HomeCirculars › RBI/2010-11/355

Exim Bank's $30 mn LOC to Cote d'Ivoire for Power Project

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/355 · issued 05 Jan 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 30 million line of credit to the Government of Cote d'Ivoire for financing an electricity interconnection project with Mali. At least 85% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must guide exporters on procedures.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore learns from this RBI circular that Exim Bank has a $30 million loan for a power project in Cote d'Ivoire. She calls her exporter client, Mr. Sharma, who sells electrical transformers, and says, 'You can now supply equipment for that West Africa power grid link—just make sure 85% of your contract value comes from India, and remember to fill the GR form for each shipment.' She then directs him to Exim Bank's website for the full loan terms.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Government of Cote d'Ivoire on December 30, 2009, effective from November 26, 2010, for USD 30 million. The credit is earmarked for an electricity interconnection project between Cote d'Ivoire and Mali, covering eligible goods, services, and consultancy from India. Last dates for LC opening and disbursement vary: 48 months from scheduled completion for project exports, and 72 months (up to December 29, 2015) from agreement execution for supply contracts.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now tap this LOC to supply machinery, equipment, and consultancy for the Cote d'Ivoire-Mali power grid link, with at least 85% local content mandatory. AD Category-I banks must facilitate remittances and ensure compliance with FEMA and RBI guidelines on GR/SDF forms and agency commission rules. This opens a structured, government-backed export financing channel for Indian firms in West Africa.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks handling export transactions, Indian exporters of goods, services, and consultancy to Cote d'Ivoire, Exim Bank and its financing operations

❓ 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 USD 30 million LOC?

It finances an electricity interconnection project between Cote d'Ivoire and Mali, covering eligible Indian goods, machinery, equipment, and consultancy services.

What are the key compliance requirements for exporters under this LOC?

At least 85% of contract value must be from India; shipments must be declared on GR/SDF forms; no agency commission is payable under the LOC, but if needed, it can be paid from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full payment realization.

What are the timelines for using this credit?

For project exports, LCs must be opened and disbursed within 48 months from scheduled completion; for supply contracts, within 72 months from the agreement execution date (i.e., by December 29, 2015).

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/355 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.34 January 05, 2011 To All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 30 million to the Government of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated December 30, 2009 with the Government of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 30 million (USD thirty million) for financing eligible goods and services including machinery, equipment and consultancy services from India for the purpose of financing electricity interconnection project between Cote d'Ivoire and 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 including consultancy 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 November 26, 2010 and the date of execution of Agreement is December 30, 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 the case of project exports and 72 months (December 29, 2015) 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/2010-11/355 · issued 05 Jan 2011. 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 handling export transactions, Indian exporters of goods, services, and consultancy to Cote d'Ivoire, Exim Bank and its financing operations), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's $30 mn LOC to Cote d'Ivoire for Power Project” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 05 Jan 2011).

  1. Circular: RBI/2010-11/355 -- Exim Bank's $30 mn LOC to Cote d'Ivoire for Power Project
  2. Issued: 05 Jan 2011
  3. Action required: Inform exporter clients 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: Allow agency commission remittances only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
  6. Action required: Verify that at least 85% of contract value is sourced from India for eligible goods and services.
  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=6198&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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