AIESEC Nepal hosted Action for SDGs

AIESEC – earlier an acronym of Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales – in Nepal hosted an event ‘Action for SDGs’ today,
The event – powered by Coca-Cola, co-sponsored by Cathay Pacific, Plan International and associated by Khalti, Raleigh International, Restless Development, VSO and United Nations (UN) – brought 300+ young people with their amazing ideas and more than 20 companies together for helping and guiding them to transform their ideas into products and more than 10 experts sharing their experience of contribution, struggle, and learning which inspired and motivated them to never give up. The event created a platform for young people who aim to create change in the society through their ideas, products or services focused on SDGs. The 5 focused SDGs were Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Peace, Justice and Strong Institution and Partnership for Goals.
On the occasion, managing director of Bottlers Nepal Ltd Pradip Pandey shared that the company is pleased to support young people on their journey towards leadership through the provision of fundamental life and business skills as well as effective networks. “We will continue to support this important initiative and nurture the positive changes it will make in the communities we co-exist in,” he said, adding that it is always so inspiring to see young, energetic and enthusiastic youth come together to work towards making greater impacts in the communities we live in. “The Final top 3 ideas were selected 60 per cent by the above-mentioned speakers and 40 per cent by the audience via Khalti polling system.”
The top 3 winners Navraj Khanal, Imisha Pokhrel and team and Kritika karki received seed funding amount and 6 months of mentorship from AIESEC to bring their idea into reality by the end of June.
AIESEC is a global youth run organisation present in over 120 countries with a vision to achieve peace and fulfillment of human kind’s potential. Through its various platforms they seek to inspire, engage and mobilise young people to take ownership of their thoughts and actions so as to make a difference and contribute to a better society.

Khalti signs agreement with LBEF

Khalti Digital Wallet and Lord Buddha Education Foundation (LBEF) signed a strategic partnership agreement to provide internship and job placement opportunities to E-Business and IT students., Khalti managing director Manish Modi and chairman of LBEF Pankaj Jalan signed the agreement amidst a special ceremony in Kathmandu.
According to the agreement, final year students and fresh graduates of LBEF can apply for an internship at Khalti. After a brief internship period, they will be recruited to work full-time at the company. Furthermore, Khalti will also provide a flexible work schedule so that the students do not have to miss their class and also will provide leaves during exams or any other important projects, in consultation with the college.
Likewise, LBEF will provide special scholarships to the employees of Khalti who wish to join Master’s programme at the college. This collaboration between Khalti and LBEF is expected to set an example of industry-academia partnership in Nepal.
Speaking about the agreement, managing director of Khalti Manish Modi shared that the company considers the collaboration as a win-win situation for both Khalti and LBEF students. “One of the main agendas of both institutions is to develop the IT industry of Nepal,” he said, adding that the collaboration will bring synergy to both institutions. “We are hopeful that we will be enriching the student experience effectively and appropriately and at the same time, increasing the quality of workforce in the company.”
Likewise, chairman of LBEF, on the occasion, Pankaj Jalan shared that the company is excited to sign the strategic partnership with Khalti. “Khalti as a brand is aligned with our mission, culture and values of promoting the IT industry of Nepal,” he said, adding that the company is optimistic that a reputed company like Khalti will provide an opportunity for students to grow and progress their career. “With this collaboration, we are hopeful in capitalising on the contrasting strengths of the other, resulting in the development of the IT industry of Nepal.”
While youth unemployment is a growing problem in Nepal, recruiting a competent team member is a serious concern for companies across the business spectrum. This collaboration is expected to solve the problem of the industry and students to some extent.
Started in January 2017, Khalti is an emerging mobile payment solution in Nepal. So far, Khalti’s service has reached 70 districts of Nepal and it’s working to enable people in the remotest corners of the nation to use digital payment service. Khalti is a licensed Payment Service Provider from Nepal Rastra Bank. Currently, Khalti has a workforce of 100 employees altogether with different skill sets.
Lord Buddha Education Foundation (LBEF) is the first IT college in Nepal to launch IT courses and has a well-established tradition of excellence across a broad range of academic disciplines. Similarly, it is a non-profit, non-government organisation and is situated in the heart of Kathmandu Valley at Maitidevi. From the very beginning of its establishment in 1998, the college has made steady progress and today stands as one of the most leading colleges in Nepal.

