On 21-22 July 2018, AALCO held its first arbitration forum having brought together all five arbitration centres established under its auspices: the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), the Lagos Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (LRCSCA), the Tehran Regional Arbitration Centre (TRAC) and the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA). Hosted by AIAC under the title “Connecting Asia and Africa, Connecting Investment and ADR: Opportunities and Challenges”, the forum tackled the role of the AALCO arbitration centres in facilitating investment and promoting the use of ADR across Asia and Africa as well as the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Discussions also provided a practical guide for investors venturing into business in different regions across Asia and Africa. Interestingly, the agenda featured panel discussions on the paradigm shift from regional trade agreements to cross-continent agreements between Asia and Africa, and the harmonisation of related legal regimes. 

The directors of AALCO’s five Centres shared their respective institutional views and contributions to the practice of regional arbitration during the panel discussion entitled “The five pillars of ADR: The role of the AALCO arbitration centres in facilitating investment and promoting the use of ADR across Asia and Africa”. CRCICA’s historic contributions to the culture and practices of arbitration in the region as well as its role as a gateway to the African-Middle Eastern arbitration community were emphasized.