The very beginning of this process is to find the ECA that is interested in exchange program. This exchange program is about learning from each other and becoming closer to each other in today´s rough world. ECAs are aggregators of international trade and working way closer together is the only way to remind our vital role in world´s trading. The first step was not easy last years, however now we have 3 ECAs that founded this program and they expects other ECAs to join this imitative and not only become members and signing MoU, but more importantly they expect to exchange their employee with some other ECAs.

To start this you just need to contact one ECA that is still free to exchange program for the upcoming year. Then you need to get in touch with this ECA via their contact person and start discussing details of exchange program (most importantly dates and length of the exchange, amount of employees to be exchanged and maybe also the major topics of the exchange. Once these variables are agreed, then there is time to start technical preparation for the exchange to begin. This means you are about to join the ECA Exchange program and sign the corresponding MoU soon. Each ECA starts their process of choosing the candidate(s) and each will propose a day to day schedule for the visiting candidate as they organize the program. It is preferred that the process of choosing candidates is solely up to each ECA.

It is extremely important to highlight that every ECA has its own process of choosing the candidate. Therefore there is no golden rule, how this shall be done. There are always pros and cons with every possible way how the candidate would be chosen. However, there are some minimal requirements that help to make the most of exchange program for the candidate and also for the ECA that chooses him/her. Those are high level of English understanding, deep understanding of ECA´s business and it is quite helpful to have and open minded candidate that can easily build relationships with new people. For the imagination some examples are presented.

Firstly you can prefer to give chance to every employee and have free competition among employees, so then anyone can sign in and the selection board shall decide who the chosen candidate would be based on motivation letter and proof of English skills. The other possibility is to choose the group of employees that fits such program the best and offer them this unique opportunity and based on amount of applicants decide how to choose the best candidate (again based on some objective criteria). Another way could prefer to give this opportunity to the most experienced employees to really use their knowledge when they could build the solid foundation for the future mutual cooperation – in this case you may most probably not be choosing the candidate as there will not be many to choose from. The process of choosing the right person to represent your ECA is very important and shall always be only up to you.

Before the candidates are set off to start their exchange, it is great if a direct line of communication between candidates and hosting ECA is set up to take care of the final points. This can be used to:

• Prepare and align the agenda for the stay
• Inform about the cultural differences
• Share any docs required, e.g. logistical updates (e.g. visa requirements), confidentiality / GDPR rules of hosting ECA, etc.
• Report any dietary needs (as experiencing local culture is often also about the local cuisine 😊)

In short, just make sure that both the hosting ECA and visiting candidates feel comfortable and ready for this amazing opportunity to learn and share.

During the exchange program, candidates can expect to:

• Gain exposure to the organizational structures and decision-making processes of other ECAs
• Learn about different export credit support schemes and recent institutional trends
• Share experiences on project support and potential cooperation models
• Build professional networks with peers across ECAs
• Enhance mutual cultural understanding through cross-cultural interaction

To be a suitable candidate, one should possess strong English communication skills, a solid understanding of ECA business, and an open-minded attitude that fosters relationship-building.

Candidates are also expected to demonstrate cross-cultural awareness and networking skills, actively engage in knowledge-sharing and collaboration, and show motivation to contribute to both their home institution and the broader ECA community.