Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/464 · issued 01 Apr 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 15 million Line of Credit to Benin for a tractor assembly plant. Banks must guide exporters on LOC terms, including 75% Indian content, no agency commission, and GR/SDF form declarations.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks must guide exporters on LOC terms, including 75% Indian content and no agency commission.
Exporters must declare shipments on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Banks should verify GR/SDF declarations and allow commission remittance only from exporter's own resources after full payment realization.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore must inform their exporter clients about the LOC terms, including the 75% Indian content requirement and 48/72-month timelines. They must also ensure that all shipments under the LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions and do not process agency commission payments under this LOC.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a credit agreement with Benin on August 23, 2012, effective February 28, 2013, for a USD 15 million LOC. The LOC finances a tractor assembly plant and farm equipment unit, with at least 75% of contract value sourced from India. Last date for LC opening/disbursement is 48 months from project completion or 72 months from agreement execution (August 22, 2018) for supply contracts.
What it means for you
Banks must facilitate export financing under this LOC, ensuring compliance with FEMA and RBI guidelines. The 75% Indian content rule boosts domestic exports, while the no-commission clause reduces transaction costs. Banks should verify GR/SDF declarations and allow commission remittance only from exporter's own resources after full payment realization.
What you must do
Inform exporter clients about the LOC terms, including the 75% Indian content requirement and 48/72-month timelines.
Ensure all shipments under the LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Do not process agency commission payments under this LOC; allow remittance only from exporter's own EEFC account after full contract value realization.
Direct exporters to Exim Bank for detailed LOC information.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks handling export transactions, Exporters of goods, services, machinery, and consultancy to Benin, Exim Bank and its LOC operations
❓ 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 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.
Can agency commission be paid under this LOC?
No agency commission is payable. If needed, the exporter can use their own resources or EEFC account balance for commission in free foreign exchange, but only after full payment realization.
What are the key timelines for this LOC?
The credit agreement is effective from February 28, 2013. For project exports, LCs must be opened and disbursed within 48 months of scheduled completion; for supply contracts, within 72 months from the execution date (August 22, 2018).
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/464
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 93
April 1, 2013
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 15 million
to the Government of the Republic of Benin
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated August 23, 2012 with the Government of the Republic of Benin, for making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 15 million (USD Fifteen million) for financing eligible goods, services, machinery and equipment including consultancy services from India for the purpose of financing a tractor assembly plant and farm equipment manufacturing unit in Benin. 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 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 August 23, 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 (August 22, 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/2012-13/464 · 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 handling export transactions, Exporters of goods, services, machinery, and consultancy to Benin, Exim Bank and its LOC operations), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 15 mn Line of Credit to Benin” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC terms, including the 75% Indian content requirement and 48/72-month timelines.” (RBI issued this 01 Apr 2013).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/464 -- Exim Bank's USD 15 mn Line of Credit to Benin
Issued: 01 Apr 2013
Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LOC terms, including the 75% Indian content requirement and 48/72-month timelines.
Action required: Ensure all shipments under the LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Do not process agency commission payments under this LOC; allow remittance only from exporter's own EEFC account after full contract value realization.
Action required: Direct exporters to Exim Bank for detailed LOC information.
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.
💬 Banker Discussion
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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=7915&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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