Past Events

CRCICA organized jointly with SOAS University of London the international conference on "The Role of African States and Governments in Supporting the Development of Arbitration in Africa" during 3-5 April 2017, held in CRCICA auditorium, Cairo-Egypt. The event was considered the third in the series of four identified themes in SOAS research project entitled 'Creating a Sustainable Culture of Arbitration as a Mechanism for Commercial Dispute Resolution in Africa'.

Papers and discussions focused on the means for African states to contribute to the promotion and growth of arbitration across the continent. The two days agenda included five panels which discussed institutional arbitration in Africa, the attitude of African governments towards arbitration and the legal environment for investments arbitration. Views from outside Africa and responses from government ministers were introduced as well. The agenda also included a roundtable examining arbitration related to UNCITRAL texts and their adoption by African states. The diversity of speakers' backgrounds was reflected in cross cultural diversity of topics and discussions. The conference included speakers from UK, Mauritius, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Cote d'Ivoire, Somalia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Sudan, India, France, Uganda, USA, Malaysia, and Italy.

The Conference was attended by 123 participants from 26 countries, namely, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, The Netherlands, Tunisia, Uganda, UK, and USA.

In light of CRCICA's policy of cultural diversity and multilateral cooperation with African partners, CRCICA hosted and sponsored, jointly with the Faculty of Law, University of Geneva, the first Conference of the Africa International Legal Awareness (AILA) titled "A Paradigm Shift in International Investment Law" on 2 April 2017.

The conference' program included topics related to Egypt's experience in investment arbitration from the perspectives of the state, the investors and the arbitrators and as well as presenting the new Egyptian investment law. Investment treaties, including a reevaluation of their dispute settlement provisions, challenges facing both the drafters and negotiators of investment treaties were examined in depth, ending with a discussion on the necessity for a balanced system of investment treaties and arbitration by guaranteeing the states' rights in treaties, allowing counterclaims in proceedings, and making the treaties work for sustainable development.

The conference included a large number of speakers from different backgrounds, including law professors, partners of Egyptian and international law firms, as well as representative of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Conference attracted utmost attention being held on the verge of issuing the new Egyptian Investment Law and was attended by 88 participant representing prominent international and African legal experts from 12 countries; namely Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, France, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and UK.