“350 delegates, representing 200 companies, converged on Central London yesterday to meet members of Iraq’s interim government. The Iraq Procurement 2004 - Meet the Buyers conference, which attracted Iraq’s finance, water resources, health, technology and agriculture ministers as well as its central bank governor, was billed as an opportunity to meet key Iraqi business leaders and decision makers ...Tickets to the privately organised conference sold out a month ago.

Brian Wilson, the Prime Minister’s special representative for business and reconstruction in Iraq, conceded to delegates that security concerns remained at the forefront for those involved in the country; "We cannot lose sight of the longer-term objective of helping Iraqis to rebuild the infrastructure and their economy ...So it is all the more important that you use this event to build relationships and sow the seeds of a long-term commitment to Iraq and its people.””
The Times

"Hundreds of private British and international corporations will be encouraged today to invest in the rebuilding of Iraq, estimated to cost as much as $500bn (£280bn) ...Special emphasis at the (Iraq Procurement 2004 - 'Meet the Buyers') conference will be placed on construction, agriculture, electricity, oil, gas, communications ...organised by Windrush Communications."
The Guardian

"Representatives of companies seeking a share of Iraq reconstruction contracts worth more than 100 billion dollars met ministers from the country’s governing council at a major procurement conference in London today ...Up to 300 companies were expected to use the three-day gathering to make contact with Iraqi ministers and businessmen, as well as senior members of the Coalition Provisional Authority and US Agency for International Development ...it was hoped (the event) would lead to contracts being signed and buyers and suppliers forming partnerships."
The Scotsman

"Brian Wilson, the British prime minister's special envoy in Iraq, on Monday told a conference of businessmen in London that despite the security situation they should not lose sight of the longer-term objective of helping Iraqis to rebuild their infrastructure and economy ...“In doing so we will help Iraq restore the confidence and prosperity they deserve. So it is all the more important that you use this event to build relationships and sow the seeds of a long-term commitment to Iraq and its people," he told the conference, called Iraq Procurement: Meet the Buyers."
The Mail & Guardian

"Most of Iraq's ministries will at least feel more independent as US advisers who have acted as deputy ministers gradually leave ...On Monday our ministry will celebrate our independence in a public ceremony," Abdelamir al-Abood, Iraq's agriculture minister, said in an interview this week, on the sidelines of the Iraq procurement conference in London."
Financial Times

"UK companies are losing business to US contractors in Iraq, securing less than a third of contracts, according to figures from the UK Department of Trade and Industry ...The figures were released on Monday as representatives from 200 companies met with Iraq's interim government in London for the Iraq Procurement 2004 forum, aimed to boost British business in the country."
Bloomberg