The “development road” conference kick started on Saturday with attendance of representatives from regional countries including the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Iraq Tareq Al-Faraj, delegations from the World Bank and the European Union.

Prime Minister Mohammad Al-Sudani said in his keynote inaugural speech that the project would be a basis for non-oil economy and would be helpful for aspired economic integrations at the regional level.

Iraq, with launch of this mega venture, will press ahead with economic partnerships with the regional countries, he said, indicating that it will include more than 1,200 kilometers railways.

In addition to the rail tracks, the project envisages construction of roads for passengers and cargo transportation.

The venture, also known as the “dry canal,” is expected to cost USD 17 billion. The planned routes will link up Faw port in the south with the Turkish borders in the north.

Source: Kuwait News Agency