Senior members of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry completed a three-day workshop on arbitration and mediation at the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR-AAA).

The event was organised in association with the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the US Department of Commerce's Commercial Law Development Programme.

It provided 11 business leaders from the big four Afghanistan provinces - Kabul, Kandahar, Nangahar and Heart - with a detailed briefing on ways of advancing dispute resolution in the country's growing commercial sector.

The development of a formalised system of dispute resolution is seen as a key way to attract greater foreign direct investment to Afghanistan, ahead of reforms in the sector.

'Entrenching common practices of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is vital for any country seeking to attract international capital,' said BCDR-AAA chief executive James MacPherson.

'When undertaken in accordance with global best practices, arbitration and mediation offer a reliable, cost-effective means to resolve commercial disputes, ensuring that relationships are maintained and the risk of business disruption is dramatically reduced.'

'The BCDR-AAA prides itself on offering best-in-class services to companies across the Middle East and beyond,' remarked MacPherson.

'By working with legal and business professionals in new markets to develop ADR, we offer a vital opportunity to companies in the region considering investment in these territories,' he noted.

'Providing reassurance that business disputes can be resolved in a fair and equitable manner, which is transparent to both parties, helps overcome a significant barrier to investment,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service