Despite overwhelming expectations, there has been no export to China through Mustang’s Korala customs point this year. Imports, however, have doubled compared to last year.

Traders of the region had opened stalls of goods like pasmina, leather, noodles, rice, flour and biscuits, among others, in a fair in Korala, but there was no demand for these goods from the Chinese side.

The customs point was to remain open for 25 days (from June 15 to July 9), but China closed the border on the 16th day. Moreover, Chinese officials asked the Nepali traders not to export their products. The traders are unaware why they were barred from exporting their goods to China.

However, Karma Gurung, a local trader, attributed the nil export to the closure of the border on the 16th day. “Due to the short tenure of the fair, the locals failed to sell their products,” he said.

Over the fair period, government collected Rs293,600 in revenue (Rs146,181 custom duty, Rs136,324 value added tax and Rs11,132 excise duty). According to the Custom Department, the collection came only from imports. “Last year, the collection stood at Rs148,000,” said Shukra Darshan Dhungana, chief of the Custom Department.

China wire-fenced the customs point in 2006, citing the security reasons. But three years later, both the countries agreed to give continuity to trade through this border point and the trade fair is held twice a year.