Morocco-based financial services company Wafacash has partnered with digital money transfer service WorldRemit to scale up both companies' operations by offering instant money transfers across West and Central Africa.

The companies already work together in Morocco and Senegal, but will expand into Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger and Cote D'Ivoire before the end of the year.

According to a joint statement from the companies, instant cash pickup service will be made available at over 2,000 Wafacash locations in seven countries. The new service will allow WorldRemit customers in over 50 countries to transfer money by sending an instant message, using the company's app or Web platform.

Samira Khamlichi, Chief Executive at Wafacash, comments: "By extending our partnership with WorldRemit we wish to contribute to the improvement of the financial inclusion in our country and to the diversification of legal financial channels."

Ismail Ahmed says, founder and CEO at WorldRemit, adds, "We are delighted our partnership with Wafacash is growing. We have a shared vision that money transfers should be as safe, fast and low-cost as possible. This expansion means more cash pickup points in the region, making our service even more convenient to our customers".

In June WorldRemit announced a global integration with Google's Android Pay, followed by a partnership with Huawei's mobile money platform across Africa.

According to the remittance service, customers now complete 700,000 transfers per month from over 50 send countries to over 140 receiving destinations.

Wafacash, a subsidiary of Attijariwafa Bank, says it has ambitious regional growth plans. "The company currently has pay-out points at Wafacash offices and Attijariwafa Bank branches and agents, enabling customers to pick up funds quickly and conveniently," notes the statement.

Remittances in the region have experienced a decade of strong growth, amounting to a projected US$34 billion across Sub-Saharan Africa in 2017, according to the World Bank.

The organisation says between 2006 and 2015, the value of remittances to Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire and Senegal grew by an estimated 86%, 130%, and 74% respectively. Morocco alone received over US$7 billion in 2015, the equivalent of 7% of its GDP.