Exim Bank's $10.4M LoC to Eswatini for Disaster Recovery Site
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-2022/122 · issued 11 Nov 2021 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks of Exim Bank's $10.4 million LoC to Eswatini for a Disaster Recovery Site. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must ensure EDF declarations and may allow commission remittance after export realization.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a $10.4 million loan to Eswatini (a country in Africa) to build a Disaster Recovery Site (a safe place to keep important computer data after a disaster).
At least 75% of the contract's value must come from India (meaning Indian companies must supply most of the goods and services).
Banks must make sure exporters fill out Export Declaration Forms (a paper that tells the government what is being shipped out of India).
Banks can allow commission (a fee paid to an agent) to be sent abroad only after the exporter gets paid fully for the export.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore receives a call from an exporter who wants to bid on a contract to supply servers for Eswatini's Disaster Recovery Site. The officer explains that the exporter must source at least 75% of the server parts from India and must fill out an Export Declaration Form for each shipment. After the exporter gets paid, the officer can process the agent's commission remittance.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a LoC agreement with Eswatini on February 1, 2021, effective September 27, 2021, for $10.4 million. The credit finances a Disaster Recovery Site, with a DPR cost cap of 1% of the credit. Terminal utilization is 60 months post-project completion.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now bid for contracts under this LoC, with a mandatory 75% Indian content. AD banks must handle EDF declarations and commission remittances per existing norms. This opens a specific export financing channel for disaster recovery infrastructure to Eswatini.
What you must do
Inform exporter customers about this LoC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure all shipments under this LoC are declared on Export Declaration Forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow agency commission remittances only after full export value realization and compliance with extant rules.
Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India for eligible exports.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters of goods and services, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective September 27, 2021
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 07:15 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 $10.4 million LoC to Eswatini?
It finances construction of a Disaster Recovery Site in Eswatini, with a DPR cost not exceeding 1% of the credit.
What are the sourcing requirements for exports under this LoC?
At least 75% of contract price must be supplied from India; the remaining 25% can be procured from outside India.
Can exporters pay agency commission on these exports?
No agency commission is payable for export under the LoC, but if required, the exporter may use own resources or EEFC balances for payment of commission in free foreign exchange after full realization of eligible export value, subject to extant instructions.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2021-2022/122
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.17
November 11, 2021
All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam/Sir
Exim Bank's Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of
USD 10.40 million to the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland)
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement dated February 01, 2021 with the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland), for making available to the latter, Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 10.40 million (USD Ten million and four hundred thousand only) for the purpose of financing construction of a Disaster Recovery Site, subject to preparation and appraisal of Detailed Project Report (DPR) at a cost not exceeding 1% of the credit, in the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland). 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 27, 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 (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/2021-2022/122 · issued 11 Nov 2021. 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 and services, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's $10.4M LoC to Eswatini for Disaster Recovery Site” is: “Inform exporter customers about this LoC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 11 Nov 2021).
Circular: RBI/2021-2022/122 -- Exim Bank's $10.4M LoC to Eswatini for Disaster Recovery Site
Issued: 11 Nov 2021
Action required: Inform exporter customers about this LoC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure all shipments under this LoC are declared on Export Declaration Forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Allow agency commission remittances only after full export value realization and compliance with extant rules.
Action required: Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India for eligible exports.
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=12190&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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