Online Workshop: Key issues in International Investment Policy Reform


website logo size 1
1 1
CRCICA UNCTAD 1920 x 1080 px 1

Key issues in International Investment Policy Reform:

Paving the Way to the World Investment Forum

  • 16 June 2026
  • 10:30am - 12:30pm (Cairo Time)
  • 9:30am - 11:30 am (Geneva Time)

CRCICA and UNCTAD Convene High-Level Workshop on International Investment Policy Reform Ahead of the 2026 World Investment Forum

The Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), will convene a high-level virtual workshop on “Key Issues in International Investment Policy Reform: Paving the Way to the World Investment Forum” on 16 June 2026.

This joint initiative reflects the shared commitment of CRCICA and UNCTAD to advancing informed dialogue on the evolving international investment landscape, particularly in light of ongoing efforts to reform the international investment agreements (IIA) regime and investor–State dispute settlement (ISDS).

Bringing together leading experts from UNCTAD and distinguished practitioners, the workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of recent developments in international investment policy and dispute resolution. It will explore key themes including the growing need for reform of the IIA regime, the shift toward more sustainable and development-oriented investment governance, and emerging trends and procedural innovations in ISDS.

The workshop forms part of the preparatory activities leading to the 2026 World Investment Forum, and aims to foster interactive discussion through expert presentations, moderated dialogue, and participant engagement.

Agenda

10:30 am (CLT)
Welcome Remarks

- Hamed El Kady, Chief, International Investment Agreements, UNCTAD

- Dalia Hussein, Director of the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA)

10:40 am (CLT)
The International Investment Agreements regime (IIA) and the Growing need for reform

- Yihua Teng, Associate Economic Affairs Officer, International Investment Agreements Section, UNCTAD

[Including a Mentimeter poll and 5 minutes of Q&A]
11:00 am (CLT)
The Move towards Broader and More Sustainable Investment Governance Approach in Recent IIAs

- Dafina Atanasova, Economic Affairs Officer, International Investment Agreements Section, UNCTAD

[Including a Mentimeter poll and 5 minutes of Q&A]
11:20 am (CLT)
Investor-State Dispute Settlement: Global Trends, Risks and Procedural Innovations

- Diana Rosert, Economic Affairs Officer, International Investment Agreements Section, UNCTAD

[Including a Mentimeter poll and 5 minutes of Q&A]
11:40 am (CLT)
Investment Arbitration - Recent Experience

- Mahmoud Elkharashy, International Arbitration Advisor | Sovereign, Investor–State & Commercial Disputes | Former Head of Egypt’s ISDS & Commercial Arbitration Portfolio (ESLA)

- Dr. Alia Algazzar, Adjunct Professor, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, The American University in Cairo | Counsel, Zulficar and Partners Law Firm’s International Arbitration Group | Lecturer of International Law and Arbitration at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) – School of Law.

12:15 pm (CLT)
The UNCTAD Guiding Principles on IIA Reform: Accelerating Reform that Places Sustainable Development at the Core of the Regime

- Vincent Beyer, Legal Expert, International Investment Agreements Section, UNCTAD

[Including a Mentimeter poll and 5 minutes of Q&A]
12:30 pm (CLT)
Closing Remarks: Paving the Way to the 2026 World Investment Forum: UNCTAD's High-Level IIA Conference

- Dalia Hussein, Director of the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA)

-  Hamed El Kady, Chief, International Investment Agreements, UNCTAD

Registration Fees

Free

Registration Link

Click here
Read More »
10 May 2026

“Beyond Arbitration” Lecture 3: Force Majeure – Practical Issues Arising from the Recent Regional Conflict


1 2
  • Monday, 29 June 2026
  • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

“Beyond Arbitration” Lecture 3:
Force Majeure – Practical Issues Arising from the Recent Regional Conflict

The Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) is pleased to announce a new webinar within its “Beyond Arbitration” Lecture Series, a knowledge initiative designed to explore interdisciplinary subjects that intersect with international dispute resolution and the broader practice of law, business, and commerce.

The forthcoming webinar will take place on Monday, 29 June 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Cairo Time), and will be delivered by Mr. Ahmed Barakat, Senior Partner at ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners, Kuwait, and Head of the firm’s Litigation and Commercial Arbitration practice.

