Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-08/262 · issued 11 Mar 2008 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI notified AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 45 million Line of Credit to Vietnam for the Nam Chien Hydro Power Project. At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must advise exporters and follow FEMA guidelines.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank (India's export bank) gave a 45 million US dollar loan to Vietnam for a big power project (Nam Chien Hydro Power Project).
At least 85% of the contract value (the total price of goods and services) must come from India.
No agency commission (a fee paid to a middleman) is allowed under this loan, but exporters can use their own money or special foreign currency account (EEFC) to pay commission if needed.
Banks must tell their exporter customers about this loan and ask them to contact Exim Bank for full details.
Shipments under this loan must be reported on GR/SDF forms (export declaration forms) as per RBI rules.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a call from an exporter client who wants to supply turbines for the Nam Chien Hydro Power Project in Vietnam. The officer explains that at least 85% of the contract value must be sourced from India, and no agency commission is payable under the loan. She advises the exporter to contact Exim Bank for full details and reminds him to declare shipments on GR/SDF forms.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a credit agreement on January 8, 2008, with Vietnam's government for a USD 45 million Line of Credit. The credit became effective from February 18, 2008. It covers eligible goods and services for the Nam Chien Hydro Power Project (200 MW).
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now access this LOC to supply goods and services for Vietnam's hydro power project. Banks must ensure at least 85% of contract value is sourced from India. No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but exporters may use their own EEFC funds for commission if needed.
What you must do
Inform exporter clients about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure shipments under the LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract payment is realized and from exporter's own resources or EEFC account.
Verify that at least 85% of contract value is sourced from India before processing transactions.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Vietnam, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective from February 18, 2008
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 14:25 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the last date for opening Letters of Credit under this LOC?
For project exports, the last date is 48 months from the scheduled completion date of the contract. For supply contracts, it is 72 months from the execution date of the credit agreement (January 8, 2008).
Can exporters pay agency commission under this LOC?
No agency commission is payable under the LOC. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC account balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange, after full contract payment is realized.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2007-08/262
A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 31
March 11, 2008
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 45 million to the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated January 8, 2008 with the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 45 million (USD forty five million) for financing eligible goods and services, including consultancy services, from India pertaining to Nam Chien Hydro Power Project (200 MW) being set up in Vietnam. The goods and services including consultancy services from India for exports under this 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 the Exim Bank under this Agreement. Out of the total credit by Exim Bank 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, and the remaining goods and services (other than consultancy services) may be procured by the seller for the purpose of the Eligible Contract from outside India.
2. The Credit Agreement under the LOC is effective from February 18, 2008 and date of execution of Agreement is January 8, 2008. Under the LOC, the last date for opening of Letters of Credit and Disbursement will be 48 months from the scheduled completion date(s) of contract(s) in case of project exports and 72 months from the execution date of the Credit Agreement in case of supply contracts.
3. Shipments under the LOC will have to be declared on GR / SDF Forms as per instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time.
4. No agency commission is payable under the above LOC. However, if required, the exporter may use his own resources or utilize balances of his Exchange Earners’ Foreign Currency Account for payment of commission in free foreign exchange. Authorised Dealer Category - l (AD Category - l) banks may allow such remittance after realization of full payment of contract value subject to compliance with the prevailing instructions for 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 or log on to www. eximbankindia.in.
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 are 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/2007-08/262 · issued 11 Mar 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, Indian exporters to Vietnam, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 45 mn Line of Credit to Vietnam” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 11 Mar 2008).
Circular: RBI/2007-08/262 -- Exim Bank's USD 45 mn Line of Credit to Vietnam
Issued: 11 Mar 2008
Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure shipments under the LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract payment is realized and from exporter's own resources or EEFC account.
Action required: Verify that at least 85% of contract value is sourced from India before processing transactions.
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=4078&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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