Baghdad: Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Oraloglu emphasized the high strategic importance of the “Development Road” project in collaboration with Iraq, stating it holds significant potential not only for Turkey and Iraq but also for the broader region. Oraloglu highlighted that the initiative aims to enhance regional cooperation, bolster humanitarian relations, and foster trade through a new Silk Road in the region.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Oraloglu addressed the project’s capacity to improve cooperation among friendly nations and reiterated Turkey and Iraq’s commitment to executing the project. The proposed development will stretch from the city of Basra to the Turkish border, leveraging Turkey’s strategic location to unlock new opportunities and diversify trade routes.

The statement followed the second meeting of the Quadripartite Ministerial Council on the Development Road Project held in Baghdad, attended by Turkish Minister of Transport Abdulkadir Oraloglu,
UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Qatari Minister of Transport Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, and Iraqi Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhaibis. This meeting underscored the collaborative efforts among these nations to advance the strategic infrastructure project.

The Development Road project, a land and railway initiative, aims to enhance connectivity by spanning 1,200 kilometers within Iraq, facilitating the transport of goods between the Gulf States and Europe. The project was formalized through a quadripartite memorandum of understanding signed on April 22nd by Turkey, Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE, under the auspices of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.