The corporation operates under the auspices of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. The mandate the corporation is to facilitate and encourage South African export trade by underwriting bank loans and investments outside the country to enable South African contractors to obtain capital goods and services contracts in countries outside South African borders.

The Corporation is a self-sustaining company and a Schedule 3B entity under the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (as amended). The Corporation is regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority and Prudential Authority, respectively, and subject to legislation applicable to state-owned companies.

The ECIC facilitates cross-border investment and export trade through provision of commercial and political risk insurance to South African exporters of capital goods and services to support medium and long-term loans advanced by banks and other financial institutions.