Turkey expresses great interest in Development Road project

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Turkish Minister of Trade, Omer Polat, described the Development Road project as one of the most important transportation projects, indicating that the Turkish government pays great interest to this project as it links the Gulf region with Europe.

Polat’s statements took place during his meeting on Tuesday with the Iraqi Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhibis Al-Saadawi, in Baghdad, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi Transport Ministry.

Al-Saadawi confirmed during the meeting that the Development Road project between Iraq and Turkey is the largest project in the Middle East between two countries.

Polat confirmed that his visit, which follows the visit of Turkey’s Foreign Minister to Baghdad, is part of the preparations for the upcoming visit of the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to Iraq.

The Turkish minister stressed his country’s eagerness to enhance political and economic stability between the two countries, pointing out remarkable progress in the trade exchange and the tourism sector.

The Iraqi Transport Minister illustrated that the transport sector is one of the most important tools of economic development; thus, the Development Road represents a major addition to the economies of all countries in the region, particularly Iraq and Turkey.

The Turkish Trade Minister confirmed that Turkey is ready to provide the required support for the project and to start the construction of needed infrastructure on the Turkish side.

The Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced on Sunday that bilateral agreements related to the Development Road will be signed between Iraq and Turkey, according to official sources.

An Iraqi delegation from the Transport Ministry visited the Turkish capital, Ankara, and held important discussions with officials of the Turkish Ministry of Transport regarding the Development Road project and its economic importance for Iraq, Turkey, countries of the region, and the world, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

The meeting between both sides addressed railways in Turkey and the Turkish plans to develop shipping and rail transport operations with Iraq and the rest of the world.

The Iraqi delegation reviewed the importance and the main stages of the project and gave a presentation on the capacity, operation, specifications, number and types of stations, and communications system of the railway that will be part of the project.

The Turkish side emphasized that it has begun to build a 133-kilometer railway linking the Turkish railways with the Iraqi-Turkish border to ensure that the Al-Faw Grad Port will be linked with Europe.

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.