The Government on Thursday approved a new intervention titled RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to support Indian exporters facing disruptions due to the evolving geopolitical situation in West Asia.
The move comes amid heightened security concerns around the Strait of Hormuz, which have led to vessel diversions, longer shipping routes, congestion at transshipment hubs, and increased freight and insurance costs.
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry said the RELIEF initiative is a time-bound and targeted measure aimed at mitigating the impact of rising logistics costs, higher insurance premiums, and war-related risks affecting export consignments moving to or through the Gulf region.
As part of the broader response, an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Supply Chain Resilience has been operational since March 2, 2026, conducting daily reviews to monitor the situation and coordinate measures. These include procedural relaxations for stranded cargo, waivers on storage and dwell time charges at ports, improved coordination among logistics stakeholders, and advisories to ensure transparency in shipping costs.
Under the RELIEF framework, Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India has been designated as the nodal implementing agency responsible for verification, claim processing, disbursement, and monitoring.
The scheme comprises three key components:
* Enhanced insurance coverage: Exporters with existing ECGC insurance will receive up to 100% risk coverage for eligible consignments shipped between February 14 and March 15, 2026, without additional cost.
* Support for upcoming shipments: Exporters planning shipments between March 16 and June 15, 2026, can avail up to 95% risk coverage with government support, helping sustain trade flows.
* Relief for MSMEs: Small exporters without ECGC cover during the disruption period will be eligible for partial reimbursement of up to 50% of increased freight and insurance costs, subject to a ceiling of ₹50 lakh per exporter.
The scheme will cover shipments destined for countries including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel and Yemen.
The RELIEF initiative will be implemented with a financial outlay of ₹497 crore under the Export Promotion Mission, with a dashboard-based monitoring system to track claims and fund utilisation in real time. The EPM Steering Committee will periodically review the scheme and make adjustments based on evolving geopolitical conditions.
The Ministry said that the government intervention aims to maintain exporter confidence, prevent order cancellations, safeguard jobs in export-linked sectors, and ensure the resilience and competitiveness of India’s global trade during a period of uncertainty.
