In a move which would add to the competition for local banks, which are already facing poor credit off-take by India Inc, the RBI has permitted ECB lenders for extending loans in Indian Rupees to domestic businesses. With this, foreign lenders can extend external commercial borrowings (ECBs) in Indian currency, however only if they mobilize Indian rupees through swaps undertaken with authorized dealers in India.
India’s central bank also mandated ECB contracts to comply with all other conditions applicable to the automatic and approval routes as the case may be. Besides, underlined that all costs of such ECBs should commensurate with prevailing market conditions.
Further, it also directed such banks to set up a representative office in India for executing swaps for ECBs denominated in rupees and underscored that the funds raised from overseas in domestic currency would help Indian companies to deal with risks associated with currency fluctuation.
The central bank has been easing the ECB procedures so that companies are not choked for funds. RBI has eased the refinancing procedure of ECBs where companies can repay any existing debt by raising fresh ECB at lower all-in-cost; however subject to the condition that the outstanding maturity of the original loans is maintained.
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