Shipping Arabia, September 25, 2026 – Iraq’s Ministry of Transport is reviewing progress across its port development programme and measures to accelerate delayed projects as the country works to integrate its maritime infrastructure with the Development Road and strengthen its position as a regional transport and trade corridor.
The review was led by Dr. Hazem Radi Al-Hafadhi, Administrative Undersecretary at the Ministry of Transport, with Dr. Abbas Imran Musa, Director General of the Planning and Follow-up Department, and officials from the General Company for Ports of Iraq.
Officials examined implementation stages and completion rates across projects included in the government programme, together with obstacles affecting individual developments and the approvals and coordination required to move construction forward.
The meeting placed particular emphasis on projects aimed at developing Iraq’s port system and increasing its contribution to cargo movement, trade and regional transport.
Maritime components connected with the Development Road were also reviewed, with officials discussing coordination between the ports company and other government entities to align technical and implementation requirements.
The Development Road is intended to integrate Iraq’s maritime gateway at Grand Faw Port with new road and railway infrastructure extending north toward Türkiye and onward to European markets. Iraq and Türkiye recently completed a draft framework covering transport infrastructure development and implementation stages for the project.
Iraq has simultaneously been expanding its international transit network, opening seven new routes during the first eight months of 2026 as part of efforts to connect its ports and land transport infrastructure within a broader multimodal logistics system.
The ministry said closer coordination with relevant authorities will be required to resolve outstanding requirements and accelerate port projects considered central to Iraq’s future transport network.
Source: Iraq Ports Media
