Western Union Company, a leading global payment service provider, on Tuesday launched a mobile money transfer service for consumers receiving money from abroad.

Popular artistes Hari Bansha Acharya and Madan Krishna Shrestha jointly launched the service. At the launching program, Acharya received Rs 10,000 on his mobile phone through his eSewa account from Qatar. He then forwarded Rs 5,000 from his account to Shrestha by using his mobile phone.

According to the company, the service enables users to credit money sent from over 200 countries and territories directly into a mobile wallet.

Over 200,000 registered eSewa wallet users in Nepal will be able to enjoy the service immediately. eSewa is a digital payment portal that facilitates financial transactions via web-based or mobile-based services. It has more than 31 banks in its network.

The mobile money transfer service was through the collaborative efforts of Western Union, its agent in Nepal - Nabil Bank, and FonePay - the promoter of eSewa.

Consumers in Nepal, who subscribe to an eSewa mobile wallet, can now choose to receive money sent from Western Union´s agent locations and digital channels around the world using their mobile phones or through eSewa´s web interface esewa.com.np, the statement said.

Asgar Ali, CEO of FonePay, said they aim to provide services to rural areas of the country where people do not have access to banking.

Patricia Z. Riingen, senior vice-president for East and South Asia of Western Union, said, “We continue to expand our mobile footprint as part of our multi-product, multi-channel strategy.”

Anil Gyawali, CEO of Nabil Bank, said the bank was happy to provide more choice and convenience to Nepalese consumers, no matter where they reside.

Published on: 4 September 2013 | Republica