Baghdad: The Director General of the General Company for Land Transport, Murtadha Karim Al-Shahmani, has revealed that discussions between Iraq and Kyrgyzstan regarding cooperation in the transport sector remain in the initial stages. The Kyrgyz side has proposed providing Iraq with a draft of a comprehensive transport agreement, which will address the movement of goods and passengers, setting the stage for further study and discussion in upcoming meetings.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Shahmani stated that the anticipated agreement aims to enhance Iraq’s role as a trade and logistics corridor connecting Central Asia to the region. This development is expected to facilitate the passage of Kyrgyz trucks through Iraqi territory towards the Gulf states.

Al-Shahmani noted that details such as annual traffic volume, routes, and designated border crossings would be decided once the agreement is finalized and implemented. He highlighted that activating transit transport could decrease the time and cost associated with transporting goods by streamlining technical and customs procedures, cutting down border wait times, and improving the flow of transit traffic.

He further emphasized that this strategy aligns with Iraq’s vision of becoming a regional transport and trade hub. There is potential to integrate the route into the regional transit network, linking it with strategic projects in the future, particularly with the growing implementation of the TIR international transport system.