As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen trade links between East and West, the General Company for Ports of Iraq is examining the possibility of establishing a new shipping line connecting the Port of Hamburg with the ports of Basra. The initiative falls within Iraq’s broader project to connect with Europe and expand global supply chains, given Hamburg’s strategic importance and its pivotal role in international trade.

Dr. Eng. Farhan Al‑Fartousi, Director General of the company, stated—following the directives of the Minister of Transport, Mr. Razzaq Muhaibis Al‑Saadawi, to benefit from global best practices—that “our current meetings with the Hamburg Port Authority have focused on studying the feasibility of opening a new shipping line linking Hamburg with the ports of Basra within global supply chains.”

He added that “this proposed line aligns with Iraq’s project to connect the country—particularly Al Faw Grand Port—to Europe, thereby facilitating trade flows between East and West.”

He further emphasized that “the Port of Hamburg is one of the key ports targeted within Iraq’s port management strategy, due to its historical significance and the substantial development it has achieved.”