Former MP Baqir al-Saadi says the Development Road project could create at least 500,000 jobs as it moves forward.
He explained that the project hasn’t stopped — it’s just waiting for the 2026 budget to be approved so funding can be released for the next phase.
Al-Saadi described it as a major long-term project that covers more than 10 key sectors. He also said the number of jobs could grow even more over time as different phases are completed.
According to him, many international companies are already interested in investing, with plans to put in tens of billions of dollars to speed things up.
He added that the project could lead to the creation of industrial cities and new production lines focused on exports.
More importantly, it’s expected to become a major trade route — moving goods from Southeast Asia through Basra, then to Turkey, and onward to Europe. The route could handle about 10% of global maritime trade in the future.
