The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID” or “the Centre”) received a request for arbitration, under cover of a letter dated February 26, 2003, against the Arab Republic of Egypt (“Egypt” or the “Respondent”) from Joy Mining Machinery Limited (“Joy Mining” or the “Claimant”), a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. The request, invoked the ICSID arbitration provisions in the United Kingdom-Arab Republic of Egypt Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments which entered into force on February 24, 1976 (the “Treaty” or “BIT”).