A $17-billion project to build a 1,200 km rail line from South Iraq to its Northern border with Turkey is expected to lead to the construction of at least 10 new residential cities, an Iraqi deputy was quoted on Monday as saying.

Baqir Al-Saadi said nearly 45 countries in the Middle East and other regions have so far expressed interest in “The Development Road” project and that some of them have committed themselves to directly investing in it.

“We expect massive investments in this vital project whether from Iraq or other countries…these investments will cover many sectors and include at least 10 new cities along the rail track from Basra to the border with Turkey,” Saadi said.

Iraqi officials have visited several countries in the oil-rich Gulf and other regions to muster support for the project, which will start from the Southern Faw Port.

(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@lseg.com)

Subscribe to our Projects' PULSE newsletter that brings you trustworthy news, updates and insights on project activities, developments, and partnerships across sectors in the Middle East and Africa.