South Sudan’s first mobile money service, m–GURUSH has launched its International remittance service on their Mobile Money Platform.
The service was launched by the Governor of the Bank of South Sudan Jamal Wani Abdalla. This is yet another ground breaking innovative feature that will enable customers to conveniently send money across Africa and beyond using their mobile phones. Customers will now be able to send money across East Africa and beyond.
The company stated that the customers will be able to send this money digitally in form of US Dollars or South Sudanese Pounds from their m-GURUSH account from the comfort and safety of their homes. The international remittance service will enable m-GURUSH registered customers to send and receive money to several countries across the globe using mobile money.
“The service will be particularly beneficial to the South Sudanese living in East Africa who will now be able to receive money using the existing mobile money services such as m-Pesa in Kenya and MTN Mobile Money in Uganda. This will further spur socioeconomic development in South Sudan and digitally connect South Sudan to her other East African Community counterparts. ” Jamal Wani Abdalla , the Governor of the Bank of South Sudan said as he officiated the launch of the service. Depending on the recipient’s destination, the customer, can either send funds directly to a recipient’s bank account or to a mobile wallet.
At the same time, the m-GURUSH International remittance service enables the South Sudanese in the diaspora in several countries around the world to send money home. This is a fast, convenient and secure way to support loved ones by sending funds outside the country or receiving funds back home from outside the country.
The service will be accessed by customers dialing *355# on the Zain network and also through the mGURUSH application which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
“The way we transfer and manage our funds has changed drastically in the last few years. Gone are the days when the only option for sending money abroad was to queue at a counter for hours on end. Our customers can hold money in USD or South Sudanese Pounds in their m-GURUSH mobile wallet. They can initiate an international remittance from either of their m-GURUSH wallet.” Mou Ambrose Thiik, mGURUSH Chief of Operations said upon the launch of this Service.
“The process of sending money using m-GURUSH is very simple and convenient. Customers will dial *355# and then select ‘International Remittances’ from their m-GURUSH account. As we launch this service, customers can send money to Kenya and Uganda. We will add more countries in the following weeks,” He added demonstrating how the service works during the launch.
The launch of this service comes at a time where digital money transfer services such as mobile money and electronic banking are being advocated for by various governments to curb the spread on COVID- 19. “We are very excited to offer this revolutionary service and it demonstrates our long-standing commitment to providing fast, easy, safe and convenient mobile financial Services to our m- GURUSH customers.
Sub Saharan African and South Sudan in particular is one of the most expensive remittance corridors in the world, a service such as this one will tremendously bring down the cost of international remittances in South Sudan. From a Fiscal policy stand point, this service will increasingly position the South Sudanese Pound as a currency of choice given that a currency earns value from its ability to transact. This service will therefore further strengthen the value of our SSP.” Mr. Joseph Arinaitwe, Vice President m-GURUSH said.
“Lastly, this International Remittance offering will be highly beneficial especially to the business community trading between South Sudan and her sister East African member states, including ordinary South Sudanese sending funds to friends and family in East Africa .” Mr. Joseph Arinaitwe added.
International remittances are a lifeline for many people in developing countries. However, the global flow of these funds continues to happen largely through informal channels. The result is less transparency, less security, and fewer benefits for the millions who rely on international remittances. To address these challenges, m-GURUSH mobile money ‘International remittance service’ will connect business people, friends and relatives of people living in South Soudan from various countries. Through m- GURUSH mobile money, it will be possible to cater to the needs of rural households, women, migrant workers, students and refugees thus expanding access to the most underserved segments of the population.
The company in its statement stated that m-GURUSH continues to spread its wings across the region and living to its promise of being fast, easy, safe and convenient. The aim of m-GURUSH is also to drive financial inclusion and economic empowerment by enabling enterprise development hence uplifting the living standards of the people in South Sudan and even those living in the diaspora,” it said.