may be refused only:
    (a) at the request of the party against whom it is invoked, if that party furnishes to the competent court where recognition or enforcement is sought proof that:
       (i) a party to the arbitration agreement referred to in Article 7 was under some incapacity; or the said agreement is not valid under the law to which the parties have subjected it or, failing any indication thereon, under the law of the country where the award was made; or
       (ii) the party against whom the award is invoked was not given proper notice of the appointment of an arbitrator or of the arbitral proceedings or was otherwise unable to present his case; or
       (iii) the award deals with a dispute not contemplated by or not falling within the terms of the submission to arbitration, or it contains decisions on matters beyond the scope of the submission to arbitration, provided that, if the decisions on matters submitted to arbitration can be separated from those not so submitted, that part of the award which contains decisions on matters submitted to arbitration may be recognised and enforced; or
       (iv) the composition of the arbitral tribunal or the arbitral procedure was not in accordance with the agreement of the parties or, failing such agreement, was not in accordance with the law of the country where the arbitration took place; or
       (v) the award has not yet become binding on the parties or has been set aside or suspended by a court of the country in which, or under the law of which, that award was made; or
    (b) if the court finds that:
       (i) the subject-matter of the dispute is not capable of settlement by arbitration under the law of this State; or
       (ii) the recognition or enforcement of the award would be contrary to the public policy of this State.
(2) If an application for setting aside or suspension of an award has been made to a court referred to in paragraph (1) (a) (v) of this Article, ​the court where recognition or enforcement is sought may, if it considers it proper, adjourn its decision and may also, on the application of the party claiming recognition or enforcement of the award, order the other party to provide appropriate security.
CONVENTION ON THE RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN ARBITRAL AWARDS CONCLUDED AT NEW YORK ON 10TH JUNE 1958
Article I
1. This Convention shall apply to the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards made in the territory of a State other than the State where the recognition and enforcement of such awards are sought, and arising out of differences between persons, whether physical or legal. It shall also apply to arbitral awards not considered as domestic awards in the State where their recognition and enforcement are sought.
2. The term “arbitral awards” shall include not only awards made by arbitrators appointed for each case but also those made by permanent arbitral bodies to which the parties have submitted.
3. When signing, ratifying or acceding to this Convention, or notifying extension under Article X hereof, any State may on the basis of reciprocity declare that it will apply the Convention to the recognition and enforcement of awards made only in the territory of another Contracting State. It may also declare that it will apply the Convention only to differences arising out of legal relationships, whether contractual or not, which are considered as commercial under the national law of the State making such declaration.
Article II
1. Each Contracting State shall recognise an agreement in writing under which the parties undertake to submit to arbitration all or any differences which have arisen or which may arise between them in respect of a defined legal relationship, whether contractual or not, concerning a subject-matter capable of settlement by arbitration.
2. The term “agreement in writing” shall include an arbitral clause in a contract or an arbitration agreement, signed by the parties or contained in an exchange of letters or telegrams.
​3. The court of a Contracting State, when seized of an action in a matter in respect of which the parties have made an agreement within the meaning of this Article, at the request of one of the parties, refer the parties to arbitration, unless it finds that the said agreement is null and void, inoperative or incapable of being performed.
Article III
Each Contracting State shall recognise arbitral awards as binding and enforce them in accordance with the rules of procedure of the territory where the award is relied upon, under the conditions laid down in the following Articles. There shall not be imposed substantially more onerous conditions or higher fees or charges on the recognition or enforcement of arbitral awards to which this Convention applies than are imposed on the recognition or enforcement of domestic arbitral awards.
Article IV
1. To obtain the recognition and enforcement mentioned in the preceding Article, the party applying for recognition and enforcement shall, at the time of the application, supply—
    (a) the duly authenticated original award or a duly certified copy thereof;
    (b) the original agreement referred to in Article II or a duly certified copy thereof.
2. If the said award or agreement is not made in an official language of the country in which the award is relied upon, the party applying for recognition and enforcement of the award shall produce a translation of these documents into such language. The translation shall be certified by an official or sworn translator or by a diplomatic or consular agent.
Article V
1. Recognition and enforcement of the award may be refused, at the request of the party against whom it is invoked, only if that party furnishes to the competent authority where the recognition and enforcement is sought, proof that—
    (a) the parties to the agreement referred to in Article II were, under the law applicable to them, under some incapacity, or the said agreement is not valid under the law to which ​the parties have subjected it or, failing any indication thereon, under the law of the country where the award was made; or
    (b) the party against whom the award is invoked was not given proper notice of the appointment of the arbitrator or of the arbitration proceedings or was otherwise unable to present his case; or
    (c) the award deals with a difference not contemplated by or not falling within the terms of the submission to arbitration, or it contains decisions on matters beyond the scope of the submission to arbitration, provided that, if the decisions on matters submitted to arbitration can be separated from those not so submitted, that part of the award which contains decisions on matters submitted to arbitration may be recognised and enforced; or
    (d) the composition of the arbitral authority or the arbitral procedure was not in accordance with the agreement of the parties, or, failing such agreement, was not in accordance with the law of the country where the arbitration took place; or
    (e) the award has not yet become binding on the parties, or has been set aside or suspended by a competent authority of the country in which, or under the law of which, that award was made.
2. Recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award may also be refused if the competent authority in the country where recognition and enforcement is sought finds that—
    (a) the subject-matter of the difference is not capable of settlement by arbitration under the law of that country; or
    (b) the recognition or enforcement of the award would be contrary to the public policy of that country.
