KATHMANDU:

Mountaineers from the Everest region who gathered here in an interaction programme have said that they would collectively work for the betterment of mountaineering sector.

During an interaction programme with the mountaineers organised by Khumbu Mountaineering Association, the participants also asked the government to endorse one-door policy to streamline mountaineering activities.

KMA chairman Ang Dawa Sherpa said that Khumbu residents should unite to promote Mountaineering activities in the region.

President of Nepal Mountaineering Association Nima Nuru Sherpa said that NMA would support KMA to launch different initiatives to upgrade skills of local youths encouraging them to get involved in the mountaineering sector. 'NMA is working to uplift the Mountaineering sector which is hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic,' he said.

Chairman of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Mingma Chhiri Sherpa vowed that the rural municipality was always ready to join hands with KMA for the overall development of Khumbu region. KMA would be instrumental in promoting the region in the world market, he added.

President of Nepal National Mountain Guide Association Ang Nurbu Sherpa NNMGA would be happy to share its knowledge to organise different skill-based trainings in the coming days.

According to KMA, trekking guide training, assistant trekking guide training, introductory rock climbing, basic rescue course and mountaineering refreshment course had been conducted in the last year. KMA will continue to collaborate with local, provincial and federal government units to expand its activities in the coming days.

KMA will expand its activities across the rural municipality and launch different initiatives to upgrade skills of local youths encouraging them to get involved in the mountaineering sector, according to chairman Shepra. 'At least two representatives from each of five wards of the municipality will be included in the KMA executive board,' he added.

More than 100 mountaineers and entrepreneurs including record-holder climber Kami Rita Sherpa, mountain guides and Everest summiteers were present in the programme.