SINGAPORE -- The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has chosen Singapore to set up the Singapore office of the WIPO arbitration and mediation center, according to an official statement on Tuesday.

The only in the region, the center will be officially opened by in January 2010, a joint statement by Singapore's Ministry of Law and Media Development Authority said.

It will focus on promoting alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services in the Asia-Pacific region.

It will also provide training and advice on procedures such as arbitration, mediation and expert determination, and will administer and facilitate hearings in cases conducted under the WIPO rules in Singapore.

The Singapore Office of the WIPO center aims to cater to regional needs and to make WIPO's experience and expertise in intellectual property ADR more accessible in the Asia Pacific Region.

Director General of the WIPO Francis Gurry thanked Singapore for supporting this initiative which he said would offer companies and other actors in the region a cost-effective dispute resolution option.

The statement also said that an international WIPO mediation and arbitration scheme for film related disputes will also be established, which will be developed by the WIPO center in Singapore in collaboration with the Media Development Authority.
                                                                                                           Source: Xinhua