The visit was organized within the joint project of UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan and the 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" (Arbitration project). The project focuses on development of the arbitration courts and other alternative ways of dispute resolution through creation of the Center for Development of Arbitration and Mediation under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

During the visit, the legal experts of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan visited the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russian Federation and its arbitration center, the Russian Center for Assistance of Arbitration, International Commercial Arbitration Court and others.

The delegation of Uzbekistan got acquainted with development of arbitration in the Russian Federation, including legal aspects, work of the Russian Center for Assistance of Arbitration and its procedures, as well as interaction of the arbitration courts with governmental and international bodies.

The Uzbek experts also learnt experience of Russian colleagues on promotion of arbitration courts, raising legal awareness and confidence of businesses and people in arbitration system and improving its image.

At the same time, the delegation presented the Center for Development of Arbitration and Mediation under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The presentation included legal acts, regulating activities of arbitration courts and their interaction with the state courts, as well as information on creation of the Center in Uzbekistan and its plans.

Mr. Shavkat Juraboev, manager of Arbitration Project, said: "The visit allowed to establish strong contacts with the Russian Center for Assistance of Arbitration, International Commercial Arbitration Court and others. It also laid the foundation for long-term, mutual beneficial cooperation in this sphere."

The arbitration system is relatively new for Uzbekistan. The presidential decree "On further improvement of the system of legal protection of enterprise entities" of 14 June 2005 provided the legal framework for operation of the arbitration courts in Uzbekistan. It was followed by adoption of the Law "On arbitration courts" of 26 August 2007. The main purpose of the Law is to address the shortcomings of legal regulation on establishment, functioning and termination of activity of arbitration courts in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The introduction of the arbitration procedures helps to improve business climate in the country since the arbitration courts have some advantages compared to economic courts, including ability to select arbitration judges; low cost of the procedures; confidential consideration of the cases; simplicity of procedures; efficiency of dispute resolution; shorter waiting period for cases to be resolved and decisions are final and become effective immediately.