Welcome to Singapore Convention Week 2024.

Many recent events have changed the way we live and work, and many more promise to do so in the future.  We have had to change the way we interact, the way we communicate, and the way we do business. Good growth opportunities nonetheless abound in 2024, especially in Asian economies including Singapore. 

Discerning between disruptions and distractions is key to seizing opportunities and staying relevant.  Disruptions can be positive catalysts to revolutionise how we do things. Recognising and harnessing the benefits from disruptions can drive technological development, increase efficiency, and steer key socio-economic issues. Distractions, on the other hand, are unwelcome and unwanted. They are issues or events that cause regress rather than progress. Distractions divert precious time and resources away from important issues that we should focus on - something that disputes professionals are all too familiar with. 

This leads us to the theme for this year’s Singapore Convention Week - Separating Disruptions from Distractions in an Evolving World.

Technological expertise, strategic planning, and a persistent curiosity are integral to avoid being caught unawares by each new disruption in today’s world. These are areas that Singapore hopes to encourage robust discussion on. This year, we bring together a diverse slate of international dispute experts, practitioners, academics, and government officials to share their experiences, best practices, and ideas. We hope you will gain meaningful insights from these discussions and engage fruitfully on strategies to actively manage any disruption that comes your way.

We would like to thank the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for working with us again to organise this year’s programme, as well as our partner organisations, speakers, and moderators for their valuable support.

We look forward to seeing you at Singapore Convention Week 2024.