A $17 billion Iraqi project aimed at linking a major trading port on its southern coast to the border with Turkey by rail and road premiered today, Saturday, and aims to transform the country’s economy after decades of war and crisis.
The Development Road is designed to connect the port of Grand Fau in Iraq’s oil-rich south to Turkey, turning the country into a transit hub by shortening transit times between Asia and Europe in an attempt to compete with the Suez Canal.
The Development Road is not just a road for transporting goods or passengers. This road opens the door to the development of vast areas of Iraq,” Farhan al-Fartushi, CEO of the Iraqi General Ports Company, told Reuters.
The Iraqi government provides for high-speed trains carrying goods and passengers at speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour, links to local industrial centers, and an energy component that may include oil and gas pipelines.
This project will mark a significant departure from the country’s existing legacy transport network.
Iraqi Railways currently operates a limited number of lines, including oil transportation, and an overnight passenger train running from Baghdad to Basra, which travels 500 kilometers in 10 to 12 hours.
Authorities say the Grande Fort harbour, built over a decade ago, is nearing completion.
Passenger traffic between Iraq and Europe dates back to the grandiose plans of the early 20th century to build an express train from Baghdad to Berlin.
“We will reopen this line and connect it to other countries,” Fartusi said, highlighting plans to bring tourists and pilgrims to Shiite shrines in Iraq and Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The prospects for development in Iraq are long, but the infrastructure remains damaged, even as Prime Minister Mohammed Shaya al-Sudani’s government is pushing to rebuild roads and bridges.
But officials say the Growth Path is based on something new: a period of relative stability since the end of last year that they hope can be sustained.
If work begins early next year, authorities estimate the project will be completed in 2029.
“Let’s hope that these days will be the beginning of Iraq’s renaissance,” said Farhan al-Fartushi, CEO of the Iraqi General Ports Company.
Source: Reuters.
Source: Kathimerini
Anna White is a journalist at 247 News Reel, where she writes on world news and current events. She is known for her insightful analysis and compelling storytelling. Anna’s articles have been widely read and shared, earning her a reputation as a talented and respected journalist. She delivers in-depth and accurate understanding of the world’s most pressing issues.