The charioteer, not the passenger
Saarthi means the one who drives the chariot — the guide who knows the route and holds the reins while someone else fights the battle. That is the relationship we want with an importer. You run the trade. We get you through the last stretch.
The gap nobody built for
Indian trade finance is well served at both ends. There is credit to pay your supplier before the goods ship, and there is credit against your receivable after you sell. Between those two sits a hard cash requirement that almost nothing is designed for: the customs duty, payable in full, before customs will release anything.
It is an awkward amount to finance. Too short for a term loan, too specific for an overdraft, and it arrives on a date the importer often cannot predict precisely. Most businesses simply fund it from their own working capital, which is why so many of them run four consignments a year instead of twelve.
What makes it financeable is that the whole event is documented before anyone lends. The Bill of Entry is on ICEGATE. The duty is assessed to the rupee. The cargo exists, is counted, and is sitting with a licensed custodian who answers to customs. A lender can see the collateral before committing a rupee — which is a far better position than most working capital lending starts from.
We built Saarthi Credit for the moment the importer actually feels the problem: after the cargo has landed.
We work where the cargo is
Four things we hold to
We never become importer of record
Your Bill of Entry stays yours. Signing as importer would put us in the middle of your classification and valuation, and that helps nobody.
Price is disclosed before we act
Every fee in writing, in advance, with the annualised rate stated. If you cannot see the full cost before you commit, we have not done our job.
We work with your CHA, not around them
The agent knows the file better than we ever will. We plug into that relationship rather than trying to replace it.
We say no clearly
Some consignments do not suit this structure and some borrowers should not take the facility. We would rather tell you the same day than string it out.
Who we are
Team details to be added (TBC)
Name (TBC)
Short biography (TBC)
Want to talk it through?
We are happy to walk through whether this fits your business before you apply.