International investment agreements (IIAs)

NEW YORK International investment agreements are once again in the news.

International investment disputes arising from investment agreements are on the rise, at times involving tens of millions of dollars.

To give this presumption teeth, it should be included in international trade and investment agreements.

The cumulative total of all known cases brought under bilateral, regional (e.g. NAFTA) or plurilateral (e.g. Energy Charter Treaty) agreements that contain investment clauses, or international investment agreements (IIAs), is now 160.

Work undertaken within UNCTAD's work programme on international investment agreements in 2004 Report by the UNCTAD secretariat

International agreements

Developing country governments have also increased the number of concluded bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and double taxation agreements and, more recently, bilateral and regional free trade and investment agreements.

Other international agreements

International transport agreements

The speaker also expressed concern about the increase in the number of international investment disputes arising from investment agreements, and said that further analysis of this phenomenon and its implications for development was needed.

Obviously, cooperation agreements and private investment in this sector should be encouraged.

Countries that have signed such investment agreements have paid a high price.

Other Governments are promoting investment flows within the framework of bilateral agreements.

Regarding UNCTAD's investment related activities, the speaker suggested that the secretariat further expand the discussion on investment agreements in the light of the increasing importance of such agreements, and explore possibilities of establishing a mechanism to assist developing countries in resolving investment disputes.

It is the investment agreements themselves that most seriously threaten democratic decision making.

Conflicts with other international agreements

(b) International conventions and agreements

The recent trends in FDI, which gave rise to optimism and to concern, needed to be seen in the context of both domestic policies and international investment agreements.

Effects on other international transport agreements

But those supporting the investment agreements are not really concerned about protecting property rights, anyway.

Singapore had also signed bilateral investment treaties and double taxation avoidance agreements with various countries.

The recent proliferation of bilateral investment treaties (BITs), double taxation treaties and various types of preferential trade agreements with investment components confirms this trend.

Focusing on the legal dimension of corporate responsibilities in the field of economic development, he said that trends in investment arbitration case law suggested that certain corporate conduct obligations were inherent in the protective principles found in international investment agreements.

(b) International agreements, including bilateral agreements relevant to the protection of the ozone layer

UNCTAD was particularly well positioned to discuss the proper role of international investment and trade agreements in the development dimension of CSR and the link between responsible business and CSR.

Another in depth evaluation had just been conducted on the capacity building programme on issues in international investment agreements, and the results could be made available shortly to interested delegations.

Another in depth evaluation had just been conducted on the capacity building programme on issues in international investment agreements, and the results could be made available shortly to interested delegations.

International investment and enterprise development

In particular, many LDCs had recently established investment promotion agencies and were entering into bilateral, regional and interregional agreements for the protection and promotion of investment.

Specifically, this project developed and implemented distance learning programmes on International Investment Agreements and Trade Negotiations and Commercial Diplomacy in Benin, Cameroon, Guinea, Mali and Togo, and included training of tutors.

Even so, developing country policymakers can build some measure of freedom into new trade and investment agreements.

Takes part in the negotiation of international agreements.

Preferential trade and investment agreements similarly intensified among developing countries in the 1990s, rising to 49 in 2004.

First, for the purpose of fostering an enabling global environment to facilitate international investment flows and increasing R D related FDI, UNCTAD could help define the scope of investment issues, including development aspects, so as to assist developing countries in negotiating provisions for free trade agreements.

Indeed, many developing countries are carefully adjusting their negotiating positions in international investment agreements (IIAs) to reflect the fact that they are no longer only receiving (host) countries but also increasingly source (home) countries.

While it was pointed out that there was no causal connection between international investment agreements (IIAs) and attracting FDI, it was nevertheless emphasized that the protection of investors would encourage the flow of investments.

In introducing item 4, the Chief of the International Arrangements Section, DITE, said that the number of international disputes arising from investment agreements had increased dramatically over the past five years, and that this development would pose a particular challenge for developing countries.

Adherence to and implementation of international agreements, guidelines and recommendations

The State practice related to international transport agreements is contradictory.

While proponents argue that investment treaties reduce uncertainty, the ambiguities and conflicting interpretations of these agreements provisions have increased uncertainty.

The EU emphasized the importance of studying further the policies and regional agreements that could foster South South investment flows.

) To the extent that these agreements protect investment and open up industries for FDI, they facilitate OFDI from developing countries.

A mission to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) was also organized to discuss investment chapters of free trade agreements.

Intergovernmental agreements were concluded in accordance with the Law on Conclusion and Execution of International Agreements (Official Gazette, 29 00).