On 10th July 2025, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, delivered a keynote address at a Roundtable Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, engaging with eminent industrialists, corporate leaders, businessmen, and law firms of Swedish and Indian origin. The conference, titled “Reimagining International Arbitration: India’s Emergence as a Global Arbitration Destination”, brought together stakeholders from both nations to explore India’s growing role in the global arbitration ecosystem.
Justice Surya Kant, in his address, reflected on the evolving contours of international arbitration and presented a compelling case for India’s emergence as a preferred arbitral seat. While acknowledging the historic contribution of traditional centres such as London and Singapore, he noted that the rising costs and procedural delays have created space for alternative jurisdictions that can provide legitimacy, cost-efficiency, and reliability.
Tracing India’s arbitration journey from ancient dispute resolution traditions to the present-day robust legal framework, Justice Surya Kant highlighted the transformative role of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, and its subsequent amendments in 2015 and 2021. These legislative reforms, combined with a pro-arbitration judicial approach, have significantly improved India’s attractiveness as an arbitration destination.
He also emphasized landmark Supreme Court decisions that reinforce party autonomy, minimal judicial interference, and support for seat neutrality. Institutions like the Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration (MCIA) and the new International Maritime Arbitration Centre at GIFT City were cited as evidence of India’s growing institutional infrastructure.
Justice Surya Kant drew attention to India’s increasing global footprint in forums such as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), where Indian parties rank among the top users and Indian-origin arbitrators continue to gain international appointments.
In the presence of key industry leaders and legal stakeholders, he stressed India’s constitutional commitment to rule of law, judicial independence, and investor protection, supported by Bilateral Investment Treaties such as the recent one signed with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Notably, he underlined India’s early and effective embrace of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and highlighted reforms in digital infrastructure, training, and capacity building that are positioning India at the forefront of the future of arbitration.
In closing, Justice Surya Kant urged the legal and business communities to view arbitration and mediation not as alternative mechanisms, but as parallel, party-driven modes of dispute resolution. He emphasized that India is not merely adapting to global standards—it is shaping them.
“The future of arbitration is not just international—it is also Indian.”
— Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Gothenburg, 10 July 2025