Friday, 22nd June 2007 (1109 views)

Mining industry figures have joined Bill Clinton in a drive to alleviate global poverty.

Canadian gold tycoon Frank Giustra and telecoms billionaire Carlos Slim Helu have launched the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative with the former US president.

Both businessmen have made an initial pledge of £100 million, bolstered by Mr Guistra's commitment of half of all his future industry-related income to the scheme.

Projects are hoped to be initiated in Latin American countries including Peru and Mexico before expanding to other parts of the world.

"I firmly believe that this innovative partnership between the Clinton Foundation and the business community - and the mining industry in particular - will have a profound and positive effect on the lives of countless people in the developing world," the mining industrialist told the Associated Press.

Mr Clinton asserted the influence of the mining sector, telling Reuters that "everything that's not grown is mined in some way so you can either have good mining or bad mining".

His words follow comments from Michael McPhie, the chief executive officer of the Mining Association of British Columbia, who recently wrote in the Interior News that the industry has a vital role to play in the creation of a more sustainable world.

 

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