Apr 2, 2025 62 min read Daily News Summaries

Mongolia News Summary for April 02, 2025

The following news articles are the opinions of their authors and publications. They are presented here as translations for informational purposes and do not necessarily represent the opinion of MongolBeat or its members.

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Politics

24th Report on the State of Human Rights and Freedoms in Mongolia Submitted to Parliament

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: news.mn

The 24th report on the state of human rights and freedoms in Mongolia was submitted to the Speaker of the Parliament, D. Amarbaysgalan, on March 31, 2025. According to Articles 7.1.12, 9.1, and 17.1 of the Law on the National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia, the NHRCM submits a report on the state of human rights and freedoms in Mongolia to the State Great Khural every year within the first quarter. NHRCM Chairman D. Sunjid presented the 24th report based on inspections conducted under the Commission's strategic plan and annual performance plan, complaints and information received from citizens, demands and recommendations from Commission members, research and analysis, and information from state and other organizations. The report covered six sections: "Right to Vote and Be Elected: 2024 Election Activities," "Current Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Lawyers, and Journalists," "Human Rights and Digital Technology," "Gender-based Violence Through Digital Technology," "Some Issues of the Rights of Child Victims of Sexual Violence in Criminal Proceedings," and "Implementation of the Right to a Fair Trial," along with 44 related proposals. The report submitted to the Parliament will be discussed in the parliamentary session, and the relevant resolution will be adopted and implemented by the Government. Below is a brief introduction of the 24th report on the state of human rights and freedoms in Mongolia. Section One. Right to Vote and Be Elected: 2024 Election Activities Based on the 1992 Constitution, which advocated for establishing a humane, civil, and democratic society, the Mongolian people have ensured the right to directly participate in state affairs and the civic rights to vote and be elected in line with international standards. For the year 2024, the 9th regular elections of the State Great Khural of Mongolia, as well as provincial, capital city, district, and divisional citizens' representative councils, were organized. Unlike the previous 76-member parliament, the amendments to the 2023 Constitution increased the number of members to 126 starting in 2024, with a mixed electoral system where 78 members were elected by proportional representation and 48 by plurality. The Commission conducted an analysis of the situation in which eligible voters executed their fundamental principles of voting freely, secretly, and equally during the 2024 legislative and local elections. It identified issues to resolve and presented recommendations on further measures to be taken. Section Two. Current Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Lawyers, and Journalists Lawyers, who protect clients' legal interests and provide legal assistance, as well as journalists, who demand social justice and express opinions while ensuring the public's right to know, face risks such as threats, coercion, and attacks from others, as well as convictions and even the risk of death. Particularly, there is a recognized need for amendments to the Law on Advocacy, as it guides the professional activities of human rights defender lawyers, and revisions to the Law on Freedom of the Press for journalists. The study conducted by the Commission in 2024 on "The Current Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Lawyers, and Journalists" is presented in this section, aiming to propose solutions to enhance the safety and legal professional framework for lawyers and journalists, ensuring they can fulfill their responsibilities safely and responsibly. Section Three. Human Rights and Digital Technology Digital technology's development has driven communication revolutions, democratized knowledge, increased productivity, and improved quality of life while also becoming a solution for sustainable human survival. However, digital technologies, which inherently operate by collecting and processing large amounts of information and data, pose serious risks to human rights and freedoms. Protecting personal data, which is often referred to as the "oil of the digital age," alongside maintaining the right to privacy, presents modern-day challenges. Thus, the Commission has launched a public oversight inspection covering 36 issues in 10 sectors under the theme "Human Rights and Digital Technology" from 2023 to 2025. This section is based on the initial results of this oversight, evaluating the foundational conditions for digital development, the human rights assessments of certain technologies used in law enforcement and penal administration, AI policies and regulations, and reviews gaps in the implementation of the law protecting personal data. Section Four. Gender-based Violence Through Digital Technology Globally, the rapid development of technology has created new channels for committing gender-based violence, transforming the methods of violence. The UN's human rights mechanisms stress the need to focus on the issue's dual impact in both digital and physical environments and to implement more effective, comprehensive measures and improve legal frameworks. The Commission has focused on this issue, which makes digital spaces more dangerous for girls and women, relying on the brief assessment report on "The Current Situation of Gender-Based Violence Through Technology" by the Violence Against Women National Center and related UN resolutions and recommendations. It addresses the current situation of gender-based violence through digital technology, highlights concerns, and suggests future measures. Section Five. Some Issues of the Rights of Child Victims of Sexual Violence in Criminal Proceedings Despite international treaties and conventions ratified by Mongolia and domestic laws ensuring children's right to protection from harm, the increasing cases of children becoming victims of sexual violence amidst rapid social changes need urgent attention from the state. As a member of the United Nations, Mongolia has regularly discussed its human rights situation under the UN's periodic review, treaty body reports, and implementation reporting of international human rights treaties. These mechanisms have prioritized focusing on children's rights, especially reproductive rights and freedom from violence. The Commission has specially focused on the rights and protection issues for child victims of sexual violence in criminal proceedings, basing its conclusions and recommendations on consultations with researchers and experts on children's rights and professionals providing services to victims. It includes data and analysis from law enforcement and child welfare agencies, emphasizing priority issues for child victims of sexual violence. Section Six. Implementation of the Right to a Fair Trial The right to a fair trial encompasses the entire process from being charged with a crime to the completion of serving a sentence. How investigatory bodies and judicial authorities treat individuals accused of crimes and respect and protect human rights guarantees set by international treaties serve as benchmarks for evaluating the state of human rights and the rule of law in a country. In 2024, 52.9% of complaints and information received by the NHRCM related to violations of the right to a fair trial. These complaints predominantly involved issues such as the right to defense, legal assistance, wrongful accusation, protection from torture, unlawful detention, violations of privacy and livelihood, and claims rooted from unlawful actions by judicial and investigative officers. This section addresses certain issues of the fundamental right to a fair trial, based on complaints received by the Commission, organized inspections, studies conducted with experts, member requests, and related institutional data, providing conclusions and recommendations for future actions.

