AMMAN, 4 April 2005 — A marathon exhibition for Iraq’s reconstruction opens today with the participation of 980 firms from 44 countries. Organizers said that at least 60 Saudi firms representing various sectors are taking part. “The Rebuild Iraq 2005 Exhibition is the largest to be arranged in the Middle East so far,” Mohammad Ziyadat, chairman of the Expo-Jordan Co., one of the event’s organizers, told Arab News. He said that about 2,500 businessmen and officials, including ministers, would be taking part in the exhibition that is due to last until Thursday. In a parallel move, a conference will be held Tuesday-Thursday for evaluating investment opportunities emanating from the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country, Ziyadat said.