December 5, 2004

KATHMANDU: His Majesty King Gyanendra inaugurated the newly built headquarters of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Lalitpur Sunday.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, other ministers, high-ranking officials and representatives from different diplomatic missions to Nepal were also present in the inaugural ceremony.

The King toured the building and keenly acquired information of the various sections of the building. The King also visited different pavilions made by countries represented in ICIMOD.

In his inaugural speech, Minister for Population and Environment, Bachaspati Devkota, appreciated the progress made by ICIMOD, and said, “The last 21 years have been productive and fruitful”.

Addressing the ceremony, the Director General of ICIMOD, Dr J Gabriel Campbell expressed his sincere thanks to the Nepal government for providing the land for ICIMOD’s permanent home and said, “It is a true tribute to Nepal’s enduring friendship”.

Likewise, the Chairperson of ICIMOD Support Group Jochen Kenneweg said, “Nepal again made its decisive contribution for the further development of ICIMOD by providing the beautiful piece of land.”

The building is established in an area of  30 ropanies allotted by the government of Nepal. ICIMOD has been working to help promote the development of an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem and to improve the living standards of mountain populations in the Hindu Kush Himilayan region.