Exim Bank's USD 30 mn Line of Credit to Sierra Leone
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-2022/78 · issued 05 Aug 2021 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 30 million GoI-supported Line of Credit to Sierra Leone for land and irrigation infrastructure. Banks must guide exporters on LoC terms, including 75% Indian content requirement and no agency commission rule.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank (India's export-import bank) has given a $30 million loan to Sierra Leone for land and water projects like irrigation and tractors.
At least 75% of the goods or services in any contract under this loan must come from India.
No agency commission (extra payment to a middleman) is allowed for exports under this loan; if needed, the exporter can pay commission only from their own money or a special foreign currency account after getting full payment.
Banks must tell exporters about this loan and send them to Exim Bank for full details.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore learns about this new loan to Sierra Leone. She calls her exporter customer, Mr. Sharma, who sells irrigation pipes, and says, 'Good news! Exim Bank has a $30 million loan for Sierra Leone for water projects. You can use it, but remember: 75% of your pipes must be made in India, and you cannot pay any agent commission from the loan money. Contact Exim Bank for the full rules.'
What changed
RBI has informed AD Category-I banks about a new Line of Credit agreement between Exim Bank and the Government of Sierra Leone, effective July 27, 2021. The LoC of USD 30 million is for financing land and water management infrastructure, with at least 75% of contract value sourced from India.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now tap this LoC for eligible goods and services to Sierra Leone, but must ensure 75% Indian content. Banks must enforce the no-agency-commission rule and allow commission payments only from exporter's own resources or EEFC after full export realization.
What you must do
Inform exporter customers about the LoC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure shipments under this LoC 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 funds or EEFC after full export value realization.
Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India for any financing under this LoC.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Sierra Leone, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective July 27, 2021
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 07:45 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 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 exporters pay agency commission on these exports?
No agency commission is payable. If needed, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances after full export value realization, subject to existing RBI guidelines.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2021-2022/78
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.08
August 05, 2021
All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam/Sir
Exim Bank's Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of
USD 30.00 million to the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement dated October 13, 2019 with the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone, for making available to the latter, Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 30.00 million (USD Thirty million only) for the purpose of financing land and infrastructure development including hydraulics, water management system (irrigation) and provision of tractors, in the Republic of Sierra Leone. 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 July 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/2021-2022/78 · issued 05 Aug 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 to Sierra Leone, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 30 mn Line of Credit to Sierra Leone” is: “Inform exporter customers about the LoC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 05 Aug 2021).
Circular: RBI/2021-2022/78 -- Exim Bank's USD 30 mn Line of Credit to Sierra Leone
Issued: 05 Aug 2021
Action required: Inform exporter customers about the LoC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure shipments under this LoC 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 funds or EEFC after full export value realization.
Action required: Verify that at least 75% of contract value is sourced from India for any financing under this LoC.
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=12138&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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