Nabilah S
Digital transactions in Fiji are experiencing significant growth, with M-PAiSA processing $55 million in monthly remittances, amounting to $680 million annually.
Speaking at the launch of the National E-commerce Strategy, Vodafone Fiji’s Head of eCommerce, Shailendra Prasad, highlighted this surge and noted that Fiji’s digital payment journey since 2010 has led to the development of an award-winning mobile payment platform. This platform, backed by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and funded by Australia and New Zealand, has played a key role in advancing the nation’s digital finance sector.
Prasad emphasized the transformation of Fiji’s financial landscape over the past decade, with mobile money significantly reducing financial exclusion from 45% in 2010 to just 7% today. Meanwhile, QR payments at 3,850 merchants drive $50 million in monthly transactions, contributing to nearly $8 billion processed through the platform last year.
The government’s distribution of a $40 million back-to-school fund via digital wallets has further accelerated cashless transactions, reinforcing the shift towards digital finance.
Additionally, Vodafone’s collaboration with Mastercard has enabled 75,000 Fijians to access global e-commerce without requiring traditional banking services, while the VitiKart platform provides a secure and reliable online marketplace.
Despite these advancements, Prasad acknowledged ongoing challenges in securing payment gateways and mitigating fraud risks. To address these concerns, Vodafone plans to collaborate with the Reserve Bank of Fiji and UNCDF to de-risk e-commerce and strengthen digital payment security.
He also warned that as Fiji’s digital economy continues to expand, businesses that fail to adopt mobile payment solutions risk losing access to a significant portion of the country’s financial ecosystem.
With continued advancements in financial technology, strong government support, and increasing consumer adoption, the push for digital payments is expected to accelerate even further in the coming years.
