The total number of cases filed before CRCICA until 30 September 2020 reached 1433 cases. In the third quarter of 2020, 16 new cases were filed compared to 15 new cases filed in the second quarter of 2019. Of the 16 cases filed this quarter, 4 were for ad hoc proceedings.

The Centre’s caseload in the third quarter of 2020 involved disputes relating to various sectors, including Construction, Tourism & Hospitality, Corporate Restructuring, International Sale of Goods, Renewable Energy and Mining.

Six cases related to the construction sector. One case involved a contract for works to be executed in a metal plant in Ain Sukhna, Egypt between two Egyptian companies. Four cases involved construction contracts. The first case involved a contact between two Egyptian companies for the construction and the execution of civil works in a factory located in 10^th of Ramadan city, Egypt. The second case related to a contract between two Egyptian individuals for the construction and finishing works for a residential building located in Beni Suef, Egypt. The third case related to a contract between an Egyptian company and an employees’ cooperative association for construction and housing for the construction of a residential complex in the Red Sea Governorate, Egypt. The fourth case related to a contract between two Egyptian companies for the construction of a chemical plant in Wadi El Natroon, Egypt.

 One case involved a contract between two Egyptian companies for the engineering design and project management services for a mill located in 10^th of Ramadan city, Egypt.

Four cases related to the tourism and hospitality sector. The first case involved a consultancy agreement between an Emirati event management and promotion company and an Egyptian real estate investment company for the advertisement and promotion of a touristic projected event. The second case involved a franchise agreement for an Egyptian restaurant between two Egyptian parties. The third case involved a partnership agreement between an Egyptian developer and an Egyptian public company for the development of a touristic project in the Red Sea governorate, Egypt. The fourth case involved a settlement agreement resulting from multiple sales and lease agreements, between the Egyptian company owner of a mall located in Giza, Egypt and the operators’ association.

Two cases involved corporate restructuring agreements. One case related to an escrow agreement resulting from a share purchase agreement between several Egyptian individuals and companies. One case involved a contract between Egyptian parties for the constitution of a limited partnership.

One case related to the energy sector and involved a subcontracting agreement between an Egyptian company and an Italian subcontractor for the construction of a combined cycle power plant in the New Administrative Capital, Egypt.

One case related to the international sale of goods sector and involved an agreement for the sale of sea salt between a Belgian supplier and an Egyptian importer. 

One case related the mining industry and involved an agreement between two Egyptians companies for planning and operating a marble quarry in Asyut, Egypt.

One case involved two lease agreements of an industrial plot and an administrative building located in Cairo, Egypt between an Egyptian company and the Egyptian branch of a Panamanian company.

The third quarter of 2020 witnessed the appointment of 34 arbitrators from Canada, Egypt, Lebanon, Tanzania and the United Kingdom.

Of the 34 arbitrators appointed this quarter, 2 were female arbitrators and 3 were under 40.

            The Centre acted as appointing authority for some cases, appointing 4 of the 34 arbitrators appointed this quarter, including one arbitrator under 40, one female arbitrator and 2 non-Egyptian arbitrators.

Arbitration proceedings in the first quarter involved parties from Belgium, Egypt, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.

            Amongst the 16 cases filed in this quarter, 8 cases, representing 50% of cases, were conducted in English, and the other 8 cases were conducted in Arabic.

HEARINGS:

Since 1 July 2020, CRCICA has hosted 17 hearings. Of these 17 hearings, 1 related to ad hoc proceedings and the rest related to CRCICA cases.

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, users have been encouraged to privilege remote hearings. During the third quarter of 2020, 4 hearings were held entirely via videoconference, 1 procedural hearing was held via teleconference and 2 hearings were held with partial in-person attendance and partial remote attendance.