The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) on Saturday inaugurated its Delhi Liaison Office, marking its first representative office in India and underscoring the country’s growing prominence as a destination for international commercial arbitration. The office was jointly inaugurated by Singapore’s Minister for Law Edwin Tong and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal during the SIAC Annual India Conference 2026.
The liaison office will serve as SIAC’s local point of contact in India, providing information on the institution’s services, organising outreach and capacity-building initiatives, and strengthening collaboration with the Indian legal and business community.
Speaking at the inauguration, Law Minister Meghwal described the opening of the Delhi office as a significant milestone reflecting the confidence of one of the world’s leading arbitral institutions in India’s legal ecosystem. He said the development complements the country’s ongoing efforts to establish itself as a preferred hub for international commercial arbitration through legislative reforms, institutional development and judicial support.
The Delhi Liaison Office was inaugurated during the SIAC Annual India Conference 2026, which brought together judges, ministers, arbitrators, senior advocates and industry leaders to discuss the future of international arbitration under the theme, “International Arbitration: Navigating New Realities and Stress-Testing the Fundamentals.”
The Delhi office will be led by Ms Shwetha Bidhuri, Director & Head (South Asia), SIAC, and supported by Ms Devna Arora, Deputy Head (South Asia), SIAC, and Ms Steffi Mary Punnose, Strategy & Development Manager (South Asia), SIAC.
Mr Davinder Singh SC, Chairman of SIAC, said:
“Indian parties and lawyers have for many years played a very important role in SIAC’s growth. In addition to consistently being among its top users, they have contributed a great deal to SIAC as Board directors, Court members and in other capacities. The establishment of the Delhi Liaison Office is both a recognition of India’s importance to SIAC and a desire to better serve the Indian legal and business community.”
Ms Lucy Reed, President of the Court of Arbitration of SIAC, commented:
“Indian parties have been among SIAC’s top three foreign users over the past decade, and the new office will enable closer engagement with users and stakeholders in India while enhancing understanding of SIAC’s world-class arbitration services.”
Ms Gloria Lim, CEO of SIAC, said:
“The opening of our Delhi Liaison Office reinforces SIAC’s longstanding commitment to the business and legal community in India and marks an important step in our global journey. This office will allow SIAC to better support its users, strengthen outreach efforts, and contribute to the continued development of international arbitration practice in the region.”