Exim Bank's USD 25 mn Line of Credit to Madagascar
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/330 · issued 24 Dec 2008 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 25 million Line of Credit to Madagascar for rice productivity and fertilizer projects. Banks must inform exporters, ensure GR/SDF form compliance, and allow commission remittance only after full contract value realization.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a $25 million loan to Madagascar for two projects: rice productivity ($10 million) and fertilizer production ($15 million).
At least 85% of the goods and services for these projects must come from India.
Banks must tell exporters about this loan and make sure they fill out GR/SDF forms (special export paperwork) for every shipment.
No commission (extra payment) is allowed from the loan, but banks can let exporters pay commission from their own money after the full contract amount is received.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a call from an exporter asking about sending rice-processing machines to Madagascar. The officer explains that Exim Bank's $10 million loan for rice productivity covers this, but reminds the exporter that 85% of the machine parts must be made in India. The officer also says that if the exporter wants to pay a local agent a commission, they can only do so from their own funds after the full payment for the machines arrives.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with Madagascar on November 14, 2008, effective December 4, 2008, for USD 25 million. The credit finances two projects: rice productivity ($10 mn) and fertilizer production ($15 mn). At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India.
What it means for you
AD banks must facilitate exports under this LOC by handling Letters of Credit and disbursements within specified timelines. No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but banks can allow commission remittance from exporter's own resources after full payment realization. Banks need to ensure GR/SDF form declarations for shipments.
What you must do
Inform exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure all shipments under the LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization and compliance with prevailing rules.
Verify that at least 85% of contract price goods/services are sourced from India.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Exporters dealing with Madagascar, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective December 4, 2008
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 11:20 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the last date for opening Letters of Credit under this LOC?
For project exports, the last date is 48 months from the scheduled completion date of the contract. For supply contracts, it is 72 months from the execution date of the Credit Agreement (November 13, 2014).
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 contract value realization, subject to RBI guidelines.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/330
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 42
December 24, 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 Republic of Madagascar
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated November 14, 2008 with the Government of the Republic of Madagascar making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 25 million (USD twenty five million) for financing eligible goods and services including consultancy services from India for two projects viz:- (i) project for rice productivity ($ 10 million), and (ii) project for fertilizer production ($15 million) in Madagascar. 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 December 4, 2008 and date of execution of Agreement is November 14, 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 (November 13, 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,
(D. Mishra)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/330 · issued 24 Dec 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 Madagascar, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 25 mn Line of Credit to Madagascar” is: “Inform exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 24 Dec 2008).
Circular: RBI/2008-09/330 -- Exim Bank's USD 25 mn Line of Credit to Madagascar
Issued: 24 Dec 2008
Action required: Inform exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure all shipments under the LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization and compliance with prevailing rules.
Action required: Verify that at least 85% of contract price goods/services are sourced from India.
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.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
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=4717&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.