Turkish Official: "Development Road" Represents A Major Boost to Trade Between Turkey and Iraq

Istanbul / NINA / -The Chairman of the Turkish-Iraqi Business Council, Khalid Ajar, affirmed that the “Development Road” project represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen economic and trade relations between Iraq and Turkey, noting that it will provide strong momentum for bilateral trade.

In a press statement, Ajar said the project is not limited to serving as a logistical corridor, but also offers broad investment opportunities in the free zones planned inside Iraq, where Turkey seeks to involve its business community.

He added that Turkish companies, with their expertise in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, energy, and digitalization, are well-positioned to contribute effectively to Iraq’s projects. He stressed that the current goal is to raise bilateral trade volume to 30 billion USD.

“I believe we can easily reach this target, whether through the Development Road project, Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization, or its openness to foreign investment,” Ajar stated.

He further emphasized that the project will not only benefit Iraq but will also bring significant economic advantages to Turkey, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

The “Development Road” project includes a land route and a railway extending 1,200 kilometers within Iraq, connecting the country to Turkey and its ports, with the aim of facilitating cargo movement between Europe and the Gulf states. It is considered one of the shortest trade routes linking the Arabian Gulf with Europe./ End