Procedural Background

This document is Procedural Order No. 1 issued by the arbitral tribunal in the ICSID proceedings between Gruppo Officine Piccini S.p.A. and the Republic of Cameroon. Following the constitution of the Tribunal on December 22, 2023, and the first session held via videoconference on February 23, 2024, the Tribunal issued this Order to establish the foundational procedural framework governing the arbitration pursuant to ICSID Arbitration Rules 27 and 29.

Procedural Rules and Directions

The Order delineates the comprehensive procedural rules for the arbitration, which is conducted under the ICSID Arbitration Rules in force as of July 1, 2022. Key procedural matters addressed include the apportionment of costs and advance payments to ICSID, the designation of Washington D.C. as the place of proceedings, and the establishment of English and French as the dual procedural languages. The Tribunal also set forth detailed protocols for the routing of communications, the formatting and filing of written pleadings, and the submission of documentary evidence, witness statements, and expert reports.

Document Production and Hearing Organization

The Tribunal established a structured mechanism for the production of documents, noting it may take guidance from the 2020 IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration. Furthermore, the Order outlines the procedures for the examination of witnesses and experts, the convening of pre-hearing organizational meetings, and the logistical parameters for the evidentiary hearing. To ensure procedural efficiency and adaptability, the Order incorporates three potential procedural timetables (Annex B) contingent upon whether the Respondent submits a request for bifurcation.