Kathmandu, May 18

Yeti Airlines Domestic Pvt Ltd and the United Nations in Nepal have entered into a new partnership for the promotion and achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the country.

The SDGs, also known as the ‘Global Goals’, are a bold, universal agreement to end poverty in all its dimensions and craft an equal, just and secure world for the people, the planet and prosperity by 2030.

Under the partnership, the UN and Yeti Airlines will collaborate to undertake joint initiatives to raise awareness on the SDGs and mobilise relevant stakeholders and advocate for their contribution to the achievement of the goals, as per a media release.

The partnership will also explore, adopt and promote innovative and sustainable business models in the aviation and tourism industry that would help Nepal meet some specific SDG indicators in the areas of climate change adaptation, poverty reduction and gender equality.

The SDGs and the Agenda 2030 — adopted by the UN member states, including Nepal, in September 2015 — recognise the private sector as one of the key partners in advancing the Global Goals. “The private sector has significant potential to bring in resources, technology and innovation to aid and accelerate the SDG implementation process.”

United Nations Development Programme Nepal Country Director Renaud Meyer and Yeti Airlines CEO Umesh Chandra Rai signed a memorandum of understanding for the partnership at the UN House.

“The United Nations in Nepal is pleased and excited to have Yeti Airlines as our first private sector partner for the Global Goals in Nepal. This has certainly given a very positive message to the development and business communities in Nepal and the world over about the important role the private sector can play in advancing the SDGs,” Meyer has been quoted as saying in the release.

Yeti Airlines CEO Rai, meanwhile, called on others from the private sector to join hands with the United Nations and the Nepal government to help make the SDGs a reality.