Article VI
If an application for the setting aside or suspension of the award has been made to a competent authority referred to in Article V (1) (e), the authority before which the award is sought to be relied upon may, if it considers it proper, adjourn the decision on the enforcement of the award and may also, on the application of the party claiming enforcement of the award, order the other party to give suitable security.
Article VII
1. The provisions of the present Convention shall not affect the validity of multilateral or bilateral agreements concerning the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards entered into by the Contracting States nor deprive any interested party of any right he may have to avail himself of an arbitral award in the manner and to the extent allowed by the law or the treaties of the country where such award is sought to be relied upon.
2. The Geneva Protocol on Arbitration Clauses of 1923 and the Geneva Convention on the Execution of Foreign Arbitral Awards of 1927 shall cease to have effect between Contracting States on their becoming bound and to the extent that they become bound, by this Convention.
Article VIII
1. This Convention shall be open until 31st December 1958 for signature on behalf of any Member of the United Nations and also on behalf of any other State which is or hereafter becomes a member of any specialised agency of the United Nations, or which is or hereafter becomes a party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice, or any other State to which an invitation has been addressed by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
2. This Convention shall be ratified and the instrument of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Article IX
1. This Convention shall be open for accession to all States referred to in Article VIII.
2. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Article X
1. Any State may, at the time of signature, ratification or accession, declare that this Convention shall extend to all or any of the territories for the international relations of which it is responsible. Such a declaration shall take effect when the Convention enters into force for the State concerned.
2. At any time thereafter any such extension shall be made by notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations ​and shall take effect as from the ninetieth day after the day of receipt by the Secretary-General of the United Nations of this notification, or as from the date of entry into force of the Convention for the State concerned, whichever is the later.
3. With respect to those territories to which this Convention is not extended at the time of signature, ratification or accession, each State concerned shall consider the possibility of taking the necessary steps in order to extend the application of this Convention to such territories, subject, where necessary for constitutional reasons, to the consent of the Governments of such territories.
Article XI
In the case of a federal or non-unitary State, the following provisions shall apply:
    (a) with respect to those Articles of this Convention that come within the legislative jurisdiction of the federal authority, the obligations of the federal Government shall to this extent be the same as those of Contracting States which are not federal States;
    (b) with respect to those Articles of this Convention that come within the legislative jurisdiction of constituent States or provinces which are not, under the constitutional system of the federation, bound to take legislative action, the federal Government shall bring such articles with a favourable recommendation to the notice of the appropriate authorities of constituent States or provinces at the earliest possible moment;
    (c) a federal State Party to this Convention shall, at the request of any other Contracting State transmitted through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, supply a statement of the law and practice of the federation and its constituent units in regard to any particular provision of this Convention, showing the extent to which effect has been given to that provision by legislative or other action.
Article XII
1. This Convention shall come into force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit of the third instrument of ratification or accession. ​2. For each State ratifying or acceding to this Convention after the deposit of the third instrument of ratification or accession, this Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after deposit by such State of its instrument of ratification or accession.
Article XIII
1. Any Contracting State may denounce this Convention by a written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Denunciation shall take effect one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General.
2. Any State which has made a declaration or notification under Article X may, at any time thereafter, by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, declare that this Convention shall cease to extend to the territory concerned one year after the date of the receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General.
3. This Convention shall continue to be applicable to arbitral awards in respect of which recognition or enforcement proceedings have been instituted before the denunciation takes effect.
Article XIV
A Contracting State shall not be entitled to avail itself of the present Convention against other Contracting States except to the extent that it is itself bound to apply the Convention.
Article XV
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall notify the States contemplated in Article VIII of the following:
    (a) signatures and ratifications in accordance with Article VIII;
    (b) accessions in accordance with Article IX;
    (c) declarations and notifications under Articles I, X and XI;
    (d) the date upon which this Convention enters into force in accordance with Article XII;
    (e) denunciations and notifications in accordance with Article XIII.
Article XVI
1. This Convention, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts shall be equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the United Nations.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit a certified copy of this Convention to the States contemplated in Article VIII.
* ↑ Article headings are for reference purposes only and are not to be used for purposes of interpretation.
* ↑ The term “commercial” should be given a wide interpretation so as to cover matters arising from all relationships of a commercial nature, whether contractual or not. Relationships of a commercial nature include, but are not limited to, the following transactions: any trade transaction for the supply or exchange of goods or services; distribution agreement; commercial representation or agency; factoring; leasing; construction of works; consulting; engineering; licensing; investment; financing; banking; insurance; exploitation agreement or concession; joint venture and other forms of industrial or business co-operation; carriage of goods or passengers by air, sea, rail or road.
* ↑ Chapter VIII does not have the force of law in Singapore by virtue of section 3 (1).
* ↑ The conditions set forth in this paragraph are intended to set maximum standards. It would, thus, not be contrary to the harmonisation to be achieved by the Model Law if a State retained even less onerous conditions.
This work is Singaporean legislation (Act of Parliament or subsidiary legislation), which is copyrighted in Singapore for 70 years after publication pursuant to
* sections 114(1) and 136(1)(b) of the Copyright Act 2021, or
* section 197(3)(b) of the repealed Copyright Act (Cap. 63, 2006 Rev. Ed.) for legislation published before 21 November 2021.
However, as an edict of a government, it is in the public domain in the U.S.
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