Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani issued directives today, Thursday, regarding the Development Road project, including resolving conflicts and determining the final land route for the road. The media office of the Prime Minister stated that "Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani chaired today the seventh meeting of the High Committee for the Strategic Development Road Project," noting that "the latest steps related to following up on the project and preparing the necessities for proceeding with its files were discussed."
Al-Sudani emphasized that "the Development Road is a project of the Iraqi state, encompassing all its interests and the economic growth aspirations of our people," adding that "it cannot be attributed to any party, official, ministry, or specific sector." He confirmed "Iraq's openness to participation from neighboring brotherly and friendly countries," clarifying that "the recent quadrilateral memorandum of understanding signed in this regard will serve as a fundamental point to affirm the project's work in all its details."
The Prime Minister directed "the resolution of outstanding conflicts concerning the road project's route with the provinces and ministries, through a committee chaired by the Director of the Prime Minister’s Office and composed of all relevant parties," instructing "the Minister of Transport to finalize the approval of designs related to the road project with the provinces and relevant departments."
Regarding the planning of the land route and the highway designated for vehicles and trucks, al-Sudani directed "the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works, in collaboration with the Italian consultant, to finalize the required route."
The meeting agreed on the formation of a committee consisting of customs, standards and quality control, border crossings, and other relevant sectoral entities to finalize the details and procedures of transportation operations that will occur in relation to entering Iraqi territory or exiting from Iraq using the Development Road, along with establishing the customs tariff and commercial and administrative requirements related to this activity.
The Prime Minister instructed "the Legal Department in the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and the Legal Advisor’s Office in the Prime Minister's Office to develop a comprehensive legal vision concerning the management of the project and to establish the legal aspects related to its operation."
