Certification was held at the autumn school “International experience in arbitration trial, arbitration courts, their importance, proceedings and procedural aspects of arbitration trial”, which was held at Hotel “Beldersoy Oromgohi” in Tashkent region on7-9 November.

The autumn school was organized within the framework of the joint project of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the UNDP “Support to the development of arbitration courts and other alternative methods of dispute settlement in the Republic of Uzbekistan” and by Arbitration Court under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

During the training course, arbitrators from all regions of Uzbekistan were introduced to the current trends in arbitration, its development in Uzbekistan and legislation on arbitration, as well as models and practical aspects of strategic negotiations. Additionally, arbitrators strengthened their knowledge via moot trials and business games.

Among the invited experts was Nina Vilkova, Doctor of Law at the Department of Private law in the Russian Academy of Foreign Trade. Throughout the event Ms. Vilkova shared her expertise and experiences of the Russian Federation and those of other countries with respect to the development and work organization of arbitration courts.

In particular, she spoke about procedures on dispute resolution at the International Commercial Arbitration Court under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and at the Arbitration Court of the International Trade Chamber, the latter being considered an internationally renowned institution in its field. The expert also gave answers to many questions raised by Uzbek arbitrators on procedures of foreign arbitration courts and processes of dispute resolution in these institutions.

According to senior specialist of Samarqand territorial directorate of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan Jahongir Mardanov, the course helped arbitrators to improve their knowledge on arbitration and study experiences of arbitration courts of Uzbekistan and Russia. He said that it would be reasonable to hold similar trainings on a regular basis.

After completion of the two-day course, arbitrators of arbitration courts under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan attended the public certification. Five-member certification panel comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Economic Court, Arbitration Development Center and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, assessed the knowledge of arbitrators with respect to the legislative framework of Uzbekistan on arbitration, regulations and procedures of arbitration courts. According to the decision of the certification panel, all arbitrators, who participated in the public certification, successfully passed it.

While expressing gratitude to the Arbitration Development Center for the organization of the event, the judge of the Economic Court of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Sayfullaev added: “Arbitration system is only at the development stage in Uzbekistan. Particular attention should be given to this aspect, as the arbitration system will be developing in the direction we put it. Economic court is ready to cooperate with arbitration courts and to assist them.”

Nina Vilkova said the results of public attestation demonstrated that arbitrators of Uzbekistan have appropriate skills and relevant knowledge on arbitration procedures.

Shavkat Juraboev, the manager of arbitration project, commented: “Public certification of arbitrators plays an important role in ensuring effective dispute resolution as it proves that certified arbitrators have the required level of knowledge for their professional activity.”

Arbitration Development Center was launched in May 2008 within the framework of the project “Support to the development of arbitration courts and other alternative methods of dispute settlement in the Republic of Uzbekistan”. The Center promotes the development and improvement of arbitration and mediation institutions in Uzbekistan. It also provides opportunities for interested businesses and individuals to gain detailed knowledge of the arbitration-related legislation, as well as improves skills of arbitrators and mediators to handle cases and resolve conflict situations.