EEPC is considered as the executive authority established by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to develop and promote Egyptian exports, and to serve the export community through Export Councils.
The objectives of EEPC are summed up as follows:
 Participating in the implementation of the plan drawn by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which aims to duplicate the volume of Egyptian exports during the period from 2006 to 2011 with a 20% annual increase;
 Supporting the export councils in planning and implementing their export strategy, controlling the performance of the export councils through drawing a comparison between the actual volume of exports and the targeted volume of each Export Council.
 Following are the services provided by EEPC for exporters:
      Providing the information required by exporters by establishing an integrated database;
      Export and information services unit;
     Coordinating among export services providers;
     Specialized library;
      Customer service department.

These are councils that have been established by virtue of ministerial decrees in 2005, as an alternative to the commodity councils, established in 2000. Each council represents one sector of industry or agriculture. The executive bureau is constituted of the most significant exporters in relevant sectors.
 The objectives of export councils: mapping out an export strategy for the sector; defining the vision, mission and plan adopted by the council for developing the sector-related exports, and eliminating the impediments to sector-specific export activities in order to eventually serve the State's national export scheme.
 Export councils serve the sector-relevant business community. They also direct the business community in order to benefit from all the export-related services made available, either by governmental, or non-governmental bodies.

In order to become an exporter, the following conditions should be satisfied:
 Specifying a product or a service which you are fully aware and knowledgeable of in terms of production, producers and methods of marketing.
 The said product should be sold at the local level, at first, as a kind of product examination or probation.
 The company or person wishing to export could start taking the export-related practical steps by specifying the markets, which have a potential to open true opportunities for marketing the said product. The foregoing step requires that a marketing study be conducted on the potential market of the product whereby the potential markets targeted for exporting the product are defined, as per the rules and procedures in force in that state or country.

There are several ways whereby a distributor or an agent could be reached for a product, including the following:
 Participating in local and international exhibitions and fairs, which provide the opportunity to get acquainted with distributors and producers from various states and regions.
 Businessmen meetings that could be organized by the Egyptian Commercial Representative Office in the country concerned.
 Electronic databases which could be accessed through EEPC website.

Through commercial representative offices abroad, which could be contacted via the following website:
                                             www.ecs-tamseel.gov.eg
 By participating in international trade fairs in Egypt and abroad.:
 Through meetings organized by commercial representative offices in the course of the commercial missions abroad.:
 Through databases of exporters and importers worldwide available online:
                                                   www.compas.com

Pricing a commodity for exportation requires that a production cost be calculated first and foremost, taking into consideration, meanwhile, the cost of special specifications, modifications, and production of a quality and marketable commodity. It is, also, preferable that exportation administrative fees be added directly to the commodity price, instead of adding the ordinary administrative fees. When placing a price for the purchaser, you should ensure the existence of a good margin for profit.
Following are the factors constituting the exportation price:
 Ex Factory
    Ex-factory price
    Profit
    Packaging and wrapping for exportation
    Export credit guarantees
     Interest on credit for importers
    Promotion and advertisement expenses incurred by the exporter
    Agents commission
 FOB
   Transportation expenses to the airport, or port, or train station
   Additional fees and expenses
   Refrigerated storage fees 
   Instruments issuance (bill of lading) expenses
   Certificate of origin fees
 CIF
   Shipping expenses (air / land / maritime)
    Insurance fees
    Other
 Landed Cost
   Importation fees and taxes
    Unloading fees
   Clearance expenses
 Wholesale Price
   Internal transportation
   Promotion and advertisement expenses incurred by the importer
 Retail Price
   Retail mark up
  Federal tax and commodity tax
  Sales tax

INCOTERMS stands for International Commercial Terms:The function of these INCOTERMS is to avoid any disputes that might arise between the parties to a commercial transaction as a result of difference in the interpretation or construction of commercial terms from one country to another. It is preferable for the exporter to add a sentence to the agreement governing the relation between him/her and the other party referring to the definition of commercial terms as per the INCOTERMS.

Among the terms, usually, used in the course of exportation is Letter of Credit.

