Egypt boosting legal cooperation within BRICS

Minister of Justice Mahmoud Helmy el Sherif asserted Egypt’s keenness to promote an active and effective participation in meetings and mechanisms of the BRICS group, as well as strengthening international cooperation among member states across various fields, including legal and judicial matters.

He also praised India for its presidency of the current BRICS session.

Addressing the third BRICS Justice Ministers’ Meeting held in Ahmedabad city in India, Sherif said the meeting comes at a time of increasing need for more flexible and effective justice systems capable of responding to contemporary legal and institutional challenges.

He noted that justice is no longer measured solely by access to courts, but also by the speed of procedures, clarity of regulations, institutional efficiency and the availability of effective alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

The minister welcomed the proposed BRICS declaration aimed at enhancing alternative dispute resolution methods, particularly mediation and arbitration, through capacity-building initiatives.

He commended the flexibility shown by representatives of member states during negotiations on the final wording of the declaration and praised their responsiveness to Egypt’s proposed amendments.

Sherif pointed out that Egypt first regulated arbitration as a means of resolving civil and commercial disputes in the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law issued in 1883.

He also reviewed the legislative and institutional developments Egypt has undertaken in the field of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

He stressed that Egypt attaches great importance to mediation, arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution methods, emphasizing that these mechanisms complement rather than replace the judiciary. They help reduce unnecessary litigation, encourage amicable settlements and enable courts to focus resources on disputes requiring full judicial adjudication.

The minister added that alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are no longer optional but have become a necessity and a cornerstone for supporting the investment climate, building trust between governments and investors, and ensuring a fair and transparent investment environment.

Sherif also stressed the importance of implementing the declaration adopted during the meeting and establishing mechanisms to follow up on its outcomes.

He called for continued dialogue and cooperation among BRICS member states on major legal and institutional issues of common interest.