## Development Road Project most important strategic cooperation between Iraq, Türkiye: Iraqi official The Development Road Project (DRP), a 1,200- kilometer highway linking the Turkish city of Gaziantep to the Iraqi city of Basra, is the most important strategic cooperation project between the two countries, according to an Iraqi official. Speaking at a press conference in Baghdad, Iraqi Minister of Transport Kadhim Finjan al-Hamami said that the DRP will not only boost trade and economic ties, but also contribute to regional stability. "The DRP is a vital project for both Iraq and Türkiye, and is a testament to the strong and growing partnership between our two countries," al-Hamami said. "This project will transform the region, and will bring great benefits to both our countries and the wider Middle East." The DRP is being built by Turkish construction giant Limak Holding, and is expected to be completed in 2023. The highway will pass through some of the most important cities in Iraq and Türkiye, including Mosul, Erbil, and Diyarbakir. The DRP is part of a wider plan to develop a regional transportation network that will connect the Middle East with Europe and Asia. The project is expected to boost trade and economic growth in the region, and will make it easier for people to travel and do business. "The DRP is not only about building a highway," al-Hamami said. "It is about building a future for the region. This project will help to bring peace and prosperity to the Middle East, and will make the world a better place for all of us."
