Iraq completes initial designs for Development Road Project

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq has completed the preliminary designs for its flagship Development Road Project and railway corridor, marking a major milestone as the government prepares to advance one of its largest infrastructure initiatives into the implementation phase. The Ministry of Transport announced on Sunday that the initial designs are now 100% complete, with work shifting to detailed engineering plans covering infrastructure, bridges, railway stations, and technical facilities along the project’s route. According to a source at the ministry’s media office, engineers have begun preparing the project’s detailed designs to ensure the corridor meets international engineering and construction standards. The next phase includes finalizing plans for the railway network, highways, bridges, stations, and supporting infrastructure before construction begins. Officials described the transition as a key step toward launching the long-awaited project after completing the necessary preparatory stages. The announcement follows a recent visit by Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu to Baghdad on July 21, where he held talks with Iraqi officials on strengthening cooperation in transport and communications. During the meetings, Iraqi Transport Minister Wahb Al-Hassani and his Turkish counterpart agreed to accelerate technical planning and implementation procedures for the Development Road Project. The ministry said both sides consider the corridor a transformative initiative that could reshape regional trade and economic cooperation. The ministry also revealed that Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive financing mechanism for the project. Securing funding will be a priority ahead of the project’s implementation and is expected to feature prominently during Al-Zaidi’s upcoming visit to Ankara, where discussions with Turkish officials will focus on advancing strategic cooperation and moving the project toward construction. The Development Road Project is designed to create a major transport corridor linking Iraq’s ports with regional and international markets. The combined railway and highway network aims to connect the Grand Faw Port in southern Iraq with Turkey and Europe, positioning Iraq as a key logistics hub between Asia and Europe. Officials say the corridor will significantly improve trade flows while strengthening Iraq’s role in global supply chains. Alongside the engineering work, the Ministry of Transport is preparing the project’s economic model to maximize investment returns and attract local and international partners. The ministry said the framework will also align with the government’s broader reform agenda, including digital transformation and modern project management systems. The government views the Development Road Project as one of Iraq’s most important strategic investments. Officials expect it to diversify the economy beyond oil, generate new non-oil revenues, attract foreign investment, and create thousands of jobs across multiple sectors. By leveraging Iraq’s geographic position between East and West, the project is also expected to strengthen the country’s role as a regional center for transportation, logistics, and international trade.