Latest news with #DevelopmentRoadProject
Iraq Business
21-05-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraq Completes First Section of Development Road
By John Lee. The General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI), has announced the completion of the first section of the Development Road Project, linking the Al-Faw Grand Port to Umm Qasr. According to the Ministry's media office, the 62-km road consists of three lanes designated for heavy trucks and cargo, and is equipped with a high-standard safety wall to ensure smooth and secure transportation. The completed segment stretches from the Grand Al-Faw Port to the submerged tunnel over 51 km, followed by an additional 11 km extending to the main road toward Safwan. The project includes two major bridges-805 metres and 300 metres long-and is equipped with solar-powered lighting to ensure sustainable energy and modern technology use. This segment marks the first phase in executing the Development Road, a strategic initiative designed to link Iraqi ports with land borders and enhance transport infrastructure nationwide. The Al-Faw Grand Port, located on the Al-Faw Peninsula in Basra, is a cornerstone project intended to transform Iraq into a regional trade hub through integration with global transport networks. The port's projected capacity of 99 million tonnes annually positions it among the largest in the Arabian Gulf and tenth worldwide. In 2024, the Ministry of Transport received the five-berth project at the port, with other infrastructure components advancing steadily. The submerged tunnel is in the concrete segment alignment stage at Khor Al-Zubair, container yard completion has surpassed 90%, and channel dredging continues. The first phase of the Al-Faw Grand Port is expected to be completed by the end of this year. (Source: Ministry of Transport)
Shafaq News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Ankara Summit: Iraq, Turkiye focus on bilateral cooperation
Shafaq News/ Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met on Thursday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara to advance bilateral cooperation. According to al-Sudani's media office, the meeting centered on implementing agreements signed in April 2024, covering counterterrorism coordination, border security, water resource management, and economic integration—particularly the Development Road Project. The summit coincided with the fourth session of the Iraq–Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Erdoğan praised al-Sudani's leadership, describing Iraq as a 'key stabilizing force' in the region. 'We welcome Iraq's constructive role, thanks to the wisdom of Prime Minister al-Sudani … we will continue to strengthen this partnership.' The Turkish president also urged regional countries to contribute to the Development Road Project, calling it a critical infrastructure initiative. Speaking earlier at a forum organized by Anadolu Agency, the Iraqi Prime Minister reiterated that Iraqi-Turkish relations are 'an integral part of the regional stability equation,' emphasizing the Development Road as 'one of the most significant infrastructure undertakings in the Middle East.' Al-Sudani warned that 'the Israeli government, under Benjamin Netanyahu, is attempting to drag the entire region into war,' and stressed that Iraq's foreign policy prioritizes de-escalation and regional balance.
Rudaw Net
08-05-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Sudani, Erdogan discuss bilateral ties, sign 10 MoUs
Also in Turkey PKK to disarm, disband 'today or tomorrow': Erdogan Turkey's ruling party expects PKK dissolution, disarmament 'within days' Turkey will not allow Israel to drag Syria into another conflict: Erdogan Turkey's main opposition leader attacked in Istanbul A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani in Ankara on Thursday, where the two sides discussed overall bilateral relations and the implementation of agreements signed between the two countries last year. The two leaders additionally signed ten new agreements, defense industry collaboration and training within Iraq's interior ministry. Sudani's office reported that the Iraqi premier and the Turkish president 'reaffirmed their commitment to continuing joint efforts to strengthen cooperation.' The Iraqi prime minister was quoted as emphasizing 'the mutual desire to implement the outcomes of the Strategic Framework Agreement for Cooperation, which aims to enhance the two countries' ability to address common challenges.' The agreement, signed between Iraq and Turkey in April 2024, spans a wide range of areas including security, trade, infrastructure, water, and education. A key element of the Strategic Framework Agreement is enhanced security collaboration, particularly through the creation of a Joint Security Coordination Center in Baghdad and a Joint Training and Cooperation Center in northern Iraq. These facilities are intended to improve coordination on counterterrorism efforts, especially those targeting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). On the economic front, the agreement led to the formation of a Joint Economic Trade Committee, alongside several memoranda of understanding aimed at boosting trade, investment, and mutual economic interests. Among the most ambitious initiatives is the $17 billion Development Road Project - also known as the Dry Canal Project - which will connect southern Iraq to the Turkish border via a modern rail and road network. The Iraqi pemier was cited by his office on Thursday as highlighting the importance of the Development Road Project and 'its contributions to both international and regional economic integration, enhancing trade between Iraq and Turkey, and creating numerous opportunities for development.' Earlier in the day, Sudani also spoke to the state-run Turkish news agency about the key project, describing it as 'one of the most important projects in the Middle East' and 'a strategic project for the countries of the region, especially for Turkey.' "We want Iraqi-Turkish relations to be part of the regional stability equation," Sudani added. On the regional front, Sudani and Erdogan were quoted by the Iraqi premier's office as addressing 'key regional events and developments.' The two leaders 'condemned the ongoing [Israeli] aggression in Gaza and emphasized the alignment of Iraq and