HomeCirculars › RBI/2010-11/426

Exim Bank's USD 50 mn Line of Credit to Malawi

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/426 · issued 15 Mar 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks of Exim Bank's USD 50 million Line of Credit to Malawi for three projects. Banks must advise exporters on LOC terms, including 75% Indian content requirement and no agency commission, with disbursement timelines up to 72 months.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a call from an exporter who wants to supply cotton processing machines to Malawi under this loan. The officer explains that 75% of the machine parts must be made in India, and no commission can be taken from the loan funds. The exporter then uses his own EEFC account to pay a small commission to his local agent in Malawi after the full payment is received.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Government of Malawi on February 1, 2011, effective February 23, 2011, for USD 50 million. The credit will finance three projects: Cotton Processing Facilities (USD 20 million), Green Belt Initiative (USD 15 million), and One Village One Product Project (USD 15 million). At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India, with up to 25% from outside India.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this LOC to supply goods, services, and consultancy to Malawi, with financing backed by Exim Bank. AD banks must ensure shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and that no agency commission is paid from LOC funds; exporters can use their own EEFC accounts for commission if needed. The LOC supports India's export push in Africa, particularly in agriculture and infrastructure.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Malawi, 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 last date for opening Letters of Credit under this LOC?

For project exports, the last date is 48 months from the scheduled completion date of the contract. For supply contracts, it is 72 months from the execution date of the Credit Agreement, i.e., January 31, 2017.

Can agency commission be paid from the LOC funds?

No, no agency commission is payable under this LOC. Exporters may use their own resources or balances in their Exchange Earners' Foreign Currency Account for commission in free foreign exchange after full payment realization.

What is the minimum Indian content requirement for exports under this LOC?

At least 75% of the contract price must be supplied from India. The remaining 25% (excluding consultancy services) may be procured from outside India.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/426 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 44 March 15, 2011 To All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 50 million to the Government of the Republic of Malawi Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated February 1, 2011 with the Government of the Republic of Malawi making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 50 million (USD fifty million) for financing eligible goods and services, machinery and equipment including consultancy services for financing (i) Cotton Processing Facilities (USD 20 million), (ii) Green Belt Initiative (USD 15 million), and (iii) One Village One Product Project (USD 15 million) in Malawi. The goods, services, machinery and equipment 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 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 February 23, 2011 and the date of execution of Agreement is February 1, 2011. 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 (January 31, 2017) 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, (Meena Hemchandra) Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/426 · issued 15 Mar 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, Indian exporters to Malawi, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 50 mn Line of Credit to Malawi” is: “Advise exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 15 Mar 2011).

  1. Circular: RBI/2010-11/426 -- Exim Bank's USD 50 mn Line of Credit to Malawi
  2. Issued: 15 Mar 2011
  3. Action required: Advise exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
  4. Action required: Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
  5. Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts after full contract value realization.
  6. Action required: Verify that at least 75% of contract price is sourced from India for eligible contracts.
  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=6285&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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