President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Chandra Prasad Dhakal, has urged the Government of Nepal to further upgrade and systematically operate the Korala border point located in Mustang district along the Nepal-China border.

He made this request today after inspecting the border area along with the leadership of the FNCCI’s Gandaki Province Committee and the district-level Chambers of Commerce and Industry under it.

Chairperson Dhakal stated, “Once the construction of the Kaligandaki Corridor is complete, this border point will become the shortest route connecting Nepal, China, and India. It can be used to promote trilateral trade, tourism, and economic activities. The Government of Nepal must pay attention to this.”

He also emphasized that the infrastructure on the Nepali side of the border is inadequate and urged the government to develop necessary infrastructure, streamline and facilitate customs operations, and to begin immigration services as soon as possible.

He added, “We were informed that the customs office, which started operation just 12 days ago, has already collected revenue of NPR 1.4 billion. This clearly indicates the need to manage this border point more effectively. If proper infrastructure and staffing for customs and immigration are ensured, Nepal stands to gain significantly.”

Dhakal highlighted that it takes two days to travel from Lhasa (Tibet, China) to Rasuwagadhi (Nepal), but only one day to reach Korala, making it a shorter route for Chinese tourists visiting Nepal. This route also shortens the journey to Mansarovar, underlining the need to facilitate and organize movement through the Korala border.

He also suggested that if establishing government offices, residential areas, and other facilities around Korala itself is difficult, infrastructure could instead be developed at a lower elevation in a place called Nichung to support permanent operations and ensure access to electricity, water, internet, and other essentials.

Mentioning that approximately 700,000 domestic and international tourists visited Mustang last year alone, Dhakal emphasized the region’s religious tourism potential, including sites like Muktinath and Damodar Kunda. He noted that the Korala route could also ease travel to Mansarovar, making it more convenient for both Nepali and Indian pilgrims and tourists.

Furthermore, he called on the government to immediately reconsider the current USD 500 entry fee imposed on foreign tourists entering Upper Mustang, stating that the amount is impractical.

Chairperson Dhakal reaffirmed that the FNCCI has already requested the Government of Nepal and relevant agencies to expedite the construction of the Kaligandaki Corridor and to manage and operate the Korala border point in a sustainable and organized manner. He also expressed the private sector’s commitment to support necessary actions in this regard.