Arbitration offers businesses another option to resolve their disputes. Yet, while Kosovo has a modern and effective framework to enable arbitration, only a handful of cases are actually arbitrated each year. This represents a significant missed opportunity for businesses, and an unnecessary burden on the courts. As part of its campaign to raise awareness on the benefits of arbitration for businesses, USAID’s Commercial Justice Activity teamed up with the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo (AmCham) to host Kosovo’s Arbitration Week.
The series of roundtables took place from March 30 to April 2, and offered businesses a deep dive into a range of arbitration’s benefits and opportunities. The topics ranged from third-party funding to women in arbitration to arbitration in development countries. The roundtables allowed businesses the opportunity to hear from both local and international experts. “We should work together to increase participation of women in arbitration and promote expansion of opportunities for women to become arbitrators, as well as to serve as arbitration support professionals, such as experts and lawyers,” stated Vjosa Shkodra, Deputy Chief of Party of USAID’s Commercial Justice Activity. The women in arbitration session was by far the most popular topic during Arbitration Week, generating more views in one session than all other topics combined.
Events like Arbitration Week, co-organized with respected organizations like AmCham, are crucial, as they help Kosovo’s businesses understand and take full advantage of the opportunities and benefits already available to them. AmCham moderated the panels and livestreamed the event on AmCham’s Facebook page, generating over 12,000 views by the end of the week. USAID through its Commercial Justice Activity continuously promotes greater reliance on alternative dispute resolution.
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