The Ministry of Transport confirmed, on Friday, that the Development Road Conference, which will be held tomorrow, in the presence of representatives from 10 countries, will witness the launch of the project by Prime Minister Muhammad Al-Sudani, pointing out that the conference will witness the announcement of practical steps.

“The conference, which will be held tomorrow, Saturday, will witness the launch of the Development Road Project by Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani, in the presence of 10 countries,” Younis al-Kaabi, Director General of the Railways Directorate at the Ministry of Transport, told the official agency (INA).

He added, “The project will not necessarily witness the signing of a protocol, but rather it will confirm the support of the countries present for this important and vital project, which will include a message from Iraq to those countries that the development road will include all participating countries and will support their trade movement with Europe, passing through Iraq.”

He continued, “The project is Iraqi par excellence, and the Iraqi Ministry of Transport is responsible for its implementation, and it will include a railway line and a highway starting from the port of Al-Faw in Basra Governorate, passing through the country’s governorates, and reaching the Iraqi-Turkish border,” pointing out, “The financing for the implementation of the development road for railways and roads will be completely Iraqi.

Regarding the implementation period before the completion of the project, Al-Kaabi explained, “The preliminary and final studies of the project lasted a year, and we have now entered the design phase and launching the project tomorrow means starting practical steps in terms of topographic survey procedures, as well as soil discovery. There are contacts with the economic, archaeological and heritage departments, as well as oil, water resources and governorates to avoid any possible contradictions in the path or course of the project. “

He continued, “The official launch tomorrow will witness the announcement of the practical steps in each part of the project, and any part whose designs are completed will be referred to international bids within projects implemented by the best international companies.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency