Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/279 · issued 14 Nov 2008 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 25 million Line of Credit to Syria for financing eligible Indian exports. Banks must facilitate GR/SDF declarations, allow commission payments from own resources post-realization, and inform exporters.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank (a special bank that helps Indian exports) gave a loan of 25 million US dollars to Syria so Syria can buy goods from India.
The loan can pay up to 90% of the price of the goods (like the cost of the items plus shipping or insurance).
Banks must make sure exporters fill out GR/SDF forms (special papers for tracking exports) for every shipment under this loan.
No commission (extra payment to a middleman) is allowed from the loan money; if needed, the exporter must pay it from their own money or a special foreign currency account after getting full payment.
The last date to open letters of credit (promises to pay) is 48 months for big projects and 72 months (June 4, 2014) for supply contracts.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a query from an exporter selling machinery to Syria under this loan. The officer checks that the exporter fills the GR form correctly, and when the exporter asks to pay a commission to a Syrian agent, the officer explains that the loan doesn't cover commissions, so the exporter must pay from their own funds after the full payment for the machinery is received.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with Syria on June 5, 2008, effective October 27, 2008, for USD 25 million. The credit covers up to 90% of contract value for eligible goods under India's Foreign Trade Policy. Last date for LC opening/disbursement is 48 months for project exports and 72 months (June 4, 2014) for supply contracts.
What it means for you
Banks can now process export transactions under this LOC with Syria, ensuring compliance with FEMA provisions. No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but exporters may use own resources or EEFC balances for commission after full payment realization. AD banks must verify GR/SDF form declarations as per RBI guidelines.
What you must do
Inform exporter constituents about Exim Bank's LOC to Syria and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per prevailing RBI instructions.
Verify that exports financed under this LOC comply with India's Foreign Trade Policy eligibility criteria.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks handling export transactions, Exporters dealing with Syrian buyers under this LOC, Exim Bank as the credit provider
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective October 27, 2008
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 11:37 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the maximum financing percentage under this LOC?
Exim Bank can finance up to 90% of the FOB/CFR/CIF contract price for eligible contracts with the Syrian government.
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 after full contract value realization, subject to RBI guidelines.
What are the deadlines for using this LOC?
For project exports, LCs must be opened and disbursed within 48 months from scheduled contract completion. For supply contracts, the deadline is 72 months from the credit agreement execution date (June 5, 2008), i.e., June 4, 2014.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/279
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.36
November 14, 2008
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 25 million
to the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated June 5 ,2008 with the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 25 million (USD twenty five million ) for financing export of goods from India . The goods 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 contract, an amount up to 90% (ninety percent) of the FOB (free on board)/CFR (cost & freight ) / CIF (cost, insurance &freight) contract price of the Eligible Contract may be made available to the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic.
2. The Credit Agreement under the LOC is effective from October 27, 2008 and date of execution of Agreement is June 5, 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 (June 4, 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/2008-09/279 · issued 14 Nov 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 handling export transactions, Exporters dealing with Syrian buyers under this LOC, Exim Bank as the credit provider), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's $25 mn Line of Credit to Syria” is: “Inform exporter constituents about Exim Bank's LOC to Syria and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 14 Nov 2008).
Circular: RBI/2008-09/279 -- Exim Bank's $25 mn Line of Credit to Syria
Issued: 14 Nov 2008
Action required: Inform exporter constituents about Exim Bank's LOC to Syria and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Action required: Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per prevailing RBI instructions.
Action required: Verify that exports financed under this LOC comply with India's Foreign Trade Policy eligibility criteria.
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=4640&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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