Personal remittances inflows for the first quarter of 2024 grew by 14.2 per cent to $310.5million.

For the same quarter in 2023, a total of $271.8m in remittances was recorded, supported by mass emigration and ease in sending money back home, according to the Westpac Fiji quarterly economic update released this week.

Westpac Fiji senior economic Shamal Chand said mobile digital wallet had taken the centre stage over money transfer operators (FX Dealers).

He said the share of remittance sent through mobile digital wallets had increased to an average of 43.6 per cent during the first quarter this year, compared to 37.7 per cent share held by money transfer operators.

He added remittance sent through commercial banks as a share had fallen to 18.7 per cent.

“We anticipate an overall positive outlook for remittances in the near term,” Mr Chand said.

Meanwhile, non-residents working in Fiji remitted around $33.9m back to their home country last year, which comprised $17.1m in compensation of employees and $16.8m in personal transfers.