Commercial Arbitration and Mediat.center

closed

This technical cooperation (TC) grant funds development of extrajudicial methods of commercial dispute resolution, thus helping to lighten the burden of cases in the regular justice system and establish a favorable environment for private investment. The three components are: (a) institutional organization; (b) training; and (c) education and culturalization. The institutional component funds: (a) the strengthening of the Santiago Center for Arbitration and Mediation (CAM); and (b) establishment of a new CAM in within the Chamber of Commerce of Valparaíso, with technical assistance from the Chamber of Commerce of Santiago. Funding for the Santiago and Valparaíso CAMs will go for: (a) operating manuals and rules, including the design and implementation of a code of ethics for the CAM arbitrators; (b) a service rate system; (c) development of case-handling software (for recording, monitoring and evaluation) to improve the CAM's administrative management; (d) development of a standardized database of members, trade and industrial associations, and a documentation system; (e) institutional training for CAM directors and staff in management and organization of the center; (f) market research to determine the target population for the CAM's alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services; and (g) design and implementation of a marketing and development strategy. The training component will give arbitrators, mediators and clerks involved in arbitration the necessary technical and administrative skills to provide high-quality ADR services as neutral third parties in both Valparaíso and Santiago, with specialized training to deal with construction matters, banking and finance, maritime issues, commercial contracts, as well as international arbitration and mediation. The education component will promote the ADR mechanisms offered by the Chamber of Commerce CAMs among businesses and institutions associated with the Chambers of Commerce of Santiago and Valparaíso, other trade and professional associations, and the community of lawyers and members of the judicial system of both cities. The strategy will focus on specific professional and business sectors and will include: (a) workshops and work sessions; (b) articles in technical magazines and newspapers; (c) posters and materials for distribution; (d) a Web page; (e) multimedia; and (f) annual events at each CAM to inform the business, legal and judicial communities of the benefits of ADR services.