HomeCirculars › RBI/2004-05/275

Exim Bank Lines of Credit to Brazil and Myanmar

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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
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

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.
🧰 Tools — save, print, templates & related
Worked example & action-note template

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).

  1. Circular: RBI/2004-05/275 -- Exim Bank Lines of Credit to Brazil and Myanmar
  2. Issued: 11 Nov 2004
  3. Action required: Inform exporter customers about the two LOCs and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
  4. Action required: Ensure shipments under these credits are declared on GR/SDF Forms as per existing instructions.
  5. 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.
  6. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  7. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  8. 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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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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