According to Iraqi Ministry of Transport spokesperson Shada Radi, a special group has been established to oversee the implementation of a project to build 1200 kilometers of road and railway infrastructure, connecting the country with other countries in Europe and the Middle East.

Once completed, the $16.9 billion development route project will extend from the border between northern Iraq and Türkiye to the southern Gulf region. The plan includes the construction of about 15 stations along the line, including Basra, Baghdad, Mosul and other major cities, as well as the location of Türkiye's border.

The plan for this route includes the introduction of high-speed trains with speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour, connecting to local industrial centers, and including energy components with potential for oil and gas pipelines.

According to Ladi, the project aims to connect Iraq's oil rich southern port of Great Faio with Türkiye, position the country as a key transportation hub, greatly reduce travel time between Asia and Europe, and may be comparable to the Suez Canal.

The preparation work is already underway, and soil investigations are being conducted to determine the optimal path for connecting roads and railways. Radi pointed out that the newly established department is also responsible for collaborating with other countries to explore potential contributions to achieving the project.

We believe that this project is the basic pillar of a sustainable non oil economy, serving Iraq's neighbors and the region, and contributing to economic integration efforts, Prime Minister of Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Suni said when introducing the project to representatives of other countries.

The transportation commitment of the Iraqi parliament states that any country that wishes to participate has the opportunity to contribute as part of the project. The committee also estimated the project completion schedule to be three to five years.Editor/XingWentao