Iraq plans early 2027 start on expansion of Development Road project: Prime minister
- Ali al-Zaidi says extension will include industrial cities, with Grand Faw Port also set to open at full commercial capacity
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- Ali al-Zaidi says extension will include industrial cities, with Grand Faw Port also set to open at full commercial capacity
By Jomaa Younis and Tarek Chouiref
ISTANBUL (AA) - Iraq plans to begin work on an extension of its Development Road project in early 2027, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Monday.
Speaking to Iraqi business leaders and investors in Jordan’s capital Amman, al-Zaidi said the extension would include industrial cities. Grand Faw Port will also open at full capacity for commercial transport, according to a statement from his media office.
The Development Road is a planned rail and highway corridor connecting the port in southern Iraq to the Turkish border, with onward links through Türkiye to Europe. Its Iraqi section will stretch about 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), creating a freight route between the Gulf and European markets.
Al-Zaidi said the projects would help make Iraq a major transit hub for trade between East and West.
The announcement follows his remarks Friday that Baghdad would invite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the groundbreaking ceremony after Iraq’s budget was approved.
Iraq, Türkiye, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding in April 2024 to cooperate on the project.