Exim Bank's USD 5 mn Line of Credit to Cuba for Milk Plant
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/463 · issued 01 Apr 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 5 million line of credit to Banco Exterior De Cuba for financing Indian exports to set up a milk powder processing plant in Cuba. Key terms: 75% local sourcing, 48-72 month disbursement window, no agency commission.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank (a special bank that helps Indian exports) gave a 5 million US dollar loan to a Cuban bank to help Indian companies sell things for a milk powder factory in Cuba.
At least 75% of the factory's supplies (like machines or services) must come from India, and only up to 25% can come from other countries.
Indian exporters must use special forms (GR/SDF) for their shipments under this loan, as the RBI (India's central bank) tells them.
No commission (extra payment) can be paid to agents for this loan; if an exporter wants to pay commission, they must use their own money or a special foreign currency account, and only after getting full payment for the contract.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore learns about this loan and tells a local exporter of dairy machinery, 'You can now sell your equipment to Cuba for a milk powder plant, and Exim Bank will handle the payment. Just make sure 75% of your supplies come from India, and remember, no agent commission is allowed unless you pay from your own pocket after you get paid fully.'
What changed
Exim Bank signed a credit agreement with Banco Exterior De Cuba on October 10, 2012, effective February 28, 2013, for a USD 5 million line of credit. The credit supports Indian exports of goods, services, machinery, and consultancy for a milk powder processing plant in Camaguey Province, Cuba. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India, with up to 25% from outside India.
What it means for you
Indian exporters now have a structured financing route for exports to Cuba under this LOC, reducing payment risk. Banks must ensure compliance with FEMA and RBI guidelines on GR/SDF forms and agency commission rules. The 75% local sourcing requirement boosts Indian manufacturing and services exports.
What you must do
Inform exporter clients about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization and from exporter's own resources or EEFC account.
Verify that exports meet the 75% Indian content requirement under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of goods, services, machinery, and consultancy, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective February 28, 2013
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 15:54 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the total value of this line of credit?
The LOC is for USD 5 million, as per the agreement between Exim Bank and Banco Exterior De Cuba.
What is the deadline for using this credit?
For project exports, letters of credit must be opened and disbursed within 48 months from the scheduled completion date. For supply contracts, the deadline is 72 months from the agreement execution date (October 9, 2018).
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 contract value realization.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/463
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 92
April 1, 2013
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 5 million
to Banco Exterior De Cuba
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated October 10, 2012 with Banco Exterior De Cuba, for making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 5 million (USD Five million ) for financing eligible goods, services, machinery and equipment including consultancy services from India for the purpose of setting up of a milk powder processing plant in Camaguey Province of Cuba. 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 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 February 28, 2013 and the date of execution of Agreement is October 10, 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 (October 09, 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/2012-13/463 · issued 01 Apr 2013. 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 5 mn Line of Credit to Cuba for Milk Plant” is: “Inform exporter clients about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 01 Apr 2013).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/463 -- Exim Bank's USD 5 mn Line of Credit to Cuba for Milk Plant
Issued: 01 Apr 2013
Action required: Inform exporter clients about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
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 value realization and from exporter's own resources or EEFC account.
Action required: Verify that exports meet the 75% Indian content requirement under the Foreign Trade Policy.
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=7914&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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