The benefits of rupee invoicing are manifold, especially during geopolitical unrest and when economic sanctions are levied against India’s major trade partners.
Amongst the benefits, the prominent ones are lowering of transaction costs, a greater degree of price transparency, quick settlement time, promoting international trade, reduction in hedging expenses, reduced cost of holding foreign reserves by the RBI and, most importantly, internationalisation of the rupee.
Analysis shows that invoicing in rupee would be more favourable with trade partners such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and the UAE, where India is a large importer and potential exists for Indian exports as well.
India’s policy of facilitating trade in rupees has been gaining momentum, with the total number of Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVAs) reaching 60 in a span of seven months (Rajya Sabha question on March 14). Eighteen countries have opened SRVAs to facilitate overseas trade in rupee. Of these countries, India recorded a trade deficit with eight — Botswana, Germany, Guyana, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Russia and Singapore — in FY22.
The effectiveness of rupee trade, however, ultimately depends on whether India is running a net trade deficit or surplus with the participating trading partners, as well as the extent of trading in rupees in comparison to the total bilateral trade.
