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India extends export RELIEF Scheme to Egypt and Jordan to cushion pharma trade amid West Asia disruptions
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
April 21 , 2026
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In a move to strengthen support for pharma exporters navigating ongoing global supply chain disruptions, the Government of India has expanded the scope of its Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme by including Egypt and Jordan as eligible destinations.
The initiative is backed by a financial outlay of Rs. 497 crore under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM). A dashboard-based monitoring system has also been put in place to enable real-time tracking of claims, disbursements, and fund utilization, ensuring transparency and efficiency.
With the latest amendment, the RELIEF scheme now covers shipments destined for or transiting through a wide range of countries in the Gulf and West Asia, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Yemen, and now Egypt and Jordan.
The RELIEF initiative was launched as a targeted and time-bound intervention to address the mounting challenges faced by Indian exporters due to the evolving geopolitical situation in West Asia. Heightened security risks, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, have led to vessel diversions, longer shipping routes, congestion at key transshipment hubs, and a sharp rise in freight charges and insurance premiums.
To mitigate these pressures, the government has instituted a coordinated response mechanism. An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Supply Chain Resilience has been operational since March 2, 2026, conducting daily reviews of the situation. The group is responsible for ensuring swift policy coordination and has introduced several measures, including procedural relaxations for stranded cargo, waivers on storage and dwell time charges at ports, enhanced coordination among logistics stakeholders, and advisories to improve transparency in shipping costs.
The amendment has been issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the powers conferred by Sections 3 and 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, read along with provisions 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, which govern export facilitation measures under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
Clarifying the change, DGFT Lav Agarwal informed, “For the purposes of paras 6.2, 7.2 and 8.2 of the said notification, the list of eligible destinations shall stand expanded to include Egypt and Jordan, in addition to the countries already notified, for shipments meant for delivery or transshipment. All other provisions of Notification dated March 19, 2026 shall remain unchanged.”
Under the RELIEF framework, the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) has been designated as the nodal implementing agency. It is tasked with handling verification of claims, processing applications, disbursing financial support, and monitoring implementation.
The Scheme is structured around three key support components like enhanced insurance coverage. Exporters with existing ECGC insurance policies are eligible for up to 100% risk coverage for qualifying shipments made between February 14 and March 15, 2026, without any additional premium burden.
The Scheme supports upcoming shipments. For consignments scheduled between March 16 and June 15, 2026, exporters can avail up to 95% risk coverage, backed by government support, ensuring continuity of trade flows despite elevated risks.
It also offers relief for MSMEs. Small exporters who did not have ECGC insurance during the disruption period can receive reimbursement of up to 50% of the increased freight and insurance costs, subject to a maximum limit of Rs. 50 lakh per exporter.
The EPM Steering Committee will periodically review the scheme and make adjustments as needed, depending on how the geopolitical and logistics landscape evolves.
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