IME Group Nepal

What IME Group Nepal does

IME Group is a privately held, family-controlled Nepali conglomerate founded in 1994 (with its flagship financial entity, IME Remit, established in 2001) and headquartered in Kathmandu. The group operates across 12 distinct business verticals — financial services (remittance, banking, digital payments, merchant banking, cooperative finance, hire purchase), insurance (general and life), technology (payment switching, healthcare IT, HR/accounting software), tourism and hospitality (cable cars, resorts, travel), automobiles (commercial vehicles, construction equipment, motorcycles, EVs), infotainment (DTH television, FTTH internet), energy (hydropower), trading and retail, logistics (air cargo), manufacturing (paper), education, and sports. At the foundational level sits IME Remit, Nepal's first licensed Money Transfer Company (2001), which feeds a 150,000+ global payout location network across 25+ countries and a 5,400+ franchise footprint in Nepal, anchored by the slogan "IME Garaun" (Let's Do IME) which has become culturally synonymous with money transfer in Nepal.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across transaction fees (remittance, digital payments, cable car ticketing, hydropower electricity sales, tourism), recurring subscriptions (DishHome DTH and FTTH internet reaching 2M+ households, banking interest and service charges, insurance premiums), one-time/vehicle sales (Ashok Leyland, Escorts, Harley Davidson, Raft Motors EV), and franchise/licensing royalties (My Mart's 600+ grocery stores). Technology architecture is vertically integrated: Swift Technology provides core digital financial infrastructure including mobile banking, internet banking, remittance systems and mobile wallets; Smart Choice Technologies operates Nepal's first integrated shared switching payment network (SCT) with SmartQR and UPI cards; Midas Health Services delivers the Mero Doctor cloud EMR and telemedicine platform; and DishHome operates a multi-platform distribution (Satellite TV, Fibernet, Cable TV, T2 TV, IPTV).

The company is controlled by brothers Chandra Prasad Dhakal (Chairman, also President of FNCCI) and Hem Raj Dhakal (Managing Director). Its publicly traded subsidiary, Global IME Bank (Nepal Stock Exchange 'A' category), operates 354 branches, 369 ATMs, 322 branchless banking services and 3 international representative offices, and was built through consolidation of 5 commercial banks, 10 development banks, and 6 finance institutions. Group-wide employment footprint is approximately 5,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs, with services reaching over 5 million households through 14,500+ nationwide agents.

Name

IME Group Nepal

Legal name

IME Group

Website

https://imegroup.com.np

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IME Group is a privately held Nepali conglomerate operating remittance (IME Remit), banking (Global IME Bank), digital payments (Khalti By IME), insurance, DTH/internet (DishHome), hydropower, tourism, and automobile distribution, serving over 5 million households across Nepal and 25+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kathmandu

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Remittance Services (IME Limited): International money transfer services with over 150,000 global payout locations and 5,400 franchise outlets in Nepal. Revenue generated through transaction fees on cross-border money transfers. Recognized as Nepal's foremost remittance company.
2. Banking Services (Global IME Bank): A-class commercial bank with 354 branches, 369 ATMs, 322 branchless banking services. Revenue from interest income, transaction fees, and service charges. Largest bank in Nepal through strategic mergers.
3. Digital Payment Services (Khalti, IME Pay): Mobile wallet and digital payment services with 45,000+ agent networks. Revenue from transaction fees, merchant services, and digital finance solutions.
4. Insurance Services: IME General Insurance (IGI Prudential) and IME Life Insurance operating through agencies, corporate agencies, bancassurance, and direct channels nationwide.
5. Infotainment (DishHome): Direct-to-Home (DTH) television service reaching 2 million+ households. FTTH internet service with 300,000+ retail customers. Revenue from subscription fees for TV and internet services.
6. Cable Car Operations: Chandragiri Hills cable car, Lumbini Cable Car (2.65km, 24 gondolas), MaulaKali Cable Car (12 gondolas). Transport up to 6,000 devotees daily. Revenue from ticket sales and tourism.
7. Automobile Distribution: IME Motors distributes Ashok Leyland commercial vehicles. IME Automotives distributes Escorts construction equipment and Harley Davidson motorcycles. Revenue from vehicle sales and after-sales service.
8. Retail Franchising (My Mart): Grocery store franchise chain with over 600 locations in Nepal. Revenue from franchise fees and wholesale supply to franchise stores.
9. Hydropower Generation: Dordikhola Hydropower Project (27 MW), Mistri Khoja Project (42 MW), Middle Kaligandaki (53.539 MW under construction), Tiplyang Kaligandaki (58 MW under construction). Revenue from electricity sales.
10. Tourism & Hospitality: IME Travels and Tours (IATA accredited), Chandragiri Hills resort, Hotel Le Himalaya, Lake Side Retreat. Revenue from tour packages, accommodation, and hospitality services.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IME Group is a diversified Nepali conglomerate whose anchor product is international remittance through IME Remit (Nepal's first licensed Money Transfer Company, 150,000+ global payout locations across 25+ countries). It also delivers commercial and merchant banking (Global IME Bank, Global IME Capital), digital payments (Khalti By IME, 45,000+ agents), general and life insurance (IGI Prudential, IME Life), DTH television and FTTH internet (DishHome, 2M+ TV households), tourism and hospitality (Chandragiri Hills cable car and resort, Lumbini and MaulaKali cable cars, IME Travels, hotels), automobile distribution, hydropower generation, retail franchising (My Mart), and CSR activities (IME Foundation). The conglomerate serves Nepalese migrant workers, banked/unbanked consumers, SMEs, and enterprises through more than 5,400 domestic franchise outlets, 354 bank branches, and global correspondent networks.

