Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/275 · issued 11 Nov 2004 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies ADs of two Exim Bank Lines of Credit: USD 10 Mn to Unibanco (Brazil) and USD 56.358 Mn to Myanma Foreign Trade Bank (Myanmar) for financing Indian exports. Key deadlines and commission rules apply.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank (India's export-import bank) gave two special loans: one of 10 million US dollars to Unibanco in Brazil, and another of 56.358 million US dollars to Myanma Foreign Trade Bank in Myanmar, to help Indian companies sell things to those countries.
For the Brazil loan, you must open the letter of credit (a promise to pay) by October 13, 2006, and finish sending the money by April 13, 2007. For the Myanmar loan, open the letter of credit by September 28, 2006, and finish sending the money by March 28, 2007.
You cannot pay any commission (extra fee) to agents for these exports, unless it's for after-sales service (like fixing or maintaining the product) under the Brazil loan. In that case, you need RBI's permission first, and the commission can't be more than 5% of the invoice value (the price on the bill).
If you need to pay commission for any other reason, you must use your own money, not the loan money.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, Priya, gets a call from an exporter who wants to sell railway parts to Myanmar. Priya checks the RBI circular and tells the exporter, 'Great news! You can use the Exim Bank loan to Myanmar, but remember: you must open the letter of credit by September 28, 2006, and finish shipping by March 28, 2007. Also, no agent commission is allowed from the loan money—if you need to pay any, use your own funds.' She then directs the exporter to Exim Bank for the full details.
What changed
RBI has informed authorised dealers about two new Lines of Credit extended by Exim Bank: USD 10 million to Unibanco in Brazil and USD 56.358 million to Myanma Foreign Trade Bank in Myanmar. The credits became effective in October and September 2004 respectively, with specific last dates for LC opening and disbursement.
What it means for you
Banks can now facilitate Indian exports to Brazil and Myanmar under these LOCs, with clear timelines for LC issuance and disbursement. No agency commission is allowed generally, except for after-sales service cases under the Brazil LOC, where prior RBI approval is needed and commission is capped at 5% of invoice value.
What you must do
Inform exporter customers about the two LOCs and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure shipments under these credits are declared on GR/SDF Forms as per existing instructions.
Remind exporters that no agency commission is payable except with prior RBI approval for after-sales service under the Brazil LOC, and that commission must be paid from exporter's own resources in other cases.
Who it affects
Authorised Dealer banks handling export transactions, Indian exporters to Brazil and Myanmar, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
What are the last dates for opening LCs under these LOCs?
For the Brazil LOC (Unibanco), LCs must be opened by October 13, 2006. For the Myanmar LOC (MFTB), the deadline is September 28, 2006.
Can exporters pay agency commission on shipments under these credits?
Generally no. However, for the Brazil LOC, RBI may allow commission up to 5% of invoice value for after-sales service, subject to prior approval. In all other cases, commission must be paid from the exporter's own resources.
Which sectors are covered under the Myanmar LOC?
The credit finances export of equipment, machinery, goods, and services for upgrading the Yangon-Mandalay Railway System and related workshop and track maintenance in Myanmar.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2004-05/275
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 27
November 11, 2004
To
All Authorised Dealers in Foreign Exchange
Madam / Sirs,
Exim Bank's Lines of Credits
of (i) USD 10 Mn. to Unibanco-Uniao De Bancos Brasileiros, S.A. and (ii) USD
56.358 Mn. to Myanma Foreign Trade Bank, Myanmar
The Export-Import Bank of India
(Exim Bank) has extended Lines of Credits (LOCs) of USD 10 million ( U.S. Dollar
Ten million only) and USD 56.358 million (U.S. Dollar Fifty six million three
hundred fifty eight thousand only) to Unibanco-Uniao De Bancos Brasileiros,
S.A.(Unibanco) and Myanma Foreign Trade Bank (MFTB), Myanmar respectively. Credit
agreements were concluded by EXIM Bank with Unibanco and with MFTB on June 8,
2004 and July 27, 2004 respectively. Particulars of the LOCs are indicated below
:
(i) LOC to Unibanco
The credit agreement has become
effective on October 14, 2004. The credit is available for financing export
of any equipment, goods and / or services from India to buyers in Brazil which
may be agreed to be financed by Exim Bank. The last dates for opening letters
of credit and disbursement of credit are October 13, 2006 and April 13, 2007,
respectively.
(ii) LOC to MFTB
The credit agreement has become
effective on September 29, 2004. The credit is available for financing export
of equipment, machinery, goods and services from India relating to upgradation
of the Yangon - Mandalay Railway System as also upgradation and maintenance
of workshops and railway tracks in Myanmar whose purchase may be agreed to be
financed by MFTB and Exim Bank. The last dates for opening letters of credit
and disbursement of credit are September 28, 2006 and March 28, 2007.
2. Shipments under the credits
will have to be declared on GR/SDF Forms as per instructions issued from time
to time.
3. No agency commission shall be
payable in respect of exports financed under the above LOCs. However, Reserve
Bank may consider, on merit, requests for payment of commission upto a maximum
extent of 5 per cent of the f.o.b./c&f/c.i.f. value in respect of goods
exported and which require after sales service under LOC to Unibanco.
In such cases, commission will have to be paid in Brazil by deduction from the
invoice of relevant shipment and the reimbursable amount by Exim Bank to the
negotiating bank will be 90 per cent of the f.o.b./c&f/c.i.f. value minus
commission paid. Approval for the payment of commission should be obtained before
the relevant shipment is effected. If the exporter is required to pay agency
commission under LOC to MFTB or in cases not involving after sales service in
respect of exports financed under LOC to Unibanco, he will have to use his own
resources for such payments.
4. Authorised Dealer banks may
bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their exporter constituents
and advise them to obtain full details of the Lines of Credit from Exim Bank's
office or its website.
5. The direction contained in this
circular has been issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange
Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999) and is without prejudice to permissions
/ approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
F.R. Joseph
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/275 · issued 11 Nov 2004. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Authorised Dealer banks handling export transactions, Indian exporters to Brazil and Myanmar, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank Lines of Credit to Brazil and Myanmar” is: “Inform exporter customers about the two LOCs and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 11 Nov 2004).
Circular: RBI/2004-05/275 -- Exim Bank Lines of Credit to Brazil and Myanmar
Issued: 11 Nov 2004
Action required: Inform exporter customers about the two LOCs and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure shipments under these credits are declared on GR/SDF Forms as per existing instructions.
Action required: Remind exporters that no agency commission is payable except with prior RBI approval for after-sales service under the Brazil LOC, and that commission must be paid from exporter's own resources in other cases.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 05 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=2032&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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