VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

State-owned construction firm PT Wijaya Karya Persero Tbk (Wika) is ready to expand its business to build infrastructure in Afghanistan.

"In addition to enhancement of bilateral ties between Indonesia and Afghanistan, the firm would benefit from the infrastructure construction project in Afghanistan," Wika`s President Director Bintang Perbowo said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

A business delegation from Afghanistan visited Wika on Monday (March 12), led by the Director General of First Political Division of Afghanistan Foreign Affairs Ministry Musa Arefi. The delegation was accompanied by Indonesian Ambassador to Afghanistan Arief Rachman MD. 

At the meeting, Wika and Afghanistan construction firm Haji Khalil Construction Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding on infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. The agreement was signed by Wika`s General Manager for Foreign Affairs Yulianto and President Director of the Afghan firm Khalil Samar Gul.

Perbowo stated that the meeting has opened the opportunity for Wika to participate in the development in Afghanistan.

Wika, he continued, has recorded profit from its foreign construction projects. It has handled some infrastructure projects in Aljier, Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Jeddah (Arab Saudi), Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam, and Timor Leste. The company has learned some potential projects, especially in infrastructure and housing, which would be funded by the Afghan government.

Meanwhile, Director General of First Political Division of Afghanistan Foreign Affairs Ministry Musa Arefi revealed that the meeting has become a momentum for both companies to know each other. "Wika has the capacity and experience; thus, it could participate in the development of infrastructure in Afghanistan," Musa explained.

In January, President Joko Widodo visited Afghanistan to enhance bilateral cooperation, despite the unfavorable security condition in the country. After this visit, in February, Vice President Jusuf Kalla visited the country on a peace mission. ( antara )