Brasília, 2/26/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Zero Hunger Investment Fund (Fundo de Investimento FIF Fome Zero), which is managed by the Federal Mortgage and Savings Bank (Caixa Econômica Federal) closed out its first day of existence raising R$1.5 million. According to Wilson Risolia, vice president for Asset Management, the fund is a success and the result shows that people are willing to join the government's Zero Hunger program.

The Caixa says it hopes to have R$500 million by the end of this year in the fund, which will make it possible to allocate R$12.5 million to the Zero Hunger program. (AB)