Exim Bank USD 50 mn LoC to Maldives for Defence Projects
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-2022/159 · issued 17 Feb 2022 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks of Exim Bank's USD 50 million GoI-supported Line of Credit to Maldives for defence projects, effective Feb 8, 2022. Banks must facilitate exports with 75% Indian content, no agency commission, and proper EDF declarations.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks must help Indian defence exporters sell to Maldives using the $50 million loan, and at least 75% of the product’s value must come from India (how much is made in India).
The loan can be used for up to 60 months (5 years) after the project’s scheduled completion date.
No agency commission (payment to a middle‑man) is allowed, unless the exporter pays it from his own money or from his Exchange Earners’ Foreign Currency (EEFC) account after the full export money is received.
Every shipment must be recorded on the Export Declaration Form (a form that tells the RBI about the export) as per RBI instructions.
How it plays out — a real example
Rohit, a senior export officer at an AD Category‑I bank in Mumbai, receives a request from an Indian defence company to ship radar systems to the Maldives under the Exim Bank line of credit. He checks that at least 75% of the radar’s parts are made in India, confirms the project will finish within the 60‑month window, logs the shipment in the Export Declaration Form, and kindly informs the exporter that no agency commission can be paid unless they use their own funds or EEFC balance after the full export value is realized.
What changed
Exim Bank signed an agreement with Maldives on Feb 21, 2021, for a USD 50 million LoC for defence projects, effective Feb 8, 2022. The circular outlines operational details for AD banks, including the 75% Indian content requirement and terminal utilization period of 60 months from project completion.
What it means for you
AD Category-I banks must now process exports under this LoC with strict adherence to the 75% Indian content rule and no agency commission. Banks can allow commission payments from exporter's own resources or EEFC accounts only after full export value realization. This supports India's defence exports and bilateral ties.
What you must do
Inform exporter constituents about the LoC details and direct them to Exim Bank for complete information.
Ensure exports under this LoC meet the 75% Indian content requirement and are declared on Export Declaration Forms as per RBI instructions.
Do not allow agency commission payments for exports under this LoC; if needed, permit only from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full realization.
Verify that shipments comply with Foreign Trade Policy and the specific LoC agreement terms.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Exporters dealing with defence goods and services to Maldives, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective Feb 8, 2022
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 06:57 IST
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 supplied from India; the remaining 25% can be procured from outside India.
Can agency commission be paid for exports under this LoC?
No agency commission is payable. However, if required, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances for commission in free foreign exchange after full export value realization.
When did this LoC become effective and what is the terminal utilization period?
The LoC is effective from February 8, 2022, and the terminal utilization period is 60 months from the scheduled completion date of the project.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2021-2022/159
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 24
February 17, 2022
All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam/Sir
Exim Bank's Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of
USD 50 million to the Government of the Republic of Maldives
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement dated February 21, 2021 with the Government of the Republic of Maldives, for making available to the latter, Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 50 million (USD Fifty Million only) for the purpose of defence projects. 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 February 08, 2022. Under the LoC, the terminal utilization period is 60 months from 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/2021-2022/159 · issued 17 Feb 2022. 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, Exporters dealing with defence goods and services to Maldives, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank USD 50 mn LoC to Maldives for Defence Projects” is: “Inform exporter constituents about the LoC details and direct them to Exim Bank for complete information.” (RBI issued this 17 Feb 2022).
Circular: RBI/2021-2022/159 -- Exim Bank USD 50 mn LoC to Maldives for Defence Projects
Issued: 17 Feb 2022
Action required: Inform exporter constituents about the LoC details and direct them to Exim Bank for complete information.
Action required: Ensure exports under this LoC meet the 75% Indian content requirement and are declared on Export Declaration Forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Do not allow agency commission payments for exports under this LoC; if needed, permit only from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full realization.
Action required: Verify that shipments comply with Foreign Trade Policy and the specific LoC agreement terms.
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=12231&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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