NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Friday, June 19, 2015

It will now be easy for Rwandans living abroad to send money to their relatives back home following the launch of a new mobile money transfer service by MTN Rwanda and Western Union, a global money transfer service firm.

Ebenezer Asante, the MTN Rwanda chief executive officer, said the new service allows subscribers in Rwanda, who use MTN Mobile Money service to receive Western Union money transfer transactions directly on their mobile phones. “This will significantly reduce the time used to physically go to Western Union branches to pick up cash. Asante said this also means that Rwandans living abroad can remit money back home to MTN subscribers “swiftly and with greater convenience”.

“MTN is committed to offering innovative services that help improve customers’ quality of life,” he added.

The telecom firm currently has over three million mobile money customers. Eric Nisingizwe, a local importer, said the service could ease business transactions and operational costs for enterprises,” Nisingizwe said.