Case Details

Gruppo Officine Piccini S.p.A. v. Republic of Cameroon (ICSID Case No. ARB/23/21)

Subject of Dispute:

Construction project
Economic Sector:

Construction
Instrument(s) Invoked:

BIT Cameroon - Italy 1999
Applicable Rules:

ICSID Convention - Arbitration Rules

(a) Original Proceeding

Claimant(s)/Nationality(ies):

Gruppo Officine Piccini S.p.A. (Italian)
Respondent(s):

Republic of Cameroon (Cameroonian)
Date Registered:

June 8, 2023
Date of Constitution of Tribunal:

December 22, 2023

Composition of Tribunal

President:

Matthias SCHERER (Swiss) - Appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council
Arbitrators:

Constantine PARTASIDES (British, Cypriot) - Appointed by the Claimant(s)
Andrea K. BJORKLUND (U.S.) - Appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council

Party Representatives

Claimant(s):

Withers, London, U.K.
Respondent(s):

Jean-Claude Awana, Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon
Emmanuel Pensy, Douala, Republic of Cameroon
Gaston Kenfack Douajni, Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon
Benoit Placide Mevoua, Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon
Honoré Mbang Oliboko, Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon
Cabinet Abega-Juris, Marseille, France
Language(s) of Proceeding:

English,French
Status of Proceeding:

Pending
Latest Development:

May 9, 2025 - The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 4 concerning the organization of the hearing.

(a) Original Proceeding

Published Decisions

Procedural Order No. 1

Procedural Order No. 2

Available on the ICSID Website

Procedural Order No. 1 (March 11, 2024) English (Original); French (Original)

Procedural Order No. 2 (March 11, 2024) English (Original); French (Original)

(a) Original Proceeding

Date	Development
June 8, 2023	The Secretary-General registers a request for the institution of arbitration proceedings.
August 2, 2023	Following appointment by the Claimant, Constantine Partasides (British/Cypriot), accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
October 12, 2023	Following appointment by the Chair of the Administrative Council in accordance with Article 38 of the ICSID Convention, Andrea Bjorklund (U.S.) accepts her appointment as arbitrator.
December 22, 2023	Following appointment by the Chair of the Administrative Council in accordance with Article 38 of the ICSID Convention, Matthias Scherer (Swiss) accepts his appointment as presiding arbitrator.
December 22, 2023	The Tribunal is constituted in accordance with Article 37(2)(b) of the ICSID Convention. Its members are: Matthias Scherer (Swiss), President, appointed the Chair of the Administrative Council in accordance with Article 38 of the ICSID Convention; Constantine Partasides (British/Cypriot), appointed by Claimant; and Andrea Bjorklund (U.S.), appointed by the Chair of the Administrative Council in accordance with Article 38 of the ICSID Convention.
February 23, 2024	The Tribunals holds a first session by video conference.
March 11, 2024	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 2 concerning transparency.
March 11, 2024	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 1 concerning procedural matters.
May 17, 2024	The Claimants file a memorial on the merits.
October 1, 2024	The Respondent files a counter-memorial on the merits.
January 17, 2025	The Claimant files a reply on the merits.
April 17, 2025	The Respondent files a rejoinder on the merits.
April 28, 2025	The Respondent files a request to address the objections to jurisdiction as a preliminary question pursuant to ICSID Convention Article 41(2) and ICSID Arbitration Rule 44.
April 29, 2025	The Tribunal holds a pre-hearing organizational meeting with the parties by video conference.
May 1, 2025	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 3 concerning the Respondent’s request to address the objections to jurisdiction as a preliminary question; as a result, the preliminary objections are joined to the merits of the dispute.
May 9, 2025	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 4 concerning the organization of the hearing.