With the Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani trade routes closed for the past two months due to floods and landslides, Nepal–China commercial trade has shifted to the Korala border point in Mustang. The Korala customs office at Nechung became fully operational on September 15 to facilitate the growing volume of bilateral trade.
According to the Department of Customs (DoC), more than Rs 344.7 million in customs revenue has already been collected since trade through Korala began. In the first week alone, Nepal imported 209 electric vehicles and 107 cargo trucks loaded with goods via this alternative crossing.
To streamline customs clearance, the DoC has installed the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) at the checkpoint. At the same time, Nepal Rastra Bank has started issuing letters of credit for imports through Korala, ensuring smoother trade procedures.
Officials note that the Korala border has quickly grown in importance, now serving as a crucial alternative trade route with China until the heavily damaged Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani crossings are restored. Its operationalization has also raised prospects of diversifying Nepal’s cross-border trade infrastructure and reducing dependency on a few vulnerable entry points.
