RELIEF Scheme Launched to Support Exporters Amid West Asia Disruptions

· Scheme Approval: RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) approved under Export Promotion Mission with financial outlay of ₹497 crores.

· Enhanced Risk Coverage:

o Exporters with ECGC cover (Feb 14–Mar 15, 2026) get up to 100% risk coverage without extra cost.

o Upcoming consignments (Mar 16–Jun 15, 2026) eligible for 95% risk coverage with Government support.

· MSME Relief: Non-ECGC-insured MSME exporters (Feb 14–Mar 15, 2026) facing freight/insurance surcharges can claim 50% reimbursement, capped at ₹50 lakhs per exporter.

· Export Promotion Mission (EPM): Approved for FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31 to strengthen competitiveness, especially for MSMEs.

o NIRYAT PROTSAHAN: Focus on trade finance (interest subvention, factoring, collateral guarantees, e-commerce credit).

o NIRYAT DISHA: Focus on trade enablers (quality compliance, branding, packaging, logistics, warehousing, market access, trade intelligence).

· Announcement: Shared by Minister of State for MSMEs, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, in Lok Sabha.

[ABS News Service/03.04.2026]

The Government has approved RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) under Export Promotion Mission to support exporters amid West Asia logistics disruptions financial outlay of Rs. 497 crores. The RELIEF intervention comprises the following components: First, exporters who have already obtained ECGC credit insurance cover for eligible consignments will benefit from upto 100% risk coverage, over and above the existing ECGC cover, during the eligible period (February 14, 2026 till March 15, 2026), thereby ensuring enhanced protection without additional financial burden. Second, exporters planning upcoming consignments, during the next three months (March 16, 2026 till June 15, 2026), will be encouraged to obtain ECGC cover with Government support for upto 95% risk coverage, over and above the existing ECGC cover, which will help sustain exporter confidence and facilitate continued shipment flows despite logistics uncertainties. Third, recognising that some MSME exporters may not have availed credit insurance (February 14, 2026 till March 15, 2026), but are facing extraordinary freight and insurance surcharge burdens, RELIEF includes a partial reimbursement (upto 50%) mechanism for eligible non-ECGC-insured MSME exporters. This support will be extended subject to prescribed conditions, documentary verification and notified ceilings (upto Rs. 50 lakhs per exporter), and is intended to provide timely relief against conflict-related logistics cost escalation.

The Government has approved the Scheme for Export Promotion Mission (EPM) for the period FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31, aimed at strengthening India’s export competitiveness, particularly for MSMEs. The EPM shall operate through two integrated sub-schemes:

· NIRYAT PROTSAHAN, focused on improving access to trade finance through instruments such as interest subvention, export factoring, collateral guarantees for export credit, credit for e-commerce exporters, and credit enhancement support; and

· NIRYAT DISHA, focused on other trade enablers such as export quality and compliance support, international branding and packaging, market access initiatives, export logistics & warehousing, and trade intelligence.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Sushri Shobha Karandlaje in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 2 April, 2026.