Chairman of the Singapore International Mediation Centre, George Lim, visited the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan.

The reforms carried out in Uzbekistan to develop modern dispute resolution mechanisms, including the improvement of the mediation institute, were considered at the meeting with the Minister of Justice Akbar Tashkulov.

It was noted that this tool is being used more often. At the same time, the advantages of mediation in comparison with judicial proceedings are mentioned: it provides a faster, less costly, and less stressful settlement of the case.

The parties exchanged views on the issues of professional development of mediators and the introduction of a system of their accreditation, the expansion of the scope of mediation in such areas as banking and insurance, the development of an electronic platform based on the study of Singapore’s experience, as well as accession to the Singapore Convention.

According to the data, in 2021, 4,800 cases were settled in Uzbekistan through mediation, and in 2024, this figure reached 7,200.

To further improve their activities in this area, more than 20 mediators from Uzbekistan will be retrained in accordance with international standards at training centers in Singapore. The regulations, charter, and codes of the Tashkent Mediation Center will be improved, and appropriate measures will be taken to turn Uzbekistan into a mediation hub in Central Asia.

The International Mediation Week will be held within the framework of the Tashkent Law Spring Legal Forum. A Memorandum of Understanding and a roadmap for cooperation with the Singapore International Mediation Centre will be signed.

George Lim expressed his positive attitude towards the close partnership in mediation and expressed his willingness to provide personal, practical assistance in this matter.

This meeting became a significant step towards the exchange of international experience, the improvement of legislation, and the development of mediation in Uzbekistan.

Norgul Abduraimova, UzA