Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/348 · issued 06 Jan 2009 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 25 million Line of Credit to Ghana for ICT, railway, and agro-processing projects. At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must advise exporters and follow FEMA guidelines.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a $25 million loan to Ghana for three projects: ICT (computers and internet), railways, and agro-processing (making food from crops).
At least 85% of the stuff (goods and services) for these projects must come from India; only up to 15% can come from other countries.
When sending goods under this loan, exporters must fill out GR/SDF forms (special export papers) as the RBI says.
No commission (extra payment to agents) can be paid from the loan money; if needed, exporters must pay it from their own money or a special foreign currency account after getting full payment.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore helps an exporter who wants to supply railway equipment to Ghana under Exim Bank's $25 million line of credit. The officer reminds the exporter that at least 85% of the contract value must come from India, so the exporter sources steel rails from a local factory. The officer also ensures the shipment is declared on the correct GR form and warns that no agency commission can be taken from the loan proceeds—the exporter must pay any commission from his own funds after receiving full payment.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with Ghana on September 2, 2008, effective December 18, 2008, for USD 25 million. The credit covers three projects: ICT and Good Governance (USD 5 mn), Railway Corridors (USD 13 mn), and Agro Processing Plant (USD 7 mn). At least 85% of goods/services must be from India; the rest can be sourced abroad.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now access this LOC to supply goods and consultancy services to Ghana, with payment guaranteed by Exim Bank. Banks must ensure shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and that no agency commission is paid from the LOC proceeds. This opens a structured financing route for project and supply contracts to Ghana.
What you must do
Inform exporter clients about the LOC and its terms, including the 85% Indian content requirement.
Advise exporters to contact Exim Bank for full details and contract eligibility.
Ensure all shipments under the LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow remittance of agency commission only from exporter's own resources or EEFC account after full contract value realization.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Ghana, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective December 18, 2008
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 11:12 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 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 agency commission be paid under this LOC?
No agency commission is payable from the LOC proceeds. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange after full contract value realization.
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, i.e., September 1, 2014.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/348
A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 47
January 06, 2009
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 25 million
to the Government of Ghana
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated September 02, 2008 with the Government of Ghana 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 three projects viz:- (i) ICT and Good Governance project (US $ 5 million), (ii) Railway Corridors project (UD $ 13 million) and (iii) Agro Processing Plant (USD 7 million) in Ghana. 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 18, 2008 and date of execution of Agreement is September 02, 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 (September 01, 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/2008-09/348 · issued 06 Jan 2009. 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, Indian exporters to Ghana, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 25 mn Line of Credit to Ghana” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC and its terms, including the 85% Indian content requirement.” (RBI issued this 06 Jan 2009).
Circular: RBI/2008-09/348 -- Exim Bank's USD 25 mn Line of Credit to Ghana
Issued: 06 Jan 2009
Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LOC and its terms, including the 85% Indian content requirement.
Action required: Advise exporters to contact Exim Bank for full details and contract eligibility.
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 from exporter's own resources or EEFC account after full contract value realization.
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=4747&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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