Entitled “Force Majeure – Practical Issues Arising from the Recent Regional Conflict,” the webinar will address one of the most significant legal doctrines affecting contractual relationships in times of exceptional instability and geopolitical disruption. The session will examine the legal and practical implications arising from the invocation of force majeure in light of the ongoing regional conflict in the Gulf region, and the resulting impact on contractual performance, risk allocation, and commercial obligations.

The webinar will further explore the legal conditions governing force majeure under Arab legal systems, with particular focus on the requirements of unforeseeability, impossibility of performance, causation, notice obligations, and mitigation measures. It will also address the distinction between force majeure and hardship or changed circumstances, as well as the practical and commercial consequences resulting from delayed, suspended, or impossible performance of contractual obligations.

Particular attention will additionally be given to recent practical developments affecting commercial transactions and dispute resolution across the region, including construction, supply chains, banking, insurance, and cross-border commercial operations.

Mr. Ahmed Barakat possesses more than thirty years of professional experience in commercial litigation and international arbitration and is widely recognised as one of the leading dispute resolution practitioners in Kuwait and the Gulf region. He currently serves as Senior Partner at ASAR and is a member of CRCICA’s Board of Trustees.

Registration Fees

EGP 500

Registration form

Events

Registration Form

Name (In English)
Name (In English)
Given Name(s)
Family Name
Working Sector

Registration Fee (Egyptians)

Registration Fees

Maximum file size: 2.1MB

Registration Fee

Payment Method
Account Name: The Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration
Bank: Qatar National Bank
Branch Address: 2 Al Kamel Mohamed Branch, Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt.
Branch Code: 00062
Account Number (US$): 62-20310212426-67
IBAN (US$): EG420037006208402031021242667
Swift Code: QNBAEGCX
Read More »
20 May 2026

MediMonday | Stories from the Field: Lessons Learned in Mediation


website of Medi Monday option 2 1

Stories from the Field:
Lessons Learned in Mediation

Speaker

website of Medi Monday 3 1

Dr. Eman Mansour

Deputy CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI)

Moderator

3 Custom

Ms. Fatma Ibrahim

International Mediation Consultant

The Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) is organizing the third lecture of its MediMonday Series, to be held on Monday, 6 July 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at CRCICA’s premises.

Titled “Stories from the Field: Lessons Learned in Mediation”, the lecture will be delivered by Dr. Eman Mansour, Deputy CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), and an accredited mediator with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London. The session will be moderated by Ms. Fatma Ibrahim, Mediation Special Advisor to CRCICA.

As part of CRCICA’s MediMonday Series—conceived as a curated, practice-oriented platform bringing together leading voices in mediation and dispute resolution—the lecture will offer a unique, experience-based perspective on mediation practice. Drawing on real-life cases and professional experience, the session will highlight key lessons learned from the field, shedding light on practical challenges, strategic approaches, and effective techniques in navigating mediation processes.

The discussion will explore how mediators and practitioners can manage complex dynamics, build trust between parties, and facilitate meaningful and sustainable settlement outcomes. It will also reflect on the evolving role of mediation in resolving investment-related disputes and its growing relevance within institutional and policy frameworks.

Through the MediMonday Series, CRCICA continues to foster dialogue at the intersection of theory and practice, reinforcing its role as a regional and international platform for advancing mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

Registration Form

EventsMM

Registration Form

Name (In Arabic)
Name (In Arabic)
Given Name(s)
Family Name
Working Sector

Registration Fee (Egyptians)

Registration Fees

Maximum file size: 2.1MB

Registration Fee

Payment Method
Account Name: The Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration
Bank: Qatar National Bank
Branch Address: 2 Al Kamel Mohamed Branch, Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt.
Branch Code: 00062
Account Number (US$): 62-20310212426-67
IBAN (US$): EG420037006208402031021242667
Swift Code: QNBAEGCX

Read More »
18 May 2026
WhatsApp Image 2022-03-01 at 11.10.24 PM (2)

ندوة بعنوان الوساطة الحل ببساطة – Hybrid forum

Conference

ندوة بعنوان الوساطة الحل ببساطة – Hybrid forum

7 December 2021Conference
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat […]
Read More