Baghdad, Ankara to expedite the Development Road’s construction
An aerial view of the breakwater and the progress of the construction work in the Al-Faw Grand Port in Basra, Iraq. Photo: AFP
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq and Turkey agreed on Sunday to accelerate the construction of Iraq’s strategic project, the Development Road, due to its importance in serving the region and the world.
The agreement took place during a visit by a Turkish delegation to the southern Iraqi governorate of Basra, where they discussed with Iraqi officials the details of the project and reviewed projects related to the Al-Faw Grand Port, according to a statement released by the Iraqi Transport Ministry.
The Iraqi Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibas Al-Saadawi, agreed last week with the Turkish Minister of Transport, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, to establish offices in both Baghdad and Ankara to oversee the progress made in the Development Road project.
Many Arab, regional, and European countries have expressed their willingness to participate in Iraq’s Development Road project, either by pumping in investments or taking part in the construction works, as it constitutes an important link between Asia and Europe.
The value of the project is estimated at $17 billion. It will connect the Al-Faw Grand Port in southern Iraq to the border with Turkey by extending a railway and road network.
The project is expected to turn the country into a transit center by shortening the travel time between Asia and Europe in an attempt to compete with Egypt’s Suez Canal.