Ex-president announces US$20m Haiti loan fund

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Former President Bill Clinton is announcing a new fund for Haitian businesses backed in part by the world’s richest man.Clinton told reporters that Mexico’s Carlos Slim is contributing half of the seed money for the new US$20 million fund. The other half comes from Canadian businessman Frank Guistra.Clinton said yesterday that small and medium-size Haitian businesses can borrow money from the fund for earthquake reconstruction projects and other ventures. He is hoping others will add to the fund to help Haiti recover from the January 12 quake. The former president is a United Nations special envoy to Haiti. (AP)