The world is being reshaped.
Supply chains are shifting, new trade corridors are emerging, regional economic partnerships are deepening, and cross-border commercial relationships are becoming more complex than ever. This transformation, unfolding at global scale, is not only redirecting trade flows. It is also changing the nature of disputes and the methods through which they are resolved.
Today, companies, investors and states need dispute resolution mechanisms that are not only fast, but also trustworthy, predictable and aligned with international standards.
This is why arbitration, mediation and hybrid dispute resolution methods have, in recent years, become an inseparable part of global economic infrastructure.
Turkey possesses the qualities to become one of the key centres of this transformation.
Situated at the intersection of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Turkey carries the potential to become a regional dispute resolution hub, drawing on its developed legal infrastructure, strong business community, experienced practitioners and international connections.
In recent years in particular, the practical experience accumulated in mediation in Turkey has produced a remarkable body of knowledge. The expertise gained across millions of files points to a significant capacity in terms of knowledge and practice, relevant not only at the national level but on the international stage as well.
In this context, the role of the Istanbul Arbitration Centre (ISTAC) carries particular significance.
Since its establishment, ISTAC has pursued important work to increase Turkey's visibility in international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution and to build a reliable and effective centre for resolution. The steps recently taken to strengthen its strategic vision in the fields of mediation and Med-Arb represent a valuable development in the context of Turkey's objective of becoming a regional dispute resolution hub.
Within this framework, the establishment of the International Mediation Commission within ISTAC in April 2026 marks an important step. The Commission's purpose is to increase ISTAC's international visibility in the fields of mediation and Med-Arb, to develop the sharing of knowledge and experience across different national practices, and to bring Turkey's accumulated expertise into engagement with international dialogue.
The Commission's composition, drawing on members from law, academia and business, reflects this approach. Through training programmes, workshops and international partnerships, the aim is to enable comparative evaluation of different practices and to develop new areas of collaborative work.
In the new era of the global economy, countries will be measured not only by their productive capacity but also by the institutional infrastructure they offer. Centres where disputes can be resolved effectively, efficiently and sustainably will hold significant advantages in attracting investment, strengthening commercial relationships and advancing regional cooperation.
When one considers Turkey's experience, geographic position and human capital, it has much of substance to contribute to this field.
What matters is making that accumulated knowledge visible at international scale and developing the partnerships that the demands of this new era require.
Because in a changing world, dispute resolution is no longer solely a matter of law. It is becoming a strategic element of economic trust, sustainable trade and international cooperation.