Government approves RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation)

• 20 Mar 2026
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Recent developments, such as increased security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz waterway, have resulted in vessel diversions, longer sailing routes, congestion at transshipment hubs and emergency surcharges linked to conflicts. These changes have raised logistics costs as well as created operational uncertainty for export consignments traveling to or through the region. 

In light of West Asia’s evolving geopolitical situation and its impact on maritime logistics across the Gulf region, the Government of India has approved a time sensitive and targeted initiative called RELIEF. The full form of RELIEF is Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation. It comes under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM). 

The intervention of the government is intended to provide support to Indian exporters who have been affected by significant freight increases, rising insurance premiums, and war-related export risks caused by disruptions in the Gulf and the broader West Asia maritime corridor.

RELIEF’s approval showcases the GOI’s commitment when it comes to responding swiftly to external disruption negatively impacting India’s trade flows. An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Supply Chain Resilience became operational recently on 2 March 2026 as part of the coordinated whole-of-government response to the crisis situation. It will track the situation and coordinate facilitation measures. 

From 3 March 2026, the IMG commenced daily-review meetings and brought together several Ministries/Departments, logistics stakeholders, exporter associations and financial institutions. Various operational measures were implemented on the basis of deliberations by IMG. 

They include procedural relaxations for stranded cargo movement, enhanced coordination at ports, waivers of storage and dwell time charges for affected cargo at the ports, advisories to promote transparency in shipping line pricing and strengthened monitoring of insurance risk developments and inland logistics movement. 

Coordinated efforts have facilitated real-time assessments of ground-level challenges as well as supported the development of a targeted financial risk mitigation intervention. The RELIEF program is designed to assist throughout the export cycle by covering shipments that have already left during the disruption period as well as future exports planned to the affected region. 

Under the approved framework, ECGC Ltd. (formerly known as Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd.), which is wholly owned by the Government of India (Ministry of Commerce & Industry), has been designated as the nodal and implementing agency. ECGC is responsible for verification, claim processing, disbursement and monitoring. 

The established expertise of this corporation when it comes to providing export credit risk coverage against both commercial and political risks, including those related to war, is anticipated to ensure credible and timely assistance delivery.

An approved financial outlay of Rs. 497 crores will be used to implement RELIEF under the EPM. To enable real-time tracking of claims and fund utilization, ECGC will continue to maintain a dashboard-based monitoring system. 

In light of changing geopolitical circumstances, the EPM Steering Committee will periodically assess the intervention's effectiveness and may suggest calibrated modification, continuation or withdrawal as may be deemed necessary.

The Government via RELIEF intends to reduce the immediate impact of logistics disruptions, protect the confidence of exporters and prevent cancellation of orders and safeguard export-linked sectors’ employment. It also underpins the nation’s commitment to remain resilient and competitive in international trade even in uncertain times.

Source:- Press Information Bureau (PIB)