HomeCirculars › RBI/2011-12/529

Exim Bank's USD 80 mn Line of Credit to Burundi for Hydro Project

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/529 · issued 02 May 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 80 million Line of Credit to Burundi for the Kabu Hydro Electric Project. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must advise exporters and follow FEMA guidelines.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

The exporter wants to supply Indian goods and machinery for the Kabu Hydro Electric Project in Burundi. The forex & trade-finance officer ensures that at least 75% of the contract value is sourced from India and that shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms. The exporter is also informed that no agency commission is payable from the LOC proceeds, but can be paid from their own resources or EEFC account after full payment. A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore advises an exporter about the Exim Bank LOC for Burundi and directs them to Exim Bank for full details.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Government of Burundi on May 24, 2011, effective from April 19, 2012, for USD 80 million. The credit is specifically for financing Indian goods, machinery, equipment, and services for the Kabu Hydro Electric Project. At least 75% of the contract price must be supplied from India, with up to 25% procured from outside India.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this LOC to supply to the Burundi hydro project, with financing backed by Exim Bank. AD Category-I banks must ensure that shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and that no agency commission is paid from the LOC proceeds. Banks can allow commission remittances from exporters' own resources after full payment realization.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks handling export transactions, Indian exporters of goods, machinery, equipment, and services for hydro projects, Exim Bank as the lending institution

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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What is the purpose of this Line of Credit?

The USD 80 million LOC from Exim Bank to the Government of Burundi is for financing eligible Indian goods, machinery, equipment, and services for the Kabu Hydro Electric Project in Burundi.

What are the sourcing requirements for exporters?

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

Can agency commission be paid under this LOC?

No agency commission is payable from the LOC proceeds. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC account balances for commission in free foreign exchange, after full payment realization.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/529 A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.114 May 02, 2012 To All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 80 million to the Government of the Republic of Burundi Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated May 24, 2011 with the Government of the Republic of Burundi, making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 80 million (USD Eighty million) for financing eligible goods, machinery, equipment and services including consultancy services from India for the purpose of installation of the Kabu Hydro Electric Project in Burundi. The goods, machinery, equipment 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 sellers from India and the remaining 25 per cent goods and services (other than consultancy services) may be procured by the sellers for the purpose of Eligible Contract from outside India. 2. The Credit Agreement under the LOC is effective from April 19, 2012 and the date of execution of Agreement is May 24, 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 (May 23, 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/2011-12/529 · issued 02 May 2012. 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 handling export transactions, Indian exporters of goods, machinery, equipment, and services for hydro projects, Exim Bank as the lending institution), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 80 mn Line of Credit to Burundi for Hydro Project” is: “Advise exporter clients about the Exim Bank LOC for Burundi and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 02 May 2012).

  1. Circular: RBI/2011-12/529 -- Exim Bank's USD 80 mn Line of Credit to Burundi for Hydro Project
  2. Issued: 02 May 2012
  3. Action required: Advise exporter clients about the Exim Bank LOC for Burundi and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
  4. Action required: Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
  5. Action required: Do not allow any agency commission payment from the LOC proceeds; only permit from exporter's own resources or EEFC account after full payment.
  6. Action required: Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India for exports under this LOC.
  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=7173&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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