Iraq's $17 Billion Transit Project to Connect Asia and Europe.

Iraq has launched a $17 billion project to link the Grand Faw Port on its southern coast to the border with Turkey, aiming to transform the country's economy and rival the Suez Canal. The Development Road will include rail and road links, high-speed trains, and an energy component that could include oil and gas pipelines. The project was announced at a conference aimed at courting Arab interest, including from Arab Gulf states, Syria, and Jordan. If work starts early next year, the project would be completed in 2029.