Exim Bank USD 4.3 mn LOC to Suriname for Fire Tenders
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/433 · issued 16 Apr 2009 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 4.3 million Line of Credit to Suriname for financing ten crash fire tenders from BEML, India. Banks must advise exporters on LOC terms, including 85% Indian content requirement and commission rules.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a loan (Line of Credit) of 4.3 million US dollars to Suriname to buy ten fire trucks (crash fire tenders) from BEML, an Indian company.
At least 85% of the fire trucks' value must be made or come from India; up to 15% can come from outside India (but not for advice/consultancy).
Banks (AD Category-I) can only let exporters pay a sales commission (agency commission) after the full payment for the fire trucks is received, using the exporter's own money or special foreign currency account (EEFC).
No commission can be paid from the loan itself (the LOC).
Exporters must fill out special forms (GR/SDF) for shipments under this loan, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) says.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore gets a call from an exporter who wants to supply fire tenders to Suriname under this Exim Bank loan. The officer explains that the exporter must get full details from Exim Bank, and reminds them that any sales commission can only be paid after the full contract money is received, using their own funds or EEFC account, not from the loan itself.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Government of Suriname on February 25, 2009, for USD 4.3 million. The credit is specifically for purchasing ten crash fire tenders from Bharat Earth Movers Limited, India. 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 eligible goods and services to Suriname, with clear sourcing rules. AD Category-I banks must facilitate remittances for agency commission only after full contract payment realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances. The LOC supports India's export push under Foreign Trade Policy.
What you must do
Advise exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF Forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow agency commission remittance only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own funds or EEFC balances.
Remind exporters that no agency commission is payable under the LOC itself.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of goods and services to Suriname, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
What is the purpose of this Line of Credit?
It finances the export of ten crash fire tenders from Bharat Earth Movers Limited, India, to the Government of Suriname, along with eligible goods and services.
What are the sourcing requirements under this LOC?
At least 85% of the contract price must be supplied from India; up to 15% (excluding consultancy) can be procured from outside India.
Can exporters pay agency commission under this LOC?
No agency commission is payable under the LOC itself. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission, and AD banks can allow remittance after full payment realization.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated February 25, 2009 with the Government of Suriname making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 4.3 million (USD four million three hundred thousand) for financing export of eligible goods and services including consultancy services, from India for the purpose of financing purchase of ten crash fire tenders from Bharat Earth Movers Limited, India, for the Borrower's country. 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 March 25, 2009 and the date of execution of Agreement is February 25, 2009. 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 (February 24, 2015) 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.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/433 · issued 16 Apr 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 to Suriname, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank USD 4.3 mn LOC to Suriname for Fire Tenders” is: “Advise exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 16 Apr 2009).
Circular: RBI/2008-09/433 -- Exim Bank USD 4.3 mn LOC to Suriname for Fire Tenders
Issued: 16 Apr 2009
Action required: Advise exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF Forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Allow agency commission remittance only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own funds or EEFC balances.
Action required: Remind exporters that no agency commission is payable under the LOC itself.
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=4928&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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