Turkey's positions on the matter.' In October 2023, the Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale incursion into southern Israel, killing more than 1,170 people, according to Israeli figures. Israel responded with a massive offensive in Gaza that killed 52,000 people, mostly Palestinian civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Some 118,014 have also been wounded. Following 15 months of war, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire which went into effect in mid-January. However, on March 18, Israel launched new attacks on Gaza, killing more than 2,300 Palestinians and injuring more than 2500 others, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel says the offensive aims to secure the return of 59 hostages still held by Hamas. Since early March, Israel has barred all supplies - including food, water and medicine - from entering Gaza, to pressure Hamas to renegotiate the ceasefire. Sudani and Erdogan on Thursday underscored 'the importance of allowing humanitarian aid to enter and the complete withdrawal of occupying forces,' according to the Iraqi prime minister's office. In regard to Syria, the Iraqi premier and Turkish president 'reaffirmed their support for stability and political transition in Syria, assisting the Syrian people in their crisis, promoting national sovereignty, rejecting external interference in domestic affairs, and ensuring the protection of Syria's diversity and social pluralism.' Following a swift offensive, a coalition of opposition groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa - on December 8 toppled the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. In late January, Sharaa was appointed as the country's interim president. While Turkey, a long-time backer of Syria's anti-Assad opposition, quickly emerged as a key ally of the new government in Damascus, Iraq adopted a more cautious approach. Upon his late January appointment, Syria's interim President, Sharaa, was congratulated by most Arab countries, while Iraq notably withheld its support. Baghdad's hesitation signaled caution in its approach to the new leadership in Damascus. Of note, Baghdad was a close ally of Assad. However, signs of a thaw have emerged in recent weeks, when Sudani met Sharaa in Qatar in mid-April. Ten days later, Iraq officially invited Sharaa attend the Arab League summit scheduled for May 17 in Baghdad. In another statement, Sudani's office confirmed that the Iraqi prime minister and Turkish president jointly presided over the signing of ten new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). These included agreements on defense industry collaboration and the exchange of technical expertise, the establishment of procedures for the voluntary repatriation of Iraqi citizens currently residing in Turkey, and initiatives aimed at judicial cooperation and the joint fight against illicit drug trafficking. Additional MoUs were signed to enhance training and capacity-building efforts within Iraq's Ministry of Interior. The agreements also covered cooperation in disaster management, digital public relations, educational partnerships - including the opening of Turkish university branches in Iraq - and technical fields such as metrology and calibration.
Iraqi News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Prime Minister and Turkish President Stress Importance of Allowing Humanitarian Aid into Gaza
Baghdad - INA Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed on Thursday the importance of allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Prime Minister's Media Office said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a bilateral meeting as part of Al-Sudani's official visit to the Turkish capital, Ankara. The meeting witnessed discussions on the overall bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to proceed with the implementation of agreements previously signed between the two sides in April 2024." The statement added that "mutual emphasis was placed on continuing joint qualitative efforts to enhance cooperation." According to the statement, Al-Sudani indicated "the two sides' keenness to implement the outcomes of the strategic framework agreements for joint cooperation, which will enhance the two countries' ability to confront common challenges." He stated that "Iraq values the constructive joint cooperation, the outcomes of the high-level security mechanism, and the frank and transparent dialogue that addresses various security aspects of concern to both countries, particularly in the field of combating terrorism, human trafficking, and drug trafficking." Al-Sudani also addressed "the Development Road Project and its contributions at the international and regional levels to enhancing economic integration, raising the level of exchange between Iraq and Turkey, and creating broad and diverse opportunities for development, industrial and agricultural zones, and cooperation between the private sectors in both Iraq and Turkey, in addition to the fields of higher education, scientific research, culture, and other areas of cooperation."
Iraqi News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Al-Sudani: Water Issue is Sensitive for Iraq, and Our Government Is Acting in Accordance with Joint Agreements
Baghdad - INA Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani affirmed on Thursday that the water issue is sensitive for Iraq, and our government is acting in accordance with joint agreements. In statements made during his appearance on a program organized by Anadolu Agency titled "Axis: Iraqi-Turkish Relations," followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the Prime Minister said, "The water issue is sensitive for Iraq, and our government is acting in accordance with joint agreements." He emphasized that "confronting terrorism is one of the foundations of the relationship with Turkey." He added, "The government is acting on the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries," while noting that "the water issue is sensitive for Iraq, and our government is acting in accordance with joint agreements." He continued, "There is extensive cooperation between Iraq and Turkey in trade and investment, and there are also major investment projects in Iraq." The Prime Minister emphasized that "the Development Road Project will achieve economic integration in the region."
