Exim Bank's USD 10 mn Line of Credit to Colombia's Bancoldex
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/229 · issued 09 Jan 2007 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks of Exim Bank's USD 10 million line of credit to Bancoldex, Colombia, for financing eligible Indian exports. Key dates: L/Cs by Nov 26, 2007; disbursements by May 26, 2009. Commission rules and GR/SDF form requirements apply.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a 10 million US dollar loan to Bancoldex in Colombia so Indian companies can sell goods there.
Letters of credit (promises to pay) must be opened by November 26, 2007, and all money must be used by May 26, 2009.
Every shipment must be reported on GR/SDF forms (special export papers) as the Reserve Bank says.
No commission (extra fee) is allowed for agents, except up to 5% for after-sales service (fixing or helping after sale), and that must be paid in Colombia with RBI's okay first.
For other cases, commission can be paid from the exporter's own money or EEFC account (foreign currency account) only after the full payment for the goods is received.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore has an exporter client who wants to sell machinery to Colombia under this credit line. The officer reminds the client that letters of credit must be opened by November 26, 2007, and helps them fill out the GR/SDF forms for each shipment, ensuring no commission is paid unless it's for after-sales service with prior RBI approval.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a credit agreement on August 31, 2006, with Bancoldex, Colombia, for a USD 10 million line of credit. The credit became effective from November 27, 2006, with a 12-month window for opening letters of credit and 30 months for disbursements. RBI circular provides operational instructions to AD Category-I banks.
What it means for you
Indian exporters gain a dedicated credit facility to boost exports to Colombia, with Exim Bank financing eligible goods under India's Foreign Trade Policy. Banks must ensure shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and adhere to commission payment rules, including a 5% cap for after-sales service cases. This strengthens bilateral trade finance channels.
What you must do
Inform exporter clients about the USD 10 million line of credit and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure all shipments under this credit are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Process commission payments only as per circular: no agency commission generally; up to 5% for after-sales service with prior RBI approval, paid in Colombia.
Allow remittance of commission from exporter's own resources or EEFC account only after full contract value realisation, for non-after-sales service cases.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Colombia, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective from November 27, 2006
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 18:16 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the terminal date for opening Letters of Credit under this line of credit?
The terminal date for opening Letters of Credit is November 26, 2007, which is 12 months from the effective date of the credit agreement (November 27, 2006).
Can commission be paid for exports under this line of credit?
No agency commission is payable generally. However, for exports requiring after-sales service, commission up to 5% of f.o.b./c&f/c.i.f. value may be considered by RBI on merit, paid in Colombia by deduction from invoice. For other cases, commission can be paid from exporter's own resources or EEFC account after full payment realisation.
What documentation is required for shipments under this credit?
Shipments must be declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions issued from time to time.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2006-2007/229
A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 27
January 09, 2007
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit
to USD 10 million to the
Banco de Comercio Exterior de Colombia S.A. (Bancoldex), Colombia
The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has
concluded an agreement dated August 31, 2006 with Banco de Comercio Exterior
de Colombia S.A. (Bancoldex), Republic of Colombia, making available to the
latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) for USD 10 million (USD Ten million only).
The credit is available for financing export of goods from India, which are
eligible for export under the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India
and whose purchase Exim Bank may agree to finance under this agreement.
2. The credit agreement under the LOC is effective
from November 27, 2006 and the terminal date for opening Letters of Credit
will be November 26, 2007 (12 months from the effective date of the Credit
Agreement) and terminal date for disbursements will be May 26, 2009 (30 months
from the effective date of the Credit Agreement).
3. Shipments under the credit will have to be declared
on GR / SDF Forms as per instructions issued by Reserve Bank from time to time.
4. While no agency commission shall be payable
in respect of exports financed under the above line of credit, 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. In such cases, commission will have to
be paid in Republic of Colombia only, by deduction from the invoice of 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 the payment of commission should be obtained before the relevant
shipment is effected. In other cases, (i.e. exports not involving after sales
service), if required, the exporter may use his own resources or utilise balances
of his EEFC account for payment of commission, in free foreign exchange. Authorised
Dealer Category - I (AD Category - I) 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 Category - I banks may bring the contents
of this circular to the notice of their exporter constituents and advise them
to obtain full details of the Line of Credit from Exim Bank's office at Centre
One, Floor 21, World Trade Centre Complex, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005.
6. The directions contained in this circular have
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,
(M. Sebastian)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/229 · issued 09 Jan 2007. 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 (AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Colombia, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 10 mn Line of Credit to Colombia's Bancoldex” is: “Inform exporter clients about the USD 10 million line of credit and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 09 Jan 2007).
Circular: RBI/2006-2007/229 -- Exim Bank's USD 10 mn Line of Credit to Colombia's Bancoldex
Issued: 09 Jan 2007
Action required: Inform exporter clients about the USD 10 million line of credit and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure all shipments under this credit are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Process commission payments only as per circular: no agency commission generally; up to 5% for after-sales service with prior RBI approval, paid in Colombia.
Action required: Allow remittance of commission from exporter's own resources or EEFC account only after full contract value realisation, for non-after-sales service 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.
💬 Banker Discussion
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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=3240&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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