Exim Bank's USD 50 Million Line of Credit to Zambia
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/627 · issued 28 Jun 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks of Exim Bank's USD 50 million line of credit to Zambia for pre-fabricated health posts. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must advise exporters and follow GR/SDF declaration rules.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank (India's export bank) gave a 50 million dollar loan to Zambia to buy pre-fabricated health posts (ready-made health buildings).
At least 75% of the contract value (the total price of the deal) must come from goods and services made in India.
Exporters must fill out GR/SDF forms (special export paperwork) for every shipment under this loan.
No agency commission (extra payment to a middleman) can be paid from the loan money; if needed, the exporter must pay from their own funds or a special foreign currency account after getting full payment.
Banks must tell their exporter customers about this loan and send them to Exim Bank for full details.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore learns about this loan and calls her exporter client, Mr. Sharma, who supplies medical equipment. She explains that he can use the 50 million dollar loan to sell pre-fabricated health posts to Zambia, but must ensure 75% of the value comes from India. She reminds him to fill out GR forms for each shipment and that he cannot pay any agent commission from the loan proceeds.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a credit agreement with Zambia on March 29, 2012, effective June 8, 2012, for a USD 50 million line of credit. The credit supports exports of goods, services, and consultancy for pre-fabricated health posts in Zambia, with a 75% Indian content requirement. Last dates for LC opening and disbursement vary: 48 months from project completion or 72 months from agreement execution for supply contracts.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can tap this credit line to supply to Zambia's health sector, with Exim Bank financing eligible contracts. Banks must ensure compliance with FEMA rules, including GR/SDF form declarations and no agency commission from the credit proceeds. This opens a structured export opportunity but requires strict adherence to sourcing and documentation norms.
What you must do
Advise exporter clients about the 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.
Allow agency commission remittances only from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts after full contract payment realization.
Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India for eligible contracts.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Zambia, Exim Bank
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 LOC?
At least 75% of the contract price must be supplied from India; the remaining 25% can be procured from outside India, excluding consultancy services.
Can agency commission be paid from the LOC proceeds?
No, agency commission is not payable under this LOC. Exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission in free foreign exchange after full payment realization.
What are the timelines for LC opening and disbursement?
For project exports, LCs must be opened and disbursed within 48 months from scheduled contract completion. For supply contracts, the deadline is 72 months from the agreement execution date (March 28, 2018).
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
RBI’s words: “It has now been decided in consultation with the Government to amend certain conditions in the aforesaid circular.”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/627
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 138
June 28, 2012
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 50 million
to the Government of the Republic of Zambia
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated March 29, 2012 with the Government of the Republic of Zambia , making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 50 million (USD Fifty million) for financing eligible goods, services, machinery and equipments including consultancy services for the purpose of pre-fabricated health posts in the Republic of Zambia. The machinery, equipment, 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 percent 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 June 8, 2012 and the date of execution of Agreement is March 29, 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 (March 28, 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,
(Rudra Narayan Kar)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/627 · issued 28 Jun 2012. 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 to Zambia, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 50 Million Line of Credit to Zambia” is: “Advise exporter clients about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 28 Jun 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/627 -- Exim Bank's USD 50 Million Line of Credit to Zambia
Issued: 28 Jun 2012
Action required: Advise exporter clients about the 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: Allow agency commission remittances only from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts after full contract payment realization.
Action required: Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India for eligible contracts.
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=7306&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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