Iraq launched a $17 billion project on Saturday to connect an important goods port on its southern coast to the border with Turkey through a network of railways and roads, aiming to transform the country into a transit hub that shortens travel time between Asia and Europe in an effort to compete with the Suez Canal. The General Company for Ports of Iraq envisions that the Development Road will not merely be a route for the passage of goods or travelers but a gateway to vast development opportunities in Iraq.
The Iraqi government plans to transport goods and passengers via high-speed trains at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour, in addition to extending lines to local industry and energy centers which may include oil and gas pipelines. This would represent a significant transformation of the country's existing outdated transport network.
Currently, the Iraqi railway services operate a limited number of routes, including slow oil freight and a single night passenger train from Baghdad to Basra, which takes 10 to 12 hours over a distance of 500 kilometers. The Development Road project was announced at a conference aimed at attracting the interest of Arab countries such as the Gulf states, Syria, and Jordan. A senior government aide stated that regional investment is on the table.
