Every month, Gambians in the diaspora remit millions of dalasis to the Gambian economy.

The remittances are often private funds used by migrants’ families to meet daily needs such as health, education and food. They are often also invested in improvement to homes, purchase of landed property and entrepreneurial pursuits.

So it is little surprise that Forex bureaus are mushrooming all over the country.

According to a source, it is one of the most lucrative businesses in The Gambia right now.

In the past five years the number of Gambians migrating to Europe in search of better opportunities has increased significantly, according to media reports.

One of their topmost priorities upon arrival is to regularly send remittances to their families back home.

In 2013, more than 56 forex bureaus were registered with the Central Bank of The Gambia and majority of them have branches all over the country. However, an insider at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs said the number has increased in the past three years.