Exim Bank's USD 166.23 mn Line of Credit to Ethiopia for Sugar Industry
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/503 · issued 18 Jun 2009 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notified AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 166.23 million Line of Credit to Ethiopia for sugar industry development. At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must facilitate GR/SDF declarations and remittances per FEMA rules.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a loan of USD 166.23 million to Ethiopia to build sugar factories, and at least 85% of the goods and services must come from India.
Banks must make sure every shipment under this loan is reported on a GR/SDF form (a special export declaration form).
No commission (extra payment to agents) is allowed from the loan money; if exporters need to pay commission, they must use their own money or foreign currency savings after getting full payment.
The last date to open letters of credit (promises to pay) and send money is 48 months for big projects and 72 months (until January 26, 2015) for supply contracts, counting from the agreement date.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore helps an exporter who wants to sell sugar-making machines to Ethiopia under this loan. The officer checks that the machines are at least 85% made in India, then guides the exporter to fill out the GR form correctly and reminds them that no agency commission can be paid from the loan—only from their own funds after the full payment arrives.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Government of Ethiopia on January 27, 2009, effective June 1, 2009, for USD 166.23 million. The credit finances Indian goods and services for Ethiopia's sugar industry, with a minimum 85% Indian content. Last date for LC opening and disbursement is 48 months for project exports and 72 months (January 26, 2015) for supply contracts from the agreement date.
What it means for you
Banks must ensure that exports under this LOC comply with the 85% Indian sourcing rule and that shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms. No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but if needed, exporters can use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission in free foreign exchange after full payment realization. AD Category-I banks should guide exporters to Exim Bank for detailed terms.
What you must do
Inform exporter clients about the LOC terms, especially the 85% Indian content requirement and the 48/72-month timelines for LC and disbursement.
Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances, and only if permitted under prevailing guidelines.
Direct exporters to Exim Bank's Mumbai office or website for complete LOC details.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks handling export transactions under Exim Bank LOCs, Exporters of goods and services for Ethiopia's sugar industry, Exim Bank as the credit provider
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective June 1, 2009
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 10:01 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% (excluding consultancy services) can be procured from outside India.
Can agency commission be paid under this LOC?
No agency commission is payable under the LOC. However, if required, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange after full payment realization, subject to prevailing instructions.
What are the key deadlines for this LOC?
The last date for opening LCs and disbursement is 48 months from scheduled completion of project contracts, or 72 months (January 26, 2015) from the agreement execution date for supply contracts.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/503
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.69
June 18, 2009
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 166.23 million to the
Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated January 27, 2009 with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 166.23 million (USD One hundred sixty six million two hundred and thirty thousand) for financing eligible goods and services including consultancy services from India for development of sugar industry in Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. 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 June 1, 2009 and date of execution of Agreement is January 27, 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 (January 26, 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.
Yours faithfully,
D. Mishra
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/503 · issued 18 Jun 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 handling export transactions under Exim Bank LOCs, Exporters of goods and services for Ethiopia's sugar industry, Exim Bank as the credit provider), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 166.23 mn Line of Credit to Ethiopia for Sugar Industry” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC terms, especially the 85% Indian content requirement and the 48/72-month timelines for LC and disbursement.” (RBI issued this 18 Jun 2009).
Circular: RBI/2008-09/503 -- Exim Bank's USD 166.23 mn Line of Credit to Ethiopia for Sugar Industry
Issued: 18 Jun 2009
Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LOC terms, especially the 85% Indian content requirement and the 48/72-month timelines for LC and disbursement.
Action required: Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances, and only if permitted under prevailing guidelines.
Action required: Direct exporters to Exim Bank's Mumbai office or website for complete LOC details.
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 03 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=5040&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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