Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct specialized mountaineering training in Nepal with an aim to produce skilled manpower for the mountaineering sector in Nepal.

According to the agreement, three special mountaineering training will be conducted in Manaslu and Kanchenjunga region to produce skilled and professional human resources required for mountaineering in Nepal. Under this, Mountain Guide Summer Skill (Basic Mountaineering Training) will be conducted in the Api Himal area, Mountain Guide Winter Skill (Advanced Mountaineering Training) in the Kanchenjunga area and Mountain Leader Training (Summer Skill) in the Manaslu area.

Acting Executive Chief of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and National Project Director of STP Hikmat Singh Ayer said that skilled human resources are inevitable for the sustainable development of mountaineering tourism as it is one of the most important sectors of Nepal and has competitive potential.

“Skilled human resources is the biggest basis for the promotion of quality, safe and sustainable mountain tourism,” he said. We believe this collaboration with Nepal Mountaineering Association will help produce skilled mountaineering manpower as per international standards and contribute to make Nepal’s mountaineering tourism safer, more competitive and competitive.” ‘

NMA President Phur Gelje Sherpa, General Secretary Rajendra Bahadur Lama and Treasurer Sumi Lama signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations. NTB national project director Hikmat Singh Air, national project coordinator Khadga Bikram Shah and national project manager Dharma Raj Dawadi signed the agreement on behalf of STP.