HomeCirculars › RBI/2009-10/310

Exim Bank's USD 100 mn LOC to Russia's Vnesheconombank

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/310 · issued 09 Feb 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 100 million line of credit to Vnesheconombank, Russia, for financing Indian exports. Key dates: terminal date for opening LCs is Jan 17, 2013; terminal date for disbursements is Jul 17, 2014. Agency commission up to 5% of f.o.b./c&f/c.i.f. value allowed for after-sales service exports, with prior RBI approval.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

The forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a call from an Indian exporter to Russia, asking about the LOC. The officer informs the exporter about the LOC and directs them to Exim Bank's office in Mumbai for full details. The exporter is happy to have a dedicated credit facility to boost their exports to Russia. A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore helps an Indian exporter to Russia by informing them about the LOC and directing them to Exim Bank for full details.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a USD 100 million line of credit agreement with Vnesheconombank, Russia, effective January 18, 2010, to finance Indian exports of eligible goods and services. The circular outlines operational timelines, documentation requirements, and commission rules for AD Category-I banks.

What it means for you

Indian exporters now have a dedicated credit facility to boost exports to Russia, with clear timelines for LC opening and disbursement. Banks must ensure shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and handle commission payments strictly as per RBI guidelines, including prior approval for after-sales service commissions.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Russia, 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 total value of the line of credit?

The line of credit is USD 100 million, provided by Exim Bank to Vnesheconombank, Russia.

What is the deadline for opening Letters of Credit under this LOC?

Letters of Credit must be opened by January 17, 2013, which is 36 months from the effective date of the agreement (January 18, 2010).

Can agency commission be paid for exports under this LOC?

Yes, but only up to 5% of the f.o.b./c&f/c.i.f. value for exports requiring after-sales service, with prior RBI approval. For other exports, commission can be paid from the exporter's own resources or EEFC account after full payment realization.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/310 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.32 February 9, 2010 To All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 100 million to Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank), Russia Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an agreement dated December 7, 2009  with the Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank), Russia, making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 100 million (USD one hundred million) for financing exports of  equipment, technology or any goods and services from India. The goods and services for export under the 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 Exim Bank under this agreement. 2.  The Credit Agreement under the LOC is effective from January 18, 2010. Under the LOC, the terminal date for opening Letters of Credit is January 17, 2013 (36 months from the effective date of the Agreement) and terminal date of disbursements is July 17, 2014 (42 months from the effective date of the Agreement). 3.  Shipments under the credit will have to be declared on GR / SDF Forms as per instructions issued by Reserve Bank from time to time. 4.  While no agency commission shall be payable in respect of exports financed under the above line of credit, the Reserve Bank may consider, on merit, requests for payment of commission up to a maximum of 5 per cent of the f.o.b. /(free on board)/ c&f (cost and freight)/ c.i.f. (cost, insurance and freight) value in respect of goods exported and which require after sales service. In such cases, commission will have to be paid by deduction from the invoice of relevant shipment to agents and the reimbursable amount by the Exim Bank to the negotiating bank will be 90 per cent of the f.o.b. / c&f/ c.i.f. value minus commission paid. Approval for the payment of commission should be obtained from the Foreign Exchange Department, Reserve Bank of India, under whose jurisdiction the Head Office of the exporter is situated, before the relevant shipment is effected. In other cases (i.e. exports not involving after sales service), if required the exporter may use his own resources or utilize balances of his Exchange Earners’ Foreign Currency Account for payment of agency commission in free foreign exchange. Authorised Dealer Category –I (AD Category –I) banks may allow such remittance after realization of full payment of contract value subject to compliance of prevailing instructions on 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. 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 is 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/2009-10/310 · issued 09 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 Russia, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 100 mn LOC to Russia's Vnesheconombank” is: “Inform exporter customers about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 09 Feb 2010).

  1. Circular: RBI/2009-10/310 -- Exim Bank's USD 100 mn LOC to Russia's Vnesheconombank
  2. Issued: 09 Feb 2010
  3. Action required: Inform exporter customers about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
  4. Action required: Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
  5. Action required: Process agency commission remittances only after full contract value realization and compliance with prevailing rules.
  6. Action required: For after-sales service exports, obtain RBI approval before shipment for commission up to 5% of f.o.b./c&f/c.i.f. value.
  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=5496&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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