The Chief Justice of the AIFC Court visit to Kazakhstan

The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mance, the Chief Justice of the AIFC Court, met with the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Aslambek Mergaliyev, the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Azamat Yeskarayev, and the Chief Justice of the new Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ms. Elvira Azimova, as a part of continued cooperation during his recent visit to Astana.
Lord Mance also hosted, at the AIFC Court premises, a meeting with Ambassadors and other senior diplomats from more than 15 Embassies in Kazakhstan. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the AIFC Court and IAC and explain how businesses investing in Kazakhstan, or considering investing in Kazakhstan, can have absolute confidence that if they have an investment or commercial dispute it will be considered by the AIFC Court and IAC, independently of the Kazakhstan national courts, applying the highest international standards of the rule of law.
“It was a wise decision of the Kazakhstan authorities to create the AIFC Court and IAC which operate in Kazakhstan, with leadership from trusted and respected international jurists, as truly independent institutions that apply the highest international standards of the rule of law. Together, the AIFC Court and IAC significantly enhance the international trust and confidence that investors have in Kazakhstan as a trade and investment hub.”
The AIFC Court and IAC have now completed, and enforced, more than 2,000 cases involving a wide variety of commercial disputes and with investors from 23 countries. They are the stand alone premier international institutions in Eurasia for commercial dispute resolution.
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is an independent jurisdiction that started operations in 2018. In accordance with the Development Strategy until 2025, the key focus of the AIFC is to consolidate as a universal platform connecting the countries of the EAEU, Central Asia and the Caucasus. www.aifc.kz
The AIFC Court is an independent legal entity. It has its own procedural rules modelled on English common law procedures and leading international practice. The AIFC Court is separate and independent from the courts of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It consists of two tiers: a Court of First Instance, which includes a specialist division known as the Small Claims Court; and a Court of Appeal. It has exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising out of the activities and operations of the AIFC and jurisdiction in the case of other disputes in which all parties agree in writing to give the AIFC Court jurisdiction. It does not have jurisdiction in relation to disputes that are of a criminal or administrative nature. It applies the most up to date and efficient case management practices. https://court.aifc.kz/
The International Arbitration Centre (IAC) is an independent legal entity. It has its own procedural rules modelled on best international practice. It has its own panel of leading international arbitrators and mediators having many years of arbitration and mediation experience in commercial law, including oil and gas, trade, construction, energy, financial services, banking, Islamic finance, insurance, and intellectual property. IAC arbitration awards are recognised and enforceable in Kazakhstan and internationally. https://iac.aifc.kz/