Exim Bank's USD 29.5 mn Line of Credit to Central African Republic
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/363 · issued 29 Jan 2009 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 29.50 million Line of Credit to the Central African Republic for a cement plant and 100 buses. Banks must facilitate exports under this LOC, ensure 85% Indian content, and follow GR/SDF procedures.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a loan of USD 29.50 million to the Central African Republic for a cement plant and 100 buses.
At least 85% of the contract value must come from India; up to 15% can come from outside India (not counting advice services).
Banks must open Letters of Credit within 48 months (for big projects) or 72 months (for supply contracts) after the contract is done.
No agency commission is allowed under this loan, but exporters can pay commission from their own money or foreign currency account after full payment is received.
Shipments must be declared on GR/SDF forms as the RBI says.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore tells an exporter client about this loan. The exporter wants to supply buses to the Central African Republic. The officer checks that 85% of the bus parts come from India and helps open a Letter of Credit within 72 months. After the exporter gets full payment, the officer allows a small commission payment from the exporter's foreign currency account.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Central African Republic on October 23, 2008, effective December 29, 2008, for USD 29.50 million. The credit finances a dry process cement plant (400 TPD capacity) and 100 buses for internal transport. At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India, with up to 15% from outside India (excluding consultancy).
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now access this LOC to supply goods and services for two specific projects in the Central African Republic. AD Category-I banks must ensure that Letters of Credit are opened within 48 months (project exports) or 72 months (supply contracts) from the completion or execution date. No agency commission is payable under this LOC, but exporters can use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission after full payment realization.
What you must do
Advise exporter clients about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure that shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF Forms as per RBI instructions.
Verify that at least 85% of contract value is sourced from India for each eligible contract.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract payment realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of goods and services, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective December 29, 2008
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 11:04 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the total value of this Line of Credit?
The LOC is for USD 29.50 million, as per the agreement dated October 23, 2008.
What projects are financed under this LOC?
The credit covers setting up a 400 TPD dry process cement plant and procuring 100 buses for internal transport in the Central African Republic.
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 for commission after full payment realization.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/363
A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 49
January 29, 2009
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 29.50 million
to the Government of the Central African Republic
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated October 23, 2008 with the Government of the Central African Republic making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 29.50 million (USD twenty nine million five hundred thousand) for financing eligible goods and services including consultancy services from India for (i) Setting up a modern dry process cement plant of 400 TPD capacity and (ii) procurement of 100 buses for internal transport in Central African Republic. 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 29, 2008 and date of execution of Agreement is October 23, 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 (October 22 , 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/2008-09/363 · issued 29 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 of goods and services, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 29.5 mn Line of Credit to Central African Republic” is: “Advise exporter clients about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 29 Jan 2009).
Circular: RBI/2008-09/363 -- Exim Bank's USD 29.5 mn Line of Credit to Central African Republic
Issued: 29 Jan 2009
Action required: Advise exporter clients about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure that shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF Forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Verify that at least 85% of contract value is sourced from India for each eligible contract.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract payment realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
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=4803&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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