伊拉克总理阿里·扎伊迪周一表示，伊拉克计划于2027年初启动其“发展之路”项目扩建工程。
Iraq plans to begin work on an extension of its Development Road project in early 2027, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Monday.
扎伊迪在约旦首都安曼向伊拉克商界领袖和投资者发表讲话时称，扩建工程将包括工业城市。据其媒体办公室发表的声明，大法奥港也将全面开放用于商业运输。
Speaking to Iraqi business leaders and investors in Jordan’s capital Amman, al-Zaidi said the extension would include industrial cities. Grand Faw Port will also open at full capacity for commercial transport, according to a statement from his media office.
“发展之路”是一个规划中的铁路和公路走廊，连接伊拉克南部的港口与土耳其边境，并经土耳其进一步连接欧洲。其伊拉克段全长约1200公里（745英里），将开辟一条连接海湾与欧洲市场的货运通道。
The Development Road is a planned rail and highway corridor connecting the port in southern Iraq to the Turkish border, with onward links through Türkiye to Europe. Its Iraqi section will stretch about 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), creating a freight route between the Gulf and European markets.
扎伊迪表示，这些项目将有助于使伊拉克成为东西方贸易的主要过境枢纽。
Al-Zaidi said the projects would help make Iraq a major transit hub for trade between East and West.
此前，他在周五表示，在伊拉克预算获批后，巴格达将邀请土耳其总统雷杰普·塔伊普·埃尔多安出席奠基仪式。
The announcement follows his remarks Friday that Baghdad would invite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the groundbreaking ceremony after Iraq’s budget was approved.
伊拉克、土耳其、卡塔尔和阿联酋于2024年4月签署谅解备忘录，就该项目的合作达成一致。
Iraq, Türkiye, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding in April 2024 to cooperate on the project.