The current geopolitical tensions in West Asia, particularly heightened security concerns around the Strait of Hormuz, have significantly disrupted maritime logistics across the Gulf region. These developments have resulted in vessel diversions, longer transit routes, congestion at transshipment hubs, and the imposition of emergency conflict-linked surcharges. Consequently, exporters are facing increased freight costs, elevated insurance premiums, and heightened operational uncertainty for consignments routed through the region.

In response, the Government of India has approved a targeted, time-bound intervention titled RELIEF – Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM). The initiative aims to mitigate the financial and operational risks faced by exporters due to extraordinary logistics disruptions in the Gulf and broader West Asia corridor.

As part of a coordinated response, an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Supply Chain Resilience was operationalised on March 2, 2026. The IMG has been conducting daily reviews since March 3, involving key ministries, financial institutions, logistics stakeholders, and exporter associations, as per press statement. This has led to several immediate measures, including procedural relaxations for stranded cargo, improved port coordination, waivers on storage and dwell charges, and enhanced monitoring of shipping costs and insurance risks.

RELIEF is designed to support both past and future export consignments. It offers enhanced risk coverage of up to 100% for shipments already insured during the disruption period (February 14–March 15, 2026), and up to 95% coverage for upcoming shipments until June 15, 2026. Additionally, MSME exporters without prior insurance are eligible for up to 50% reimbursement of increased freight and insurance costs, subject to a ceiling of ₹50 lakhs.

The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) has been designated as the nodal agency for implementation, with a total financial outlay of ₹497 crores. The initiative aims to stabilise export flows, sustain exporter confidence, and safeguard employment in export-driven sectors during this period of global uncertainty.