The two-day seminar was organised by the American Chamber of Commerce Croatia (AmCham) and the Croatian Mediation Association, in cooperation with the US Embassy.
AmCham president Ivan Vidakovic said mediation was one of the most effective ways of resolving disputes in the United States and the European Union but in Croatia it was insufficiently recognised.
The development of mediation will help reduce pressure on courts and increase legal security necessary for attracting foreign investment, he said.
US Ambassador Kenneth Merten said the swiftness and effectiveness of resolving disputes was one of the main questions business people asked when deciding in which country to invest.
He said the whole world was in an economic crisis and that investments were imperative for growth and development. He recalled that during her recent visit to Zagreb US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington wanted to work with Zagreb on strengthening economic and trade ties between the two countries, but she also said the investment climate in Croatia was unfavourable.
Assistant Justice Minister Vanja Bilic said the Croatian government's commission on alternative dispute resolution, set up in June, had achieved great results. He said that two days ago the government and a Danish investor settled a 20-year-old dispute through mediation.