17.03.2021 Ankara
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is one of the world's leading centers for resolving international trade disputes.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said in his speech at the “16th ICC Arbitration Day Opening Program”
held online in cooperation with TOBB, the ICC National Committee of Turkey and
the ICC International Court of Arbitration that the ICC is the largest business
organization working to increase trade and investments in the world.
Stating
that the ICC was founded by a group of entrepreneurs in order to address the
damage done to international trade by the First World War, Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the International Chamber of Commerce has come to represent more
than 45 million companies and more than 1 billion employees in more than 100
countries in 102 years.
Underlining
that the ICC is the only business organization to have gained observer status
at the United Nations, Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “Since its establishment, the ICC
has signed many different formations for the development of global trade. It
has pioneered international trade arbitration and has become a reference
institution for reducing customs barriers and removing barriers to trade. The
ICC's National Committee for Turkey was founded in 1934 and operates under the
umbrella of TOBB. The National Committee successfully continues its activities
before the ICC, representing the Turkish business world.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the ICC International Court of Arbitration is one of the world's leading
centers for the resolution of international trade disputes, saying, “The Court,
which consists of members in more than 90 countries on each continent, also has
the characteristic of being the most widely represented arbitration body. The
issue of arbitration is important for business. Because we want to be safe when
establishing our domestic and international business connections. The ICC's
international arbitration system is an important guarantee in this respect.”
- “Last year there were 929 different
arbitration cases from 145 countries”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that despite the Covid-19 pandemic, which has negatively affected global
trade in all areas, 929 different arbitration cases were seen from 145
countries in the International Court of Arbitration last year, and in this
context, Turkey ranked 12th with 57 parties. Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed
out that 9 cases have been heard in Istanbul and 1 in Ankara, stressing the
importance of representing each region of the world in the Court of Arbitration
and its secretariat.
Noting
that the flexibility of ICC arbitration, the translation of its rules in many
languages, its continuous renewal and adaptation to the developments of the age
are other important factors underlying the success of the Court, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “I would like to point out in this arbitration conference that we expect
and want the ICC arbitration to give more place to the lawyers of our country
in the appointment of arbitrators.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
added that TOBB and ICC Turkey have organized workshops and online meetings
where information sharing for relevant professional groups can be provided for
the awareness and dissemination of arbitration.
- “Number of files exceeded 1800”
Alexis
Mourre, President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, said he is
entering his final month in office and said there had been significant
developments in Turkey regarding the further placement and further use of
arbitration.
Mourre
reminded that 2020 was a good year for them and said that they have taken
various steps regarding 17 of the 946 files in Turkey.
Stressing
that the number of files exceeds 1800 worldwide, Mourre continued: “We have
operations in 113 cities around the world. We operate with more than 2,500
parties and in different fields. We are seeing an increase in numbers in terms
of disputes. Last year's dispute amounted to an average of $145 million. These
figures are well above other arbitration bodies. The ICC and the Court of
Arbitration are the number one preferred authorities in the most complex
multilateral disputes of the highest value. At the same time, in 2020, more
than 20% of our files were conflicts in which states were parties.”
Mourre
said that 57 Turkish-party files were submitted to the ICC last year and that
there were 23 members of the Turkish arbitration committee.
Mourre
also explained that there has been an increase in arbitration venues in the
last 5 years, and that 33 of the cases have been seen in Turkey and that İstanbul,
Ankara and İzmir are in the top three in this context.