The Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced on Monday that many countries and companies have approached the ministry to be part of the development road project, in which it said Turkey represents a strategic partner for Iraq.
The ministry’s spokesman, Maitham Al-Safi, said in a statement received by Shafak News Agency, “The initial design phase of the development road project is proceeding at an advanced level by the specialized Italian company, and a feasibility study has been prepared in coordination with the specialized committees of the concerned ministries and institutions.”
He added, “The initial designs for the railway line, topographic survey and soil investigations have been completed by 100%, while the completion rate of the initial designs has reached 75%,” noting that “the next step after completing the initial designs is the final or detailed designs stage.”
Al-Safi continued, “Many countries and international companies aspire to be part of the Development Road project,” stressing that “these countries and companies have approached the Ministry of Transport regarding the project,” explaining that “the strategic partner in the Development Road project is the Turkish side through a memorandum of understanding from which the ministerial council representing four important major countries emerged.”
He pointed out that “the project designs are being prepared by an Italian company, while Oliver Wyman is supervising the consulting services,” stressing that “there are understandings with the ministerial committee for the project by raising many issues with the Turkish, Emirati and Qatari sides regarding the projects.”
Al-Safi referred in his speech to the statements of the Turkish Minister of Transport, in which he confirmed that “the development road project will start from the port of Faw to the heart of London,” noting that “this matter is a positive incentive to complete the project with a positive vision from the countries of the region regarding its importance.”
He explained that “the port of Faw will be the main station, followed by other stations,” stressing that Iraq is “the closest point to Europe, which is reflected in multiple benefits for Iraq through the funds imposed to obtain approvals to enter the port of Faw, as well as through land and railway lines.”
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on Saturday, September 14, that the vital development road project is not only a corridor for transporting goods, but includes projects that “will transform Iraq from a landlocked country to an open one.”
In April 2024, Iraq, Turkey, the UAE, and Qatar signed a quadripartite agreement on the Iraq Development Road Project, under the auspices of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The agreement aims to enhance cooperation regarding the Iraq Strategic Development Path project, as the four countries will work to establish the necessary frameworks for implementing the project, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The strategic development road project is expected to contribute to stimulating economic growth and enhancing regional and international cooperation, as it will achieve economic integration and sustainability between the East and the West. The project will also increase international trade, facilitate the movement of goods, provide a new competitive transportation route, and enhance regional economic prosperity.
It is worth noting that the “Development Road” project is a land and railway road extending from Iraq to Turkey and its ports. The length of the road and railway is 1,200 kilometers inside Iraq, and it aims primarily to transport goods between Europe and the Gulf countries.
The project’s investment budget amounts to about 17 billion US dollars, of which 6.5 billion is for the expressway, and 10.5 billion for the electric train. It will be completed in 3 phases, the first ending in 2028, the second in 2033, and the third in 2050.
The project is expected to provide about 100,000 job opportunities in the first phase, and one million job opportunities after its completion.
shafaq.com
