Over 147mn transactions totaling US$12.7bn processed through Visa network

Kathmandu, 19 June 2017 – Visa, the global leader in payments technology, is this month celebrating two decades of operating in Nepal. Since the first Visa card was launched in 1997, Visa has led Nepal’s transition from magnetic stripe cards to EMV chip technology, powering the country’s adoption of digital payments.

Over this period, Visa has processed over 147 million transactions totaling US$12.7 billion across Nepal, in the process growing its card base to nearly 3 million Visa cards in the market .

Commenting on the milestone, TR Ramachandran, Visa’s Group Country Manager, India & South Asia said, “Nepal is one of our key growth markets. With an increased focus on electronification of payments and the eCommerce industry booming in the foreground, Nepal is taking rapid strides towards new age banking.” He further added, “In 2017 alone, we have managed to grow our transactions by over 42%, our payment volumes by over 35% while managing a 22% growth in issuance of new cards. We will continue to accelerate this progression by deepening our partnerships in Nepal and leveraging our global payments network to introduce new innovative payment solutions in the country.”

In Nepal, Visa is associated with leading financial institutions and merchants across the country, offering consumers the choice of using their Visa products across over 6000 point of sale outlets and numerous online platforms. As part of its growth plans, Visa continues to invest in the development of the acceptance infrastructure that would stimulate the adoption of digital payments in the country.

Visa’s pioneering efforts over the past two decades have played a pivotal role in helping a traditional cash based economy such as Nepal gradually transition towards a digital payments ecosystem. The rapid penetration of eCommerce and mobile technology is further complementing this change.

At the core of this expansion has been Visa’s relentless focus on creating a secure environment that fosters growth of digital payment systems in Nepal. Towards this end, Visa has been instrumental in helping form the Card Industry Council of Nepal (CICN), a council formally recognized by the Nepal Bankers Association. CICN currently comprises of Nepal’s leading banks and is mandated with suggesting appropriate rules and regulations, sharing information across banks and managing fraud levels across the industry.

The World Bank expects the Nepal economy to grow at a healthy 5.6% during 2017 with robust recovery of key sectors. This combined with the proactive approach by the country’s central bank, Nepal Rastra Bank is widely expected to further propel the country’s move towards a less cash economy. Visa expects to play a key role in this transition over the next few years as it has been over the past 20.

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Nuspay Launches First Tap & Pay NFC Smart Payment Card in Nepal

SUNNYVALE, Calif., NOV 16, 2015/ — Nuspay International Incorporated, a global technology company in the payments industry announced today the launch of the first NFC (near field communication) Tap & Pay payment card in Nepal. The ground-breaking electronic multipurpose Nuspay NFC payment card was created in association with Nepal Bank Limited and Sajha Yatayat, a public transportation bus services provider in Nepal.

The NFC Tap & Pay payment card will reduce fraud in travellers’ payments while allowing commuters on Sajha Yatayat buses to conveniently pay for their journey using the Nuspay co-branded Sajha Yatayat Smart Travel Card. “Nuspay will act as both payment network and processor, becoming a unified payment technology platform in Nepal. This will provide a single point of service to access its payment solutions across the entire payment processing value chain between financial institutions, merchants, and customers” said Greg Wooten, Chief Executive Officer of Nuspay.

Commenting on their alliance with Nuspay, Mr. Kanak Mani Dixit, Chairman Sajha Yatayat, said, “This partnership to launch our multi-purpose NFC-based payment system will have a substantial impact on both commuters and bus conductors for increasing convenience and offering complete security against risk of financial leakages simultaneously. The fare amount will be charged on the basis of the travelled distance while tracking the entry and exit of the passengers through the Smart Travel Card solution”.

Mr. Devendra Pratap Shah, CEO Nepal Bank, which has partnered with Nuspay to implement the solution, added, “We are pleased that our partnership with Nuspay will help usher in a paradigm shift in payment solutions with this more secure and advanced payment system in Nepal”.

