HomeCirculars › RBI/2009-10/307

Exim Bank's USD 36 mn Line of Credit to Mali

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/307 · issued 05 Feb 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks of Exim Bank's USD 36 million Line of Credit to Mali for power grid interconnection. At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must advise exporters and handle L/Cs and disbursements within stipulated timelines.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, working for an AD Category-I bank, informs an exporter constituent about the USD 36 million Line of Credit to Mali for the power grid interconnection project and advises them to obtain full details from Exim Bank. The officer then handles the Letter of Credit and disbursement for the exporter, ensuring compliance with RBI guidelines and timelines. Meanwhile, the exporter sources at least 85% of the contract value from India, procuring the remaining 15% from abroad.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with Mali on October 12, 2009, effective January 18, 2010, for USD 36 million. The credit finances goods, machinery, equipment, and services for the Mali-Ivory Coast power grid link. At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India; the rest can be procured abroad.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this LOC to supply to Mali's power project, with AD banks facilitating L/Cs and disbursements. Banks must ensure compliance with FEMA and RBI guidelines, including no agency commission from LOC proceeds. Exporters can use their own EEFC balances for commissions after full payment realization.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Mali, 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 purpose of this Line of Credit?

It finances eligible Indian goods, machinery, equipment, and services for the Mali-Ivory Coast power grid interconnection project.

What are the sourcing requirements?

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 under this LOC?

No agency commission is payable from LOC proceeds. Exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission after full payment realization.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/307 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.31 February 5, 2010 To             All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 36 million to the Government of the Republic of Mali Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated October 12, 2009 with the Government of the Republic of Mali making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 36 million (USD thirty six million) for financing eligible goods, machinery, equipment and services including consultancy services from India for the purpose of completion of Mali-Ivory Coast Interconnection Link for integrating the national power grids between Ivory Coast and the Republic of Mali. 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 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 January 18, 2010 and date of execution of Agreement is October 12, 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 (October 11, 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/2009-10/307 · issued 05 Feb 2010. 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 to Mali, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 36 mn Line of Credit to Mali” is: “Inform exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 05 Feb 2010).

  1. Circular: RBI/2009-10/307 -- Exim Bank's USD 36 mn Line of Credit to Mali
  2. Issued: 05 Feb 2010
  3. Action required: Inform exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
  4. Action required: Handle Letters of Credit and disbursements within 48 months (project exports) or 72 months (supply contracts) from contract completion or execution date.
  5. Action required: Ensure shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
  6. Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full contract value realization.
  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=5491&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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