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Exim Bank's USD 400 mn LoC to Maldives: AD Bank Guidelines

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2020-2021/96 · issued 11 Feb 2021 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 400 million Government of India-supported Line of Credit to Maldives for the Greater Male Connectivity project. Banks must ensure 75% Indian content in exports, no agency commission from LoC funds, and proper EDF declarations.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

Rohit, a senior relationship manager at an AD Category‑I bank in Mumbai, receives a request from an Indian shipbuilder who has won a contract for the Male‑to‑Thilafushi link. He checks that the contract has at least 75% Indian content, asks the exporter to file the required Export Declaration Form, and reminds them that any agency commission must be paid from the exporter’s own foreign‑exchange balance or EEFC account after the shipment is fully realised.

What changed

Exim Bank signed an agreement with the Government of Maldives on October 12, 2020, for a USD 400 million LoC, effective January 28, 2021. The LoC finances the Greater Male Connectivity project, requiring at least 75% of contract value from Indian goods, works, and services. Shipments must be declared on Export Declaration Forms, and no agency commission is payable from LoC proceeds.

What it means for you

AD Category-I banks must facilitate exports under this LoC, ensuring compliance with the 75% Indian content rule and FEMA guidelines. Banks can allow agency commission payments only from the exporter's own resources or EEFC account after full export value realization. This LoC strengthens India's export financing and bilateral ties with Maldives.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks, Exporters dealing with Maldives under this LoC, Exim Bank, Indian suppliers for the Greater Male Connectivity project

❓ 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 minimum Indian content required for exports under this LoC?

At least 75% of the contract price must be for goods, works, and services supplied from India. The remaining 25% can be procured from outside India.

Can exporters pay agency commission from the LoC proceeds?

No, agency commission is not payable from LoC funds. Exporters may use their own resources or balances in their Exchange Earners' Foreign Currency Account to pay commission in free foreign exchange, but only after full realization of the eligible export value.

When did this LoC become effective and what is its purpose?

The LoC became effective on January 28, 2021, and is for financing the Greater Male Connectivity project (Male' to Thilafushi Link) in the Republic of Maldives.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2020-2021/96 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 09 February 11, 2021 All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam/Sir Exim Bank's Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 400 million to the Government of the Republic of Maldives Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement dated October 12, 2020 with the Government of the Republic of Maldives, for making available to the latter, Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 400 million (USD Four Hundred million only) for the purpose of undertaking the Greater Male Connectivity – (Male’ to Thilafushi Link) project in the Republic of Maldives. 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 January 28, 2021. 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/2020-2021/96 · issued 11 Feb 2021. 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, Exporters dealing with Maldives under this LoC, Exim Bank, Indian suppliers for the Greater Male Connectivity project), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 400 mn LoC to Maldives: AD Bank Guidelines” is: “Inform exporter constituents about the LoC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 11 Feb 2021).

  1. Circular: RBI/2020-2021/96 -- Exim Bank's USD 400 mn LoC to Maldives: AD Bank Guidelines
  2. Issued: 11 Feb 2021
  3. Action required: Inform exporter constituents about the LoC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
  4. Action required: Ensure export shipments under this LoC are declared on Export Declaration Forms as per RBI instructions.
  5. Action required: Verify that at least 75% of contract value comprises Indian goods, works, and services.
  6. Action required: Do not allow agency commission payments from LoC funds; permit only from exporter's own resources or EEFC account after full export realization.
  7. Action required: Advise exporters to contact Exim Bank at Mumbai or www.eximbankindia.in for complete LoC terms.
  8. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  9. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  10. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12026&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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