Product overview

IME Group is a diversified multinational conglomerate operating a multi-product portfolio across 12 business verticals. The core offerings include financial services (IME Remit - Nepal's first remittance company, IME Khalti - digital payment platform, Global IME Bank), insurance (IGI Prudential, IME Life Insurance), technology ventures (Swift Technology, Midas Health, Smart Choice Technologies, Rigo), tourism & hospitality (Chandragiri Hills, cable car networks, IME Travels), automobiles (IME Automotive, IME Motors, IME Electric), infotainment (DishHome - Nepal's first DTH service), energy (hydropower projects), trading & retail (My Mart, C.M Trading), logistics (Mount Pumori Air Cargo), sports (FC Chitwan), manufacturing (Nepal Pulp and Paper), and education (Kathmandu Technical School). The group also operates IME Foundation for CSR activities. These products function as independent business units under the IME Group umbrella, with significant cross-business synergy through shared financial infrastructure, correspondent banking relationships, and digital payment integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IME Pay: Digital payment wallet and mobile banking application
• Khalti
• DishHome Internet
• Mero Doctor
• SmartQR
• Smart Banking
• Dordikhola Hydropower Project
• Mistri Khoja Project
• Bharosa Kosh
• IME JTI Open Tennis Tournament
• Ila Hotel and Resort

