The Directorate General of External Trade of India (DGFT) has extended the validity period of Component II of the EPM RELIEF program until March 31, 2027. Previously, the extended protection applied only to shipments made before September 30, 2025.
"The eligibility period for Component II of the EPM RELIEF intervention has been extended until March 31, 2027 to support Indian exporters and reduce logistical risks associated with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East," the DGFT said in an official notice.
The EPM RELIEF (Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) program was created as part of the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) and provides credit insurance through the State Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC). Component II covers shipments to the countries of the Persian Gulf, the Middle East and North Africa.
The standard ECGC policy covers 85-90% of the credit risk in case of non-payment of the goods by the buyer. Under the terms of RELIEF, the exporter receives up to 95% coverage. The difference in the insurance premium between the standard and the increased levels is borne by the exporting State and does not incur additional costs.
The protection also applies to cargo transiting through hubs in the Middle East. This is essential for supply chains using transshipment ports in the UAE, Oman and other countries in the region.
The program was first introduced on March 19, 2025 as a response to trade and logistical risks caused by the regional conflict. The extension until March 2027 gives exporters a planning horizon of almost two years and reduces uncertainty when concluding long-term contracts with buyers in the region.
For companies from third countries competing with Indian suppliers in the Middle East and North Africa markets, the extension means maintaining government support for the competitor on the horizon until 2027. Russian exporters operating in the same markets do not have a similar subsidized insurance program.
