Iraqi Reconstruction Interest Initiates Second Conference in Washington, D.C.

Business Editors

Topical News: War On Terrorism

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2003

Equity International, a Washington, D.C.-based business development firm announced today it is organizing a second Iraqi Reconstruction Conference on July 1 and 2, 2003 in Washington,

More than 600 top government officials, corporate executives, humanitarian leaders and diplomats from the U.S. and more than 25 countries attended its May 5 conference, and expressed strong interest in a follow-up event.

"The involvement of companies, development organizations, relief groups and others is critical to the success of Iraqi reconstruction," said William Loiry, president of Equity International. "By providing added experts, more targeted topic sessions and significant opportunities for networking, this second conference will provide organizations access to the latest information on available funding and contracts."

With costs expected to reach $60 billion during the next five years, the relief, reconstruction and development of Iraq will be the largest rebuilding endeavor since World War II.

Although some major contracts have already been awarded, USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios, has said that half of the reconstruction money will go to subcontractors, with both U.S. and foreign firms eligible for selection.

The Iraqi Reconstruction Conference will provide the latest information on reconstruction and funding. General and break-out sessions will feature top government officials, corporate executives and diplomats speaking on:

-- Humanitarian aid and emergency assistance

-- Funding for Iraqi reconstruction

-- International perspectives on Iraq's reconstruction

-- Reconstruction priorities and programs; heavy infrastructure,

communications, medicine, security, education, oil and gas,

etc.

-- Contracting and subcontracting opportunities with government

agencies and major contractors

-- Special session on contracting opportunities for small and

minority-owned businesses

A special Equity International report on reconstruction funding will be released.

Registration Categories and Fees

Categories                          5/19/03 - 6/26/03       On-Site

Corporate                                 $695               $795
Small Business
(less than $1M Gross Annual Revenue)      $495               $595
Non-Profits, Think Tanks
 & Academics                              $395               $495

Government Employees, Military Employees, Diplomats and Press are
free of charge.

For more information, visit www.rec-dev.com or www.globalsecurity.bz.

Equity International's May 5 Iraqi Reconstruction Conference included participation from 25 countries, including 21 embassies and foreign ministries. The conference keynote address was delivered by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Lincoln Bloomfield.

The opening address was made by Congressman Christopher Shays, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations. A special address was delivered by His Excellency Karim Kawar, Jordan's Ambassador to the United States.

About Equity International

Since 1996, more than 3,000 major corporations, organizations, agencies and governments have participated in the reconstruction and development conferences of Equity International. The highly-regarded forums have provided corporations and organizations with information on the reconstruction and development programs and contracts of U.S. and multilateral agencies and of foreign governments.

Conference participants have also benefited from lucrative networking among a diverse array of corporate and foreign leaders. For more information, please visit The Center for Homeland & Global Security at www.globalsecurity.bz or The Center for Reconstruction & Development at www.rec-dev.com.