Ankara: The multinational Development Road project is expected to significantly enhance the Turkish economy, contributing approximately $55 billion over the next decade while generating around 70,000 jobs annually. Trkiye's Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, highlighted the corridor's strategic importance, stretching approximately 1,200 kilometers from Iraq's Grand Faw Port through Trkiye and into Europe.
According to Anadolu Agency, the infrastructure initiative is set to establish a major production and logistics hub, with backing from Iraq, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Trkiye. This new route will integrate into the existing Middle Corridor to streamline Asia-Europe rail transit times, reinforcing Trkiye's position as a global logistics hub connecting some 67 countries within a four-hour flight radius.
Efforts are underway to enhance standards along the Middle Corridor, with aims for the corridor to connect to ports in the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. Uraloglu stated that construction has officially commenced on the Zangezur Corridor, with 224 kilometers launched by a domestic firm. He noted that Azerbaijan has completed a significant section of the corridor on its side, although no active construction is currently occurring along the route. Once completed, it will serve as a direct gateway to Turkic nations and the Asia-Pacific region, with an expected completion timeline of five years from the start of active construction.
Uraloglu also mentioned ongoing negotiations between Trkiye and Syria to rebuild sections of the historic Hejaz railway linking Damascus to Jordan. Additionally, the situation at the Strait of Hormuz remains tense, with about 14 Turkish commercial vessels stranded, alongside 800 other international vessels. Trkiye has suspended or rerouted commercial flights across the region due to escalating Middle Eastern military conflicts.
Further developments include Trkiye's proposal to the Turkish Grand National Assembly to ban social media access for users under 15, modeled on similar measures in the US, France, and Australia. Moreover, Trkiye is expanding its aerospace footprint with the deployment of the homegrown Turksat 6A satellite, expected to provide services for 25 years. Trkiye's national 5G network is set to officially transmit its first signal on April 1, with significant advancements expected in various technological sectors.