Over 17 representatives of investment companies, leasing firms and credit unions working in Tashkent, participated at the seminar, which was held on 13 June at the conference room of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

At the seminar, the project team provided an overview on the activities of the newly established Arbitration Development Center, new trends, procedures, advantages and disadvantages of the arbitration system. The organizations were encouraged to solve the disputes with their clients and partners through the arbitration courts and include corresponding clause in the model contracts.

As part of the training programme, Artem Klimenko, deputy chairperson of the arbitration court under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, shared information on procedures and activities of the court, which he represented.

The seminar was organized within the joint project of UNDP and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan "Supporting to the development of arbitration courts and other alternative methods of dispute settlement in the Republic of Uzbekistan". The project focuses on development of the arbitration courts and other alternative ways of dispute resolution through creation of Arbitration Development Center, which was officially opened in early May 2008.

The project also set an objective to promote the arbitration system and other alternative methods of dispute settlement in Uzbekistan among businesses, lawyers and judges.

It is expected that the Project will organize workshops in other regions of Uzbekistan to develop the arbitrators’ skills, promote knowledge on arbitration and mediation as well as raise awareness of local businesses and population on procedures of the arbitration courts.