KATHMANDU: The Nepal National Mountain Guide Association (NNMGA) and the Indonesian Mountaineering Federation (FMI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in mountain guiding, climbing, mountaineering education and safety.

The agreement was signed in Kathmandu on Friday by NNMGA President Tul Singh Gurung and FMI President Major General (Retd) Buyung Lalana. Delegates from Indonesia and officials of the NNMGA attended the signing ceremony.

The partnership aims to improve professional mountain guiding standards, promote technical cooperation and develop training programmes in climbing and mountaineering. Both organisations plan to exchange knowledge, expertise and best practices to improve safety and develop skilled human resources for the mountain tourism sector.

The agreement is also expected to create opportunities for technical training, capacity building and the development of mountaineering education programmes suited to the needs of both countries.

The Indonesian delegation included FMI Deputy President Brigadier General Sandy Muchjitin Latef, General Secretary Dr M Iqbal El Mubarak, Deputy General Secretary Colonel Arief Rehman Haleim and other federation officials. Upendra Ghimire, honorary vice-consul of Indonesia in Nepal, was also present.

Representing the NNMGA were immediate past president Ang Norbu Sherpa, Vice-President Lakpa Sherpa, General Secretary Pimba Tenjing Lama, Treasurer Abiral Rai and members of its central executive board and technical committee, along with senior instructors.

The two organisations said they intended to build a long-term partnership to advance mountaineering education, improve safety standards and facilitate the exchange of technical expertise between Nepal and Indonesia.