(Ecofin Agency) - The government of Niger has ratified during a council of ministers held last Wednesday, a loan agreement worth more than 19 million units of account, or about 15 billion CFA franc for the trans-Saharan fiber optic backbone project.

The agreement was signed on April 6, 2017 in Abidjan between Niger and the African Development Fund (ADF).

Regarding the trans-Saharan project, which includes the construction of a road, it aims to be built to interconnect Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Mali and Chad. This in a bid to diversify the economy by stimulating the emergence of a digital economy.

It will also boost access to low-cost telecom services for populations, administrations and businesses.