ANKARA: Turkiye's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, emphasized the strong bilateral ties between Turkiye and Qatar, particularly in foreign policy and various sectors including transportation and construction. According to Qatar News Agency, Minister Uraloglu highlighted the Development Road project as a key area of collaboration involving Qatar, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates, noting its significance in international trade from China to London. Additionally, he mentioned existing land, air, and sea agreements that bolster cooperation between Turkiye and Qatar. Minister Uraloglu stated that the two nations are progressing in line with their leaders' decisions to enhance cooperation. A technical maritime committee was established under a 2015 maritime agreement to foster collaboration in transportation and infrastructure, facilitating knowledge exchange and expertise development in the maritime sector. The minister revealed plans for joint studies on maritime transport, por t operations, maritime training, ship maintenance, and maritime security. The committee is aimed at addressing global goals like digitalization in seaports, green energy, and carbon emission reduction. Turkiye's appeal as a cruise destination encourages further cooperation with Qatar, driven by the Qatari interest in Turkiye's coastal cities and Istanbul's strategic position as a transportation hub. In air transport, Minister Uraloglu noted the robust air traffic between Turkiye and Qatar, with Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines offering numerous weekly flights, complemented by Qatar Airways flying to multiple Turkish airports. He stressed the importance of ongoing collaboration between national airlines and aviation authorities to leverage their extensive flight networks. On joint infrastructure projects, Minister Uraloglu expressed Turkiye's openness to collaboration, highlighting the Development Road project as a reference for future initiatives. He pointed out that Turkiye's expertise in infrastruc ture and construction, combined with Qatar's economic strength and strategic location, positions both countries to undertake major projects such as ports, logistics centers, and highways. He also stressed the priority of port integration projects and logistics network expansion for maritime infrastructure development. Technological investments in smart transport solutions align with global digitization and sustainable transport goals, potentially boosting regional trade and enhancing strategic cooperation between Turkiye and Qatar. Minister Uraloglu concluded by acknowledging ongoing evaluations of potential joint investments in port projects, logistics facilities, and air transport, reflecting the continuous partnership between Turkiye and Qatar, as well as with third countries in projects like the Development Road.