Iraq's $17bn transport project to connect Asia and Europe.
Iraq has unveiled a $17 billion project called the "Route of Development" to develop its road and rail infrastructure, linking Europe with the Middle East. The project would span 1,200 kilometres from the northern border with Turkey to the Gulf in the south and could be completed in three to five years. The aim is to make Iraq a transportation hub for goods and people moving between the Gulf, Turkey and Europe, contributing to economic integration efforts in the region.