CURRENT STATE AND PROJECTIONS OF THE MARITIME TRANSPORT SECTOR FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN IRAQ

Abstract

The transportation sector plays a critical role in balanced economic and regional development, as well as affording a great deal of influence on national integration into the world economic market. This paper studies current trends in the maritime sector in Iraq and presents some recommendations to improve maritime transport and ports’ efficiency in order to enhance economic development. Various problems and obstacles faced by the ports of Iraq, which have piled up during the last three decades, acted as a major setback in its underdevelopment and weakened its functional capacity, and limited its role in economic development. Therefore, the government should formulate policies that would encourage foreign and private participation in the maritime sector of the economy.