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ngineering and construction company PT Wijaya Karya (Wika) expects to win more projects abroad, especially in the Middle East, following its involvement in a highway project in Algeria where it served as a subcontractor for Cojaal consortium of Japan.

Wika overseas general manager Destiawan Soewardjono said on Tuesday that Wika would use the success of its project in Algeria, the company’s first project overseas, as promotion to secure other infrastructure projects in the Middle East.

“We will intensify our presence overseas. We will enter Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The countries are developing infrastructure. Qatar, for example, is preparing for the 2022 World Cup and will need to construct roads to stadiums,” he said.

Destiawan said that infrastructure projects supporting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was estimated to reach 25 million Qatari riyal (US$6.86 million).

“We are considering projects amounting 10 million Qatari riyal and are examining the projects’ difficulty level and the partners involved,” Destiawan said.

Wika director of finance Ganda Kusuma said the company, considering the recent political turmoil in Tunisia and Libya, would carefully weigh the benefits before signing construction deals with Middle East and North African countries. The company, through its subsidiary PT Wika Gedung, was working on a shopping mall in Libya when turmoil erupted to depose Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi.

“We are looking for opportunities to enter Libya. The country will need massive construction, especially buildings, after recent instability. However, it depends on the situation,” Ganda said.

Destiawan said that Wika would also expand to Asia Pacific and Southeast Asian countries, particularly countries with fewer competitors.

“We see opportunities in Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam,” Ganda said, adding that his company planned to bid for road and bridge projects in Timor Leste.

Ganda said that Wika was targeting to reap new construction contracts worth up to Rp 16.5 trillion ($1.81 billion) this year, increasing from Rp 12.2 trillion in 2011.

“We hope to support the government’s infrastructure development plans, including in the construction of airports, harbors, toll roads and power plants,” Ganda said.