Iraq has approved plans to build a new airport as part of a new residential city — Al Ghuzlani — in its northern Nineveh governorate, west of Mosul, Zawya cites Chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC) Haidar Makiah as saying to Iraqi news agency (INA). Details of the airport project were not revealed by Makiah, Zawya writes. The project comes as part of a plan to build five new cities, Zawya adds.

Details on the airport are vague: Officials back in 2022 had reportedly announced plans to establish an airport — dubbed Al Sahaji International Airport — west of Mosul, Zawya writes. It’s not clear whether this is a separate project.

The timeline: The airport project would be launched upon its approval by aviation authorities in the Nineveh governorate, Makiah is quoted as saying, without clarifying an exact targeted timeline. The NIC is also waiting for land to be allocated for the project in order to conduct a feasibility study, the outlet writes.

Background: The new project is part of a wider post-war reconstruction strategy, which includes revamping its ports and logistics infrastructure. The country recently signed an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to become its lead transaction advisor on a public-private partnership (PPP) to rehabilitate, expand, finance, operate and maintain Baghdad International Airport. Iraq is also working on kicking into gear its USD 17 bn Development Road Project, which has gained traction from several countries. They are also putting efforts to remove EU imposed sanctions on their national carrier Iraqi Airways.

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