KATHMANDU: The government today honoured Kathmandu-based Seven Summit Treks for being the largest taxpayer trekking and expedition company in Nepal.

State Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Dhan Bahadur Budha felicitated SST Chairman Mingma Sherpa as the Ministry identified his company as the largest taxpayer trekking firm in the country.

On the occasion of 40th World Tourism Day, State Minister Budha said that he was happy to honour SST for its contribution to strengthening Nepal’s economy.

According to the ministry’s data, SST paid nearly one million USD to the government bringing hundreds of world mountaineers in the last fiscal year. “SST has deposited Rs 105,090,000 as royalty to the government in the last FY,” Sherpa said.

Since its establishment in 2010, SST has been running the largest mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayan and Karakoram region. SST Chairman Sherpa is the first South Asian climber to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000 m. Also, Mingma and SST Director Chang Dawa together hold the world record as ‘the first brothers’ to summit all 14 mountains above 8,000 m.

“The award has inspired the country’s mountaineering communities to give back to the nation,” Sherpa said.