Iraq signs agreement with Kuwait to establish telecom route to Europe
Representatives of Iraq’s Informatics and Telecommunications Public Company (ITPC) and the Kuwaiti company Zajil Telecom after signing a telecom agreement in the presence of the Iraqi Minister of Communications, Hiyam Al-Yasiri, Photo: INA
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq and Kuwait concluded a strategic collaboration agreement to create a communications route from the Gulf to Europe.
The Iraqi Ministry of Communications mentioned that the new partnership aims to strengthen Iraq’s strategic position in the region and that the ministry’s Informatics and Telecommunications Public Company (ITPC) signed a strategic contract with the Kuwaiti company Zajil Telecom to create an international telecommunications corridor to Europe via Iraq, passing through Turkey.
The Iraqi Minister of Communications, Hiyam Al-Yasiri, explained that the agreement aims to fortify Iraq’s strategic standing in the region and optimize financial gains for the execution of government initiatives, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
Al-Yasiri elaborated that the agreement is the first of several projects for underwater and transit cables, aiming to create communication flow from the Gulf States, South and West Asia up to the European continent via Iraqi land and sea ports.
The Iraqi Minister of Communications indicated that this plan, together with other comparable initiatives now under way, will turn Iraq into a secure land corridor that may rival the region’s only international maritime route that goes via the Suez Canal.
Al-Yasiri clarified that beside initial approvals that have been granted to connect the UAE to Al-Faw in southern Iraq, the ministry will soon sign similar contracts, including one with Saudi Arabia, in addition to other measures being taken with Oman and Bahrain.