Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/177 · issued 12 Aug 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 28.60 million Line of Credit to Zimbabwe for upgrading Deka Pumping Station. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must advise exporters and handle GR/SDF forms and commission rules accordingly.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a loan of $28.6 million to Zimbabwe to fix a water pumping station.
At least 75% of the stuff bought with this loan must come from India.
Banks must make sure every shipment is reported on special forms called GR/SDF.
No commission can be paid from the loan money; if needed, the exporter must use their own foreign currency savings after getting full payment.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a call from an exporter asking about the new loan for Zimbabwe. The officer explains that the exporter can supply pumps and pipes for the Deka Pumping Station upgrade, but must ensure 75% of the contract value comes from India. The officer also reminds the exporter that any agent commission must be paid from their own EEFC account only after the full contract payment is received, not from the loan itself.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with Zimbabwe on June 21, 2013, effective July 25, 2013, for USD 28.60 million. The credit is for financing eligible goods, services, and consultancy from India for the Deka Pumping Station and River Water Intake System upgrade. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India; up to 25% can be procured outside India.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now access this LOC to supply machinery, equipment, and consultancy for Zimbabwe's water infrastructure project. AD banks must ensure shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and that no agency commission is paid from the LOC proceeds; exporters can use their own EEFC balances for commissions after full payment realization. The LOC supports India's export push under the Foreign Trade Policy.
What you must do
Advise exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms per RBI instructions.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization and from exporter's own resources or EEFC account.
Monitor that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India as per the agreement.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of goods, services, and consultancy, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective July 25, 2013
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 13:31 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the purpose of this Line of Credit?
It finances the upgradation of Deka Pumping Station and River Water Intake System in Zimbabwe, with eligible goods, services, and consultancy from India.
What are the sourcing requirements for exporters?
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, the LOC does not allow agency commission. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange after full payment realization.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/177
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 21
August 12, 2013
To,
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 28.60 million
to the Republic of Zimbabwe
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an Agreement dated June 21, 2013 with the Republic of Zimbabwe, for making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 28.60 million (USD Twenty- eight million six hundred thousand only) for financing eligible goods, services, machinery and equipment including consultancy services from India for the purpose of financing upgradation of Deka Pumping Station and River Water Intake System in Zimbabwe. 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 July 25, 2013 and the date of execution of Agreement is June 21, 2013. 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 (June 20, 2019) 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,
(C. D. Srinivasan)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/177 · issued 12 Aug 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, and consultancy, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's $28.6 mn Line of Credit to Zimbabwe” is: “Advise exporter constituents about the LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 12 Aug 2013).
Circular: RBI/2013-14/177 -- Exim Bank's $28.6 mn Line of Credit to Zimbabwe
Issued: 12 Aug 2013
Action required: Advise exporter constituents 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 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: Monitor that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India as per the agreement.
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=8302&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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