HomeCirculars › RBI/2011-12/533

Exim Bank's USD 382.37 mn Line of Credit to Sri Lanka

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/533 · issued 04 May 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI notified AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 382.37 million Line of Credit to Sri Lanka for railway projects. Banks must advise exporters on terms, including 75% Indian content, no agency commission, and GR/SDF form declarations.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore advises an exporter client about the terms of the Exim Bank's Line of Credit to Sri Lanka, including the 75% Indian content requirement and the need to declare shipments on GR/SDF forms. The exporter can then use this information to plan their project exports to Sri Lanka, ensuring they meet all the necessary requirements. The officer also informs the exporter that they can use their own resources to pay agency commissions after full payment of the contract value.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with Sri Lanka on January 17, 2012, effective April 11, 2012, for USD 382.37 million. The credit covers track-laying, signaling, and other mutually approved contracts, with at least 75% of contract value sourced from India.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this LOC for eligible goods and services to Sri Lanka, with financing terms including 48-month disbursement for project exports and 72 months for supply contracts. Banks must ensure no agency commission is paid from LOC funds, though exporters can use own resources for commissions after full payment.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Sri Lanka, Exim Bank

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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What is the total value of the Line of Credit to Sri Lanka?

The LOC is for USD 382.37 million, covering railway projects and other mutually approved contracts.

What is the minimum Indian content required under this LOC?

At least 75% of the contract price must be supplied from India; up to 25% of goods and services (excluding consultancy) can be sourced from outside India.

Can agency commission be paid from the LOC funds?

No, agency commission is not payable under this LOC. Exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission after full payment is received.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/533 A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.116 May 04, 2012 To All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 382.37 million to the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated January 17, 2012 with the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 382.37 million (USD three hundred eighty two million three hundred seventy thousand) for financing export of eligible goods and services including consultancy services for the purpose of (i) Track-laying on the Pallai-Kankesanthurai Railway Line (USD 149.34 million), (ii) Setting up of signaling and telecommunications system for the Northern Railway Line (USD 86.52 million) and (iii) any other contracts that may be mutually approved by the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of India in Sri Lanka (USD 146.51 million). 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 April 11, 2012 and the date of execution of Agreement is January 17, 2012. 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 16, 2018) 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/2011-12/533 · issued 04 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, Indian exporters to Sri Lanka, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 382.37 mn Line of Credit to Sri Lanka” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC and its terms, including the 75% Indian content requirement.” (RBI issued this 04 May 2012).

  1. Circular: RBI/2011-12/533 -- Exim Bank's USD 382.37 mn Line of Credit to Sri Lanka
  2. Issued: 04 May 2012
  3. Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LOC and its terms, including the 75% Indian content requirement.
  4. Action required: Ensure shipments under the 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 after full contract payment.
  6. Action required: Direct exporters to Exim Bank for full LOC details.
  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=7177&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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