HomeCirculars › RBI/2008-09/272

Exim Bank's USD 33 Million Line of Credit to Lao PDR

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/272 · issued 05 Nov 2008 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 33 million line of credit to Lao PDR for financing Indian exports of equipment, goods, and services for three specific projects. At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, Priya, gets a call from an exporter who wants to sell hydropower turbines to Lao PDR. She explains that Exim Bank's 33 million dollar loan covers this, but the exporter must source at least 85% of the turbine parts from India. She then helps him open a letter of credit through her bank, reminding him that no agency commission is allowed under this loan, and that all shipments must be declared on GR forms as per RBI rules.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a credit agreement with the Government of Lao PDR on August 27, 2008, effective October 14, 2008, for a USD 33 million line of credit. The credit supports three projects: a transmission line, a hydropower project, and rural electrification equipment. Last date for opening LCs and disbursement is 48 months from project completion or 72 months (August 26, 2014) for supply contracts.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this credit line to supply goods and services to Lao PDR, with a mandatory 85% local sourcing requirement. AD Category-I banks must facilitate LCs and remittances under this facility, ensuring compliance with FEMA and RBI guidelines. No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but exporters can use their own resources for commissions after full payment realization.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of equipment, goods, and services, Exim Bank

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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 for exports under this line of credit?

At least 85% of the contract price must be supplied from India; the remaining 15% can be procured from outside India, excluding consultancy services.

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 balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange after full payment realization.

What is the deadline for opening Letters of Credit under this facility?

For project exports, LCs must be opened within 48 months from the scheduled completion date of the contract. For supply contracts, the deadline is 72 months from the credit agreement execution date, i.e., August 26, 2014.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/272 A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.32 November 05, 2008 To All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 33 million to the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated August 27, 2008 with the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 33 million (USD thirty three million) for the purpose of financing supply of equipments, goods and services including consultancy services from India for (i) Paksong S/S -Jiangxai 115 KV, double circuit Transmission Line Project ; (ii) Nam Song 7.5 MW Hydropower project and (iii) Equipment for Rural Electrification Phase 2 Project in Lao PDR . 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 15 percent goods and services (other than consultancy services) may be procured by the seller for the purpose of Eligible Contract from outside India. 2. The Credit Agreement under the LOC is effective from October 14, 2008 and date of execution of Agreement is August 27, 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 ( August 26, 2014) 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 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, Salim Gangadharan Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/272 · issued 05 Nov 2008. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of equipment, goods, and services, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 33 Million Line of Credit to Lao PDR” is: “Inform exporter customers about the USD 33 million line of credit to Lao PDR and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 05 Nov 2008).

  1. Circular: RBI/2008-09/272 -- Exim Bank's USD 33 Million Line of Credit to Lao PDR
  2. Issued: 05 Nov 2008
  3. Action required: Inform exporter customers about the USD 33 million line of credit to Lao PDR and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
  4. Action required: Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
  5. Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization and compliance with prevailing guidelines.
  6. Action required: Verify that at least 85% of contract value is sourced from India for exports under this credit.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. 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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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=4619&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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