India has expanded insurance support for exporters facing higher freight costs, insurance premiums and war-related risks arising from disruptions in the Gulf and wider West Asia maritime corridor.
The support is being provided through the government’s RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) initiative under the Export Promotion Mission, with ECGC serving as the nodal and implementing agency.
RELIEF was introduced in March 2026 as a time-bound measure to protect export shipments affected by geopolitical and maritime disruptions. Its insurance component provides enhanced risk coverage for eligible consignments and facilitates ECGC cover for exporters undertaking new shipments.
Under the framework, eligible exporters with existing ECGC cover can receive enhanced protection of up to 100% of losses for specified war and political risks during the notified period. For upcoming shipments, eligible exporters obtaining fresh ECGC cover can receive enhanced coverage of up to 95%, with the government supporting the additional risk cost.
The government subsequently expanded the scheme’s coverage, adding Egypt and Jordan to the eligible destinations. It also clarified that exporters obtaining a fresh ECGC Whole Turnover Policy from March 16, 2026 can qualify for support under the insurance component.
RELIEF also includes assistance for eligible MSME exporters that did not have ECGC insurance during the specified disruption period. Such exporters can receive reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible extraordinary freight and insurance-related surcharges, subject to prescribed conditions and a ceiling of ₹50 lakh per exporter.
The measures are intended to help maintain export flows through the affected region while reducing the additional financial burden created by higher insurance and logistics costs. The government has allocated ₹497 crore for the RELIEF intervention.