Exim Bank's USD 45 mn Line of Credit to Mali for Power Project
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-2008/214 · issued 19 Dec 2007 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks of Exim Bank's USD 45 million line of credit to Mali's government for an electricity transmission project. At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must guide exporters on documentation and commission rules.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a 45 million US dollar loan to Mali's government for an electricity project.
At least 85% of the project's value must be bought from India.
Exporters must fill GR/SDF forms (special export papers) for shipments under this loan.
No commission (extra payment to agents) can be paid from the loan money; exporters must use their own money or EEFC (foreign currency account) to pay commission after getting full payment.
Banks must tell exporters about this loan and ask them to contact Exim Bank's Mumbai office for details.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a call from an exporter wanting to supply transformers for Mali's power project. The officer explains that 85% of the contract value must come from India, and reminds the exporter that any agent commission must be paid from the exporter's own funds or EEFC account after the full contract payment is received, not from the loan itself.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a credit agreement with Mali on August 14, 2007, effective November 20, 2007, for a USD 45 million line of credit. The last date for opening LCs is 48 months from project completion for project exports, or 72 months from the agreement date for other supply contracts.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now tap this LOC to supply goods, services, and consultancy for Mali's electricity transmission project. Banks must ensure shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and that no agency commission is paid from the credit proceeds; any commission must come from the exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
What you must do
Inform exporter customers about the LOC and its terms, including the 85% Indian content requirement.
Advise exporters to contact Exim Bank's Mumbai office for full details.
Ensure GR/SDF form declarations for shipments under this credit.
Allow agency commission remittances only from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts after full contract value realization.
Comply with FEMA sections 10(4) and 11(1) and other applicable laws.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of goods and services, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective November 20, 2007
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 14:47 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 required under this LOC?
At least 85% of the contract price must be supplied from India.
Can exporters pay agency commission from the LOC proceeds?
No, agency commission is not payable under this LOC. Exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission in free foreign exchange.
What is the deadline for opening Letters of Credit under this LOC?
For project exports, LCs must be opened within 48 months from the scheduled completion date. For other supply contracts, the deadline is 72 months from the credit agreement date (August 13, 2013).
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2007-2008/214
A.
P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 21
December 19, 2007
To,
All
Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line
of Credit of USD 45 million to the Government of the Republic of Mali for Electricity
Transmission and Distribution Project
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim
Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated August 14, 2007 with the Government of
the Republic of Mali, making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of
USD 45 million (USD Forty five million only) for financing exports of eligible
goods and services including consultancy services from India for electricity transmission
and distribution project from Côte dIvoire to Mali. The goods and services
for export under this Agreement are those which are eligible for export under
the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India. 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.
2.
The Credit Agreement under the LOC is effective from November 20, 2007. Under
the LOC, the last date for opening of Letters of Credit will be 48 months from
the scheduled completion date of contract in case of project exports and 72 months
(August 13, 2013) from the execution date of the Credit Agreement in case of other
supply contracts.
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.
No agency commission is payable under the above LOC. However, 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 - l
(AD Category - l) banks may allow such remittance after realization of full payment
of contract value subject to compliance with the 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/2007-2008/214 · issued 19 Dec 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 of goods and services, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 45 mn Line of Credit to Mali for Power Project” is: “Inform exporter customers about the LOC and its terms, including the 85% Indian content requirement.” (RBI issued this 19 Dec 2007).
Circular: RBI/2007-2008/214 -- Exim Bank's USD 45 mn Line of Credit to Mali for Power Project
Issued: 19 Dec 2007
Action required: Inform exporter customers about the LOC and its terms, including the 85% Indian content requirement.
Action required: Advise exporters to contact Exim Bank's Mumbai office for full details.
Action required: Ensure GR/SDF form declarations for shipments under this credit.
Action required: Allow agency commission remittances only from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts after full contract value realization.
Action required: Comply with FEMA sections 10(4) and 11(1) and other applicable laws.
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=3985&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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