Singapore International Arbitration Centre Bolsters India Presence with New Delhi Liaison Office
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi,25, July,2026– The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) has significantly expanded its footprint in India with the inauguration of its new liaison office in New Delhi.
This strategic move marks SIAC’s seventh overseas office globally and its third representative office within India, underscoring the nation’s growing importance as a hub for international arbitration.
The newly established Delhi office will be spearheaded by Shwetha Bidhuri, SIAC’s Director and Head for South Asia.
She will be supported by Devna Arora, Deputy Head for South Asia, and Steffi Mary Punnose, Strategy and Development Manager for South Asia.
This dedicated team is poised to enhance SIAC’s engagement with India’s vibrant legal and business communities.
In an official statement, SIAC articulated that the Delhi office will serve as a crucial platform for fostering deeper connections through a range of initiatives.
These include organizing specialized training programs, conducting insightful seminars, launching targeted outreach efforts, and collaborating extensively with arbitration practitioners, in-house counsel, and institutional partners across the country.
This expansion aims to facilitate a more robust understanding and utilization of international arbitration mechanisms within India.
Prior to this latest expansion, SIAC had already established a presence in India with offices in Mumbai and the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), demonstrating a sustained commitment to the Indian market.
The grand inauguration ceremony for the Delhi office took place on July 25, coinciding with the SIAC Annual India Conference 2026.
The event was graced by a distinguished roster of legal luminaries and government officials, highlighting the significance of SIAC’s enhanced presence.
Notable attendees included the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Singapore’s Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, Delhi High Court Justice Tejas Karia, and the Attorney General for India R Venkataramani.
Davinder Singh SC, Chairman of SIAC, emphasized India’s pivotal role in SIAC’s trajectory. He stated,
“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.”
Lucy Reed, President of the Court of Arbitration of SIAC, further underscored the strong ties, noting,
“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.”
Gloria Lim, CEO of SIAC, reiterated the institution’s long-standing commitment to India, affirming,
“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.”
This expansion is expected to further solidify SIAC’s position as a preferred arbitral institution for resolving international commercial disputes involving Indian parties, fostering a more efficient and accessible dispute resolution landscape in the region.