About Nuspay:

Nuspay™ is a global financial technology provider building the next-generation global payment network. Nuspay works in tandem with financial institutions, payment networks, payment processors and related financial businesses worldwide to facilitate the acceptance and processing of all forms of payments through its patent-pending technologies. Nuspay is an industry pioneer in payment data security, digital currency, and payment acceptance innovations. The company is headquartered in the U.S.,  For more information, visit http://www.Nuspay.com

About Sajha Yatayat:

Sajha Yatayat is a public transportation bus system in Nepal. It was established in 1961 to provide efficient and affordable public transportation services to commuters in the Kathmandu Valley and to inter-district travellers. In July 2015 Kathmandu Metropolitan City allocated $1 million to acquire larger buses for Sajha Yatayat and finance incurred management and operation expenses.

About Nepal Bank Ltd:

Nepal Bank is the oldest commercial bank of Nepal. It was established in 1937, which marked the beginning of an era of formal banking in Nepal. It is now the second largest bank in Nepal, with 118 branches in the 55 districts of the country. As of January 2015, its total assets amounted to $800 million.

Media contact

Mr. Harmeet

Cell No;9860202994

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For Immediate Release

UNFPA and IPPF to partner in providing Sexual and Reproductive Health services to earthquake affected women and girls in Nepal

May 06, 2015: New Delhi/ Kathmandu/ London:

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) have entered into a partnership to ensure that the need for sexual and reproductive health care of young girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers in Nepal is urgently met in the wake of the devastating April 25 earthquake.

An estimated two million women of reproductive age have been affected by the disaster. Of these, there are about 126,000 currently pregnant women who are in urgent need of clean delivery and reproductive health kits. About 2,100 women may suffer from obstetric complications over the next month alone. UNFPA estimates put about 40,000 women of reproductive age – including those at camps for the displaced — at increased risk of sexual violence.

UNFPA has pledged support to IPPF’s Member Association, the Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN), to expand and strengthen mobile medical camps. Safe delivery and reproductive health kits, as well as dignity kits which contain essentials including sanitary pads, have also been provided by UNFPA through IPPF to FPAN for women of reproductive age.

UNFPA and IPPF through its SPRINT initiative and FPAN are organising mobile medical camps in affected areas to provide critical sexual and reproductive health services (SRH) along with general health services. So far, IPPF through its SPRINT initiative along with FPAN volunteers and staff have mobilised three mobile teams and one referral unit. These mobile teams have, as of this writing, served more than 1,400 persons in need by providing counselling, consultation examination by doctor and medicines. This has been done through ten different locations in some of the hardest-hit areas, including Bhaktapur, Kavre, Lalitpur, Sindhupalchowk and Kathmandu districts.

”Pregnant women and new mothers are often ignored in the aftermath of a disaster, but they are among the most vulnerable and at risk populations,” noted Giulia Vallese, UNFPA Representative in Nepal. “UNFPA is grateful to IPPF and FPAN for this partnership, for it is through our implementing partners on the ground that our lifesaving interventions reach those who need them the most.”

“We welcome the partnership with UNFPA which will strengthen our efforts to provide critical sexual and reproductive care and services in a timely and effective manner. Our endeavour is to reach people with specialised needs especially pregnant women who are in dire need of emergency care. Our Member Association, Family Planning Association of Nepal, has rallied around its staff and resources to respond to this emergency,” said Anjali Sen, Regional Director, IPPF, South Asia Region.

“IPPF through its SPRINT initiative is implementing the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Reproductive Health to ensure that no one is left behind in receiving the care they need,” says Aditi Ghosh, IPPF’s Global Emergency Response Manager, SPRINT and field coordinator, Nepal Emergency Response.

