​On October 14, 2016, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes hosted the final event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the signing and entry into force of the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (the “ICSID Convention”). 

The event was held at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. and featured a panel discussion with Ms. Jean E. Kalicki, Prof. Vaughan Lowe, Prof. Brigitte Stern and Prof. Albert Jan van den Berg.  Each of the panelists discussed the chapter they wrote in ‘Building International Investment Law: The First 50 Years of ICSID’, noting the key legal issues raised in their chapter and the implications for the future of investment jurisprudence. The panel discussion closed with a prediction by each of the panelists about the evolution of investment arbitration in the upcoming 50 years.

As part of the celebrations, ICSID also displayed an exhibit from September 27 until October 17 in the Atrium of the World Bank’s Main Complex Building. The exhibit provided an overview of the Centre’s mission and its relationship with the other branches of the World Bank Group.  It included a slideshow with quotes from well-known investments and trade experts, as well as more detailed information on ICSID’s history, cases and the functions of its Secretariat.