HomeCirculars › RBI/2020-2021/49

Exim Bank USD 310 mn LoC to Zimbabwe for Power Project

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2020-2021/49 · issued 08 Oct 2020 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notified a USD 310 million Government of India-supported Line of Credit from Exim Bank to Zimbabwe for repowering Hwange Thermal Power Station. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India. AD Category-I banks must facilitate exports under this LoC with no agency commission.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

Arjun, a senior export officer at a Category‑I bank in Mumbai, helps an Indian turbine manufacturer ship parts to Zimbabwe under the $310 million LoC. He checks that 75% of the contract value is from India, fills out the Export Declaration Form, and tells the exporter that no commission is needed.

What changed

Exim Bank signed an agreement with Zimbabwe on February 24, 2020, for a USD 310 million LoC, effective September 30, 2020. The LoC finances exports for repowering Hwange Thermal Power Station, requiring 75% Indian content. Shipments must use Export Declaration Forms, and no agency commission is payable; exporters may use own resources or EEFC balances for commission.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this LoC for power sector exports to Zimbabwe, boosting trade. Banks must ensure compliance with FEMA and RBI instructions for export documentation and remittance of commission. The 75% local sourcing rule supports Indian industry, but banks need to verify contract terms and utilization timelines.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks handling export transactions, Indian exporters of goods and services for power projects, Exim Bank and its LoC operations

❓ 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 USD 310 million LoC to Zimbabwe?

It finances the repowering of Hwange Thermal Power Station in Zimbabwe, with at least 75% of contract value sourced from India.

Can exporters pay agency commission under this LoC?

No agency commission is payable. However, if needed, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission in free foreign exchange, after full export value realization.

What is the terminal utilization period for this LoC?

The terminal utilization period is 60 months after the scheduled completion date of the project, effective from September 30, 2020.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2020-2021/49 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.02 October 08, 2020 All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam/Sir Exim Bank's Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 310 million to the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement dated February 24, 2020 with the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, for making available to the latter, Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 310 million (USD Three Hundred and Ten million only) for the purpose of financing repowering of Hwange Thermal Power Station in the Republic of Zimbabwe. Under the arrangement, financing of export of eligible goods and services from India, as defined under the agreement, would be allowed subject to their being 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 the agreement, goods, works and 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 per cent of goods and services may be procured by the seller for the purpose of the eligible contract from outside India. 2. The Agreement under the LoC is effective from September 30, 2020. Under the LoC, the terminal utilization period is 60 months after the scheduled completion date of the project. 3. Shipments under the LoC shall be declared in Export Declaration Form as per instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time. 4. No agency commission is payable for export 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- I (AD Category- I) banks may allow such remittance after realization of full eligible value of export subject to compliance with the extant 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 complete details of the LoC from the Exim Bank’s office at Centre One, Floor 21, World Trade Centre Complex, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005 or from their website www.eximbankindia.in 6. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under section 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 (R. S. Amar) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2020-2021/49 · issued 08 Oct 2020. 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 and services for power projects, Exim Bank and its LoC operations), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank USD 310 mn LoC to Zimbabwe for Power Project” is: “Inform exporter clients about the LoC details and direct them to Exim Bank for full terms.” (RBI issued this 08 Oct 2020).

  1. Circular: RBI/2020-2021/49 -- Exim Bank USD 310 mn LoC to Zimbabwe for Power Project
  2. Issued: 08 Oct 2020
  3. Action required: Inform exporter clients about the LoC details and direct them to Exim Bank for full terms.
  4. Action required: Ensure all shipments under this LoC are declared on Export Declaration Forms per RBI guidelines.
  5. Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full export value realization, using exporter's own funds or EEFC accounts.
  6. Action required: Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India as per the agreement.
  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=11977&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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