2024-01-11T11:16:27+00:00
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/ The Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Oraloglu, described on Thursday the completion of the development road and the Zangzur Corridor as a priority during the current year, stressing that there is a Gulf desire to participate in the Iraqi project.
Oglu said in an interview with the official Turkish Anatolia Agency that the current year will witness a focus on work to complete the Iraqi development road, as well as the Zangzur Corridor, which connects Turkey and Azerbaijan, as it crosses the territory of the Armenian state of Zangzur, which separates the mainland of Azerbaijan from the Azerbaijani region of Nakhchivan. Autonomous government bordering Turkey
Due to its strategic location, Türkiye has strengthened the establishment of trade routes between the East and the West, in an attempt to make the most of the geographical location and advanced infrastructure in transportation and logistics services.
Oglu stressed: “We also hope that we will be able to implement the development road corridor with Iraq, in conjunction with the desire of both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to also participate in this project.”
The Iraqi project, which includes a group of roads, railways, ports and new cities, aims to shorten the travel time between Asia and Europe via Turkey, and to transform into a transit center through Al-Faw port in the far south of Iraq, which is the first stop in the project.
Oglu explained, “As a ministry, we work to implement all the work that falls within our jurisdiction quickly and accurately. Last year, we opened a group of infrastructure projects that will enhance the role of the development path.”
He continued: “We opened the Zigana Tunnel, the longest tunnel in Europe, last May… and we opened many metro projects, highways, and other service projects related to the aviation sector. We concluded the year by opening the second runway of Sabiha Gokcen Airport.”
The ministry continues to attract investments into the infrastructure sector in various Turkish regions, “including home-made driverless metro projects,” according to the Turkish official.
Oglu stated that Türkiye is witnessing intense commercial activity in both its eastern and western regions.
He added: “There are three main corridors here: the Northern Corridor, the Southern Corridor, and the Middle Corridor. Turkey is located on the Middle Corridor. We can connect the region by railway all the way to Beijing, with the exception of the Caspian Sea crossing.”
Thanks to these projects, “it will be possible to transport goods from Beijing to London very easily.”
He pointed out that the development path that Turkey is working to establish will constitute strong support for the eastern and western corridors, in conjunction with the continuation of efforts made to implement the north-south corridor that passes through Russia and Iran.
“We are determined to implement the development path project with Iraq, in conjunction with the desire of both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to also participate in this project.”
He added: “Then we will be able to transport goods coming from different countries via railway. At the same time, we will be able to travel to various European regions using railways, as well as transport various types of goods to all Turkish ports.”
The project, also known as the “Iraqi Silk Road,” aims to facilitate commercial activities faster and more efficiently by creating a competing route to the Egyptian Suez Canal.
The length of the railways and highways that will connect Al-Faw Port (in Basra, southern Iraq) to the Turkish border is expected to reach 1,200 kilometers, at a cost of $17 billion. The aforementioned port is scheduled to be the largest port in the Middle East and construction work on it will be completed in 2025.
The project, which was initially called the “Dry Canal”, before it was changed to the “Development Road Project” last March, coinciding with a meeting in Ankara that brought together Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is described as “the basis of the project.” A sustainable, non-oil economy.
Oglu pointed out that Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Iran are conducting studies on the Zangzur Corridor project, and that Armenia will allow this corridor to pass through its territory with a length of 43 kilometers.
He stressed that the development road is a very large project, and said: “The project, which is now in the completion stage, will cost about 15 billion dollars.”