ESCE was created in 1968 on Hubert Rousselier's initiative. At that time he was the General Manager of the Foreign Trade French Centre (CFCE).

René Sanson, who was the President of the Permanent Committee of French Trade fairs and Exhibitions abroad, was given the mission to set up the programmes, organisation and approach to teaching international trade, with the collaboration of four teachers : Giuseppe Bufo, Christian Martres, Jean Meimon and Jean Raby.

The objective was the training of French specialists for the foreign trade markets: this was a new initiative at a time when France was centred on its domestic market and its traditional overseas markets.

Jean Meimon, an economist, professor and co-founder of ESCE, became the General Manager of the school in 1986. His objective was that ESCE would become one of the first training schools for European exporters, by internationalising and developing its links with small and medium sized firms.

To reach this goal, ESCE has increased the number of its co-operation and exchange links with the European Community, Eastern Europe, Asia and the United States.

As a result, ESCE has 60 partners from all over the world, 150 ESCE students studying abroad and 150 foreign students at ESCE every year. Together with its traditional links with the big export firms, ESCE favours the international development of the small and medium sized firms and the craft industry, which form the richest economic base in France.

ESCE's help and consultancy, together with the training sessions offered for executives of small firms, has instigated many initiatives favourable for the development of the small and medium sized firms activities as well as the appointment of new graduates.