Message from Martina Polasek

July 2025 marks my first year as Secretary-General of ICSID. July is also the start of our financial year, when we reflect on our progress in improving the Centre's efficiency, service standards, offerings, and outreach.

The year has been a very busy one at ICSID. From July 2024 to June 2025, we administered 347 cases and organized over 200 hearings and sessions. We registered 67 new cases, marking the second highest number in a single fiscal year. We also provided services for 14 cases under non-ICSID rules, including the full administration of 10 cases under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. On August 8, 2024, ICSID registered its 1,000th case under the ICSID Convention and Additional Facility Rules, highlighting our historical role in facilitating investment dispute settlement. By June 30, we had registered a total of 1,058 cases.

Maintaining ICSID’s top-level service standards is always our priority. Over the past year, ICSID has improved its operational efficiency by creating platforms to streamline administrative processes. We also initiated a survey of arbitrators to gather feedback on specific procedural tools aimed at improving case efficiency, particularly in setting the procedural rules for a case in its early stages, with many helpful and innovative suggestions received.

As part of our efforts to help reduce the costs of proceedings, ICSID has signed new agreements with institutions in key venues, securing preferential discounted rates for hearing facilities. We are also pleased to host hearings administered by institutions with which we have cooperation agreements at our premier facilities in Washington, D.C.

ICSID has continued to expand its outreach and alliances. Our staff participated in 150 activities—the most in a fiscal year to date—as part of our capacity-building and knowledge-sharing program. We conducted workshops and meetings with partners in Member and non-Member States, including on mediation and alternative dispute resolution. We also actively engage in a variety of multilateral efforts to reform international investment law and dispute resolution, including through our participation in UNCITRAL Working Group 3. 

Strengthening our global institutional network, we have signed new cooperation agreements with allies in Bahrain and Spain and are proud to be part of a new partnership between the World Bank Group and the International Chamber of Commerce. We continue to expand our global presence, with an increasing number of staff members based in different regions across the globe.

Looking ahead, we will continue working on our initiatives to improve efficiency. We will continue listening to stakeholders’ feedback and contributing to the modernization of investor-State dispute settlement to ensure it remains trusted, reliable, and relevant for States and investors. Thank you to our Member States, clients, and partners for supporting ICSID in fulfilling its mission. I look forward to working with all of you to achieve even more in the coming year.

I also want to express my gratitude and admiration for Gonzalo Flores, Deputy Secretary-General of ICSID, who has decided to retire from the World Bank Group. Gonzalo’s illustrious career with ICSID has been defined by his significant contributions, dedicated service, and unwavering commitment to the Centre, its clients and stakeholders, as well as to the advancement of international investment dispute resolution. I am very grateful for Gonzalo’s friendship and collegiality over the years. He has been not only a trusted colleague, but also a mentor and a source of guidance for ICSID staff, counsel and arbitrators alike. He will be greatly missed. 

Warm regards, Martina

Related: Read Martina's message 2024 Year in Review