HomeCirculars › RBI/2010-11/185

Exim Bank's $15 mn Line of Credit to Cambodia

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/185 · issued 30 Aug 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 15 million Line of Credit to Cambodia for a transmission line project. Banks must advise exporters on terms, including 85% Indian content, no agency commission, and specific LC/disbursement timelines.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore advises an exporter about the terms of Exim Bank's USD 15 million Line of Credit to Cambodia. The officer explains that at least 85% of the contract value must be sourced from India and that no agency commission is payable under this LOC. The exporter is also informed about the 48-month (project) or 72-month (supply) timelines for LC opening and disbursement.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with Cambodia on March 1, 2010, effective July 29, 2010, for USD 15 million to finance a transmission line project between Kratie and Steung Treng. The circular outlines operational details for AD Category-I banks, including the requirement that at least 85% of contract value be sourced from India and that no agency commission is payable under this LOC.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this LOC to supply goods and services for Cambodia's power infrastructure, with financing from Exim Bank. AD banks must ensure compliance with FEMA guidelines, including proper GR/SDF form declarations and the prohibition on agency commission, though exporters may use their own EEFC accounts for commission if needed.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of goods and services to Cambodia, 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 minimum Indian content required under this LOC?

At least 85% of the contract price must be supplied from India; the remaining 15% may be procured from outside India, excluding consultancy services.

Can agency commission be paid under this LOC?

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 payment realization.

What are the deadlines for using this LOC?

For project exports, the last date for LC opening and disbursement is 48 months from the scheduled completion date. For supply contracts, it is 72 months from the execution date of the Credit Agreement (February 29, 2016).

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/185      A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.10 August 30, 2010 To All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 15 million to the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated March 1, 2010 with the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 15 million (USD fifteen million) for financing eligible goods and services including consultancy services from India for the purpose of financing strengthening the capacity of transmission line project between Kratie and Steung Treng in Cambodia. 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 29, 2010 and the date of execution of Agreement is March 1, 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 (February 29, 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 the 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/2010-11/185 · issued 30 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, Indian exporters of goods and services to Cambodia, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's $15 mn Line of Credit to Cambodia” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC terms, including the 85% Indian content requirement and the 48-month (project) or 72-month (supply) timelines for LC opening and disbursement.” (RBI issued this 30 Aug 2010).

  1. Circular: RBI/2010-11/185 -- Exim Bank's $15 mn Line of Credit to Cambodia
  2. Issued: 30 Aug 2010
  3. Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LOC terms, including the 85% Indian content requirement and the 48-month (project) or 72-month (supply) timelines for LC opening and disbursement.
  4. Action required: Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
  5. Action required: Do not allow agency commission payments under this LOC; if commission is required, advise exporters to use their own resources or EEFC balances after full payment realization.
  6. Action required: Direct exporters to Exim Bank for full details of the LOC.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=5973&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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