HomeCirculars › RBI/2008-09/394

Exim Bank's USD 15 mn Line of Credit to Sierra Leone

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/394 · issued 26 Feb 2009 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notified AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 15 million Line of Credit to Sierra Leone for financing Indian exports of agricultural machinery. Banks must facilitate shipments under this LOC with GR/SDF forms and allow commission remittances only after full contract value realization.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

An agri & priority-sector lending officer in Indore helps an exporter who wants to sell harvesters to Sierra Leone under this loan. The officer checks that the shipment is reported on a GR form and reminds the exporter that any agent commission must come from the exporter's own account only after the full payment for the harvesters is received.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Government of Sierra Leone on November 14, 2008, effective from February 2, 2009, for USD 15 million. The LOC is meant for financing Indian exports of goods like tractors, harvesters, rice mills, and related equipment for commercial agriculture in Sierra Leone. At least 85% of the contract value must be sourced from India, and the last date for opening LCs and disbursement is 48 months for project exports or 72 months from the agreement date for supply contracts.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this Exim Bank LOC to supply agricultural machinery to Sierra Leone with assured financing. AD Category-I banks must ensure shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and that no agency commission is paid from the LOC proceeds; any commission must come from the exporter's own resources or EEFC account after full payment is received. Banks should guide exporters to Exim Bank for detailed terms.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of agricultural machinery and equipment, Exim Bank

❓ 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 agency commission be paid from the LOC proceeds?

No, no agency commission is payable under this LOC. If needed, the exporter must use their own resources or EEFC account after full contract value is realized.

What is the validity period for opening Letters of Credit under this LOC?

For project exports, LCs must be opened within 48 months from the scheduled completion date of the contract. For supply contracts, the deadline is 72 months from the agreement execution date (November 13, 2014).

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/394 A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 55 February 26, 2009 To All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 15  million to the Government of Sierra Leone Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated November 14, 2008 with the Government of Sierra Leone making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 15 million (USD fifteen million) for financing export of goods from India for development of commercial agriculture which envisages procurement of tractors and connected implements, harvesters, rice threshers, rice mills, maize shellers and pesticide spray equipments, etc. in Sierra Leone.  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 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 February 2, 2009 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, (Salim Gangadharan) Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/394 · issued 26 Feb 2009. 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, Indian exporters of agricultural machinery and equipment, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 15 mn Line of Credit to Sierra Leone” is: “Inform exporter constituents about the USD 15 million LOC to Sierra Leone for agricultural equipment exports.” (RBI issued this 26 Feb 2009).

  1. Circular: RBI/2008-09/394 -- Exim Bank's USD 15 mn Line of Credit to Sierra Leone
  2. Issued: 26 Feb 2009
  3. Action required: Inform exporter constituents about the USD 15 million LOC to Sierra Leone for agricultural equipment exports.
  4. Action required: Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
  5. Action required: Allow agency commission remittances only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
  6. Action required: Advise exporters to contact Exim Bank (Mumbai office or website) 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=4851&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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