The Iraqi government officially took control of five berths at the Al-Faw Grand Port in southern Basra province, previously managed by the South Korean company Daewoo.
The handover ceremony was led by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
“The project will transform Iraq from a country dependent on the ports of others to a maritime state,” al-Sudani said, stressing the port “has effectively entered the global trade and transport routes that pass through the Middle East.”
The statement emphasized that the Development Road Project, which originates from Al-Faw Grand Port, will play a key role in fostering economic integration across the region.
The Iraqi government introduced the Development Road Project in May 2023 as an ambitious infrastructure initiative aimed at connecting southern Iraq to its border with Türkiye, with plans to extend the route further into European rail and road networks.
