Past Events

On 2-5 January 2014, CRCICA in cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) held four consecutive mediation seminars delivered by Prof. Najda Alexander, Professor and Director of the International Institute of Conflict Engagement and Resolution (IICER), Hong Kong at Shue Yan University. The themes of each seminar, however, were different; one focused on Effective Dispute Management for In-House Counsels. The Seminar explored the needs and expectations of in house counsels, as varying as their businesses are, in an attempt to place better mediation approaches respectively. Entitled Opening Mediation Windows in the Arbitration House, the second seminar handled the reciprocity between mediation and arbitration in some cases. In an interactive format, Dr. Alexander discussed the different variables of med-arb and explored with the participants the future of med-arb in Egypt. The third Seminar titled Mediation for Resolving Construction Disputes discussed the different options for dispute management systems that involve mediation for the construction industry in Egypt. The fourth and last Seminar was delivered especially for CRCICA CEDR-accredited pool of mediation trainers under the title Training Techniques Seminar. The seminar was well received by trainers for having provided "a thorough and insightful display and assessment of Mediation models and accreditation schemes and standards".  

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.

On 4 December 2013, Eng. Dr. Sherif El Haggan delivered a lecture on "Resolution of Construction Disputes" in which he tackled the different means of dispute resolution of construction disputes including by adjudication, mediation and arbitration. The lecture attracted a big number of attendees from different backgrounds.  

On 6 November 2013, Ambassador Dr. Hussein Hassouna, Former Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for legal affairs and the current member of United Nations' International Law Commission, delivered a lecture on "The United Nations and International Law". The lecture was followed by a lively debate.  

On 2 October 2013, Dr. Aly ELGHATIT, Professor of International Comparative Law and Vice-President of the Egyptian Society for International Law, delivered a lecture entitled "Comments on the different judicial trends with respect to the relationship between the judiciary and arbitration." The topic covered the most recent judicial trends regarding the validity of the arbitration agreement, the enforcement and the setting-aside of arbitral awards. The lecture led to a very interesting discussion.