Iraq launches 7 new international transit routes and transforms into a logistics hub
Iraq launches 7 new international transit routes and transforms into a logistics hub
9-13-2026
Baghdad-Mail
The Ministry of Transport announced on Sunday the opening of 7 new international transit routes within 8 months, while confirming that Iraq has begun to transform into a regional logistics hub .
The Director of the Land Transport Management Department at the Ministry, Israa Hanoun, said, “The Ministry of Transport is working to consolidate Iraq’s position as a hub for transport and transit between the Arabian Gulf, Turkey and Europe, by developing the land and rail transport network and ports and linking them within a multimodal transport system.”
She explained that “the ministry is working to activate and expand the international land transport system (TIR) , open new international routes, simplify border and customs procedures, and enhance digital transformation and coordination between relevant authorities, in parallel with strategic projects, in order to reduce truck transit time and increase Iraq’s competitiveness as a trade corridor, as the (TIR) system has become a practical factor in this direction since it came into effect in Iraq on April 1, 2025.”
Hanoon added that “transit traffic has witnessed clear growth since the implementation of the (TIR) system, according to a statement by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) . The year 2026 also witnessed an expansion in international routes, as seven new international transit routes were opened within eight months, which is an indication of the accelerating growth in the use of Iraqi lands as a corridor for international transport.”
She explained that “the goal is not just to increase the number of trucks, but to gradually reach a large and sustainable transit movement, while raising the efficiency of ports, roads and logistics services, so that Iraq becomes able to attract a larger part of the trade movement between Asia, the Gulf, Turkey and Europe.”
Hanoon pointed out that “Iraqi transit routes are witnessing increasing movement to and from a number of countries, most notably Turkey, the Arab Gulf States, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, in addition to Iraq gradually becoming linked to routes extending towards Central Asian countries and Europe.”
She added, “Turkey stands out in particular as an important gateway to European markets, while Iraq represents a natural link between Turkey and the Gulf, as well as between the countries of the region and Central Asia. The recent period has also witnessed the operation of new routes towards Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan, which reflects the expansion of the Iraqi transit network.” She pointed out that “this diversity in routes is one of the most important indicators of Iraq’s transformation from a limited transit country to a potential regional center for logistics and international transport services.”
Hanoon stressed that “Iraq has an infrastructure base that qualifies it to play a regional role, but it still needs continuous development and expansion to keep pace with the expected increase in transit traffic. Roads, border crossings, ports and railways exist and form an important foundation, but accommodating large numbers of trucks requires developing inspection and waiting areas, logistics service centers, electronic connectivity, truck scales, and rest stations, as well as raising the efficiency of roads and crossings and speeding up customs and border procedures.”
Hanoon concluded by saying, “Iraq is not waiting to become a regional trade corridor, but has already begun taking practical steps to achieve this by operating the TIR system , expanding transit routes, and developing ports and roads. The challenge in the next stage is to move from increasing the number of trucks to building an integrated logistics system that makes Iraq a competitive and sustainable option for regional and international trade.”
miliq.news
