KATHMANDU: A young tourism entrepreneur from the Mt Everest region becomes the first Nepali to receive one of the highest honours from the government of Italy.

Board Director of the Nepal Airlines Nima Nuru Sherpa who has an extensive experience of more than 20 years in mountaineering tourism has been honoured with the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy award, signed by the Italian President, for Sherpa's contributions in promoting friendly relations and cooperation between Italy and Nepal.

On behalf of the Italian President, Damiano Francovigh, Consul General from the Italian Consulate General in Kolkata, India conferred Sherpa with the prestigious award during a function organised by the Italian Honorary Consulate General in Kathmandu this evening.

The Italian Government has decided to honour Sherpa with the Order of the Star of Italy award (Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia), created in 1947 by the first President of the Republic of Italy saying that Sherpa played a significant role in promoting tourism in the world market as well as to strengthening people to people relations between the two countries.

After receiving consent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu, Italian Government informed that Sherpa was chosen for the Knighthood order award as such honour was intended for the promotion of volunteering as well as philanthropic activities.

“Sherpa has also made a significant contribution to the Italian Republic in the preservation and promotion of country’s prestige,” the Consul General said.

Italy’s Honorary Consul General to Nepal Pratima Pande also congratulated Sherpa for being first Nepali to be conferred upon the Italy’s best honour.

According to the citation, Sherpa offered the best services to the needy through different organisations he involved with. “I am extremely honoured to receive this award,” Sherpa commented expressing his gratitude to the Italian and Nepal governments.

He said that he worked closely with Italians to  Serve for humanity. "A community hospital in Dhading along the Prithvi highway, EVK2CNR and the Pyramid projects in the Everest region and health and education projects in Sankhuwasabha, Dhading, Gorkha and Solukhumbu districts are just a few to share," he added.

It was a proud moment for Nepal’s tourism sector, especially for the Sherpa community as the Italian government chose Nima Nuru as the first Nepali to honour with the country’s highest award, Chairperson of the Everest Future Foundation Furba Gyaljen Sherpa reacted.

“He is a person who is genuinely concerned about helping underprivileged people and has been endeavoring to fulfill his social responsibility.”

Sherpa who is also the president of Friends of Nepal, a volunteering-based social organisation, offered support to the communities in far-flung rural areas including Makalu, Khumbu and Manaslu.

Born in Namche, Solukhumbu, Sherpa is also the Managing Director Cho-Oyu Trekking and Altitude Air Pvt Ltd.

National Tourism Promotion Committee member Sherpa had already been honoured with the Golden Medal to Sports Merits by the local government of Navarra the Spanish region for making a tiresome effort in rescuing Spanish climber Iñaki Ochoa de Olza from the death zone of Mt Annapurna in 2008.

Sherpa who already served as first vice president at the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal and Nepal Mountaineering Association has a highly dedicated commitment to promote responsible tourism by providing top quality service.