Istanbul: Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, and Jordan have agreed in principle to launch truck transport among these countries as a first step and an advanced stage of the development road being prepared among Turkey, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates. Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Oraloglu announced the news during the agreement ceremony held at the “Global Transport Corridors” Forum at the Istanbul Congress Center. He stated the intention for trucks to depart from Turkey by land to reach Iraq, then proceed to Kuwait and Jordan, marking the first stage of the “development road.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Minister Oraloglu emphasized that the agreement represents a preliminary start and serves as a rehearsal for the larger development road project. This initiative aims to maintain the vitality of transport corridors, with a focus on tracking trucks departing from Turkey. Nasser Al-Asadi, the Prime Minister’s Advisor for Transport Affairs, highlighted Iraq’s goal to
connect the East and the West through its territory, expressing full support for the development path and congratulating Turkey on this step forward.

Tatiana Mulcian, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, commented on the successful day for the forum and expressed her interest in attending the e-truck section next year. Meanwhile, IRU Secretary-General Umberto de Pretto underscored the project’s significance for the Iraqi people, as it will enable their products to reach global markets quickly and safely.

The transit route through Iraq had been closed to transport operations since 2003 due to the Gulf War, which hindered transit transport through Iraq. However, with Baghdad implementing the truck system, the transit route has reopened. On June 25th, three vehicles departed to transport goods to Kuwait via Iraq, marking the first direct transport to Kuwait in 22 years.

The closure of the transit route through Syria since 2011 due to regional events had previously obstruct
ed direct land transport to Jordan. Yesterday, a truck carrying goods from Germany departed for Jordan via the Turkey-Iraq route, marking the first direct land transport to Jordan in 14 years.