Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey plan to invest in Iraq’s railway project
A train in Iraq. Photo: CSR
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Saudi Arabia is eager to play a significant role in the $17 billion major railway project in Iraq, and ten Middle Eastern countries expressed their desire to take part in the project.
In a few days, a Saudi delegation is scheduled to travel to Iraq to discuss further details of the project.
The Iraqi Minister of Transport, Razzaq Al-Saadawi, held bilateral talks on Monday with his Saudi counterpart, Saleh Al-Jasser, on railway projects and air flights between the two countries.
During a meeting both ministers held on the sidelines of the Sustainable Maritime Industry Conference (SMIC) held in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Al-Jasser said that his country is eager to carry out the railway project between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
The discussions between the two ministers addressed the details of the Development Road project Iraq is working on.
Iraqi lawmaker Baqir Al-Saadi explained that 10 countries expressed interest in participating in the Development Road project.
The 10 countries may include Iran, Turkey, Jordan and Syria, as well as the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Al-Saadi elaborated that the desire of these Middle Eastern countries reflects the fact that Iraq is becoming stable and safe.
The Development Road is the name given by the Iraqi government to what was known as the dry canal that connects the Al-Faw Grand Port in southern Iraq with the Turkish territories through railway networks and roads.
It will extend for 1,200 kilometers from Al-Faw port town in southern Iraq to Faysh Khabur town in the northern Iraqi governorate of Duhok.
The Development Road includes a railway where electric trains will pass through 10 Iraqi governorates.
In a joint press conference held in March with the Turkish President, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, stated that the Development Road represents a global corridor to transport goods and energy.
The Prime Minister illustrated that the project includes a railway to transport goods, with a capacity of 3.5 million tons in its first phase that will be increased to 7.5 million tons in the second phase.
Al-Sudani elaborated that the project will also include a highway for land transport and pipelines to transport energy, in addition to the Al-Faw Grand Port and the industrial city expected to be one of the largest in the Middle East.
The Iraqi Premier added that the project will generate many job opportunities for Iraq and the countries of the region, as well as opportunities for industries and businessmen, and it will be a center attracting global trade.