New Delhi, Mar 19, 2026: The Government of India has approved a new initiative titled RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) under the Export Promotion Mission to support exporters facing rising logistics costs and disruptions in West Asia.
The move comes in response to escalating freight charges, insurance premiums, and war-risk surcharges triggered by ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting maritime trade routes in the Gulf region, including the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials said the disruptions have led to vessel diversions, longer shipping routes, congestion at transshipment ports, and overall uncertainty in export operations.
To address these challenges, the government has operationalised an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Supply Chain Resilience, which has been conducting daily reviews and coordinating with stakeholders to ensure smoother export movement.
Based on these assessments, several immediate measures have already been introduced, including procedural relaxations for stranded cargo, waiver of certain port charges, and enhanced monitoring of shipping and insurance risks.
Under the RELIEF framework, the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) has been designated as the nodal agency responsible for implementing risk coverage and reimbursement support.
The scheme provides enhanced insurance protection for exporters who already have ECGC coverage, while also extending subsidised support for future shipments over the next three months.
It also includes partial reimbursement for eligible MSME exporters who have not availed credit insurance but are affected by increased freight and war-risk charges.
The government has allocated ₹497 crore for the initiative, which will be monitored through a digital dashboard system to ensure transparency and timely disbursement.
Officials said the intervention is aimed at protecting exporters, maintaining trade continuity, and safeguarding jobs in export-linked sectors during ongoing global uncertainty.
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