Indonesia and Niger have signed a contract worth 20 million euros (US$22.96 million) to renovate the Presidential Palace in Niamey.

The contract was signed on Thursday by state-owned construction firm PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA)’s operational director III for overseas projects, Destiawan Soewardjono, and Nigerien presidential Cabinet director Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou.

“This is a historic project that has strategic value, given that it is WIKA’s first project in Sub-Saharan Africa. I am sure that after this project, there will be more projects, either in the infrastructure sector or other fields of high potential,” Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir said in a statement on Friday.

The project follows up on the last state visit of Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou in 2017. A preliminary agreement on the renovation was signed during the Indonesia-Africa Forum in Bali in April.

For the project, WIKA will be funded by the Indonesian Export Financing Agency, or Indonesia Eximbank, representatives of which were also present at the signing ceremony.

Fachir said all relevant parties should continue to work closely together to identify other infrastructure projects that could become concrete business deals during the Indonesia-Africa Infrastructure Dialogue to be held from Aug. 20 to 21, 2019.

“After the renovation of the Presidential Palace, Indonesia is also ready to continue to contribute to various infrastructure projects in Niger,” Fachir said in a courtesy meeting with Issoufou.

At the meeting, Issoufou said he hoped Indonesia could participate in infrastructure development in Niger, such as in the areas of energy, telecommunication and railroads, in accordance with Niger’s Social and Economic Development Plan.

Fachir seized the opportunity to convey Indonesia’s interest in participating in various development projects of state-owned energy company Niger Electric and railway construction.

Fachir also expressed his appreciation for Niger’s support of Indonesia’s bid for non-permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council.

Issoufou said he hoped Indonesia could encourage the UN to pay more attention to Niger and other countries in the Sahel region, the transition zone between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian Savanna to the south.

He pointed to the dire need for international attention on the region, especially in an effort to eradicate terrorism.

A number of terrorist groups in the region, including Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), have been repeatedly cited as threats to the region’s stability.

In the visit to West Africa’s largest country by territory, Fachir also conducted the first Indonesia-Niger Joint Commission Session in Niamey.

“Indonesia is ready to increase bilateral cooperation with Niger in various fields, especially trade, infrastructure and technical cooperation,” he told his Nigerien counterpart, Kalla Ankourao.

Fachir said a reduction in tariffs could boost bilateral trade, which amounted to a paltry $6.62 million in 2017, according to Trade Ministry data.

Niger expressed support for Indonesia’s initiative to form a preferential trade agreement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which includes Niger.

During the meeting, Niger raised the issue of connectivity and people-to-people contacts between the two countries, such as by easing visa requirements for Nigerien citizens and implementing visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

Responding to this, Fachir said such an arrangement had been agreed and would be implemented in the near future.

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