Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/405 · issued 06 Dec 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks of Exim Bank's USD 30.94 million Line of Credit to Laos for irrigation and storage dam projects. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must facilitate GR/SDF declarations and handle commission remittances per existing rules.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a loan of $30.94 million to Laos for building dams and irrigation systems.
At least 75% of the project's cost must be spent on goods and services from India.
Banks must use GR/SDF forms (special export paperwork) for all shipments under this loan.
No commission (extra payment) is allowed for agents, but exporters can pay it from their own money 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 Laos dam project. The officer explains that the exporter must source at least 75% of the contract value from India, and reminds them to fill GR/SDF forms for every shipment. The officer also notes that no agency commission is allowed, but if needed, the exporter can pay it from their own funds after the full contract amount is received.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Government of Lao PDR on September 9, 2013, effective November 26, 2013, for USD 30.94 million. The credit will finance construction of storage dams and irrigation systems in four major provinces. Last date for LC opening and disbursement is 48 months from project completion for project exports, or 72 months (September 8, 2019) from agreement date for supply contracts.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now bid for these Laos projects with assured financing from Exim Bank. Banks must ensure at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India and handle GR/SDF declarations. No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but exporters can use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission after full payment realization.
What you must do
Inform exporter customers 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, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India for eligible contracts.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks handling export transactions, Indian exporters of goods, services, machinery, and consultancy, Exim Bank and its financing operations
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective November 26, 2013
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 11:30 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 requirement 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 under the LOC itself. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances to pay commission after full contract value realization, subject to prevailing RBI instructions.
What are the key timelines for this LOC?
The credit agreement is effective from November 26, 2013. For project exports, LCs must be opened and disbursed within 48 months from scheduled completion. For supply contracts, the deadline is 72 months from the execution date (September 8, 2019).
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/405A
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.79
December 6, 2013
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 30.94 million
to the Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an Agreement dated September 09, 2013 with the Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic, for making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 30.94 million (USD Thirty Million nine hundred and forty thousand) for financing eligible goods, services, machinery and equipment including consultancy services from India for the purpose of financing construction of Storage dams and Development of Irrigation systems in four major provinces in Lao People's Democratic Republic. 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 November 26, 2013 and the date of execution of Agreement is September 09, 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 (September 08, 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/2013-14/405 · issued 06 Dec 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, Indian exporters of goods, services, machinery, and consultancy, Exim Bank and its financing operations), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's $30.94 mn Line of Credit to Laos” is: “Inform exporter customers about this LOC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 06 Dec 2013).
Circular: RBI/2013-14/405 -- Exim Bank's $30.94 mn Line of Credit to Laos
Issued: 06 Dec 2013
Action required: Inform exporter customers 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, using exporter's own resources or EEFC balances.
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.
💬 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=8629&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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