Türkiye, Iraq seek faster progress on Development Road Project

Türkiye hopes the Development Road Project linking Iraq with Türkiye and Europe will become fully operational as soon as possible, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said Tuesday.

Kurtulmus made the remarks at a joint news conference in Ankara with visiting Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi.

“I hope the Development Road Project will become an active, visible and fully implemented project with all its components as soon as possible,” Kurtulmus said.

He described the project as an important connectivity initiative that would contribute to the development of Iraq, Türkiye and the wider region.

“Through this project, Asia and Europe will be connected via Iraq and Türkiye, and the Asian and European economies will become integrated with one another,” he said.

The strategic trade corridor is expected to stretch about 1,200 kilometers, or 746 miles, from Iraq’s Grand Faw Port through Türkiye and into Europe, according to Turkish officials.

An aerial view of the Grand Faw Port as the Development Road Project, which starts at the Port, is under construction in Basra, Iraq, on Oct. 7, 2025. (AA Photo)

Türkiye, Iraq reaffirm support for Development Road

Kurtulmus said Türkiye and Iraq had reaffirmed their full support for steps under the project and discussed ways to accelerate its implementation.

“We believe both countries will achieve significant gains within the framework of the win-win principle,” he said.

He added that the project’s benefits would extend beyond economics by connecting people, cultures and cities across the region.

“It will mean bringing together the parts of our region that have become separated, which makes it an exceptionally valuable project,” Kurtulmus said.

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Kurtulmus says terror-free initiative could benefit region

Kurtulmus also said Türkiye’s efforts to eliminate terrorism could have an impact beyond its borders.

“We hope that the terror-free Türkiye approach will have an impact across the entire region and that our Iraqi brothers and sisters will also be rid of terrorism as soon as possible,” he said.

Kurtulmus also pointed to preparations for armed groups in Iraq to begin handing over their weapons to the Iraqi central government next month, calling the process “very important.”

September 09, 2026 03:09 AM GMT+03:00