Khalti Android app reaches 500,000 downloads

In a sign that Nepalis are fast adopting digital payment methods, digital payment service provider Khalti’s Android app has crossed 500,000 downloads. The app has hit this milestone shortly after two years of its launch in the Nepali market, according to a press note issued by the company.
Elated by the achievement in this very short period, managing director of Khalti Manish Modi said that tens of thousands of users everyday load money to their Khalti wallet and consume it to make various digital payments. “Similar to Android app users, feedback from Khalti’s iOS app and web users is also equally exciting,” he said, adding that the company is working to create digital payment habits among all Nepalis. “We are extremely overwhelmed and excited to get love and support from users like this.”
According to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority’s (NTA) latest MIS report, Nepal has over 137 per cent mobile telephony penetration and 65 per cent broadband internet penetration. Likewise, the central bank’s latest statistics also revealed that over 8.3 million people use mobile banking in Nepal, apart from some 900,000 internet banking users.
But the World Bank’s 2017 Global Findex Database revealed that only 45 per cent of Nepalis are banked, giving a big role for the digital payments system like Khalti to bring unbanked population to the digital platform and provide financial services.
Started in January 2017, Khalti is an emerging mobile payment solution in Nepal. Khalti's service so far has reached 70 districts of Nepal and it's working to enable people in the remotest corners of the nation to use digital payment service. “Payment facility on mobile means one doesn't have to travel to district headquarters to perform tasks as simple as electricity bill payment, ultimately saving countless productive work hours for the nation,” Modi said, adding that Khalti has recently also conducted 'Smart Chhori' campaign and trained 10,000 girls and young women with digital and financial literacy and skills. “With its digital payment service and various such initiatives, Khalti is working to transform the lives of people in Nepal.”
Khalti has been providing various utility bill payment services including mobile recharge, DTH recharge, domestic flight booking, movie ticketing, event ticketing, hotel booking, newspaper subscriptions, online shopping payments, and insurance premium payments among various other digital payments services.
A licensed Payment Service Provider from the central bank, currently more than 800,000 people regularly use Khalti for various bill payment services.

Khalti founder receives ICT award

The founder member of Khalti mobile wallet Amrit Agrawal has secured the Entrepreneur ICT Award 2019 today. Khalti Mobile Wallet has received this award for digitalising the financial activities in the country.
Likewise, Fuse Machine Nepal has won the Nepali Daispora ICT Award 2019 for making artificial intelligence (AI) accessible to everyone through education, software and services. It provides training to tech and software graduates to become AI engineers as well as provides AI products for sales.
Similarly, founder of National Innovation Centre Mahabir Pun has received the Pioneer ICT Award 2019. While receiving his award, Pun requested stakeholders not to honour him with these kinds of awards. “It has now become a burden for me to receive such awards,” he said, adding that he still has a lot of things to do and he is still struggling.
Likewise, the Public Service Commission has received the Digital Governance ICT Award 2019 for utilising ICT to communicate and provide services to the public. Similarly, Digital Education ICT award has been received by Nepal Open University for promoting digital education system in the country. Rising Student ICT award has been received by Raktadan app that has been created by a team of students includes Alex Bhattarai, Anish Dulal, Mitesh Pandey, Nishesh Wale and Vivek Timalsina from Pulchowk Engineering College. The app facilitates blood donation campaigns as well as those who need and those who want to donate blood.
Similarly, Product ICT Award 2019 has been provided to Mediflow system and services, a product created by Mediflow Solutions. The product is helpful for hospitals to keep records of patients. It is also useful for patients seeking information related to their ailment and related doctors.
Similarly, E-digital Nepal has secured ICT Start-up Company Award for creating student management system software for more than 100 schools. The Public Choice ICT Award, however, has been received by an online bookstore app called Kitab Yatra.

