HomeCirculars › RBI/2005-06/277

Exim Bank's $10 Million Line of Credit to Absolut Bank, Russia

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/277 · issued 19 Jan 2006 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notified a $10 million Exim Bank line of credit to Absolut Bank, Russia, effective Dec 15, 2005, for financing eligible Indian exports. AD banks must inform exporters and follow revised commission and documentation rules.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a $10 million line of credit agreement with Absolut Bank, Russia, effective December 15, 2005. The credit supports Indian exports under the Foreign Trade Policy, with a 24-month terminal utilization period and 30-month disbursement period from the effective date.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this credit line to finance exports to Russia, potentially boosting trade. AD banks must ensure shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and handle agency commission payments up to 5% of invoice value, with reimbursements capped at 90% of value minus commission.

Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.

What banks were required to do at the time

Who it affects

All Authorised Dealer (AD) banks handling foreign exchange, Indian exporters trading with Russia, Exim Bank and Absolut Bank, Russia

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What is the total amount of this line of credit?

The line of credit is for an aggregate sum of USD 10 million.

What is the terminal utilization period for this credit?

The terminal utilization period is 24 months from the effective date of the credit agreement, i.e., December 14, 2007, extendable based on utilisation.

How should agency commission be paid under this credit?

Agency commission up to 5% of invoice value can be paid by deduction from the invoice, with RBI approval needed before shipment. Alternatively, exporters can use EEFC balances or own resources after full payment realisation.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2005-06/277 A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 22 January 19, 2006 To, All Banks Authorised to Deal in Foreign Exchange Madam / Sir, Exim Bank’s Line of Credit of US$ 10 Million to Absolut Bank, Russia. The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an agreement with Absolut Bank, Russia making available to the latter a Line of Credit (LOC) upto an aggregate sum of USD 10 Million (US Dollar Ten Million only). The credit agreement has become effective on December 15, 2005. The credit is available for financing exports from India of any item that might be agreed upon between Exim Bank and the borrower which is eligible for export under the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India. Full details of the Line of Credit are available at the Exim Bank’s office or its website ( www.eximbankindia.com ). 2. The terminal utilization period is 24 months from the effective date of Credit Agreement i.e. December 14, 2007 which may be extended depending on utilisation. The period of disbursement is 30 months from effective date of Credit Agreement i.e. June 14, 2008 which may be extended depending on utilisation. 3. Shipments under the credit will have to be declared on GR/SDF Forms as per instructions issued from time to time. 4. Reserve Bank will consider on merit, requests for payment of agency 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 which require after sales service. In such cases, commission will have to be paid in Russia only by deduction from the invoice of the relevant shipment and the reimbursable amount by the 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 such payment of commission should be obtained before the relevant shipment is effected. In addition, the exporter can either use his own resources or utilize balances in his EEFC account for payment of commission in free foreign exchange and Authorised Dealer (AD) banks may allow such remittance after realisation of full payment of contract value subject to compliance of prevailing instructions on payment of agency commission. 5. AD banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their exporter constituents. 6. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and is without prejudice to permissions/approvals, if any, required under any other law. Yours faithfully, (Vinay Baijal) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/277 · issued 19 Jan 2006. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=2706&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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