Government of the lao people�s democratic republic v sanum investments Ltd: a tale of two letters

hwang, michael; aloysius chang;

In a recent case brought before the Singapore High Court to review an award on jurisdiction made by a United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) tribunal, the Court held that the award on jurisdiction was to be set aside, finding that the bilateral investment treaty (BIT) in question did not extend to the investor�s home State. It marked the first time that the Singapore courts have
had to review an investment treaty arbitral award as well as deal with the interpretation of a BIT to which Singapore is not a party.