AMMAN — Iraq on Saturday presented an ambitious plan to turn itself
into a regional transportation hub by developing its road and rail
infrastructure, linking Europe with the Middle East, AFP reported.
اضافة اعلان
Once completed, the $17 billion project known as the
"Route of Development" would span the length of the country,
stretching 1,200km from the northern border with Turkey to the Gulf in the
south.
Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani announced the project
during a conference with transport ministry representatives from Iran, Jordan,
Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the UAE.
"We see this project as a pillar of a sustainable
non-oil economy, a link that serves Iraq's neighbors and the region, and a
contribution to economic integration efforts," Sudani said.
While further discussions are required, any country that
wishes "will be able to carry out part of the project", the Iraqi
parliament's transport committee said, adding the project could be completed in
"three to five years".
"The Route of Development will boost interdependence
between the countries of the region," Turkey's ambassador to Baghdad Ali
Riza Guney said, without elaborating on what role his country would play in the
project.
War-ravaged and beset by rampant corruption, oil-rich Iraq
suffers from dilapidated infrastructure.
Its roads, riddled with potholes and poorly maintained, are
in terrible condition.
Those connecting Baghdad to the north cross areas where
sporadic attacks are still carried out by remnants of Daesh.
Sudani has prioritized the reconstruction of the country's
road network, along with upgrading its failing electricity infrastructure,
according to AFP.
Lack of 'fluidity'Developing the road and rail corridor would allow Iraq to
capitalize on its geographical position, with the aim of making the country a
transportation hub for goods and people moving between the Gulf, Turkey, and
Europe.
Work has already started to increase capacity at the
commercial port of Al-Faw, on the shores of the Gulf, where cargo is to be
unloaded before it embarks on the new road and rail links.
The project also includes the construction of around 15
train stations along the route, including in the major cities of Basra,
Baghdad, and Mosul, and up to the Turkish border.
The Gulf, largely bordered by Iran and Saudi Arabia, is a
major shipping zone, especially for the transportation of hydrocarbons
extracted by countries of the region.
Zyad Al-Hashemi, an Iraqi consultant on international
transport, cast doubt on the plan to develop the country into a transportation
hub, saying it lacks "fluidity".
"Customers prefer to transport their goods directly
from Asia to Europe, without going through a loading and unloading
process," that would see containers moved between ships and road or rail,
he said.
Transport is a key sector in the global economy and Iraq's
announcement is the latest in other planned international mega-projects,
including China's "Belt and Road Initiative" announced in 2013 by its
President Xi Jinping.
The planned works in that project would see 130 countries
across Asia, Europe, and Africa connected through land and sea infrastructure
providing greater access to China.
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