Iraq's $17 Billion Project to Connect Asia and Europe

The "Development Path" project was announced on Saturday at a conference in Baghdad, aimed at attracting the interests of Arab countries, including those in the Persian Gulf, Syria, and Jordan. A senior aide to the Iraqi government stated that regional investment proposals are on the table. According to Reuters, the goal of this plan, named the "Development Road," is to shorten travel time between the large port of Faw in southern Iraq's oil-rich region to Turkey. Reuters described this project as a step to transform Iraq's economy after decades of war and crisis, allowing the country to become a transit hub in competition with the Suez Canal. Farhan Al-Fartousi, the director general of the Iraqi Ports Authority, told Reuters, "The Development Road is not just a route for transporting goods or passengers. This road opens up development pathways for vast areas of Iraq." The Iraqi government anticipates that high-speed trains, traveling at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour, will transport goods and passengers, connect to local industrial centers, and include an energy sector that could encompass oil and gas pipelines. Reuters noted that this plan signifies a significant change in Iraq's outdated transportation network. Currently, Iraq's railway has only a few operational lines, including slow transport of oil goods and a nighttime passenger train that runs from Baghdad to Basra, taking about 10 to 12 hours to cover a distance of 500 kilometers. Meanwhile, Mr. Al-Fartousi mentioned that the large port of Faw, designed a decade ago, remains unfinished. He referred to plans for transporting tourists and pilgrims to Shia holy sites in Iraq and Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Hajj, stating, "We will reactivate this line and connect it to other countries." Reuters reported that promises of development in Iraq are longstanding, but infrastructure remains dilapidated despite Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani's efforts to rebuild roads and bridges. However, Iraqi officials claim that the "Development Path" project is the result of a period of relative stability since late last year, which they hope to maintain. According to Al-Fartousi, if work begins early next year, the project will be completed by 2029. He stated, "Even if Iraq had been absent for one or two years or one or two decades, it must return one day. I hope these days mark the beginning of Iraq's return."