The British Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with a local industrial chamber, has opened an international arbitration and mediation centre in the capital of Ecuador, Quito. It is expected to compete with three other Ecuadorian arbitration services, as a regional centre dealing with disputes where both parties are Latin American.

The centre is backed by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) as offering a service that is "rapid, ethical and yet cost effective" according to CIArb president, Hew Dundas.

The CIArb has identified Latin America generally as a growth opportunity and is looking to develop its membership not only in Ecuador but also in Columbia and Bolivia. Its initial aim is to assist in the development of dispute resolution and training there. It plans to put up a Spanish language section on its website and to contribute to South America's only arbitration law journal.

This development is particularly topical given Ecuador's current review of its international investment treaties (including a possible withdrawal from its bilateral investment treaty with the US) and Bolivia's decision to pull out of the ICSID regime.