The College of Islamic Sciences at Warith Al-Anbiyaa (PBUH) University organised a scientific symposium entitled “The Strategic Importance of the Development Road in Iraq” on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the College Council headquarters. The symposium was presented by Prof. Dr. Jaafar Abdul Amir Aziz in the presence of the Dean of the College, Dr. Talal Faiq Al-Kamali, and the college’s teaching staff.

The symposium discussed the Iraqi development road project, which connects the Gulf in the south to Turkey in the north via a network of highways and dual railways. The symposium indicated that the initial cost of the road is estimated at $17 billion, and it will be implemented in cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iran and Turkey. It is expected that the project will be completed in all its phases, including the Grand Faw Port, by 2050.

The project was designed by the Italian consulting company Progetti Europa & Global (PEG) and will be implemented by Iraqi, Chinese, and Turkish companies. The symposium explained that the aim of establishing this project is to exploit the geographical location of Iraq to facilitate the transport of goods from east to west and vice versa, while reaching Europe via Turkey. The project includes the establishment of integrated industrial cities; additionally, it considers the completion of the Grand Al-Faw Port in all its stages as one of the most important components of its success.

During the symposium, Dr. Jaafar Abdul Amir Aziz pointed out that the project will contribute to spatial development as the road passes through the administrative borders of eleven Iraqi governorates, as well as a number of major Iraqi cities, in the form of stations.

The attendees showed great interaction with the topics raised and the importance of the project in strengthening the Iraqi economy and developing the regions through which it passes.