The Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) celebrated the official inauguration of its new hearing centre on the evening of 26 December 2013. Ribbon-cutting was led jointly by Dr. Nabil Elaraby, the Secretary-General of the League Arab States, in his capacity as the Chairman of CRCICA Board of Trustees (BOT) and Coun. Adel Abdel Hamid in his capacity as the Minister of Justice of the Host State.
The event started by a stand in mourning of Dr. Ahmed Esmat Abdel Meguid, the former Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and the Honorary Chairman of CRCICA BOT who exerted valuable contributions during the establishment of CRCICA. Speeches were delivered by Dr. Nabil Elaraby, Dr. Hamza Haddad, Former Jordanian Minister of Justice and Vice Chairman of CRCICA BOT and Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf, CRCICA Director. Speakers highlighted the significant role of the Centre in the region since its inception in 1979. Dr. Abdel Raouf presented the chronology of CRCICA developmental phases over years.
The event was attended by a number of notable guests including Professor Hossam Issa, Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Coun. Amin El Mahdy, Egyptian Minister of Transitional Justice and National Reconciliation, Dr. Hassan Fahmy, who attended in his dual capacity as the President of General Authority of Investment (GAFI) and the official representative of the Egyptian Minister of Investment, in addition to a representative of the Egyptian Minister of Sports. From Lebanon, Dr. Nayla Comair Obeid, Member of CRCICA BOT and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), was in attendance.
The event also witnessed considerable diplomatic representation from a number of foreign embassies in Egypt being the embassies of France, China, Russia, Nigeria, Iraq and Libya. Several eminent lawyers, arbitrators and engineers were also among the participants.
In the course of the event, CRCICA honored the names of its founders and patrons over decades after whom the hearing rooms were named. The main hearing room is named after Coun. Dr. Mohamed Aboul-Enein, the former Director of CRCICA and the catalyst for its renaissance over more than 25 years. The second hearing room is named after Prof. Dr. Mohsen Shafik, the father of the Egyptian Arbitration Law and the academic Leader of the Centre. The third hearing room is named after Coun. Mamdouh Attia, the former Egyptian Minister of Justice and the official negotiator on behalf of the Government of the Host State during CRCICA establishment process under the auspices of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO). Mrs. Sawsan Attia, the wife of Coun. Mamdouh Attia and Mr. Ilhamy Shafiek, the nephew of Prof. Dr. Mohsen Shafik were in attendance.
The event was concluded by an open reception and free networking.
