The opening ceremony of the hybrid seminar, namely “Ca­pacity Building on Reform Re­quirement of Implementing the New Trends of International In­vestment Agreements (IIAs)”, funded by the ASEAN-Japan Centre, was held by the Minis­try of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday with an opening speech by MIFER Union Minis­ter Dr Kan Zaw.

The seminar aims to raise awareness and insightful knowl­edge on developing trends and reforms of IIAs, to enhance technically the capacity of the officials from the investment-re­lated agencies in the area of reform agenda in IIAs, and to apply practically the inputs throughout the capacity build­ing program at their workplace. The seminar will continue on 10 March 2023.

Dr San San Lwin, Profes­sor of Law Department at the University of East Yangon, and Dr Kabir Duggal, Senior Inter­national Arbitration Advisor to Arnold & Porter, discussed matters related to the New Trend of International Invest­ment Agreements: Full Protec­tion and Security, Public Policy Exceptions, Impact of Exclu­sion and Inclusion of Taxation Measures, the determinants of reducing investment disputes and strengthening matters on Right to Regulate, Definition of Investment and Investor, National Treatment, Most-Fa­voured Nation Treatment and Fair and Equitable Treatment to the participants.

The opening ceremony was attended by MIFER Deputy Minister Dr Wah Wah Maung, permanent secretaries, direc­tors-general, high-ranking offi­cials and officials from relevant ministries, totalling 130 partici­pants. – MNA