Ques: The UNCITRAL is celebrating 50 years this year. Do you think that the UNCITRAL has indeed laid down global standards for rule-based commerce?

Ans: Absolutely. The UNICITRAL was set up in 1966 and it has had a good effect globally especially with respect to laying down a model law for international trade, arbitration for instance and has been adopted in several countries all over the world. It has also played a lead role in the development of e-commerce especially when today transactions are taking place over the computer.

Ques: Do you think that the UNICITRAL rules in its current form present obstacles to international trade and whether new substantive legal rules might address them?

Ans: Well, I don’t think the present rules have created any obstacles. Today, we are in a world where computers are making such a difference while conducting transactions. UNICTRAL has played a key role in the field of arbitration. We have to look outward and engage with different communities and explain what we are doing and highlight the importance of trade.

Ques: Do you think that the recently announced Brexit could affect the United Kingdom’s relationship with UNCITRAL?

Ans: International trade is a very integral agenda of the British government and in the light of Brexit, has become even more important than when it was part of the European Union. The British government has in fact set up a department to facilitate international trade.