Nepali startup Khalti wins UN Fintech Innovation Fund

Khalti – a homegrown financial technology startup in Nepal – has won Fintech Innovation Fund from the United Nations (UN). The fund was jointly launched by the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) earlier this year.
Along with Khalti, a total of10 companies from across Asia-Pacific region have won the Innovation Fund, according to a press note. 
After being announced the winner for the Fintech Innovation Fund, Khalti is rolling out a special project within July 2019. The project will support women-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in 12 different districts across the country – from Sankhuwasabha in the east to Darchula in the west – aiming at solving gaps between production and sales of goods produced by 3500 women involved in MSMEs in Nepal. Women involved in Dhaka Weaving to Allo Processing and Weaving to Food Processing will be supported as part of this project, the press note reads, adding that the project intends to deliver financial and digital literacy and skills to women-owned, managed or led MSMEs by bringing all the MSMEs to a digital platform and upgrade their current style of working. “Khalti will be providing them necessary training to be self-sufficient and help them in expanding their business and resources.”
Khalti is partnering with SAARC Business Association of Home Based Workers (SABAH Nepal) to implement the project. Furthermore, Khalti is also mobilising Smart Chhoris to assist the MSMEs.
Over the next year, UNESCAP and UNCDF will provide financial and technical support for Khalti to conduct the project and introduce digital and financial solutions that improve access to finance and enhance operational efficiency of these women-led MSMEs.
“Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises are a vital source of employment and a significant contributor to the country’s GDP in Nepal,” director of Khalti Arvind Sah Elated by this achievement shared, adding, “However, most MSMEs have been facing difficulty in accessing loans and other financial services.”
We are building a hyper local market in Khalti platform and conducting marketing and sales of goods produced by the women and enabling payments of goods directly through Khalti app, he said, adding that we will recommend – on the basis of their monthly income level – for loan from our partner bank so that they can expand their business. “This project offers payment solutions and improved access to finance to the women-led MSMEs in Nepal.”
Through Khalti’s innovations: hyper local market and bulk payment processing system, the women-led MSMEs will be able to connect with their end users directly and receive payments on their mobile phone. The project seeks to uplift the livelihood of women involved in MSMEs in Nepal.
Launched in January 2017, Khalti is an emerging mobile payment solution in Nepal. During this very short period of time, Khalti has emerged as one of the most preferred payment choices amongst customers in Nepal. Khalti allows users to top-up their mobile balance, pay DTH bills, internet bills, various utility bills, book movie tickets, flight tickets, hotel rooms, top up Tootle balance, make payments for food ordered online at Foodmandu, and pay at various online shopping sites in Nepal. Users can avail all these services through its app and website.
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) launched the Women MSME FinTech Innovation Fund in March 2019 in partnership with the Australian Government (DFAT), the Dutch development Bank (FMO), and Visa Inc, with the financial support from the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada.
According to the World Bank’s statistics, more than 90 per cent of enterprises in developing Asia-Pacific region are MSMEs, making them a vital source of income and employment. However, more than 45 per cent of micro, small and medium sized companies (MSMEs) in Asia and the Pacific experience access to finance as a constraint. The constraints faced by MSMEs limits regional economic growth.

