ECB (External Commercial Borrowings) is a mechanism used in India to assist the access to foreign money by Indian corporations and PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings). ECBs include commercial bank loans, buyers' credit, suppliers' credit, securitized instruments such as Floating Rate Notes and Fixed Rate Bonds etc., credit from official export credit agencies and commercial borrowings from the private sector window of Multilateral Financial Institutions such as International Finance Corporation (Washington), ADB, AFIC, CDC, Euro-issues include Euro-convertible bonds and GDR etc. ECBs cannot be used for investment in stock market or speculation in real estate. For infrastructure and Greenfield projects, funding up to 50% (through ECB) is allowed. In telecom sector too, up to 50% funding through ECBs is allowed. External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) include bank loans, suppliers' and buyers' credits, fixed and floating rate bonds (without convertibility) and borrowings from private sector windows of multilateral Financial Institutions such as International Finance Corporation.

The DEA (Department of Economic Affairs), Ministry of Finance, Government of India along with Reserve Bank of India, monitors and regulates ECB guidelines and policies. In India, External Commercial Borrowings are being permitted by the Government for providing an additional source of funds to Indian corporate and PSUs for financing expansion of existing capacity and as well as for fresh investment, to augment the resources available domestically. ECBs can be used for any purpose (rupee-related expenditure as well as imports) except for investment in stock market and speculation in real estate. The rupee interest rates have traditionally been much higher than rates prevailing in the international markets. Under these circumstances it makes sense to borrow in currencies other than the rupee, as it gives the advantage of lower interest rate.

ECB GUIDELINES:
The important aspect of ECB policy is to provide flexibility in borrowings by Indian corporate, at the same time maintaining prudent limits for total external borrowings. The guiding principles for ECB Policy are to keep maturities long, costs low, and encourage infrastructure and export sector financing which are crucial for overall growth of the economy. The ECB policy focuses on three aspects:
• Eligibility criteria for accessing external markets.
• The total volume of borrowings to be raised and their maturity structure.
• End use of the funds raised.

ECB POLICY:
RBI guidelines now allow corporate to borrow the funds required for its capital expenditure in foreign currencies from international markets to take advantage of lower interest rates and of rise in the rupee.
• External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) encompass commercial bank loans, buyers' credit, suppliers' credit, securitized instruments such as floating rate notes and fixed rate bonds, credit from official export credit agencies, foreign currency convertible bonds and commercial borrowings from the private sector lending arms of multilateral financial institutions-for instance, the International Finance Corporation and the Asian Development Bank etc. The ECB policy is monitored and updated by RBI on a regular basis, according to the macroeconomic conditions and foreign exchange liquidity situation.
• ECBs are being permitted by the Government as a source of finance for Indian Corporate for expansion of existing capacity as well as for fresh investment.
• The policy seeks to keep an annual cap or ceiling on access to ECB, consistent with prudent debt management.
• The policy also seeks to give greater priority for projects in the infrastructure and core sectors such as Power, oil Exploration, Telecom, Railways, Roads & Bridges, Ports, Industrial Parks and Urban Infrastructure etc. and the export sector.
• Applicants will be free to raise ECB from any internationally recognized source such as banks, export credit agencies, suppliers of equipment, foreign collaborators, foreign equity-holders, international capital markets etc. offers from unrecognized sources will not be entertained. • ECB ADVISORY SERVICE: Here you can ask any matters related to External Commercial Borrowings (ECB).
• ECB SOURCING SERVICES: Here we will arrange you the External Commercial Borrowings (ECB), once you qualify our predefined criteria such as Good Project Report, Good Financial Statements, and Promoters Track Records etc. We can arrange for best deals for ECB requirements of the corporate both in terms of interest rates and other commercial terms. The financial assistance provided through this service is available with full professional competency and that also at comparatively reduced interest rates. That is why our Commercial Borrowings services are the most sought after services we render in the market. And for these reason we have also revolutionized the sector of Commercial Borrowings in India.