HomeCirculars › RBI/2013-14/499

Exim Bank's USD 10 mn Line of Credit to Nicaragua

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/499 · issued 24 Feb 2014 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 10 million Line of Credit to Nicaragua for financing Indian goods and services for two electric sub-stations. Banks must advise exporters and follow FEMA guidelines for disbursement and commission payments.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

Rahul, a forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, helps an Indian exporter, Mr. Kumar, who wants to supply equipment to Nicaragua's power projects. Rahul informs Mr. Kumar about the LOC terms and advises him to obtain full details from Exim Bank. Mr. Kumar then declares his shipment on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions and ensures that at least 75% of the contract value is sourced from India. Rahul verifies the details and allows the remittance after full contract realization.

What changed

Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with Nicaragua on June 14, 2013, effective January 31, 2014, for USD 10 million. The credit finances Indian exports for building two electric sub-stations, with at least 75% of contract value sourced from India. Last date for LC opening and disbursement is 48 months for project exports or 72 months (June 13, 2019) for supply contracts.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this LOC to supply equipment and services for Nicaragua's power projects, with Exim Bank financing. AD banks must ensure shipments are declared on GR/SDF forms and no agency commission is paid from the LOC proceeds. This opens a targeted export opportunity for Indian firms in the Central American infrastructure sector.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks handling export transactions, Indian exporters of goods, machinery, equipment, and services for power infrastructure, Exim Bank as the lending institution

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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 Indian exports for building two electric sub-stations in Nicaragua, covering goods, machinery, equipment, and consultancy services.

Can exporters pay agency commission from this LOC?

No, no agency commission is payable under the LOC. Exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission after full payment realization.

What are the key timelines for this LOC?

The credit agreement is effective from January 31, 2014. For project exports, LCs must be opened within 48 months of contract completion; for supply contracts, within 72 months (by June 13, 2019).

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/499 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.108 February 24, 2014 To All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam / Sir, Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 10 million to the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an Agreement dated June 14, 2013 with the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua for making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 10 million (USD Ten million ) for financing eligible goods, machinery, equipment and services including consultancy services from India for the purpose of financing purchase of equipment from India for building two electric sub-stations in Nicaragua. The goods, machinery and equipment 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 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 January 31, 2014 and the date of execution of Agreement is June 14, 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 13, 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/2013-14/499 · issued 24 Feb 2014. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Worked example & action-note template

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, machinery, equipment, and services for power infrastructure, Exim Bank as the lending institution), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 10 mn Line of Credit to Nicaragua” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LOC terms and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 24 Feb 2014).

  1. Circular: RBI/2013-14/499 -- Exim Bank's USD 10 mn Line of Credit to Nicaragua
  2. Issued: 24 Feb 2014
  3. Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LOC terms and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
  4. Action required: Ensure all shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
  5. Action required: Do not allow agency commission payments from LOC proceeds; remit only from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full contract realization.
  6. Action required: Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India for eligible contracts.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. 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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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=8751&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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