HomeCirculars › RBI/2008-09/273

Exim Bank's USD 20 mn Line of Credit to Rwanda

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/273 · issued 05 Nov 2008 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 20 million line of credit to Rwanda for a power project. Banks must facilitate exports under this LOC, ensure GR/SDF form compliance, and allow commission payments from exporter resources after full contract value realization.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, Mr. Kumar, helps an exporter named Mr. Patel by guiding him to Exim Bank for detailed terms of the LOC. Mr. Kumar ensures that Mr. Patel's shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions. After Mr. Patel realizes the full payment of the contract value, Mr. Kumar allows commission remittances from Mr. Patel's own resources or EEFC.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a credit agreement with Rwanda on October 9, 2007, effective October 15, 2008, for a USD 20 million line of credit (first tranche of USD 80 million) to finance a power project by BHEL and Angelique International. The LOC mandates at least 85% of contract value from Indian goods/services, with up to 15% from outside India. Last date for LC opening/disbursement is 48 months from project completion or 72 months from agreement execution (October 8, 2013) for supply contracts.

What it means for you

AD Category-I banks must process exports under this LOC with strict adherence to the 85% Indian content rule and timeline limits. No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but banks can allow commission remittances from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full payment realization. Banks should guide exporters to Exim Bank for detailed terms.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Exporters dealing with Rwanda power project, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Angelique International Ltd.

❓ 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 under this LOC?

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 itself, but exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange after full contract value realization.

What are the key timelines for this LOC?

The credit agreement is effective from October 15, 2008. For project exports, LCs must be opened and disbursed within 48 months of scheduled completion; for supply contracts, within 72 months from October 9, 2007 (i.e., by October 8, 2013).

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/273 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.33 November  05, 2008 To All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 20 million (as 1st tranche of USD 80  million )to the Government of the Republic of  Rwanda Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated October 9, 2007 with the Government of the Republic of   Rwanda, making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 20 million (USD twenty million) for the purpose of financing eligible goods and services including consultancy services from India for the power project to be executed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Angelique International Ltd. in Rwanda. 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 15, 2008 and date of execution of Agreement is October 9, 2007. 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 ( October 8, 2013 ) 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/2008-09/273 · 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, Exporters dealing with Rwanda power project, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Angelique International Ltd.), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 20 mn Line of Credit to Rwanda” is: “Inform exporter constituents about the LOC and its terms, including the 85% Indian content requirement.” (RBI issued this 05 Nov 2008).

  1. Circular: RBI/2008-09/273 -- Exim Bank's USD 20 mn Line of Credit to Rwanda
  2. Issued: 05 Nov 2008
  3. Action required: Inform exporter constituents about the LOC and its terms, including the 85% Indian content requirement.
  4. Action required: Ensure shipments under the LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
  5. Action required: Allow agency commission remittances only after full contract value realization and from exporter's own resources or EEFC.
  6. Action required: Direct exporters to Exim Bank for complete LOC details.
  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=4621&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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