Baghdad:The Middle East Council on Global Affairs has published a report addressing Iraq’s “Development Road” project, highlighting its strategic importance for regional and global trade.

According to Iraqi News Agency, the report indicates that the ongoing conflict involving Iran has hindered the project’s progress. Nonetheless, it emphasizes the project’s potential as an alternative trade route. Iraq’s commitment, alongside its regional partners Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, is crucial to advancing the project, although its success will depend on how Iran’s situation evolves and Baghdad’s capability to manage Tehran’s apprehensions about the corridor.

The new government led by Ali Al-Zaidi remains dedicated to the initiative. However, the report argues that dedication alone is not enough to realize the project. It stresses the importance of maintaining technical cooperation committees and executive personnel despite any cabinet changes and securing the necessary funding to convert promises into actual investments.

The report suggests that implementing the corridor within production frameworks could create jobs and enhance Iraqi institutions. Industrial clusters along the route could act as incubators for state capacity-building, allowing Iraq to test reforms in customs, procurement, regulation, and service delivery before broader implementation. Additionally, it would foster regional economic interdependence, potentially increasing the cost of instability and conflict.

Completing the corridor could also encourage reconstruction and bring peace dividends to Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, particularly in conflict-affected areas along the corridor and its potential branches.