Towards the end of developing and improving the environment of exports in Egypt, certain incentives and facilities have been specified to be granted to exporters. The aim of these incentives is to reduce sales tax due by the exporter abroad to a zero level, which means that exports become zero rated. Following are the most significant facilities provided to exporters in Egypt:
 Supporting exports through the exports support fund.
 Supporting exports by functioning under any of the following systems:
        1- Drawbac.
        2- Temporary admission.
        3- Tax refund.

Basically there are two methods for selling exports:
 A direct method: In case of direct exportation, the company undertakes all sale-related procedures either through the sales department in the company or by engaging another company to undertake all exportation-related procedures.
 An indirect method: In case of indirect exportation, the method of exportation is effected through an intermediary trade agent such as imports and exports corporations.
The decision of choosing between both methods depends on a host of factors, most significant of which is the volume of effort and balance allocated for that purpose. Sometimes, it is more preferable to have the exportation operation undertaken by an intermediary.

The State provides several facilities including the following:
 Extending financial support to certain products exported through the export support fund.
 Securing export-related risks through the Export Risk Guarantee Company
Providing information on external markets, the most significant importers, and competitors through commercial representative offices and EEPC
 Assisting companies to participate in international fairs through EXPOLINK

Egyptian shipping companies are authorized to prepare bills of lading. They also have an added value on services provided thereby such as the electronic tracing of the shipment. Examples of these companies are as follows:

A CE Mark is a safety mark which ensures that the product complies with the European safety specifications. Any new product introduced to the European markets must bear the CE Mark. This mark is issued by any EU body responsible for quality tests and the grant of quality certificates.
All information on products requiring a CE Mark could be accessed at:  www.euroconform.com  

Importation fees in any given state could be known through:
 Commercial representative offices abroad, that could be contacted via the following website

                   http://www.tamseel-ecs.gov.eg

 The World Trade Centre database: www.macmap.org.

These are codes used for classifying goods for the purposes of exportation, importation. The form can be downloaded at:  www.customs.gov.eg

In most cases, each state sets out specific standards for imported products. Exporting companies should satisfy such standards in order to be admitted to export their products to these states. Examples of the said standards are as follows:
  CE Marking.
  Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
  EUROGAP Fruits and Vegetables.
The foregoing are certificates required for admission into the European market.

There are several methods of payment of the exports value:
  Advance payment
This is the payment of the price of the products in advance as a basic condition for shipping the product. This method of payment is not frequently used except when it comes to small orders. This method has a lot of shortcomings, as the exporter might not ship the consignment or he might fail to conform to the specifications required to be satisfied by the goods.
 Cash payment
The export price is paid in cash and in advance by the importer. This method is applicable in a number of cases: the value of the transaction is small and does not require documentary credits, the exporter does not know the importer's conditions, lack of confidence, unstable economic or political conditions in the importer's country, or when the product is specifically produced for the importer, and could not be sold by the exporter to any other party.
 Documentary credit
Shipping takes place through this system against opening documentary credit by the external importer in the value of the consignment, so that the exporter receives the value of the goods upon handing over the shipping documents to the local bank.
 Payment for documents
Under this method, an agreement is made between both parties on all terms and conditions as regards prices. When the exporter finalizes the product exportation procedures, he will send the documents through the correspondence bank in the importer's country duly accompanied by the instructions, which dictate that the said documents be handed over to the importer in return for paying the value thereof in cash. The importer shall, by virtue of these documents, withdraw the goods from the shipper or the port.
 Commercial credits
This is one form of swap and it is used to implement the swap transactions. Under this method, the export documents should be handed over in return for the imports documents; otherwise, the proceeds of exports shall be placed at the disposal of the bank to use same in paying the value of imports.

