Exim Bank's $40 mn Line of Credit to Maldives for Housing
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/318 · issued 27 Dec 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notified a $40 million Exim Bank line of credit to Maldives for 500 housing units. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India. AD banks must inform exporters and handle related LCs and remittances per FEMA rules.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a $40 million loan to Maldives to build 500 houses.
At least 75% of the project's cost must be for things made in India.
Banks must open letters of credit (promises to pay) within 48 months for building projects or 72 months for supply contracts.
No commission (extra fee) is allowed for agents under this loan, but exporters can pay it from their own money after getting full payment.
Shipments must be reported on GR/SDF forms (special export forms) as the RBI says.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore gets a call from an exporter asking about the Maldives housing loan. She explains that at least 75% of the contract value must come from India, and that the exporter can only pay agent commission from his own funds after the full payment is received. She also reminds him to declare shipments on GR/SDF forms as per RBI rules.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a credit agreement with Maldives on August 12, 2011, effective October 25, 2011, for a $40 million line of credit. The credit supports Indian exports for constructing 500 housing units in Maldives, with specific sourcing and disbursement timelines.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now access this credit line to supply goods and services for the Maldives housing project. Banks must ensure at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India and handle LC openings within 48 months for projects or 72 months for supply contracts. No agency commission is payable under this LOC, but exporters can use own resources for commission after full payment.
What you must do
Inform exporter customers about the $40 million Exim Bank line of credit to Maldives for housing units.
Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract payment realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Advise exporters to contact Exim Bank for full LOC details.
Who it affects
Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks, Indian exporters of goods, services, and consultancy for Maldives housing project, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective October 25, 2011
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 22:27 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 required under this line of credit?
At least 75% of the contract price must be supplied from India for goods and services including consultancy.
What are the last dates for opening LCs under this LOC?
For project exports, LCs must be opened within 48 months from scheduled completion of contracts. For supply contracts, the last date is 72 months from the credit agreement execution date, i.e., August 11, 2017.
Can exporters pay agency commission under this LOC?
No agency commission is payable under the LOC. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange after full payment realization.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/318
A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.61
December 27, 2011
To
All Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 40 million
to the Government of the Republic of Maldives
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated August 12, 2011 with the Government of the Republic of Maldives, making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 40 million (USD forty million) for financing eligible goods, services, machinery and equipment including consultancy services to be exported from India for the purpose of financing the construction of 500 housing units in Maldives. 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 October 25, 2011 and the date of execution of Agreement is August 12, 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 (August 11, 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/2011-12/318 · issued 27 Dec 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 (Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks, Indian exporters of goods, services, and consultancy for Maldives housing project, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's $40 mn Line of Credit to Maldives for Housing” is: “Inform exporter customers about the $40 million Exim Bank line of credit to Maldives for housing units.” (RBI issued this 27 Dec 2011).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/318 -- Exim Bank's $40 mn Line of Credit to Maldives for Housing
Issued: 27 Dec 2011
Action required: Inform exporter customers about the $40 million Exim Bank line of credit to Maldives for housing units.
Action required: Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract payment realization, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Action required: Advise exporters to contact Exim Bank for full LOC details.
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=6899&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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