KATHMANDU

Last September 19th, 2023, Rakuten Viber held a media roundtable at Dusit Princess Kathmandu in Nepal to reiterate its commitment to Nepalese users. The event highlighted Viber’s efforts to support the country through various partnerships and creative business solutions to improve the user experience and promote local business development.

At the beginning of the event, Nitin Tyagi, Business Development Director, SEA at Rakuten Viber reflected on the efforts of Viber in the past. He highlighted Viber’s commitment to supporting various industries in the country and cited some examples. “Whether it’s our collaborations with Chef Nepal to promote local cuisine, Sasto Tickets for convenient travel solutions, Bus Sewa for seamless commuting, or our Cricket Vibes Channel celebrating the national team’s achievements in tournaments, our aim has always been to put Nepalese users’ convenience and local businesses at the forefront.”, he shared.

For years, The Cricket Vibes Channel has been a source of excitement for cricket fans. Tyagi elaborated, “The channel has celebrated Nepal’s greatest milestones in international cricket, featured cricket players and commentators, and given away prizes in partnership with different brands. This is just the beginning; we have more exciting plans lined up for cricket fans.”

Aside from sports, Viber also recently tapped Nepal’s leading travel agency to launch the Sasto Tickets Chatbot wherein subscribers can search and book flights within the app. Samrat Dahal, Chairman, Founder, and CEO of Sasto Tickets, stated, “The bot’s performance on Viber has been exceptional. We’ve found that users appreciate the solution-based approach, especially the flight booking service.”

Aside from sports, Viber also recently tapped Nepal’s first and #1 Online Travel Agency (OTA) to launch the Sasto Tickets Chatbot wherein subscribers can search and book flights within the app. Samrat Dahal, Chairman, Founder, and CEO of Sasto Tickets, stated, “The bot’s performance on Viber has been exceptional. We’ve found that users appreciate the solution-based approach, especially the flight booking service.”

Also under the travel pillar, Rakuten Viber is expanding to road transportation solutions by introducing a bus ticket booking service through the Bus Sewa Chatbot, which has launched on September 19, 2023. PR Khanal, CEO of Bus Sewa, shared, “We have high expectations for the chatbot, especially since the travel holiday season is coming up. Viber’s user base aligns with our target audience, and so it makes sense to collaborate with them.” Khanal continues, “We’re excited about our initial offerings, such as curated tour packages and in-route entertainment, to reach our loyal customers.”

Chef Nepal, a long-standing platform for promoting Nepali food and culture, was also one of Viber’s collaborators this year. Producer, Dharma Raj Pandey, shared, “Viber has played a crucial role in making the reality show more engaging and dynamic. We’re excited about the upcoming episodes, which will bring celebrity chefs closer to the audience and showcase the talents of aspiring chefs.”

At the end of the roundtable, it is clear that Rakuten Viber remains dedicated to Nepal, and users can expect a continued focus on enhancing their experiences. Nitin Tyagi emphasized, “Our commitment to Nepal is steadfast. We will keep working on strategic partnerships and integrated solutions that will benefit our users, so stay tuned for more exciting developments.”