Exim Bank's USD 91 mn Line of Credit to Ethiopia for Sugar Industry
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/568 · issued 16 Jun 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 91 million Line of Credit to Ethiopia for financing Indian exports of goods, services, machinery, and equipment for sugar industry development. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India.
The rule, in the simplest words
At least 75% of the contract value must be sourced from India for exports under this Line of Credit (a type of loan)
No agency commission (fee for services) is payable from the credit, but exporters can pay commission from their own resources
Shipments must be declared on GR/SDF forms as per Reserve Bank of India instructions
Disbursement timelines differ: 48 months from project completion for project exports, and 72 months from agreement date for supply contracts
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer is not relevant here, but a trade finance officer in Mumbai can use this rule to help an exporter of machinery to Ethiopia by informing them about the 75% Indian sourcing requirement and the need to declare shipments on GR/SDF forms, thus facilitating the export process under the USD 91 million Line of Credit.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Government of Ethiopia on February 18, 2011, effective from May 24, 2011, for USD 91 million. The credit is specifically for financing eligible Indian exports to develop Ethiopia's sugar industry, with a minimum 75% Indian content requirement.
What it means for you
Banks can facilitate exports under this LOC with the 75% Indian sourcing rule and no agency commission from the credit. Disbursement timelines differ: 48 months from project completion for project exports, and 72 months from agreement date (February 17, 2017) for supply contracts. Exporters must use GR/SDF forms and can pay commission from own resources or EEFC accounts after full payment realization.
What you must do
Inform exporter customers about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow agency commission remittances only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India for exports under this LOC.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks handling export transactions, Exporters of goods, services, machinery, and equipment to Ethiopia, Exim Bank as the credit provider
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective from May 24, 2011
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 01:08 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
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) can be procured from outside India.
What are the disbursement deadlines for this Line of Credit?
For project exports, the last date for opening LCs and disbursement is 48 months from the scheduled completion date of the contract. For supply contracts, it is 72 months from the agreement execution date, i.e., February 17, 2017.
Can exporters pay agency commission under this LOC?
No agency commission is payable from the LOC funds. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC account balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange after full contract value realization, subject to prevailing RBI instructions.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/568
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 72
June 16, 2011
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 91 million
to the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated February 18, 2011 with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 91 million (USD ninety one million) for financing eligible goods and services including consultancy services, 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 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 May 24, 2011 and the date of execution of Agreement is February 18, 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 (February 17, 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,
(Rashmi Fauzdar)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/568 · issued 16 Jun 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 handling export transactions, Exporters of goods, services, machinery, and equipment to Ethiopia, Exim Bank as the credit provider), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 91 mn Line of Credit to Ethiopia for Sugar Industry” is: “Inform exporter customers about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 16 Jun 2011).
Circular: RBI/2010-11/568 -- Exim Bank's USD 91 mn Line of Credit to Ethiopia for Sugar Industry
Issued: 16 Jun 2011
Action required: Inform exporter customers about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Allow agency commission remittances only after full contract value realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Action required: Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India for exports under this LOC.
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=6462&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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