Khalti launches QR-Code based event ticketing facility

Khalti – an emerging digital payment service provider in Nepal – has launched QR-code based event ticketing facility on its platform. "Now, users can buy paperless event tickets from Khalti’s mobile app and website and make cashless payments," reads a press note from the company.
Khalti has introduced a dedicated 'Event' section on its app and website from where event organisers across Nepal can publish their events on Khalti’s platform, whereas, users can proceed to event ticket booking and payments, it reads, adding that the launch of this feature has been aimed at making the work of both event organisers and event goers easier through a seamless digital ticketing and payment system. "The system will be useful for ticket booking of any events happening across Nepal, from sports matches to LIVE concerts among others."
"When it comes to event ticketing in Nepal, be it a play, concert or a seminar, the event organisers have to put huge effort, from printing the tickets to marketing and distributing it to their target audience," director of Khalti Amit Agrawal said, announcing the launch of the system. "Likewise, event goers have to go through a long process, standing in the queue and making cash payments."
"Ticketing or registration should not be an extra burden for event organisers as well as event goers," he said, adding that they are hopeful that event organisers will be able to sell tickets with far less effort with the launch of this online ticketing system. "Similarly, the hassle of buying tickets for audiences will be eliminated to a great extent."
Users will be able to buy tickets much advance in time and make cashless payments from their mobile phone, he added.
Khalti's electronic ticketing system is expected to help event organisers save the costs of printing and distributing the tickets to their target audiences. Meanwhile, event goers will save money while booking tickets. "They will be provided cashback on every ticket purchased, that ranges upto 50 per cent of the ticket price," Agrawal said.
After booking tickets from Khalti, users will get QR-code of the ticket and its downloadable PDF file inside Khalti app and website, he said, adding that they can show the same QR-code on their smartphone at the entrance gate of the event where event organisers will scan and verify the ticket.
Launched in January 2017, Khalti is a mobile wallet and payment gateway service provider in Nepal. It allows users to pay for a range of services like basic utility payments, hotel bookings, movie and domestic flight tickets, online shopping and many more.

Smart Chhori to promote digital, financial literacy among girls and young women

Khalti, a digital payment platform in Nepal is launching a special ‘Smart Chhori’ programme tomorrow. The programme is aimed at empowering girls and young women in Nepal through financial knowledge and skills. As part of this initiative, 10,000 adolescent girls and women from across the nation will be trained on financial and digital literacy expecting that they will later emerge as influencers in their communities.
Nepal has a high female unemployment rate and lacking digital skills has become one of the barriers for women and girls in enhancing their career. Still today, a lot of financial decisions are taken by the male members of the family and lots of women still struggle to use smartphones and handle basic finances. Smart Chhori programme – with an aim to encourage women and girls into digital finance – will help them to be ready for what's there to come in this rapidly advancing digital world.
Smart Chhori – a free e-learning platform inside Khalti Digital Wallet app – will help girls learn about the basics of digital payments, online security and personal finance. Girls and young women from age group 15-35 years having a smartphone and access to internet can enroll in the programme.
Through this programme, Khati aims to equip young Nepali girls with the knowledge, skills, and attitude which can change their lives by helping them become independent, establish good financial habits, discuss saving, budgeting, and expenses with family members and improve their future prospect for decent work opportunities, according to director of Khalti and coordinator of Smart Chhori programme Amit Agrawal.
"'Digital Nepal’ and ‘Smart City’ have become buzzwords recently," he said, adding that the physical infrastructures alone are not sufficient to turn this dream into reality. "Digitally literate population and public participation is very essential."
Females comprise 51 per cent of Nepal’s population. "Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) have been playing a significant role to promote health care in villages across Nepal. "We can mobilise our daughters in a similar way as the agents of change to promote digital literacy and simplify lives of people with the use of internet technology," he said, adding that Smart Chhori programme is launched with an aim to prepare female workforce to change Nepal into a Digital and Smart Nepal. "We request all interested girls to enroll in Smart Chhori programme and be Smart Role Models in their communities."
By enrolling in this programme, adolescent girls and young women can grow their digital and financial skills and leverage smartphones and internet to make an impact in the lives of people in their communities. Interested girls and young women aged 15-35 years can join the training programme by clicking on Smart Chhori banner on the home screen of Khalti app, available both in iOS and Android platforms. "This e-learning platform is available for female users only," he added.