Türkiye urges transport ties, investment with Belgium

Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu has emphasised the critical need for enhanced transport connectivity and alternative trade routes as Türkiye and Belgium seek to expand economic cooperation. Speaking at a high-level economic panel in Istanbul attended by Belgium’s Queen Mathilde and a Belgian delegation, Uraloglu called for deeper collaboration and increased mutual investments in trade, transport, technology, and defence.

Strategic corridors and major projects

Uraloglu noted that Türkiye serves as a central hub, offering access to 67 countries with a combined GDP of $1.5 trillion within a four-hour flight radius. He stressed the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor — a trade route linking Asia and Europe through Türkiye — highlighting the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Marmaray undersea rail tunnel as key components. He also detailed the Development Road Project, a 1,200-kilometre highway and rail corridor involving the UAE, Qatar, Türkiye, and Iraq. Starting from Iraq’s Grand Faw Port, the project could be completed within five to six years and provide a vital alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.

Istanbul railway and green goals

The minister announced an approximately $8 billion investment in a new railway line on the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge to address capacity issues in Istanbul. On environmental goals, he noted that while maritime transport accounts for over 80% of global trade, expanding rail networks offers a more practical short-term solution for reducing emissions. Uraloglu also confirmed an agreement with Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele to further develop bilateral maritime and rail sector relations.