Kathmandu, April 6: The 16th AGM of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) on Saturday elected Tilak Bahadur Ranabhat of Noor Opportunities Overseas Pvt Ltd as its president for the next two-year term. Ranabhat got 161 votes against his nearest rival Madan Khadka of who got 131 votes.

Som Lal Bataju of SOS Manpower Service Pvt Ltd was elected first vice-president with 159 votes. Similarly, Bal Bahadur Tamang of Sky Overseas Pvt Ltd was elected the second vice-president and Kamal Dev Malla of Third Eye Overseas Concern Pvt Ltd was elected the third vice-president and Gyan Prasad Gaire of Rara Employment Pvt Ltd was elected the general secretary. The new executive committee of 17 members were elected on Saturday after the AGM on Friday.

Foreign employment — the source of remittance — has been a major job opportunity for Nepali youths due to lack of job opportunities back home. The flow of remittances rose by 18 per cent in Nepal, during the first half of current fiscal year and touched the total amount to Rs 57 billion as of mid-January 2008. Nepal had received Rs 48.26 billion during the same period in the previous fiscal year.

Ranabhat has vowed to make this profession more dignified.

Remittance flow

KATHMANDU: India is the top receiver of remittances from abroad in 2007, followed by China and Mexico, according to the World Bank’s Migration and Remittances Fact book 2008. The top five recipients of migrant remittances in 2007 were India ($27 billion), China ($25.7 billion), Mexico ($25 billion), the Philippines ($17 billion) and France ($12.5 billion), according to fact book. — Xinhua

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