Iraqi and Turkish officials recently discussed the projects to be funded under a $5 billion loan pledged by Turkey in 2019 for Iraq's post-war reconstruction projects.

Abdul Zahra Al-Hindawi, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Planning said several projects were discussed during the meeting between planning minister Khaled Battal Al-Najm and Turkey's ambassador to Iraq, Fatih Yildiz including the rehabilitation of the Fishkhabour border crossing, which links Turkey and Mosul; a 500-kilometre long road to connect the border crossing to capital Baghdad, and the financing of the Al Faw Grand Port project.

Al-Hindawi said the minister also brought up the need for the timely completion of large hospital projects awarded to Turkish contractors as the coronavirus outbreak has put Iraq's existing but poor healthcare infrastructure under stress.

The Iraqi government has set June 2021 as the final deadline for the completion of these much-delayed hospitals with no extension, Al-Hindawi said, adding that further delays delivery would be dealt with under Iraqi laws.

(Reporting by Majda Muhsen; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@refinitiv.com)

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Read our full disclaimer policy here.

© ZAWYA 2020