Iraq to invite President Erdogan to Development Road project groundbreaking

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi announced that the government will extend an official invitation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the ‘Development Road’ project. The ceremony is expected to take place following the approval of the national budget.

The Development Road is a major commercial and transport link between Iraq and Turkey, consisting of a land route and a railway line spanning approximately 1,200 kilometers within Iraqi territory. The project aims to facilitate the transport of goods from the Gulf states to Europe via Turkish ports.

In April 2024, Iraq, Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates signed a quadrilateral memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the project. Turkey has expressed support for the initiative, with goals to complete it by 2030. Al-Zaydi described the project as a ‘third river’ for Iraq due to its significant economic, commercial, and developmental benefits.