Rabat, Morocco June 18, 2009–IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced the launch of the Euro-Mediterranean Center for Mediation and Arbitration, a body composed of international experts that will help businesses in Morocco settle commercial disputes more quickly and easily.

IFC provided training and other assistance to help establish the center, and organized a conference that brought together private and public sector stakeholders to raise awareness about alternative dispute resolutions and promote mediation and arbitration. The conference, entitled “The Era of ADR,” was held on June 18.

Hassan Alami, President of the Board of Trustees of the Euro-Mediterranean Center for Mediation and Arbitration, said, “With its diverse board comprising high-profile individuals from Morocco and other countries, such as France, Spain, and Italy, the Euro-Mediterranean Center for Mediation and Arbitration will build alternative dispute resolution in Morocco and be at the forefront of alternative dispute resolution internationally.”

The mediation and arbitration center will help resolve disputes between small and large companies in Morocco or between Moroccan and European companies. According to the World Bank Group’s 2008 Doing Business Report, an annual report that provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 181 economies, it takes 615 days on average to enforce a contract in Morocco. The courts suffer administrative stress in managing overbearing caseloads, while lengthy disputes tie up private sector assets.

IFC hosted two training sessions in June to support mediation as a way to resolve disputes. On June 16, IFC organized training for media on alternative dispute resolution to raise awareness among journalists. On June 17, IFC held a training session on best practices in managing alternative dispute resolution centers to over 10 directors of existing centers in Morocco to help build their capacities and improve their services to end users.

Frank Sader, IFC Senior Operations Manager for the Middle East and North Africa, said, “The strong momentum for and growing interest in alternative dispute resolution demonstrated by the Moroccan public and private sector authorities shows the need for improved capacity of alternative dispute resolution  service providers.”  

About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $16.2 billion in fiscal 2008, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. For more information, please visit www.ifc.org.