Exim Bank's $17.34 mn Line of Credit to Laos for Irrigation
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/125 · issued 18 Aug 2009 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 17.34 million Line of Credit to the Government of Laos for financing irrigation development in Chamassack Province, with at least 60% Indian content and specific timelines for LC opening and disbursement.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a loan of $17.34 million to the government of Laos to buy things from India for building irrigation (water systems for farming) in Chamassack Province.
At least 60% of the stuff bought with this loan must come from India (like goods, services, or expert advice).
Banks must make sure that any goods sent under this loan are reported on special forms called GR/SDF forms.
No commission (extra fee) can be paid to agents from this loan; if an exporter wants to pay commission, they must use their own money or a special foreign currency account after getting full payment.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a call from an exporter asking about sending irrigation pipes to Laos under Exim Bank's line of credit. The officer explains that at least 60% of the pipes must be made in India, and reminds the exporter to fill out the GR/SDF form for each shipment. Later, when the exporter wants to pay a local agent a small commission, the officer checks that the full contract payment has been received first, then allows the remittance from the exporter's own funds.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Government of Lao PDR on February 20, 2009, effective July 24, 2009, for USD 17.34 million. The credit supports Indian exports of goods, services, and consultancy for irrigation schemes in Chamassack Province, executed by WAPCOS (India) Limited.
What it means for you
Banks must facilitate exports under this LOC by ensuring shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and that at least 60% of contract value originates from India. No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but remittances from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts are allowed post-realization of full contract value.
What you must do
Inform exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure shipments under the LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow remittance of agency commission only from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts after full contract payment realization.
Verify that at least 60% of contract value comprises Indian-origin goods and services.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Exporters dealing with Lao PDR, Exim Bank, WAPCOS (India) Limited
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective July 24, 2009
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 08:57 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What are the timelines for LC opening and disbursement?
For project exports, the last date is 48 months from scheduled completion; for supply contracts, it is 72 months from the execution date of the Credit Agreement (February 20, 2009), i.e., by February 19, 2015.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/125
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.07
August 18, 2009
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 17.34 million to
the Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated February 20, 2009 with the Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 17.34 million (USD seventeen million three hundred and forty thousand) for financing eligible goods and services including consultancy services from India pertaining to inputs for development of irrigation schemes in the Chamassack Province to be executed by Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) (India) Limited in Lao PDR. 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 60 per cent of the contract price shall be supplied by the seller from India or be of Indian origin, and the remaining 40 per cent 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 24, 2009 and date of execution of Agreement is February 20, 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 19, 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/2009-10/125 · issued 18 Aug 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, Exporters dealing with Lao PDR, Exim Bank, WAPCOS (India) Limited), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's $17.34 mn Line of Credit to Laos for Irrigation” is: “Inform exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 18 Aug 2009).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/125 -- Exim Bank's $17.34 mn Line of Credit to Laos for Irrigation
Issued: 18 Aug 2009
Action required: Inform exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure shipments under the LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts after full contract payment realization.
Action required: Verify that at least 60% of contract value comprises Indian-origin goods and services.
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=5222&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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