Iraq Coordinates with Syria for Overland Phosphate Transport, Trade Development

The Iraqi Ministry of Transport is coordinating with the Syrian side to discuss mechanisms for overland phosphate transport between the two countries, a step aimed at developing land transport and enhancing trade exchange. A ministry official confirmed that the ministry held a joint meeting with representatives of the Syrian company "Roseline" to explore ways of transporting phosphate via land routes between Iraq and Syria. Discussions also reviewed the necessary technical, logistical, and customs procedures to facilitate these operations between the two countries. The official added that the meeting focused on organizing phosphate transport and identifying essential requirements to ensure a smooth flow of trucks and goods through border crossings. This aims to simplify procedures and facilitate transit, thereby opening new horizons for trade and cooperation in the land transport sector. The ministry is also examining the possibility of utilizing the "TIR" international road transport system for organizing phosphate transport, in addition to studying border crossing requirements to ensure their compliance with international standards adopted in international land transport. This is expected to enhance transport efficiency and improve the flow of trucks between Iraq and Syria. This approach aligns with the ministry's vision to expand land corridors and activate multimodal transport, consistent with the objectives of the strategic Development Road project. This project aims to build an integrated transport network linking various transport modes and supporting regional goods movement and trade, which strengthens Iraq's capacity to attract more cross-border trade. The meeting emphasized the importance of continuous coordination between concerned parties in both countries and completing the study of technical, procedural, and customs requirements, as a preparatory step towards the actual implementation phases of phosphate transport operations.