UNIDROIT-ICC Draft Instrument on International Investment Contracts

Presentation

During the event, the ICC Institute of World Business Law and UNIDROIT will present the results of their joint work on developing principles and model clauses for International Investment Contracts (IICs). The two organisations launched this triennial project in February 2023 with the objective of creating guidelines and model clauses that contribute to standardise the investment contract framework globally.

In recent decades, globalisation has led to a significant increase in cross‑border investment relations. However, despite this growth, disparities remain in how key legal concepts related to international investment contracts are interpreted. At present, no international standard exists to guide contractual relationships between states and private investors. The ICC Institute of World Business Law and UNIDROIT therefore undertook this project to develop tools that support both investors and states in negotiating and interpreting investment contracts.

Over the past three years, experts from both institutions have reviewed existing practices and challenges and examined how the interests of states and investors might be balanced. Their work has resulted in a set of principles and model clauses designed to assist parties to IICs in drafting and interpreting these contracts.

During PAW 2026, the workshop scheduled for Thursday, 26 March 2026, from 16:30 to 18:30 CET, will present the key findings and outcomes of this collaboration. The session will highlight the results of the study on investment contracts, the proposed instrument, and how it aims to support states and investors during contract negotiations and in the interpretation of contractual terms.