INDIAN IMPORT-EXPORT BANK

Export-Import Bank of India is the premier export finance institution of the country, set up in 1982 under the Export-Import Bank of India Act 1981. Government of India launched the institution with a mandate, not just to enhance exports from India, but to integrate the country’s foreign trade and investment with the overall economic growth. Since its inception, Exim Bank of India has been both a catalyst and a key player in the promotion of cross border trade and investment. Commencing operations as a purveyor of export credit, like other Export Credit Agencies in the world, Exim Bank of India has, over the period, evolved into an institution that plays a major role in partnering Indian industries, particularly the Small and Medium Enterprises, in their globalisation efforts, through a wide range of products and services offered at all stages of the business cycle, starting from import of technology and export product development to export production, export marketing, pre-shipment and post-shipment and overseas investment

• Exim Bank of India has been the prime mover in encouraging project exports from India. The Bank provides Indian project exporters with a comprehensive range of services to enhance the prospect of their securing export contracts, particularly those funded by Multilateral Funding Agencies like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
• The Bank extends lines of credit to overseas financial institutions, foreign governments and their agencies, enabling them to finance imports of goods and services from India on deferred credit terms. Exim Bank’s lines of Credit obviate credit risks for Indian exporters and are of particular relevance to SME exporters.
• The Bank’s Overseas Investment Finance programme offers a variety of facilities for Indian investments and acquisitions overseas. The facilities include loan to Indian companies for equity participation in overseas ventures, direct equity participation by Exim Bank in the overseas venture and non-funded facilities such as letters of credit and guarantees to facilitate local borrowings by the overseas venture.
• The Bank provides financial assistance by way of term loans in Indian rupees/foreign currencies for setting up new production facility, expansion/modernization/upgradation of existing facilities and for acquisition of production equipment/technology. Such facilities particularly help export oriented Small and Medium Enterprises for creation of export capabilities and enhancement of international competitiveness.
• Under its Export Marketing Finance programme, Exim Bank supports Small and Medium Enterprises in their export marketing efforts including financing the soft expenditure relating to implementation of strategic and systematic export market development plans.
• The Bank has launched the Rural Initiatives Programme with the objective of linking Indian rural industry to the global market. The programme is intended to benefit rural poor through creation of export capability in rural enterprises.
• In order to assist the Small and Medium Enterprises, the Bank has put in place the Export Marketing Services (EMS) Programme. Through EMS, the Bank seeks to establish, on best efforts basis, SME sector products in overseas markets, starting from identification of prospective business partners to facilitating placement of final orders. The service is provided on success fee basis.
• Exim Bank supplements its financing programmes with a wide range of value-added information, advisory and support services, which enable exporters to evaluate international risks, exploit export opportunities and improve competitiveness, thereby helping them in their globalisation efforts. .
• Establishment and management of funds connected with exports.
• Maintenance of a foreign exchange revolving fund for lending to exporters who need to import foreign inputs to facilitate export production.
• Maintenance of a trade information system in support of export business.
• Provision of domestic credit insurance where such a facility is likely to assist exports.

THE LEADERSHIP

Since inception, Exim Bank has had, at the helm of its affairs, leading banking professionals as Chief Executive Officers. Shri R.C. Shah, a seasoned banker, with vast commercial and international banking experience, was the first Chairman and Managing Director of Exim Bank during January 1982-January 1985. His vision helped the setting up of the institution as a unique organizational model, with a flat, non-hierarchical culture, multi-disciplinary approach to problem solving, access to the latest technology and a climate for innovation. He was succeeded by Shri Kalyan Banerji, who was the Chairman and Managing Director during February 1985-April 1993. Shri Banerji had long years of commercial banking experience, with exposure to international banking. Ms. Tarjani Vakil took over as the Chairperson and Managing Director of the Bank in August 1993 and guided the institution in its endeavours for export capability creation, till October 1996. Ms. Vakil had long years of development banking experience and was associated with Exim Bank since its inception. She was succeeded by Shri Y.B. Desai, who was the Managing Director of the Bank during August 1997-April 2001. Shri Desai had vast commercial banking experience and joined Exim Bank in the initial years of the institution. Shri T.C. Venkat Subramanian took over as Chairman and Managing Director of Exim Bank from May 1, 2001. Shri Subramanian has both commercial banking and development banking experience and has been associated with Exim Bank since its inception. Under the stewardship of Shri Subramanian, Exim Bank has crossed significant milestones in business promotion as well as other initiatives as the premier export finance institution of the country. For more information