Cebuana Lhuillier Services, Corp. (CLSC), of the PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies, whose main business is the Pera Padala remittance service, expands in the Middle East with its first direct international remittance partner Xpress Money Services Ltd. of the United Arab Emirates-based firm UAE Exchange.

Cebuana Lhuillier is the largest pawnshop network in the forefront of financial services in the Philippines, while Xpress Money is a leading global provider of instant money transfer services. This tie-up brings together two formidable forces in the money transfer field to provide that extra quality service to the country.

According to CLSC President Jean Henri Lhuillier, "The partnership between CLSC and Xpress Money will enable us to provide fast and efficient service to OFWs in the Middle East and Europe." Xpress Money is a service widely available in the Middle East, South Asia and Europe with more than 5,300 agents located in over 62 countries. Lhuillier adds, "This is a perfect synergy between two groups which are bound with similar visions of providing world class services in the international remittance industry."

During the recent contract signing and press conference between the two groups, His Excellency Abdulla Humaid Ali al Mazroei, Chairman of Xpress Money, said that "the tie-up with Cebuana Lhuillier is very timely since the number of OFWs is constantly on the rise and with this association, [they] intend to fulfill the need of the Filipino remitters with a provider of quality service through an impressive national presence."

The partnership empowers the Filipino community by providing a reliable medium for money transfers with the extended business hours and weekend operations of Cebuana Lhuillier. "Xpress Money customers can maximize Cebuana Lhuillier's reach, having the largest branch network in the Philippines," said CLSC Vice President Andre Lhuillier. "This is what our partnership with Xpress Money provides, particularly in the Middle East area where we have started moving more aggressively."