“At the mobile medical camps, while providing general healthcare and services, we have in just the early days of this crisis evacuated and referred sixteen women in various stages of pregnancy needing emergency obstetric care to different referral sites including the Israeli medical camp,” said Dr. Abhijeet, Pathak, Programme Specialist – Medical and Abortion, IPPF SARO, overseeing the coordination of the mobile medical camps.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake has claimed more than 7,000 lives, and over 14,000 people have been injured, many seriously. The impending monsoon is compounding fears of further devastation among the affected population. The need for crucial lifesaving medical care, including sexual and reproductive health and services, will continue well into the future. Specialised healthcare needs of pregnant women and lactating mothers, provision for safe delivery, protecting girls from unintended pregnancies, and menstrual hygiene for young girls remain serious issues that the UNFPA-IPPF/FPAN partnership will continue to address.

“So many parts of the country are devastated and it’s encouraging to see that the affected communities themselves want to participate in the response – we must engage women, girls and young people in the services we’re providing”, said Priya Marwah, Humanitarian Response Coordinator from UNFPA’s Asia Pacific Regional Office.

More than a third of maternal deaths worldwide occur in crisis settings due to lack of access to basic emergency-obstetric services and availability of skilled service providers. This leads to high maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality which, however, with timely and appropriate interventions such as those provided by UNFPA, IPPF/FPAN and other partners are preventable. UNFPA and IPPF/FPAN pledge to support the Government and people of Nepal now and in the future.

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Parle Agro plans to make these brands available across Nepal which would help the brand to penetrate further in the country.

Commenting on the company’s Nepal plans, Nadia Chauhan, Joint Managing Director and CMO, Parle Agro, said, “The close cultural and social ties of Nepal with India makes it a very important market for us and we plan to strengthen our ties with the consumers here. The tetrapaks of Frooti and Appy have been much loved and well received in the market and by launching its PET formats we hope to serve many more consumption occasions and increase our distribution opportunities.” She further added, “The launch of Bailley PDW and Bailley soda in Nepal is in line with our expansion strategy to introduce more products from our large portfolio to new markets. Over a period of time, we plan to launch our entire food and beverage portfolio in Nepal. Also, globally PET is a dominant pack format because of the convenience it provides to the consumers. Nepal is an unexplored market as far as PET is concerned and with our expertise in the format Parle Agro brands would be amongst the few with PET manufacturing facility in Nepal in the fruit drink category. It would help us to connect with the consumer more.”

Parle Agro is also boosting its distribution network by forging a new strategic franchisee alliance with Sunrise Nepal Food and Beverage Ltd. The company already has a franchisee with Dugar Food and Beverage (P) Ltd. Both the franchisees will manufacture and market Frooti, Appy, Appy Fizz, Bailley PDW and Bailley soda in Nepal.

“The new set of products required a further distribution and penetration push and with a reliable partner like Sunrise Nepal Food and Beverage Ltd, we are confident that our new launches will gain high visibility, demand and success too. Sunshine shares the same vision, commitment and goals and will help augment our offerings in Nepal,” added Nadia.

The introduction of new products and variants will be supported by creative and strategic POS activities across Nepal.

Said Mr. Deepak Shrestha, Managing Director of Sunrise Nepal Food and Beverage Ltd., “Parle Agro is a very successful and well reputed company with brands firmly established as a household name in India. We are truly excited to be associated with the manufacturing and distribution of its popular brands in Nepal. The tetrapaks of Appy and Frooti having already created waves in the Nepal market and we hope to achieve the same success and even more with its PET bottles and the newly launched Bailley PDW & Bailley Soda. The potential is huge and we are very excited with the prospects.”

About Parle Agro

Parle Agro is a trusted Food & Beverage player with iconic brands that are recognized as household names in India. The company has been consistently delighting consumers with new products, tastes and experiences, for more than two decades. Its product portfolio ranges from sparkling and still beverages, to delicious snacks, confectionery and bottled water.

