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The Nation · Public debt · Bilateral

India EXIM Bank (Lines of Credit)

भारत निर्यात-आयात बैंक

7% of Nepal's external debt

Lines-of-credit framework. Power transmission, roads, petroleum infrastructure.

Outstanding

USD 700M

as of FY 2024/25

Share of ext. debt

7%

cited

Currency

USD

FX exposure

Major loans

3

cited

How it works

India EXIM Lines of Credit (LoCs) finance specific projects with a procurement-tying clause: a defined share of works and equipment must be sourced from India. Terms are softer than commercial but harder than IDA/JICA. The 2014, 2015 and 2017 LoCs (USD 1B + USD 750M + USD 100M) anchor the current stock; the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline and cross-border transmission lines are the visible results.

The short version

India lends Nepal money on the condition that a big share of the work and equipment must come from India. This has built things like the petroleum pipeline and cross-border power lines.

Typical loan terms

LoC framework: 1.75% interest · 20-year maturity · 5-year grace

Headline terms — individual loans may vary. Per-loan detail follows.

Major loans

  • 2014 LoC

    2014

    USD 1B

    Roads, transmission, irrigation

  • 2015 post-earthquake LoC

    2015

    USD 750M

    Earthquake recovery infrastructure

  • 2017 LoC

    2017

    USD 100M

    Specific project pipeline

What to watch

  • ·Tied-procurement clause — value-for-money has historically been criticised in OAGN reports.
  • ·LoC implementation rate — utilisation of committed LoC tranches has been slower than scheduled.

Sources · cited verbatim

  • Ministry of Finance Nepal — PDMOPublic Debt Bulletin — bilateral creditors

    Open release checked 2025-01-15
  • Export-Import Bank of IndiaNepal — Lines of Credit overview

    Open release checked 2025-01-15

Other bilateral lenders