Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/104 · issued 21 Jul 2009 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks of Exim Bank's USD 25 million Line of Credit to Sudan for the Elduem Sugar Project. At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must facilitate GR/SDF declarations and restrict agency commission payments.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank (India's export-import bank) gave a $25 million loan to Sudan for a sugar factory project, and at least 85% of the project's supplies must come from India.
Banks must check that every shipment under this loan is reported on GR/SDF forms (special export declaration forms).
No commission can be paid to agents using this loan money; if an exporter wants to pay commission, they must use their own money or foreign currency account after the full payment is received.
The last date to open letters of credit (LCs) and get paid is different: 48 months for project exports and 72 months for supply contracts.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore is helping an exporter who wants to supply machinery to Sudan's Elduem Sugar Project 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 Indian goods, and that no agency commission can be paid from the loan—only from the exporter's own funds after full payment is received. The officer also ensures the GR form is correctly filed before processing the shipment.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with Sudan on January 26, 2009, effective July 6, 2009, for USD 25 million. The credit finances Indian goods and services for the Elduem Sugar Project, with a minimum 85% Indian content requirement. Last dates for LC opening and disbursement vary by contract type: 48 months for project exports, 72 months for supply contracts.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now access this LOC to supply to Sudan's sugar project, but must ensure at least 85% of contract value is sourced domestically. AD banks must enforce the no-agency-commission rule, though exporters can use own resources or EEFC balances for commission in free forex after full payment realization. This expands export credit avenues while maintaining strict compliance with FEMA and RBI guidelines.
What you must do
Inform exporter clients about the LOC details and direct them to Exim Bank for full terms.
Ensure GR/SDF forms are correctly filed for all shipments under this LOC.
Verify that at least 85% of contract value is sourced from India before processing remittances.
Do not allow agency commission payments under this LOC; only permit commission from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full payment realization.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Sudan, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective July 6, 2009
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 09:11 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 requirement for exports under this LOC?
At least 85% of the contract price must be supplied from India. The remaining 15% can be procured from outside India, but consultancy services are excluded from this 15% allowance.
Can agency commission be paid under this Line of Credit?
No agency commission is payable under this LOC. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange after full contract value is realized, subject to prevailing RBI instructions.
What are the last dates for opening LCs and disbursement?
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., January 25, 2015).
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/104
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.04
July 21, 2009
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 25 million to
the Government of the Republic of Sudan
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated January 26, 2009 with the Government of the Republic of Suda n 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 Elduem Sugar Project at White Nile State in Sudan. 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 July 6, 2009 and date of execution of Agreement is January 26, 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 25, 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,
(Salim Gangadharan)
Chief General Manager- in - Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/104 · issued 21 Jul 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 Sudan, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 25 mn Line of Credit to Sudan” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC details and direct them to Exim Bank for full terms.” (RBI issued this 21 Jul 2009).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/104 -- Exim Bank's USD 25 mn Line of Credit to Sudan
Issued: 21 Jul 2009
Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LOC details and direct them to Exim Bank for full terms.
Action required: Ensure GR/SDF forms are correctly filed for all shipments under this LOC.
Action required: Verify that at least 85% of contract value is sourced from India before processing remittances.
Action required: Do not allow agency commission payments under this LOC; only permit commission from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full payment 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 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=5183&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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