Integrating the Transports Internationaux Routiers System into Iraq’s Development Road: Impacts on Transport Efficiency, Cost Reduction, and Sustainable Corridor Governance

This study investigates the integration of the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) system into Iraq’s Development Road Project and evaluates its implications for transport performance and regional connectivity. Based on data obtained through coordination with the Najaf Directorate of Transport and the Ministry of Construction and Housing, the analysis assesses how the adoption of TIR System procedures can reduce border delays, lower freight costs, and reinforce Iraq’s emerging role as a land-based transit bridge between the Gulf and Europe. Employing a mixed-method design that combines field observation, institutional assessment, and a calibrated cost–time model, the study estimates potential reductions of approximately 45–50% in transport time and 25–30% in operating costs. The findings underline the importance of coordinated governance, digital customs processes, and effective inter- agency collaboration in achieving these efficiency gains. The paper further argues that aligning the TIR System framework with the Development Road supports balanced spatial development, attracts foreign investment, and advances sustainable logistics planning in accordance with Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG) 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11, and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The results provide policymakers with a data-driven basis for extending similar corridor models to routes such as Najaf–Karbala and Basra–Al-Faw.