HomeCirculars › RBI/2021-2022/141

Exim Bank USD 40 mn LoC to Togo for Solar Electrification

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-2022/141 · issued 23 Dec 2021 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks of a USD 40 million Government of India-supported Line of Credit from Exim Bank to Togo for solar electrification of 350 villages. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India. No agency commission is payable, but exporters may use own resources or EEFC balances for commission.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore gets a call from a solar panel exporter asking about the Togo loan. The officer explains that 75% of the panels must be made in India, and reminds them that any commission must come from their own EEFC account, not the loan. The exporter thanks the officer for the clear guidance and starts preparing the paperwork.

What changed

Exim Bank signed an agreement with the Government of Togolese Republic on June 23, 2021, for a USD 40 million LoC to finance solar electrification projects. The LoC became effective from December 7, 2021, with a terminal utilization period of 60 months after project completion. RBI circular advises AD Category-I banks to inform exporters and ensure compliance with FEMA provisions.

What it means for you

Indian exporters can now access this LoC to supply goods and services for Togo's solar village electrification, with a mandatory 75% Indian content. Banks must ensure no agency commission is paid from LoC proceeds, though exporters can use their own forex resources. This opens a specific, government-backed export financing channel for renewable energy projects.

What you must do

Who it affects

AD Category-I banks handling export documentation, Indian exporters of solar equipment and related services, Exim Bank as LoC administrator

❓ 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 requirement under this LoC?

Goods, works, and services of at least 75% of the contract price must be supplied from India; the remaining 25% may be procured from outside India.

Can exporters pay agency commission on exports under this LoC?

No agency commission is payable from LoC proceeds. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange after full export value realization.

What is the validity period of this LoC?

The LoC is effective from December 7, 2021, and the terminal utilization period is 60 months after the scheduled completion date of the project.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2021-2022/141 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.21 December 23, 2021 All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam/Sir Exim Bank Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 40 million to the Government of the Togolese Republic Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement dated June 23, 2021 with the Government of the Togolese Republic, for making available to the latter, Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 40 million (USD Forty million only) for the purpose of financing the project for electrification of 350 villages through Solar Photo Voltaic Systems in the Togolese Republic. 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 December 07, 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/2021-2022/141 · issued 23 Dec 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 handling export documentation, Indian exporters of solar equipment and related services, Exim Bank as LoC administrator), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank USD 40 mn LoC to Togo for Solar Electrification” is: “Notify exporter constituents about the Exim Bank LoC for Togo's solar project and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 23 Dec 2021).

  1. Circular: RBI/2021-2022/141 -- Exim Bank USD 40 mn LoC to Togo for Solar Electrification
  2. Issued: 23 Dec 2021
  3. Action required: Notify exporter constituents about the Exim Bank LoC for Togo's solar project and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
  4. Action required: Ensure shipments under this LoC are declared on Export Declaration Forms per RBI instructions.
  5. Action required: Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India before processing export documents.
  6. Action required: Do not allow agency commission payments from LoC proceeds; only permit remittance from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full export value realization.
  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=12210&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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