Exim Bank's $60 mn LOC to Myanmar for Hydropower Project
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-2008/230 · issued 28 Jan 2008 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks of Exim Bank's USD 60 million line of credit to Myanma Foreign Trade Bank for financing the Thahtay Chaung Hydropower Project, with 85% Indian content requirement and specific LC timelines.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a 60 million US dollar loan to a bank in Myanmar to help pay for a big power project (Thahtay Chaung Hydropower Project) that BHEL is building.
At least 85% of the stuff and services for the project must come from India.
Banks can open Letters of Credit (LCs, which are promises to pay) for project exports up to 48 months after the project is done, and for other supply contracts up to October 28, 2013.
No commission can be paid from the loan money, but if needed, the exporter can pay commission from their own money or from their EEFC account (a special foreign currency account) after they get full payment for the contract.
Banks must tell their exporter customers about this loan and ask them to contact Exim Bank for all the details.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a call from an exporter who wants to ship turbines to Myanmar for the Thahtay Chaung project. The officer explains that the exporter must get at least 85% of the turbine parts from India, and that the Letter of Credit must be opened within 48 months after the project finishes. The officer also reminds the exporter that no agency commission can be paid from the loan, but if needed, they can use their own funds after the full payment is received.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a credit agreement on October 29, 2007, effective December 19, 2007, providing a USD 60 million LOC to Myanma Foreign Trade Bank. The credit supports exports for the Thahtay Chaung Hydropower Project executed by BHEL, with at least 85% of contract value sourced from India. Last date for opening LCs is 48 months from project completion for project exports, or 72 months (October 28, 2013) for other supply contracts.
What it means for you
AD Category-I banks must facilitate this LOC by handling related export documentation and remittances. No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but banks may allow commission payments from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts after full contract value realization. Banks should inform exporters about this facility and direct them to Exim Bank for details.
What you must do
Notify exporter constituents about the USD 60 million LOC to Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and its terms.
Ensure shipments under this credit are declared on GR/SDF Forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Advise exporters to contact Exim Bank for complete LOC details.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Exporters dealing with Myanmar, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective December 19, 2007
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 14:39 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?
Goods and services of at least 85% of the contract price must be supplied from India.
Can agency commission be paid under this line of credit?
No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but exporters may use their own resources or EEFC account balances for such payments after full contract value realization.
What is the deadline for opening Letters of Credit under this facility?
For project exports, LCs must be opened within 48 months from scheduled completion dates; for other supply contracts, by October 28, 2013 (72 months from the credit agreement execution date).
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2007-2008/230
A.P.
(DIR Series) Circular No. 26
January 28, 2008
To,
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam
/ Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 60 million
to Myanma Foreign Trade Bank, Myanmar
Export-Import
Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an agreement dated October 29, 2007 with
Myanma Foreign Trade Bank, Myanmar, making available to the latter, a Line of
Credit (LOC) of USD 60 million (USD Sixty million only) for financing export of
goods and services for financing the Thahtay Chaung Hydropower Project in Myanmar
to be executed by M/s. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. 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 19, 2007. Under
the LOC, the last date for opening Letters of Credit will be 48 months from the
scheduled completion dates(s) of contracts(s) in case of Project exports and 72
months (October 28, 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 line of credit. However, 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/2007-2008/230 · issued 28 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, Exporters dealing with Myanmar, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's $60 mn LOC to Myanmar for Hydropower Project” is: “Notify exporter constituents about the USD 60 million LOC to Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and its terms.” (RBI issued this 28 Jan 2008).
Circular: RBI/2007-2008/230 -- Exim Bank's $60 mn LOC to Myanmar for Hydropower Project
Issued: 28 Jan 2008
Action required: Notify exporter constituents about the USD 60 million LOC to Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and its terms.
Action required: Ensure shipments under this credit are declared on GR/SDF Forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Action required: Advise exporters to contact Exim Bank for complete LOC details.
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=4026&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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