By Mehmet Alaca
BAGHDAD (AA) - Iraq’s transport minister said that the Development Road Project, aimed at connecting Iraq to Europe through Türkiye, is more than just a railway and highway initiative, adding: "This is an economic integration project.”
Razzaq Muhibis Al-Saadawi talked about the Development Road Project while meeting with a 10-member delegation comprising academics, journalists, and businesspeople from Türkiye who visited Baghdad and Basra at the invitation of the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office last week.
Al-Saadawi stated that they plan to establish industrial cities around the railways and highways extending from Basra to Faysh Khabur as part of the project.
"The Development Road Project is not just about railways and highways as mentioned in the media. This is an economic integration project. It will provide economic integration for the countries participating in the project."
During the meeting, Al-Saadawi emphasized the project's international and regional support, its potential to increase commercial qualification, and its ability to reduce transportation costs.
The project will begin at the Grand Faw Port in Basra, covering 54 square kilometers, which will become the largest port in the region upon completion, the minister noted.
“The Grand Faw Port, located in the open sea, will be able to host large trade ships with a depth of up to 19.5 meters,” Al-Saadawi said.
He further said that the port would begin operations by mid-2025 and would include a large military base, petrochemical refineries, natural gas storage facilities, and water treatment plants.
Residential and industrial zones will also be constructed around the port, al-Saadawi said, adding al-Faw Peninsula would be the largest industrial and tourism region in the Middle East.
- Heart of Development Road Project
Al-Saadawi described the Grand Faw Port as the heart of the Development Road Project, expected to significantly enhance global and regional trade.
The Iraqi official noted that the Italian company PEG Infrastructure is continuing feasibility studies for the route of the Development Road Project, which will connect to the Turkish border with 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) of highway and railway lines starting from Grand Fav Port.
"75% of the railway project sketch is complete. Passenger trains will travel at a speed of 300 kilometers per hour. The trains transporting goods will have a speed of 140 kilometers per hour," he added.
Al-Saadawi stated that 65% of the highway sketch to be constructed as part of the project has been completed, adding discussions with the Italian consulting company are ongoing on the expropriation issues in the areas from where the highway and railway lines will pass, as well as the facilities to be built around the route.
Additionally, Al-Saadawi noted that they are working on a special law for Grand Fav Port to offer opportunities to investors and businesspeople.
The total cost of the railway and highway construction is expected to reach $17 billion.
Emphasizing that the chosen route for the Development Road Project is the optimal path, Al-Saadawi stressed that the current route was determined to minimize obstacles in the project.
- Talks with Iran, no contact with Egypt
As part of the quadrilateral memorandum of understanding signed between Türkiye, Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Iraq on April 22, a council of ministers will be established, he said.
The council of ministers will be established to oversee and coordinate the Development Road Project, Al-Saadawi said, adding that neighboring countries are welcome to join the project.
Al-Saadawi also mentioned that the first meeting of transportation ministers from these four countries will occur in the coming days.
He noted that discussions with Iran about joining the project have yielded positive outcomes, while there has been no contact with Egypt.
Al-Saadawi underscored that Iraq is not in political competition with any country regarding the project, aiming to keep the project away from politics.
"The Development Road is a purely economy-focused project, completely devoid of politics. We will not engage in competition with any party. Iraq and Türkiye have geographical advantages. We will utilize this for the benefit of our peoples."
The minister emphasized that the project is more advantageous than the Suez Canal, potentially saving 12-15 days in transportation time and reducing costs, and the Grand Faw Port is designated to become a free trade zone.
- Kurdistan Regional Government’s request denied
The Kurdistan Regional Government requested that the project route should pass through its territories, however, this suggestion was rejected by the Italian consulting company and the Ministry of Transport, he said.
Al-Saadawi stated that the current route is more advantageous in terms of cost and time.
*Writing by Seda Sevencan in Istanbul