The Director of the Development Road Project at the Italian consulting firm BTB, Uido Bonini, confirmed on Monday that Iraq’s ambitious Development Road Project will connect Basra province in the south to the Turkish border through a modern railway and international highway.
He said the project is expected to create up to 150,000 jobs and boost Iraq’s economy, turning the country into a key trade hub between the Gulf and Europe.
A Project Years in the Making
Speaking to dinaropinions.com, Bonini said,
“Our company has been involved in the Development Road Project since its early planning stage in 2023, in cooperation with the Iraqi Railways Authority.”
He explained that BTB recognized the strategic importance of the project from the start — not only for international trade but also for Iraq’s internal connectivity.
The route will run from Basra, passing through Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, Najaf, Karbala, Baghdad, Samarra, Tikrit, and Beiji, before reaching Mosul near the Turkish border.
Modern Railways and Highways
Bonini said the project isn’t just about transportation — it’s about modernization. It includes building state-of-the-art railway stations and supporting infrastructure across Iraq.
A high-speed passenger train network is also part of the plan, with trains expected to reach up to 300 km/h, cutting travel time between Basra and Baghdad to around 90 minutes.
The system will include two major components:
- A railway for cargo and passengers.
- A parallel international highway corridor for vehicles.
This dual transport system will extend from Umm Qasr Port in southern Iraq all the way to the Turkish border, enabling faster, safer, and more efficient trade.
Project Progress and International Interest
According to Bonini, BTB has already completed about 70–75% of the technical designs and field studies. The remaining work is expected to be finished within the next three months, ready for submission to Iraq’s Ministry of Transport by the end of the year.
Several regional powers have shown strong interest in participating — including Turkey, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman — with Saudi Arabia expected to join after final studies are complete.
Building Economic Corridors Across Iraq
Bonini revealed that the second phase of the Development Road will focus on creating industrial and economic zones along the transport corridor.
Each area will specialize in its local strengths:
- Basra will develop petrochemical industries.
- Najaf and Karbala will host agriculture-based factories.
These hubs are designed to revitalize local economies, attract foreign investment, and diversify Iraq’s sources of income.
A Long-Term Vision Through 2050
“The project will unfold in phases through 2050,” Bonini said, “and it is designed to make Iraq a central trade hub linking the Gulf region to Europe through Turkey.”
He added that once geological surveys, engineering designs, and final studies are completed, the Ministry of Transport plans to launch a global bidding platform for international companies to participate in construction and operation.
With its massive scale, cross-border reach, and economic potential, the Development Road Project is shaping up to be one of Iraq’s most transformative infrastructure ventures — positioning the country as a bridge between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