After completing the three customs-related phases, the exporter or the representative submits a group of documents to the shipping agency to complete the shipping process, namely:
 Shipping Declaration:
This declaration is to be submitted by the person in charge of the shipping process to the vessel agent at the shipping port. The said declaration should contain all the information required to be stated in the bill of lading.
 Shipping Order:
This order is to be submitted by the agent of the vessel, on board of which the shipment is to take place. The order shall be annotated by the vessel first officer proving receipt of the consignment.
 Bill of Lading:
A receipt duly signed by the carrier or the agent thereof upon delivering the consignment on board the vessel or upon receiving same. This document is, in fact, a written evidence of the conditions whereby the goods have been transported. Following are some of the functions of a bill of lading:
     A receipt of shipped products.
     Written evidence proving the shipment agreement and the terms thereof.
     A significant credit instrument in international trade.
The following data should be recorded in the bill of lading:
The number thereof / the shipper's name / the consignee's name / the vessel's name / the port of shipment / the port of unloading / the products data (weight / size) / freight charges and the method of payment / number of original copies.
Kinds of bills of lading:
 Shipped on Board B/L
 Received for Shipment B/L
 Direct B/L
 Through B/L for products re-shipped at port. This B/L covers an entire phase.

 Export documentation is considered one of the most significant factors of the streamlined movement of exported shipments from the exporter to the importer between various states.
 The number of export documents worldwide exceeds 50 documents. However, there are documents that are more common. The exporter shall prepare, and satisfy such documents upon implementing commercial transactions. These documents are as follows:
    Commercial Invoice
   Packing List
   Certificate of Origin
    Insurance Certificate
   Carrier's Declaration / Consignment Note
   Letter of Credit
   Bill of Exchange
Satisfactory information on the method of preparing and completing these commercial documents could be accessed at EEPC, which provides data on the most significant items of each document:
   A complete description of the document form
    An example of a filled-in document form
   An explanation of the document items that could cause certain errors
   Recommendations and proposals for avoiding such problems

 Disputes and offenses arising between contractual parties are considered by the International Court of Arbitration, situated in Paris. Referring disputes to the International Court of Arbitration is conditional upon the provision for a clause to this end in the contract, where the body and venue of arbitration is specified, provided the rulings passed thereby are not contradictory to the arbitration rules provided for in the Egyptian law.
 The International Court of Arbitration is characterized by its rapid proceedings, low arbitration costs, and absolute confidentiality as regards the subject of dispute.
 The International Chamber of Commerce is another body of arbitration. ICC represents businessmen at the global level. Following are the conditions for arbitration through ICC:
     Arbitration before ICC is conditional upon agreement by the parties to the contract to have recourse thereto
    The dispute referred to ICC should be international in nature
     The case referred to ICC should be of commercial nature
 ICC recommends that the following wording be used as condition for acceptance of arbitration: (All disputes arising out of or in connection with the present contract shall be finally settled under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce by one or more arbitrators appointed in accordance with the said rules).
 Certain requirements regarding the place of arbitration, number of arbitrators and the national law governing the contract could be added to the foregoing provision as regards certain countries or the governing law, vesting, in the meantime, the arbitrators with the authority to forge amicable settlement without being restricted by the provisions of the official rules.
 Arbitral proceedings shall be commenced by a written request to be submitted by one or all parties to the dispute to the Secretariat of the Court of Arbitration or through the national committee situated at his/her country, including, inter alia, the following data:
  The name in full, description and address of each of the parties
  A description of the nature and circumstances giving rise to the claim(s)
   A specification of the root of contention from the claimant's point of view
 The request should be made in either English or French, and shall be accompanied by originals and copies in the number of the members of the arbitral tribunal, together with an additional copy of all documents and instruments. The request shall also be annexed with registration fees in the amount of €20.
 The parties are totally entitled to elect the nationality of the arbitrators selected thereby. However, in the case of an exclusive arbitrator, the court shall appoint same, provided s/he is a national of a country other than that of the parties to the dispute, the same applies to the third arbitrator.
 Having submitted the request of arbitration, the court shall notify the respondent by virtue of a copy of the request. The respondent shall, accordingly, send its response to the said notification to the secretariat as soon as practicable.
 Upon receipt of the respondent's reply, the Secretariat shall notify the Claimant of same. The Claimant shall then submit to the court a statement including response to all counterclaims within a period of no more than 30 days starting from the date of the notification thereof of the respondent's response.
 The arbitrator's award shall be final and enforceable, even if by way of forced execution if necessary.