The International Arbitration Centre (IAC) organises and hosts the Preliminary Rounds and Final of the IAC Central Asia Vis Pre-Moot annually. For the third year the competition was held by the IAC and the second year it was organised in partnership with the US State Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP). It aims to promote the study of international commercial law and arbitration for resolution of international business disputes through its application of a ‘real-life’ practical legal problem and to develop future lawyers in arbitration practice.

Every year more than 100 law students from CIS countries, Europe and Asia compete offline and online in the Preliminary Rounds. More than 50 arbitrators and lawyers from leading international law firms and arbitration associations adjudicate the Preliminary Rounds. The Final is adjudicated by IAC Chairman and leading arbitrators.

The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot or Vis Moot is the most prestigious international arbitration moot in the world. Since 1994, it has been held annually in Vienna, Austria, attracting more than 300 law schools from all around the world. A sister moot, known as the Willem C. Vis (East) Moot, is held in Hong Kong just before the rounds in Vienna. It was established in 2003 and attracts around 150 teams every year, making it the second largest commercial arbitration moot. Due to increased popularity of Vis Moot many law students participate in preliminary rounds worldwide and practice their arguments before going to Vienna or Hong Kong. Starting from 2021 the IAC partnered with the Association for the Organisation and Promotion of the Vis Moot and organise Preliminary rounds on annual basis in Astana, Kazakhstan, where students from different countries, especially from Central Asia region, can participate and examine their knowledge both online and offline.

During Central Asia Vis Pre-Moot the IAC provides, with its partner, the CLDP (US State Department of Commerce) comprehensive in person moot advocacy training in Astana to more than 60 law students from 10 universities that were primarily from Central Asia. All student competitors received comprehensive personal feedback on their individual performances from the arbitrators and many of the students will compete in the Vis Moot competition which will be held in person in Vienna, Austria and in Hong Kong. Teams from Kazakhstan, KAZGUU University and Caspian University, represent Kazakhstan in Vis Moot competition and participate in Hong Kong and Vienna respectively every year.