His Excellency Dr Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, Secretary-General of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO), participated in the Ninth UNCTAD World Investment Forum (WIF 2026), held in Doha, Qatar, from 25 to 27 October 2026. The Forum brought together government representatives, international organizations, policymakers and investment experts to discuss the future of international investment and its contribution to sustainable development.
On 25 October, the Secretary-General addressed the High-Level International Investment Agreements Conference, held in conjunction with the launch of UNCTAD's Guiding Principles for International Investment Agreement (IIA) Reform.
Welcoming this important initiative, he emphasized the need for a more balanced international investment regime that provides investor protection and legal certainty while safeguarding States' right to regulate in the public interest. Referring to UNCTAD's research, he highlighted that old-generation investment treaties still cover approximately 65 per cent of foreign investment in developing countries and account for 97 per cent of known investor–State arbitration cases. He therefore stressed that meaningful reform must include the systematic review and modernization of existing treaties, rather than focusing solely on negotiating new agreements.
The Secretary-General welcomed UNCTAD's new Guiding Principles, comprising four overarching principles and 28 associated guidelines, as a practical and flexible framework for investment treaty reform. He underscored that there can be no one-size-fits-all approach, particularly given the diverse legal systems, economic circumstances and development priorities of AALCO's 49 Member States across Asia and Africa.
Highlighting AALCO's longstanding contribution to international investment law, including its adoption of three Model Bilateral Agreements on Investment Protection in 1985 and its continuing engagement with UNCITRAL Working Group III on investor–State dispute settlement reform, he reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that Asian and African perspectives are reflected in shaping the future international investment regime.
The Secretary-General also emphasized opportunities for closer AALCO–UNCTAD cooperation, particularly in sharing national experiences, disseminating policy guidance and organizing practical capacity-building activities for government legal officers and investment treaty negotiators. Such cooperation could assist Member States in reviewing existing agreements, identifying reform priorities and developing investment treaty frameworks suited to their national circumstances.
As AALCO commemorates its 70th anniversary in 2026, its participation in the Forum reaffirmed the Organization's commitment to promoting a fairer, more balanced and development-oriented international investment regime, with Asian and African countries playing an active role in its evolution.
Concluding his address, the Secretary-General emphasized:
“The success of IIA reform should be measured not simply by the treaties we revise, but by the opportunities we create—for sustainable investment, stronger economies and better lives for our people.”
