Financial Glossary for NRIs, MSMEs & Exporters
Plain-English definitions of the financial, regulatory, and business terms you'll encounter when working with Blueberry FM. All definitions are aligned with RBI, MCA, FEMA, DGFT, APEDA, and GST regulatory frameworks.
A
- APR (Annual Percentage Rate)
- The total annual cost of a loan expressed as a percentage, including interest and all fees. APR gives a more complete picture of loan cost than the headline interest rate alone. In India, RBI requires lenders to disclose the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) to borrowers. Related: Home Loans · Business Loans
- APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority)
- A statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, responsible for promoting the export of scheduled agricultural and processed food products. Exporters of scheduled products must register with APEDA. Related: APEDA Registration Kerala
B
- BOI (Board of Investment — Thailand)
- Thailand's government agency that promotes investment in targeted industries by offering tax holidays (0% corporate tax for 3–8 years), 100% foreign ownership, and other incentives to qualifying businesses. Related: Thailand Company Formation · Thailand Tax Calculator
C
- CIBIL Score
- A three-digit credit score (300–900) issued by TransUnion CIBIL, India's leading credit bureau. Lenders use CIBIL scores to assess a borrower's creditworthiness. A score above 750 is generally considered good. Related: Home Loans
- CGTMSE (Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises)
- A government scheme that provides collateral-free credit guarantees to MSMEs through scheduled commercial banks and NBFCs. Enables MSMEs to access loans without pledging assets. Related: Business Loans
D
- DIN (Director Identification Number)
- A unique 8-digit identification number issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to every individual who is or intends to be a director of a company in India. Mandatory for all company directors. Related: Pvt Ltd Registration
- DSC (Digital Signature Certificate)
- An electronic certificate that authenticates the identity of the holder for digital transactions. Required for filing documents with MCA, GST, and other government portals. Related: Pvt Ltd Registration
- DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio)
- A financial ratio that measures a borrower's ability to repay debt from operating income. DSCR = Net Operating Income ÷ Total Debt Service. A DSCR above 1.25 is typically required by lenders for business loans. Related: Business Loans
- DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement)
- A bilateral tax treaty between two countries that prevents the same income from being taxed twice. India has DTAAs with 90+ countries including Mauritius (1983), UAE (1993), Malaysia (1976), Thailand, Estonia, Georgia, and Oman. NRIs use DTAAs to reduce withholding tax on dividends, interest, and royalties. Related: Jurisdiction Comparison · NRI Tax Planning
E
- e-Residency (Estonia)
- A government-issued digital identity provided by the Republic of Estonia that allows non-residents to establish and manage an EU-incorporated company entirely online. Not a residency permit or path to citizenship. Related: Estonia Company Formation · Estonia Tax Calculator
F
- FCNR (Foreign Currency Non-Resident) Account
- A fixed deposit account held in India by NRIs in foreign currency (USD, GBP, EUR, etc.). Interest earned is tax-free in India. Principal and interest are fully repatriable. Related: NRI Home Loan Guide
- FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999)
- India's primary legislation governing foreign exchange transactions, cross-border investments, and repatriation of funds. Administered by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). NRIs must comply with FEMA for property purchases, investments, and remittances in India. Related: NRI Property Investment · NRI Tax Planning
- FIZ (Free Industrial Zone — Georgia)
- Special economic zones in Georgia (Kutaisi, Poti, Tbilisi) offering 0% corporate tax, 0% income tax, 0% import/export tax, and 0% property tax for qualifying businesses. Related: Georgia Company Formation
- FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)
- India's apex food regulatory body under the Ministry of Health. Businesses involved in food manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, or export must obtain FSSAI registration or licence. Related: FSSAI Central Licence · FSSAI State Licence
G
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- India's unified indirect tax on the supply of goods and services, replacing multiple central and state taxes. Businesses with annual turnover above ₹20 lakh (services) or ₹40 lakh (goods) must register for GST. Exporters can claim GST refunds on zero-rated exports. Related: GST Registration Kerala
I
- IEC (Import Export Code)
- A 10-digit code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. Mandatory for any business or individual engaged in import or export of goods and services. Related: IEC Registration Kerala
