Nepal Secures $50 Million ADB Loan to Overhaul Customs Infrastructure

The funding represents the second phase of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Customs and Logistics Reforms Program. Current trade hurdles—including high inspection rates and fragmented supply chains—have long stifled export growth and discouraged investment. The new initiative targets these inefficiencies by expanding risk-based inspections and fostering greater inter-agency coordination.

ADB Country Director for Nepal Arnaud Cauchois emphasized that predictable, cost-effective border procedures are essential to attracting private investment and fostering job creation. By automating customs services and refining logistics regulations, the government aims to integrate Nepal more effectively into global supply chains. These reforms are designed to align with the nation’s Sixteenth Plan and the Industrial and Logistics Trade Master Plan, ultimately shifting the burden away from outdated manual processing toward a more agile, technology-driven trade environment.