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In a significant move to connect with the global Rajasthani diaspora, the Rajasthan Foundation, an initiative of the government of Rajasthan under the chairmanship of the chief minister, has announced the establishment of its Riyadh-�������� Chapter. This initiative will bring together non-resident Rajasthanis on a common platform to promote cultural, business, and educational cooperation and extend a helping hand in times of need.
To ensure smooth functioning and coordinated efforts, a 10-member executive committee was formed under the leadership of Vijay Soni. This committee comprises active and committed members of the Rajasthani community residing in ��������.
Dr. Manisha Arora, director of Rajasthan Foundation, held a virtual meeting with the newly appointed chapter presidents. Soni briefed the team on the importance and contribution of the foundation to non-resident Rajasthanis, calling it a true gift to Rajasthanis living in �������� from the government of Rajasthan.
Rajasthan Foundation actively assists non-resident Rajasthanis in resolving any grievances or issues related to their home districts. Additional District Magistrates have been appointed as nodal officers in each district to ensure all necessary help and coordination.
Key highlights of the meeting
1.Business opportunities: 
Discussions were held on fostering trade, investment, and business partnerships between Rajasthan and ��������.
2. Cultural exchange: 
A mutual commitment was made to promote initiatives in tourism, education, and the Rajasthani (Marwari) language.
3.Networking: 
Focus on building collaborative networks among professionals, entrepreneurs, and officials from both regions.

Future roadmap
•Joint implementation of mutually beneficial projects between Rajasthan and ��������.
•Launch of a membership campaign to connect more non-resident Rajasthanis with the foundation.
•Establishment of a shared platform to promote Rajasthan’s heritage, language, and education globally.
Members of the executive committee of the Riyadh chapter include: Soni, Laxman Singh Parmar, Gauri Shankar Pareek, Anil Malpani, Rajeev Kumar, Gaurav Mehta, Prem Purushottam Purohit, Kshirod Kumar Kalyani, Rais Ahmed Syed, and Mohammad Ghulam Khan.
This initiative by the Rajasthan Foundation marks a vital step in uniting non-resident Rajasthanis and strengthening cultural, educational, and economic ties with ��������. Through the Riyadh chapter, efforts have now begun to take Rajasthan’s rich culture, language, and entrepreneurial spirit to the global stage.

botim, Astra Tech’s flagship fintech-first platform in the MENA region, has launched a refreshed brand identity and an upgraded user interface. This update marks the next chapter in the Abu Dhabi-headquartered app’s evolution, serving a growing global user base of more than 150 million with an improved experience.
Built on a strong VoIP foundation that established seamless communication, botim has evolved into a fintech-first, AI-native platform by integrating advanced financial features designed to meet the changing needs of its users. From January to May 2025, Botim saw a 50 percent increase in monthly active wallet users, a strong indicator of its growing relevance in the digital finance space. The redesigned interface is faster, more intuitive, and purposefully structured to simplify how users interact with its core functions including payments, transfers, lending, and calling.
“botim has always been a trusted platform for meaningful connection but is much more. With this update, we’re reinforcing our position as a fintech-first platform, built on a foundation of secure VoIP, and designed with simplicity at its core,” said Dr. Tariq bin Hendi, board member at Astra Tech and CEO of botim. “We’ve streamlined the experience to meet the needs of a growing user base that expects more not just from communication, but from the way they interact and manage their financial services as well.”
As the UAE continues to experience significant population growth, reaching an all-time high of 11.22 million in 2025 according to Worldometer, botim stands as a trusted platform for this expanding community combining seamless communication and financial tools into one unified experience. botim’s evolution from a local service to a globally scalable solution reflects market demand, with its embedded financial services such as peer-to-peer transfers and lending designed to meet users’ everyday financial needs, no matter where they are.
botim’s AI-native foundation enhances accessibility through intelligent features such as real-time translation, smart call filters, and an interactive in-app chatbot, serving a diverse, multilingual audience.
These advancements have driven the platform’s latest interface update. Designed around real user behavior, the new UI makes it easier to perform everyday actions from payments and transfers to lending and calling. Services are now clearly segmented, navigation is more intuitive, and the overall experience is simplified to meet the demands of an increasingly digital, mobile-first audience.
The app adapts to user profiles, from first-time users to VIPs, surfacing the most relevant services. Financial tools are now directly accessible within chat with a single click, while improved call quality and AI-powered chatbot assistance further enhance the user experience.

The result is greater responsiveness, reduced clutter, and increased clarity all tailored to the needs of a growing, digitally active population.