L
- Labuan IBFC (International Business and Financial Centre)
- Malaysia's dedicated offshore financial hub located on Labuan Island, regulated by Labuan FSA. Offers 3% corporate tax (or MYR 20,000 fixed), zero dividend withholding, 100% foreign ownership, and access to Malaysia's DTAA network. Related: Malaysia Company Formation · Malaysia Tax Calculator
- LAP (Loan Against Property)
- A secured loan where the borrower pledges residential or commercial property as collateral. Typically offers lower interest rates than unsecured loans. LTV (Loan-to-Value) ratio determines the maximum loan amount. Related: Loan Against Property Kerala
- LLP (Limited Liability Partnership)
- A hybrid business structure combining the flexibility of a partnership with the limited liability protection of a company. Governed by the LLP Act, 2008 and registered with MCA. Popular for professional services firms. Related: LLP Registration Kerala
- LTV (Loan-to-Value Ratio)
- The ratio of a loan amount to the appraised value of the asset being financed. RBI mandates maximum LTV ratios for home loans: 90% for loans up to ₹30 lakh, 80% for ₹30–75 lakh, and 75% for above ₹75 lakh. Related: Home Loans
M
- MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise)
- Businesses classified under the MSMED Act based on investment in plant/machinery and annual turnover. Micro: investment up to ₹1Cr, turnover up to ₹5Cr. Small: up to ₹10Cr / ₹50Cr. Medium: up to ₹50Cr / ₹250Cr. MSMEs registered on the Udyam portal access priority sector lending, CGTMSE guarantees, and government schemes. Related: Business Loans
N
- NBFC (Non-Banking Financial Company)
- A company registered under the Companies Act and licensed by RBI to provide financial services including loans, but not permitted to accept demand deposits. Blueberry FM is not an NBFC — we facilitate loans through RBI-regulated banking and NBFC partners. Related: Business Loans
- NRE Account (Non-Resident External Account)
- An Indian rupee account held by NRIs for parking foreign earnings remitted to India. Interest is tax-free in India. Both principal and interest are fully repatriable. Related: NRI Home Loan Guide
- NRO Account (Non-Resident Ordinary Account)
- An Indian rupee account for NRIs to manage income earned in India (rent, dividends, pension). Interest is taxable in India. Repatriation is permitted up to USD 1 million per financial year subject to FEMA compliance. Related: NRI Property Investment
- NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production)
- India's national organic certification standard administered by APEDA. Required for export of organic products to the EU, Switzerland, and other markets that recognise NPOP equivalence. Related: Organic Certification Kerala
O
- ODI (Overseas Direct Investment)
- Investment made by Indian residents or companies in foreign entities through equity, loans, or guarantees. Governed by FEMA and RBI's ODI regulations. NRIs forming offshore companies must comply with ODI reporting requirements. Related: Offshore Company Comparison
- OPC (One Person Company)
- A company structure introduced by the Companies Act, 2013 that allows a single individual to form a company with limited liability. Suitable for solo entrepreneurs who want corporate status without partners. Related: OPC Registration Kerala
P
- Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd)
- The most popular company structure in India for startups and growing businesses. Offers limited liability, separate legal identity, and easier access to funding. Registered with MCA via the SPICe+ form. Minimum 2 directors and 2 shareholders required. Related: Pvt Ltd Registration Kerala
R
- RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority)
- A statutory body established under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 to regulate the real estate sector and protect homebuyers. All residential projects above 500 sq.m. or 8 units must be registered with RERA. Related: NRI Property Investment Kerala
S
- SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus)
- MCA's integrated web form for incorporating companies in India. Combines name reservation, DIN allotment, PAN, TAN, GSTIN, EPFO, ESIC, and bank account opening in a single application. Related: Pvt Ltd Registration Kerala
U
- Udyam Registration
- The official MSME registration portal (udyamregistration.gov.in) launched by the Ministry of MSME in 2020. Replaces the earlier Udyog Aadhaar. Udyam registration enables access to priority sector lending, government schemes, and CGTMSE guarantees. Related: Business Loans Kerala
- Virtual Zone (Georgia)
- A special tax regime in Georgia offering 0% corporate tax on IT income from non-Georgian clients. Qualifying activities include software development, SaaS, IT consulting, cybersecurity, and app development. 5% dividend withholding applies on distributions. Related: Georgia Company Formation · Georgia Tax Calculator