The total number of arbitration cases filed before CRCICA until 30 June 2014 reached 977 cases. In the second quarter of 2014, 18 new arbitration cases were filed compared to 16 cases filed in the same quarter last year.
CRCICA’s caseload in the second quarter of 2014 involved disputes relating mainly to construction, media and entertainment, lease agreements, real estate, supply, telecommunications, information technology and services.
While the construction cases filed in the first quarter of 2014 came in the third position after the lease and hotel management agreements, the second quarter of 2014 witnessed a “comeback” for such cases amounting to four thus far.
One of the four new construction cases is an international arbitration including parties from Germany and relates to the design and execution of a gypsum plaster plant in Suez, Egypt. Another case relates to the construction of an administrative complex for one of the Egyptian ministries in Mokatam, Cairo, Egypt. The third case relates to the construction and finishing works for the first phase of a residential and entertainment compound in Umm el Rakham, Matrouh, the Egyptian northern Mediterranean coast. It is worth noting that in addition to the arbitration clause inserted in their contract, the parties to the said case concluded a submission agreement detailing the disputed matters to be referred to arbitration. The fourth construction case relates to the construction of a number of pumping stations and water supply networks for two villages in the Gharbiah Province located in the Nile Delta.
The second quarter of 2014 also witnessed an unprecedented increase in cases arising out of media and entertainment contracts, amounting to four cases. The first case relates to a well-watched TV sportive show broadcasted by one of the Egyptian satellite channels. Two other cases arose out of contracts concluded between two different production companies and two well-known male and female actors regarding the performance of their respective roles in two TV series. The fourth case relates to a contract concluded between an advertising company and a production company regarding the commercial exploitation of a very successful TV series broadcasted last year.
Two cases arising out of two lease agreements were also filed during the second quarter of 2014. The first case relates to the lease of a hotel in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, while the other one relates to the lease of an office space in a building in the Smart Village, Egypt. Two other cases arising out of real estate contracts were also filed during the second quarter of 2014, one of which relates to the sale and purchase of a commercial unit (fast food restaurant) in a project located in a mall in Sheikh Zayed City, Giza, Egypt. The second case relates to the sale deed of a land in 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt.
The second quarter of 2014 also witnessed the filing of two other cases relating to the supply of desalinated water to a touristic complex in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt and the power supply of electrical energy to a paper factory located in the industrial zone in 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt.
Two telecommunication cases were also filed during the second quarter of 2014, one of which relates to an interconnection Agreement between two telecommunication companies. The other case relates to a cooperation agreement concluded between an Egyptian company and a Chinese company.
It is worth noting that the second quarter of 2014 has also witnessed the filing of an international arbitration arising out of an oil and gas related services agreement involving a Swiss company.
Finally, a case was filed arising out of an information technology contract concluded between two companies including the designing of a website.
The total sums in disputes filed under the auspices of the Centre during the second quarter of 2014 amounted to US $ 84,349,169 which, when added to the US $ 64,818,868 scored in the first quarter of 2014, makes the total sums in disputes filed in the first half of 2014 US $ 149,168,037.
The following pie shows a breakdown of the types of disputed contracts during the second quarter of 2014:
The rich variety of the types of disputed contracts referred to CRCICA in the second quarter of 2014 clearly illustrates the importance of arbitration as a means of dispute settlement and confirms the credibility of institutional arbitration under CRCICA’s auspices.
In the second quarter of 2014, arbitration proceedings involved parties from different countries including Egypt, Panama, Switzerland and Germany. CRCICA is satisfied to see that its Arbitration Rules have recently been selected by parties from Europe and Central America.
The following pie shows a breakdown of the nationalities of non-Egyptian parties during the second quarter of 2014:
The second quarter of 2014 witnessed the appointment of arbitrators coming from Egypt, France, Germany and the U.K. The non-Egyptian arbitrators were all appointed by the co-arbitrators to act as presiding arbitrators.
The following pie shows a breakdown of the nationalities of non-Egyptian arbitrators during the second quarter of 2014:
