Road construction projects across the Kurdistan Region are facing delivery delays because of uncertainty over federal budget allocations, despite local companies and workers accounting for more than 80% of the sector’s workforce, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Agreen Abdullah Aziz, Deputy Minister of Reconstruction and Housing, said it remains difficult to establish definitive completion dates for projects because progress is directly dependent on funding being made available on schedule.
“When the budget is not available on time, projects are also delayed,” he said, pointing to difficulties in securing the necessary budgets and financial allocations from Iraq’s federal government.
The comments came as a senior delegation from the KRG Ministry of Reconstruction and Housing participated in the fourth International Road Federation Europe and Central Asia Regional Congress and Exhibition.
Local workforce dominates road delivery
Abdullah said between 80% and 90% of people working on road projects in the Kurdistan Region are local residents.
This includes engineers, technical specialists, project managers, accountants and construction workers, demonstrating the extent to which the region has developed domestic capability for delivering transport infrastructure.
Projects currently under construction are being developed to modern standards, according to Abdullah, with international companies also involved to provide access to technologies, materials and specialist expertise.
The three-day IRF event brought together representatives from more than 35 countries to discuss road construction technology, traffic safety, project management and the development of international road networks.
The KRG delegation participated in meetings and panel discussions rather than signing agreements. Technologies, equipment and delivery practices identified during the event will be compiled into a report for consideration by the Ministry of Reconstruction and Housing.
The delegation also participated in an international session on Performance-Based Contracts, examining approaches to assessing the impact and performance of road projects.
National Road Master Plan approaches approval
Alongside individual construction projects, the KRG is progressing its National Road Master Plan, which is intended to provide a more systematic framework for connecting major cities and border crossings across the Kurdistan Region.
The plan has already been presented at a ministry workshop and its approval process is nearing completion, Abdullah said.
The initiative could provide a longer-term framework for prioritising road investment and coordinating individual infrastructure projects across the region.
However, funding availability remains a significant delivery constraint. Abdullah said interruptions to financial allocations make it difficult for project teams to maintain schedules or provide reliable completion dates.
AI use remains under consideration
The ministry is also examining the potential future application of artificial intelligence within road infrastructure programmes.
Abdullah said AI has not yet been deployed on road projects in the Kurdistan Region, with international applications currently concentrated in areas such as data collection and traffic management.
The ministry is considering how the technology could eventually be incorporated into its own programmes as it continues to modernise road planning, construction and project management practices.
