HomeCirculars › RBI/2010-11/181

Exim Bank's USD 5.763 mn Line of Credit to Suriname for Helicopters

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/181 · issued 25 Aug 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 5.763 million Line of Credit to Suriname for purchasing helicopters from HAL. Banks must advise exporters, ensure GR/SDF declarations, and follow agency commission rules.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore is helping an exporter who wants to sell helicopter parts to Suriname under this loan. The officer reminds the exporter that at least 85% of the parts must come from India, and tells them to fill out the GR form before shipping. Later, when the exporter asks to pay a small commission to a local agent, the officer explains that no commission is allowed under the loan itself, but the exporter can use their own foreign currency account after the full payment arrives.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Government of Suriname on March 22, 2010, for USD 5.763 million to finance helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The credit became effective on July 28, 2010, with specific timelines for opening LCs and disbursement.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this LOC for eligible goods and services, with at least 85% of contract value sourced from India. AD Category-I banks must facilitate remittances for agency commission only after full payment realization and compliance with existing rules.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Exporters dealing with Suriname, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and its suppliers

❓ 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 the purchase of helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited by the Government of Suriname, covering eligible goods and services from India.

What are the key timelines for this LOC?

The credit agreement is effective from July 28, 2010. For project exports, LCs must be opened and disbursed within 48 months of scheduled completion; for supply contracts, within 72 months from the execution date (March 21, 2016).

Can exporters pay agency commission under this LOC?

No agency commission is payable under the LOC. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission in free foreign exchange, subject to RBI guidelines.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/181 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.09 August 25, 2010 To             All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 5.763 million to the Government of Suriname Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated March 22, 2010 with the Government of Suriname making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 5.763 million (USD five million seven hundred sixty three thousand) for financing eligible goods and services, including consultancy services, from India for the purpose of purchase of helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. 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 July 28, 2010 and the date of execution of Agreement is March 22, 2010. 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 the case of project exports and 72 months (March 21, 2016) from the execution date of the Credit Agreement in the case of supply contracts. 3.  Shipments under the LOC will have to be declared on GR / SDF Forms as per instructions issued by the 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 in 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, (G. Jaganmohan Rao) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/181 · issued 25 Aug 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, Exporters dealing with Suriname, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and its suppliers), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 5.763 mn Line of Credit to Suriname for Helicopters” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC details and direct them to Exim Bank for full terms.” (RBI issued this 25 Aug 2010).

  1. Circular: RBI/2010-11/181 -- Exim Bank's USD 5.763 mn Line of Credit to Suriname for Helicopters
  2. Issued: 25 Aug 2010
  3. Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LOC details and direct them to Exim Bank for full terms.
  4. Action required: Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
  5. Action required: Allow agency commission remittances only after full contract payment realization and adherence to prevailing guidelines.
  6. Action required: Advise exporters that no agency commission is payable under the LOC itself; they may use EEFC or own resources if needed.
  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=5964&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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