Advisor to Iraqi PM: Bids for Development Road to be evaluated this year

BAGHDAD — Nasser Al-Asadi, transport affairs advisor to the Iraqi prime minister, announced Saturday that companies bidding for the Development Road project will be evaluated this year, as the project moves through the stage of setting technical specifications and finalizing designs.

Al-Asadi also noted that the road will “pass through” the Kurdistan Region, with an 11-kilometer segment in Duhok Governorate. He confirmed ongoing coordination between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government regarding the project. Proposals that skip major Kurdish cities have sparked backlash in the Kurdistan Region.

The $17-billion Development Road project aims to connect the Gulf region to Turkey and Europe by building ports, railways, and highways across Iraq.

Nasser Al-Asadi’s statement for Iraqi News Agency:

The Development Road is currently in the stage of setting technical specifications, preparing final designs, and securing their approval. We are moving forward on multiple fronts—economic, technical, technological, political, and security-related—all directions are open to us to reach the best implementation formulas for the project. This year, bidding companies will be evaluated, and the final engineering and technical designs will be approved.

During the most recent meeting of the Higher Committee for the Development Road, the strategic security plan for protecting the road was discussed. There is also a diplomatic strategic plan for promoting the project, along with other plans by all relevant ministries and sectors aimed at providing specifications for this road, as well as addressing economic, health, security, and social activities along the route. Therefore, we are proceeding with balanced and precise steps to ensure the project is valuable and creates job opportunities for youth.

The Development Road passes through the Kurdistan Region, including 11 kilometers in Duhok Governorate, and there is great coordination between the federal government and the region in this regard.

This is an entirely Iraqi project. It has been studied from technical, technological, and economic perspectives, and it has been confirmed that the route is sound.