Known for its innovative products and packaging, the company has been a long standing market leader in fruit based beverages. It was the first Indian company to offer packaged fruit drinks in tetra and PET formats. With its diversification into foods in 2007, Parle Agro aims to achieve its vision of being a leader in the Indian foods and beverages industry.

Parle Agro’s brands include Frooti (mango drink), Appy (apple drink), LMN (lemon drink), Saint Juice (100% Juice), Appy Fizz (sparkling apple drink), Grappo Fizz (sparkling grape drink), Bailley (packaged drinking water), Bailley Soda, Hippo (baked wheat snack), Hippo Round-Round (round shaped, baked snack), Buttercup Softease and Softease Mithai (Toffees). The company’s total turnover stands at Rs.  2000 Crores.

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Launched in India in 1998, the BACARDÍ rum brand has witnessed immense growth and is now expanding their base across the subcontinent. In Nepal, the local partners are Jagdamba Overseas which is a part of Shanker group in charge of importing and distributing its brands. For the locally bottled products, Bacardi has partnered with Rolling River Distillers Pvt Ltd.

Named after the Spanish word for lemon, BACARDÍ Limón is a carefully crafted product that infuses BACARDÍ rum with the flavor essence of the royal family of citrus fruits: lemon, lime and grapefruit. BACARDÍ Apple is full of the flavour of crisp, mouth-watering apples. Apples of the Fuji, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith varieties are combined with premium BACARDÍ rum to create a bold taste with a real bite.

With its fresh aroma and a crisp, intense taste, the fruit flavor of BACARDÍ rums will delight cocktail fans to the core with every sip of crisp, mouth-watering apples or lemons. While the iconic white spirits giant, BACARDÍ Superior, will continue to be a favorite for cocktails the world over such as the BACARDÍ Cuba Libre, BACARDÍ Piña Colada, BACARDÍ Daiquiri and more.

Mr. Manish Seth, Director – Marketing & Sales, Bacardi India, said, “We are thrilled to announce our entry into Nepal. This launch is an exciting time for us as we look to expand our portfolio while also showcasing the ‘Bacardi Experience’ to consumers worldwide. We have seen a great potential in new markets, and are very optimistic about this launch in Nepal. BACARDÍ Limon & BACARDÍ Apple are some of our fastest moving flavoured offerings, thus making it one of the most appealing brand introductions in recent times. We look forward to introducing more variants of BACARDÍ rum in the future and are delighted to expand into this new market.”

Today, the Bacardi brand portfolio comprises of some of the most iconic brand names such as the super premium GREY GOOSE® vodka and DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky. Also a part of the portfolio is BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, the top-valued and premium gin in the world and MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines. ERISTOFF® vodka as well as other leading and emerging brands are also a part of the Bacardi brand portfolio.

BACARDÍ® Limon and BACARDÍ® Apple (750ML) are priced at Rs. 950/-

BACARDÍ® Superior (750ML) is priced at Rs. 1200 – Rs 1400/-

About BACARDÍ Rum – The World’s Most Awarded Rum

In 1862, in the city of Santiago de Cuba, founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó revolutionized the spirits industry when he created a light-bodied rum with a particularly smooth taste – BACARDÍ. The unique taste of BACARDÍ rum inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world’s most famous recipes including the BACARDÍ Mojito, the BACARDÍ Daiquirí, the BACARDÍ Cuba Libre, the BACARDÍ Piña Colada and the BACARDÍ Presidente. BACARDÍ rum is the world’s most awarded spirit, with more than 550 awards for quality, taste and innovation. Today, BACARDÍ rum is made in Puerto Rico, Mexico and India where it is crafted to ensure the taste remains the same today as it did when it was first blended in 1862. www.bacardi.com

The BACARDÍ® brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

LIVE PASSIONATELY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

When referring to the rum brand or product, it is written as ‘BACARDÍ’. When referring to the founding family, it is written as ‘Bacardí’. When referring to the corporate entity, it is written as ‘Bacardi’.

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