Exim Bank's USD 5 mn LOC to Nigerian Export-Import Bank
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-08/227 · issued 23 Jan 2008 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notified a USD 5 million line of credit from Exim Bank to Nigeria's Exim Bank for financing Indian exports of capital goods, manufactures, consumer durables, commodities, and services. At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India. AD Category-I banks must inform exporters and follow specific commission rules.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank (India's export bank) gave a 5 million US dollar loan to Nigeria's export bank so Indian sellers can sell things to Nigeria.
At least 85% of the stuff sold (like machines, goods, or services) must be made or come from India.
Banks that handle foreign money must tell sellers about this loan and follow special rules for paying helpers (commission).
No helper payment (commission) is allowed normally, but if the goods need after-sales service, up to 5% helper payment is okay only if RBI (India's central bank) says yes first.
All shipments must be reported on special forms (GR/SDF) as RBI says.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore gets a call from an exporter who wants to sell Indian-made tractors to a buyer in Nigeria. The officer explains that under Exim Bank's new 5 million dollar loan to Nigeria's bank, the exporter can get paid safely. The officer reminds the exporter that at least 85% of the tractor's value must come from India, and if the exporter wants to pay a helper in Nigeria a 5% commission for after-sales service, they must get RBI's approval first before shipping.
What changed
RBI issued a circular informing AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's new Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 5 million to the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, effective December 4, 2007. The LOC covers eligible exports under India's Foreign Trade Policy, with a minimum 85% Indian content requirement. Letters of Credit must be opened and disbursements completed by December 3, 2009.
What it means for you
Indian exporters now have a dedicated credit facility to finance exports to Nigeria, reducing payment risk and potentially boosting trade. Banks must ensure that at least 85% of the contract value is sourced from India and that shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms. Commission rules are strict: no agency commission generally, but up to 5% may be allowed for after-sales service with prior RBI approval, reimbursed at 90% of invoice value.
What you must do
Inform exporter clients about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank's Mumbai office for full details.
Ensure that for exports under this LOC, at least 85% of contract value is supplied from India.
Verify that shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms as per prevailing RBI instructions.
Process commission payments only as per circular: no agency commission generally; for after-sales service, require prior RBI approval and reimburse at 90% of invoice value.
Allow remittance of agency commission from exporter's own resources or EEFC account only after full contract value realisation, subject to existing guidelines.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks handling export transactions to Nigeria, Indian exporters of capital goods, engineering goods, industrial manufactures, consumer durables, commodities, and services, Exim Bank and Nigerian Export-Import Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective December 4, 2007
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 14:40 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the minimum Indian content requirement for exports under this LOC?
At least 85% of the contract price must be supplied by the seller from India.
Can exporters pay agency commission on these exports?
Generally no agency commission is payable. However, for exports requiring after-sales service, up to 5% commission may be allowed with prior RBI approval, reimbursed at 90% of invoice value. For other cases, commission can be paid from exporter's own resources or EEFC account after full payment realisation.
What is the deadline for opening Letters of Credit under this LOC?
The last date for opening Letters of Credit and disbursement is December 3, 2009, which is 24 months from the effective date of the agreement (December 4, 2007).
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2007-08/227
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 24
January 23, 2008
To,
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 5 million
to Nigerian Export-Import Bank
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an agreement dated September 14, 2007 with the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 5 million (USD Five million only) for financing export of capital and engineering goods, industrial manufactures, consumer durables, commodities and services including consultancy services from India. The goods and services for export under the agreement are those which are eligible for export under the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by Exim Bank under this agreement. Out of the total credit under this Agreement, the goods and services of the value of at least 85 per cent of the contract price shall be supplied by the seller from India.
2. The Credit Agreement under the LOC is effective from December 4, 2007. Under the LOC, the last date for opening Letters of Credit and disbursement will be December 3, 2009 (24 months from the effective date of the 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, the Reserve Bank may consider, on merit, requests for payment of commission up to a maximum 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 by deduction from the invoice of relevant shipment to agents 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. Approval for the payment of commission should be obtained from the Regional Office of the Reserve Bank of India (Foreign Exchange Department) within whose jurisdiction the Head Office of the exporter is situated, 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 utilize balances of his EEFC account for payment of agency 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,
(Salim Gangadharan)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-08/227 · issued 23 Jan 2008. 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 handling export transactions to Nigeria, Indian exporters of capital goods, engineering goods, industrial manufactures, consumer durables, commodities, and services, Exim Bank and Nigerian Export-Import Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 5 mn LOC to Nigerian Export-Import Bank” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank's Mumbai office for full details.” (RBI issued this 23 Jan 2008).
Circular: RBI/2007-08/227 -- Exim Bank's USD 5 mn LOC to Nigerian Export-Import Bank
Issued: 23 Jan 2008
Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank's Mumbai office for full details.
Action required: Ensure that for exports under this LOC, at least 85% of contract value is supplied from India.
Action required: Verify that shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms as per prevailing RBI instructions.
Action required: Process commission payments only as per circular: no agency commission generally; for after-sales service, require prior RBI approval and reimburse at 90% of invoice value.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission from exporter's own resources or EEFC account only after full contract value realisation, subject to existing guidelines.
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=4024&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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