Nepali megastar Rajesh Hamal visits UAE; advocates for digital remittance among Nepali expats

KATHMANDU: Mr. Rajesh Hamal, the Nepali film industry’s “Mahanayak,” has returned from a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Hamal was invited to the country by Lulu Exchange and eSewa Money Transfer to promote the latter’s global initiative “Mero Digital Desh,” which aims to increase the use of formal and digital modes of money transfer among the Nepali community in the UAE.

As part of his visit, he visited several accommodation camps, apart from branch outlets of Lulu Exchange, including the ones at Bur Dubai, Jebel Ali Shoppers Mall, Madinat Zayed and Shabia Mall.

Mr. Hamal met with the Nepali Ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Krishna Dhakal, along with senior officials from Lulu Exchange and eSewa Money Transfer.

Mr. Shafeez Fazel, DGM – Lulu Exchange, Mr. Daniel D Shrestha, Director – Group Strategy, F1soft, Nepal and Mr. Ajesh Koirala, CEO – eSewa Money Transfer, Nepal, were also present in the meeting.

Discussions focused on how each stakeholder in the cross-border remittance ecosystem, including exchange houses, pay-out remittance companies in Nepal, and the Nepal embassy, can collaborate to drive formal remittances while discouraging money transfer via illegal channels in the UAE-Nepal corridor.

Esewa Money Transfer Nepal’s “Mero Digital Desh” initiative will run for six months, ending in March 2023. Nepalese residents of the UAE who send money directly to their beneficiaries’ bank accounts or eSewa wallets via the eSewa Money Transfer channel are eligible for the campaign.

During the campaign period, one customer will receive a surprise gift every month for six months, and one lucky customer will receive a beautiful house in Kathmandu valley.

So far, the consumer activation program run jointly by the two partner organizations and supported by Nepal’s top celebrity has been extremely successful, encouraging increased remittances and raising financial awareness.