The Embassy of Nepal in Copenhagen and NTB -HPRR Denmark jointly hosted a reception to mark the 9th International Sagarmatha (Everest) Day and 63 years of the first human scaling of Mt. Everest at the chancery of the Embassy on Sunday, 29 May 2016. Participants in the event included media persons, Everest summiteers, travel trade entrepreneurs, representatives Danish NGOs, and friends of Nepal and people from Nepalese Diaspora. During the event, Mr. Aage Kraemp, Immigration Lawyer and Mr. Tommy L. Jorgensen, an NGO worker, who had recently visited Nepal, shared their views about tourism prospects of Nepal in the post-earthquake situation. They also highlighted their great attachments to Nepalese Diaspora here in Denmark and Nepalese people in Nepal. The main attraction of the event was Mr. Soren Smidt, the ninth Dane to scale the Mt. Everest in 2008 who has also scaled almost all the highest peaks of seven continents. During his thirty minutes elaborative presentation, he shared his experience of Mt. Everest expedition along with his fellow Danish summiteer Mr. Henrik Kristiansen. While sharing his experience through slides and videos, he maintained that the Everest is the world’s third risky mountain to climb but what makes expedition successful is the strategy. If one has the strong commitment and strategy, one can definitely scale the Everest successfully. He also informed that his expedition team took twenty three days to reach the summit. He was of the opinion that the issue of the deposit of traces en route and at the top of the Everest is based more on rumour than reality. He also said that now-a-days, the Government official present at the base camp meticulously verifies whether the expedition teams and individuals had returned all the traces and garbage back with them. During his presentation, he gave such a reflection to all the audience that they were climbing the Everest themselves. Delivering his concluding remarks, Mr. Ram Kaji Khadka, Charg’e d’affaires a.i. at the Embassy shed light on the objective of organising the gathering. Highlighting the main objective of the event, he maintained that the event was organized to reinvigorate the vigor and drive among the friends and well-wishers of Nepal in Denmark and beyond in the context of Nepal being devastated by a mighty earthquake last year that resulted into the loss of US$ 7 billion and death of almost 9,000 people and large number of livestock. He also informed that the Government of Nepal is planning to celebrate the year 2018 as “Visit Nepal Year” with an aim to increase the number of visitors in the country and also requested all those present to support in the campaign. In addition, Chargé d’affaires Mr. Khadka highlighted some initiatives taken by the Government of Nepal to maintain sanctity, civilisation and livelihood of mountain people while making special mention of Cabinet Meeting in Kalapatthar in 2009 on the eve of Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in December 2009, International Conference of Mountain Countries on Climate Change 2012 held in Kathmandu that concluded adopting “Kathmandu Call for Action”, International Sagarmatha (Everest) Day celebration and other initiatives taken to preserve mountains and implement the concept of sustainable and eco-friendly tourism. At the end of the event, Chargé d’affaires Mr. Ram Kaji Khadka and Mr. Som Nath Sapkota, Honorary Public Relations Representative of Nepal Tourism Board in Denmark jointly felicitated Mr. Soren Smidt with a peacock window and traditional Nepali scarf and Mr. Aage Kraemp and Mr. Tommy L. Jorgensen with Nepali traditional scarf. The guests present were welcomed by Mr. Som Nath Sapkota, Honorary. The program was conducted by Mr. Madhab Raj Kaphle, Attache at the Embassy who also shouldered the responsibility to express vote of thanks to the guests on behalf of the Mission family. The program was concluded with a light reception. 30 May 2016 Copenhagen