Al Faw to 'change Iraqi economy' - Arabian Supply Chain

The Iraqi ministry of transport has confirmed its approval of the construction of the country’s biggest port; Al Faw, just south of Basra.

A ministry release indicated that the project would represent a landmark that would change the course of the Iraqi economy. The US$5.4 billion Al Faw Big Port is being designed by an Italian company, which will work in conjunction with the Iraqi ministry of transport.

“This port is a strategic project that will bring about this change,” said the release, according to the Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“The strategic position of Iraq will make it the short-cut route to transport goods between the northern and southern parts of the world,” it added.

The decision validates recent suggestions from the General Company of Iraq Ports that it would be working on expanding cargo capacity at the country's facilities, and comes as interest in Iraq's import and export potential continues to grow.

Basra port receives 3 cargo ships

Basra's port of Khour al-Zubeir received three ships with varied cargos on Wednesday. Two of the ship were from Sierra Leone and one from Korea.

Basra, 590 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, has five commercial ports and two oil ports: al-Maaqal, established in 1916 by the British forces and handed over to Iraqi authorities in 1937; and Faw, a small port on the al-Faw Peninsula near the Shatt al-Arab and the Persian Gulf.

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