Turkey and Iraq to Begin Construction of the Kalkınma Yolu Transport Corridor this Year

Turkey’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that construction on the bilateral "Kalkınma Yolu" (Development Road) project will start within the year. The corridor will link Turkey and Iraq with a 1,200‑kilometre road‑rail link, a new border crossing between Fişhabur (Iraq) and Ovaköy (Turkey), and associated bridge works.

Financing is expected to rely on an oil‑revenue‑backed model that Iraq favours, with a draft agreement already sent to Baghdad. The plan also includes a fiber‑optic network, satellite systems and upgrades to civil aviation facilities such as the Musul Airport. The ministers said the project could be completed in four to five years and will be discussed further during the Iraqi prime minister’s upcoming visit to Turkey.