Iraq joins the international transit system, paving the way for a breakthrough on the path to development.
Iraq’s accession to the International Road Transport Association (TIR) and the activation of international transport operations in cooperation with the International Road Transport Union (IRU) is a strategic step to support the country’s economy and enhance its commercial standing.
The measure aims to develop trade in the Middle East by activating the development road project, which will connect southern Iraq to northern Iraq and provide a vital trade corridor linking Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries with Turkey and Europe.
Iraq’s accession to the international transit system will reduce transportation time by 80% and costs by 38%. Initial trials have shown that journeys can be completed in less than a week, compared to several weeks using alternative shipping methods. This could open new horizons for Iraq in the field of logistics and international trade.
Ihab Talib, transit official at the Iraqi General Authority of Customs, expects the international transit agreement to significantly enhance Iraq’s position in the trade and transport sectors, contribute to increased revenues, and facilitate customs procedures at all border crossings.
Following the agreement’s implementation, the authority recently received a transit flight from Poland bound for the UAE via Iraq, according to Taleb’s statement to Al Jazeera Net, pointing to effective coordination with the International Road Transport Union and government agencies.
Taleb added that pilot operations demonstrated the feasibility of completing the journey in less than a week, compared to a minimum of 14 days through the Red Sea, or 26 days if ships are forced to reroute around Africa (which has been occurring since November 2023 as Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip expanded and the Yemeni Houthi group threatened Israeli ships).
He pointed out that the International Transit Agreement operates under the auspices of the United Nations, and that Iraq has signed it with the International Road Transport Union. He noted that the Authority is currently working to implement its provisions, having previously conducted a successful trial run.
Talib said that Iraq’s strategic and vital location in the region makes it highly qualified to benefit from this agreement, which will play a significant role in strengthening its logistical position as a vital transportation route at both the regional and global levels. He emphasized that this agreement will represent a qualitative leap in Iraq’s international ranking in the fields of transportation and logistics.
Shipping procedures
Engineer Muhaimin Ammar Ibrahim, from the Transit Division of the Customs Authority, said that the entire process of receiving and processing a customs transit shipment was completed via the National Transit Platform, developed by the National Data Center at the Cabinet.
Ibrahim added to Al Jazeera Net, “We were able to accurately track the shipment’s path through the platform’s advanced tracking system from the moment it entered Iraqi territory until its exit, reflecting the platform’s efficiency and ability to provide a comprehensive view of the operations.”
He continued, “We are now looking forward to receiving more shipments that can be processed through this advanced platform, which will effectively contribute to accelerating the movement of goods and facilitating transit trade.” He expected that the activation of the international transit system in Iraq will reduce transportation time by 80% and costs by 38%, which will generate significant economic benefits and create new job opportunities.
Ibrahim pointed to the ongoing development plans and procedures the Authority is working on to enhance the monitoring system and ensure the success of the experiment. He emphasized that there are ongoing plans to ensure the success of this experiment and its completion in the simplest possible manner, as these shipments will continue, supporting Iraq’s efforts to become a regional transit hub.
strategic alternative
In turn, member of the Iraqi Parliament’s Finance Committee, Moein Al-Kadhimi, emphasized that Iraq’s accession to the International Transit Convention represents a crucial preliminary step toward the development road project.
The development road is a massive Iraqi project launched on May 27, 2023, at an estimated cost of $17 billion. It extends 1,200 kilometers, starting from the Grand Faw Port in southern Iraq, passing through several governorates, and ending at the Fish Khabur crossing in the north on the Turkish border. It includes a land route and a dual-track railway, and aims to connect Asia to Europe via Iraq.
Al-Kadhimi predicted to Al Jazeera Net that the development path would allow global trade to pass through the Grand Faw Port , then through the Fish Khabur crossing to Turkey, and on to the Port of Ceyhan and other ports in Bulgaria and European countries.
He added, “This road will be a strategic parallel to the Suez Canal, providing significant economic returns for Iraq and reducing its dependence on oil and the rentier economy.”
He pointed out that these roads and railways will provide an opportunity to establish factories in cooperation with China and other countries, enabling manufacturing within Iraq and the export of products to Europe. Population clusters will also be created along the development route.
On the other hand, Al-Kadhimi emphasized that this project “has strategic security implications at the global level. Iraq must remain stable, free from chaos and security threats, and the interests of the world’s countries will be linked to its stability. This is an important and fundamental goal that must be further strengthened.”
Aljazeera.net