Microfinance Focus, September 12, 2011: Catalyzing mobile banking in the country, Vodafone MPAiSA Fiji in partnership with Lotus Foreign Exchange has launched its first cross-border international remittance services in Fiji.

Vodafone customers from rural and remote regions of Fiji will now be able to receive money from relatives and friends in Australia and New Zealand via mobile phones. Users can then withdraw cash from Vodafone MPAiSA agents around the country.

The Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) played an instrumental role in helping Vodafone Fiji set up this mobile money platform in Fiji.  PFIP is funded by the Australian Agency for International Development, UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“The problem that UNCDF wishes to solve is that remittances are often expensive. In the Pacific, the average cost of sending $200 is close to 20% and that doesn’t include the cost of getting into town to pick up your funds”, said Mr. David Morrison, Executive Secretary UNCDF.