Türkiye-Iraq Development Road project gains momentum

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Al Sudani announced that the railway designs for the Development Road Project, a collaboration between Türkiye and Iraq, are complete.

Al Sudani stated that the Development Road Project will transform Iraq into an “open country” and highlighted that the project’s railway designs are finalized. He mentioned that completing the Development Road will require five years.

Sudani assured that all of Iraq’s territory is under the control of security forces and instructed the preparation of a comprehensive plan to secure the Development Road.

The project, which starts from the Grand Faw Port in the Persian Gulf and extends north through Iraq to Türkiye, will include 1,200 kilometers of railway and road infrastructure. It aims to connect with Türkiye’s railway network through a route that includes Basra, Baghdad, and Mosul.

Named the “Development Route” by the Iraqi government, this ambitious $17 billion Economic Corridor project aims to provide high-speed train travel from Türkiye to the Gulf within hours.

The project is expected to significantly contribute to trade and security cooperation between Türkiye and Gulf countries, offering valuable opportunities for Turkish goods to reach global markets via the Gulf.

With the signing of this project during President Erdogan’s visit to Iraq, Türkiye will become a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative. Besides boosting Iraq’s economy and trade, the Development Road will strengthen the Central Iraqi government and reduce separatist tendencies within the country, weakening the terrorist threats in northern Iraq long perceived as a threat by Türkiye.