Products and services

• IME Remit (IME Limited) International remittance service with 150,000+ global payout locations across 25+ countries and 5,400 domestic franchise outlets for Nepali migrant workers and their families.
• Khalti By IME (IME Khalti Ltd.) Digital payment wallet and mobile banking platform operating through 45,000+ agent networks, serving banked, unbanked, and underbanked customers in Nepal.
• Global IME Bank Ltd. A-class commercial bank operating 354 branches, 369 ATMs, 322 branchless banking services, and 64 revenue collection and extension counters across Nepal, with international representative offices in Sydney, London, and New Delhi.
• Global IME Capital Ltd. Merchant banking services including issue management, registrar to shares, underwriting, portfolio management, and corporate advisory for Nepalese capital-market clients.
• Venture Hire Purchase Limited Licensed hire-purchase institution providing financing for commercial vehicles, machinery, solar equipment, and alternative energy products in Nepal.
• IGI Prudential Insurance Ltd. General insurance company distributing through agencies, corporate agencies, bancassurance, and direct channels nationwide; winner of Asia's Most Trusted Company Award 2019 and Asia's Best Employer Brand Award 2021.
• IME Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Life insurance company distributing through agencies, corporate agencies, bancassurance, and direct channels across Nepal.
• Swift Technology Pvt. Ltd. Fin-Tech company providing digital financial services, mobile banking, internet banking, remittance systems, mobile wallet, and custom software development for clients in Nepal, India, South Korea, and other Asian countries.
• Smart Choice Technologies Limited (SCT) Integrated shared-switching payment network operating SmartQR, Smart Banking, and SCT UPI card services for commercial banks, development banks, PSPs, and PSOs across Nepal.
• Midas Health Services (Mero Doctor) Cloud-based EMR, online video-consultation, and online appointment-scheduling platform for individual doctors, healthcare institutions, and patients.
• DishHome (Dish Media Network) — DTH TV and FTTH Internet Nepal's first DTH television service connecting 2 million+ households through Satellite TV, Fibernet, Cable TV (SIM TV), T2 TV, and IPTV (Prabhu Digital); FTTH internet launched 2020 now serves 300,000+ retail customers.
• Chandragiri Hills Ltd. Integrated tourist destination near Kathmandu featuring cable car access, theme park, boutique resort (soft operation commenced 2019), conference hall, view tower, branded shop, zipline, and children's play area.
• Lumbini Cable Car 2.65-kilometer cable car with 24 gondolas connecting Butwal to Basantapur, enabling daily transport for 6,000+ devotees to Maa Kamakhaya and Maa Durga temples.
• MaulaKali Cable Car Cable car with 12 gondolas serving MaulaKalika Temple at Gaidakot, Nawalpur, carrying up to 6,000 devotees daily.
• IME Travels and Tours Pvt. Ltd. IATA-accredited travel company established in 1996 offering homestays, spiritual and adventure tours, treks, international packages, and acting as GSA for SalamAir in Nepal.
• Hotel Le Himalaya Five-star resort on Lazimpat, Kathmandu offering easy access to Thamel, Swayambhu Stupa, and Pashupatinath.
• Lake Side Retreat Resort in Pokhara offering luxury accommodations with private gardens, guest rooms, terraces, and swimming pool, ten minutes from the tourist centre.
• IME Motors (Ashok Leyland commercial vehicles) Authorized distributor of Ashok Leyland commercial vehicles (India's second-largest commercial-vehicle manufacturer) in Nepal.
• IME Automotive (Escorts, Harley-Davidson) Authorized distributor of Escorts construction equipment (cranes, backhoe loaders, compaction equipment) and exclusive distributor of Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Nepal.
• IME Electric (Raft Motors) Sole distributor of Raft Motors electric vehicles in Nepal, delivering eco-friendly, smart, and innovative electric mobility options.
• Dordikhola Hydropower Project (27 MW) 27 MW hydropower facility developed by Himalayan Power Partners Ltd. for sale to the Nepal grid.
• Mistri Khoja Hydropower Project (42 MW) 42 MW run-of-river hydropower facility in Annapurna-4, Narchyang, Myagdi, developed by Mountain Energy Ltd.
• Middle Kaligandaki Hydropower (53.539 MW) 53.539 MW run-of-river hydropower project on the Kali Gandaki river by Middle Kaligandaki Hydropower Ltd., under construction with expected 310.656 GWh annual generation and 2025 commissioning target.
• Nepal Pulp and Paper Industries Pvt. Ltd. Paper manufacturing company producing 70 tons of writing and printing paper per day at the Ramnagar, Gaushala Nagarpalika, Mahottari district facility.
• My Mart Nepal Pvt. Ltd. Retail grocery store franchise chain with 600+ locations across Nepal, providing modern shopping experience with convenience and quality.
• Mount Pumori Air Cargo Pvt. Ltd. Market leader in cargo and international freight forwarding established since 1996, known for efficiency, reliability, speediness, and competitive pricing.
• Kathmandu Technical School Technical education and skills training institution preparing youth for employment in national and global labour markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 million households benefiting from IME Group services
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles9 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• JTI (Junior Tennis Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021IME Group organizes annual Under 16 (boys and girls) Open Tennis Tournament in association with JTI under International Tennis Federation and All Nepal Lawn Tennis Association. This partnership promotes youth tennis development in Nepal.
• SalamAirminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018IME International Travels appointed as SalamAir's General Sales Agent (GSA) for Nepal, enabling IME Travels to offer SalamAir flight services and packages to Nepalese travelers.
• Bal Mandir (Nepal Children's Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015IME Foundation partnered with Nepal Children's Organization 'Bal Mandir' to provide full-fledged scholarships to orphan children. Many children have been granted scholarships and enrolled in schools through this partnership.
• GME KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIME Foundation offers yearly scholarship of USD 10,000 to two students pursuing Master's degree in software engineering in South Korea, with opportunity to participate in paid internship at GME Korea.
• NATTA, SOTTO, PATA, TIDCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIME Travels and Tours is affiliated with NATTA (Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents), SOTTO, PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association), and TIDC for comprehensive travel industry partnerships and certifications.
• Global IME Bank Correspondent InstitutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal IME Bank has established correspondent relationships with hundreds of global financial institutions enabling international banking services. The bank also manages government transactions and maintains representative offices in Sydney, London, and New Delhi.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Western Union: Global leader in cross-border money transfer. Directly comparable to IME Remit on cross-border remittance corridors, payout network scale, and correspondent-banking relationships.
• MoneyGram: Global cross-border remittance company operating across the same Nepal corridors. Comparable to IME Remit on global payout infrastructure, agent networks, and fee-based transaction revenue.
• Reliance Industries: Highly diversified South Asian conglomerate spanning digital services (Jio), retail, energy, and media. Comparable to IME Group on conglomerate breadth, retail/franchise scale, and digital + infrastructure verticals.
• Bharti Airtel: Indian telecom conglomerate with payments bank and digital services businesses. Comparable on the combination of telecom/distribution, digital financial services, and a multi-vertical operating model in South Asia.

Regional players

• NIC Asia Bank: Major Nepalese commercial bank with a sizeable branch and digital banking network. Comparable to Global IME Bank in the same domestic market across retail and SME banking.
• Nabil Bank: One of Nepal's largest private commercial banks. Comparable to Global IME Bank on deposit franchise, branch network, and commercial banking products within Nepal.

Emerging players

• Wise (formerly TransferWise): Digital-first cross-border remittance fintech. Comparable to IME Remit on the remittance corridor between Nepal and diaspora countries, with a competing digital-first, low-fee model.

Direct peers

• eSewa (F1Soft International): Nepal's leading digital wallet and payment service provider, direct competitor to Khalti/IME Pay. Comparable on digital payment infrastructure, merchant acquiring, and financial-inclusion positioning in Nepal.
• Chaudhary Group: Nepal's largest diversified conglomerate spanning FMCG, financial services, real estate, and education. Directly comparable as a family-controlled Nepali conglomerate with similarly broad vertical coverage and similar national footprint.
• Prabhu Group: Nepalese conglomerate operating in remittance, insurance, banking, and microfinance. Overlaps directly with IME on remittance, insurance, and cooperative/microfinance services within the same Nepali market.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ime_limited_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ime-group-nepal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries34 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IME Group Nepal