Exim Bank's USD 168 mn Line of Credit to Congo for Hydro Project
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/319 · issued 27 Dec 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 168 million Line of Credit to the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo for the Ketende Hydro-electric Project, effective October 20, 2011, with specific export, disbursement, and commission rules.
The rule, in the simplest words
At least 75% of the contract value must be sourced from India.
The remaining 25% can be sourced from outside India for non-consultancy goods and services.
No agency commission is payable from LOC funds; commission must come from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts after full payment realization.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore helps an Indian exporter by ensuring that at least 75% of the contract value for the Congo hydro project is sourced from India, as per RBI rules. The officer also verifies that no agency commission is paid from LOC proceeds and allows commission remittance only from the exporter's own resources or EEFC after full contract payment.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo on July 11, 2011, for USD 168 million to finance the Ketende Hydro-electric Project. The credit became effective from October 20, 2011. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India, with the remaining 25% allowed from outside India for non-consultancy goods and services.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now access this LOC to supply goods, services, machinery, and consultancy for the Congo hydro project, 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; any commission must come from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts after full payment realization.
What you must do
Inform exporter constituents about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Verify that no agency commission is paid from LOC proceeds; allow commission remittance only from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full contract payment.
Adhere to FEMA sections 10(4) and 11(1) while processing transactions under this circular.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of goods, services, machinery, and consultancy, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective October 20, 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 purpose of this Line of Credit?
It finances the Ketende Hydro-electric Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, covering eligible goods, services, machinery, equipment, and consultancy from India.
What are the sourcing requirements for exports under this LOC?
At least 75% of the contract price must be supplied from India; up to 25% of non-consultancy goods and services may be procured from outside India.
Can exporters pay agency commission under this LOC?
No agency commission is payable from LOC funds. Exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission after full payment realization, subject to prevailing RBI instructions.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/319
A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.62
December 27, 2011
To
All Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 168 million
to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated July 11, 2011 with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 168 million (USD one hundred sixty eight million) for financing eligible goods, services, machinery and equipment including consultancy services to be exported from India for the purpose of financing Ketende Hydro-electric Project in Congo. 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 20, 2011 and the date of execution of Agreement is July 11, 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 (July 10, 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/2011-12/319 · 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 (AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of goods, services, machinery, and consultancy, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 168 mn Line of Credit to Congo for Hydro Project” is: “Inform exporter constituents about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 27 Dec 2011).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/319 -- Exim Bank's USD 168 mn Line of Credit to Congo for Hydro Project
Issued: 27 Dec 2011
Action required: Inform exporter constituents about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Verify that no agency commission is paid from LOC proceeds; allow commission remittance only from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full contract payment.
Action required: Adhere to FEMA sections 10(4) and 11(1) while processing transactions under this circular.
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=6900&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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