Exim Bank's USD 213.31 mn Line of Credit to Ethiopia for Sugar Industry
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/382 · issued 21 Jan 2011 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 213.31 million Line of Credit to Ethiopia's government for sugar industry development. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India. Last date for LC opening/disbursement is 48 months for project exports, 72 months for supply contracts.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a loan of USD 213.31 million to Ethiopia's government to help build sugar factories.
At least 75% of the stuff bought with this loan (like machines or services) must come from India.
Banks can open Letters of Credit (promises to pay) for up to 48 months for big projects, or 72 months for supply contracts.
No extra fees (agency commission) can be paid from this loan; if needed, exporters must use their own money after getting full payment.
All shipments under this loan must be reported on special forms (GR/SDF) as the RBI says.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore gets a call from an exporter who wants to sell sugar-making machines to Ethiopia. The officer checks the RBI circular and tells the exporter: 'You can use Exim Bank's big loan, but make sure 75% of your machine parts come from India. Also, no commission fees from the loan—you pay those yourself after you get paid in full.' The officer then helps the exporter fill out the GR form for the shipment.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with Ethiopia on December 1, 2010, effective January 10, 2011, for USD 213.31 million. This circular informs AD Category-I banks about the terms, including sourcing requirements and timelines for Letters of Credit and disbursement.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now access this LOC to finance sugar industry projects in Ethiopia, with a mandatory 75% Indian content. Banks must ensure shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and no agency commission is payable under the LOC, though exporters can use their own resources for commissions after full payment.
What you must do
Inform exporter clients about the LOC details and direct them to Exim Bank for full terms.
Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India before processing transactions.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract payment is realized, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Ethiopia, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective January 10, 2011
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 02:55 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What are the timelines for using this LOC?
For project exports, Letters of Credit and disbursement must be completed within 48 months from the scheduled completion date(s) of the contract. For supply contracts, the deadline is 72 months from the execution date of the Credit Agreement (December 1, 2010), i.e., November 30, 2016.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/382
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 39
January 21, 2011
To
All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam/Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 213.31 million to the
Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated December 1, 2010 with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 213.31 million (USD two hundred thirteen million three hundred ten thousand) for financing eligible goods and services including machinery and equipment from India for the purpose of financing development of sugar industry in Ethiopia. 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 75 per cent of the contract price shall be supplied by the seller from India, and the remaining 25 percent 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 10, 2011 and the date of execution of Agreement is December 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 (November 30, 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/2010-11/382 · issued 21 Jan 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Ethiopia, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 213.31 mn Line of Credit to Ethiopia for Sugar Industry” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC details and direct them to Exim Bank for full terms.” (RBI issued this 21 Jan 2011).
Circular: RBI/2010-11/382 -- Exim Bank's USD 213.31 mn Line of Credit to Ethiopia for Sugar Industry
Issued: 21 Jan 2011
Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LOC details and direct them to Exim Bank for full terms.
Action required: Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India before processing transactions.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract payment is realized, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
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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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6233&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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