Iraq is preparing to invite international tenders by late 2025 for its $17 billion Development Road project, a major multimodal infrastructure initiative aimed at connecting Iraq to Europe via Turkey, a senior official confirmed on Friday.
The project, one of the largest of its kind in the region, involves the construction of a 1,200-kilometre railway line alongside a parallel motorway, extending from southern Iraq to the Turkish border. It also includes the development of 15 industrial and economic zones, according to Maytham Safi, Director of Information at Iraq’s Ministry of Transport.
Speaking to local media, Safi revealed that U.S.-based consulting firm Oliver Wyman is serving as the project’s economic advisor, while Italian engineering company BTP Infrastrutture is handling the design work.
“Initial designs have been completed, and we are now progressing through the detailed design phase. With significant progress made, we expect to issue tenders to global companies before the end of this year,” Safi stated.
The Development Road will traverse 11 Iraqi governorates, ultimately linking with Turkey and facilitating cargo transport to and from Europe. The project also aims to integrate with the upcoming Southern Faw Port, which is expected to rank among the top 20 global container terminals upon completion and is slated to be operational by the end of 2025.
The Development Road is scheduled for completion by 2029.
Iraq is currently partnering with the UAE, Qatar, and Turkey on the project and is inviting further international participation through investment and revenue-sharing models. Officials emphasize that the initiative is designed to position Iraq as a regional transit and commercial hub, leveraging its strategic location and infrastructure expansion to diversify its economy.
Source: Zawya Projects
