‘Route of Development’: Iraq’s Ambitious Infrastructure Plan
Recently, Iraq has unveiled a $17 billion ‘Route of Development’ project linking Europe and the Middle East.
- Iraq’s ambitious ‘Route of Development’ project is a road and rail infrastructure project. This project will connect Europe, West Asia and Asia.
- It also envisages the development of Grand Fau Port in the oil-rich southern part of Iraq. This port connects it to the Turkish border.
- In addition, it is also proposed to develop a ‘smart industrial city’ adjacent to the port.
Significance of Route
- It will promote interdependence among the countries of the region. This will promote peace in the region.
- The project is presented as a major regional transport hub. It will rival Egypt’s Suez Canal by reducing travel time between Asia and Europe.
- It also envisages facilitating the transport of tourists and pilgrims to Shia holy sites in Iraq and to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
- It is a major pillar of a sustainable non-oil economy. Also, this would lead to the development of vast areas of Iraq.
- Iraq hopes to help develop its infrastructure, which has been destroyed by the US invasion in 2003 and the subsequent war and fighting against the Islamic State group.
Source – The Hindu
