Istanbul / Anadolu

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi directed on Tuesday to establish a clear mechanism for financing the 'Development Road' project and implementing it according to specific timelines, while Turkey confirmed its desire to start implementing the basic infrastructure of the project.

This came during al-Zaidi's reception in Baghdad of Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu and his accompanying delegation, according to a statement from the media office of the Iraqi Prime Minister.

The statement said the meeting discussed the latest developments of the 'Development Road' project and its economic and developmental importance for Iraq, Turkey, and the countries of the region.

Al-Zaidi directed 'to establish a clear mechanism for financing the project and implementing it, ensuring the commencement of practical steps according to specific timelines.'

The Iraqi Prime Minister described the project as 'a strategic pillar to enhance economic integration and regional connectivity.'

For his part, Uraloğlu affirmed his country's interest in the 'Development Road' project and its desire to implement it given its great economic importance.

The Turkish minister pointed to 'the alignment of the two sides' visions regarding the necessity of starting the implementation of the basic infrastructure of the project,' according to the same statement.

During the meeting, al-Zaidi affirmed the depth of Iraqi-Turkish relations, calling for enhancing economic and investment cooperation to serve the interests of both countries.

He also announced that an upcoming visit to Turkey will witness the signing of several memoranda of understanding to expand bilateral cooperation in vital sectors, without specifying the date of the visit or the nature of the expected agreements.

The planned 'Development Road' project extends for about 1,200 kilometers inside Iraq, and includes the construction of a railway line and a highway linking the Grand Faw Port in southern Iraq to the Turkish border, and from there to transport networks leading to Europe.

In April 2024, the governments of Iraq, Turkey, Qatar, and the UAE signed a quadrilateral memorandum of understanding for cooperation on the project, and established a joint ministerial mechanism to follow up on its implementation.

The project aims to transform Iraq into a regional hub for transporting goods between the Gulf and Europe via Turkey, but the mechanisms for its financing and implementation of its phases remain among the most prominent files being discussed among the participating countries.