DGFT Indian rolls out RELIEF scheme for Indian exporters amid middle east war escalation

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), via Notification No. 65/2025-26 dated March 19, 2026, has launched a time-bound Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme under the Export Promotion Mission to support exporters affected by disruptions in the Gulf and West Asia corridor.

The measure follows rising geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, which have significantly increased freight costs through war risk premiums, emergency surcharges, and route diversions.

The ₹497 crore RELIEF package, to be implemented through ECGC, includes:

• Enhanced cover: Up to 100% loss protection for ECGC-insured shipments (Feb 14–Mar 15, 2026).

• Forward support: Up to 95% coverage for shipments till June 15, 2026 without premium escalation.

• MSME reimbursement: 50% compensation of additional freight/insurance burden for non-ECGC exporters, capped at ₹50 lakh per IEC.

The scheme applies to exports to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, and Yemen.

The intervention is aimed at maintaining export continuity, reducing logistics cost shocks, and safeguarding trade flows in a strategically critical maritime corridor.