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Pro-Russian Facebook Accounts Actively Spread Information on Ukraine War, Domestic Politics, and Anti-Uranium Messages

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Mongolian Fact Checkers Center and the Journalism Innovation and Development Center have conducted a study titled "Understanding Pro-Russian Fake News and Narratives in Mongolia: Social Media Monitoring Report." This study examines how organized campaigns that spread false information and narratives supporting Russia are influencing digital discourse in Mongolia. The research tracked discussions of pro-Russian accounts and the narratives they shared over the last year, analyzing 3,884 Facebook posts related to key issues and events between Russia and Mongolia, detailing how false information and pro-Russian narratives were spread. The first five accounts with the most actively shared narratives are Batnasan Darjaa, Bolormaa Natsagdorj, Saagii Sansar, Zorigtbaatar Nergui, and Jambyan Dolgor. These accounts are personal and not official representatives of Russian propaganda or positions. However, the page named AIST TV, based in Irkutsk, started operations as a Russia-Mongolia joint television venture in February 2024. The accounts actively disseminated pro-Russian, anti-Ukraine, domestic political, and anti-uranium information. According to the classification of topics, the most widely spread narratives were pro-Russian posts (841 in total). These were followed by narratives falsely portraying Ukraine, its president V. Zelensky, and the war from the Russian perspective. Continuing with domestic political topics, posts attacking specific politicians, and content criticizing or condemning Western countries, particularly European nations and the USA, also held significant positions. Furthermore, there was a surge in anti-uranium messages concurrent with the launch of a uranium mining project in partnership with France's Orano company in the Dornogovi province, aiming to spotlight the adverse health impacts of uranium on humans and animals. The account Batnasan Darjaa, for example, posted extensively on topics supporting Russia, criticizing Western nations, and commenting on domestic politics. The accounts regained activity in January 2025, coinciding with the Mongolian government's investment agreement with France's Orano company. The study found that the participating accounts were most active in June 2024 and least active in March 2024, with a sudden decline in July 2024. Activity levels picked up again by December 2024, with increased focus tied to Mongolia's parliamentary elections beginning in May, President Putin's visit, the US presidential election, and HPV vaccination programs. The posts shared received few comments, aligning with the behavior of fake accounts. The selected accounts achieved significant reach and shares but few comments, implying their use for spreading information to followers to evoke reactions rather than fostering genuine discourse. Saagii Sansar, Zorigtbaatar Nergui, Amina's Father, Jambyan Dolgor, Bolormaa Natsagdorj, and accounts like Gashuun Uneen were highlighted for their high engagement. The most engaged posts often centered on pro-Russian, anti-China themes, or narratives about Ukraine and the war. Key political events in Russia, Mongolia, and the global stage affected the activity of these narratives, with pro-Russian posts peaking in March, April, and reaching a zenith in May. In September, coinciding with President Putin's visit to Mongolia, pro-Russian posts received notable engagement. From the 10 case analysis topics, posts supporting Russia were observed. The study outlined the use of conspiracy theories, unsupported, and false information. The tendency to amplify supporters' biases was common, serving as the primary sources and supporting roles for other channels sharing widely shared posts in organized groups with many members. Conclusion: The narratives propagated by Russian state-backed fake news campaigns are echoed in Mongolia. Notably, these are disseminated from personal accounts rather than official propaganda accounts. For instance, the Batnasan Darjaa account made a total of 2,270 posts, with 813 related to the study's narratives, the peak being on September 30, 2024, with 13 posts, of which 9 were pro-Russian. The most distributed organized narratives were predominantly pro-Russian, with 841 posts in this category. These often included messages portraying Russia as a mighty nation feared worldwide, excelling in technology and armaments, and narratives about the Soviet-era support, highlighting achievements attributed to "Russian brothers." Reports regarding the Ukraine war frequently included claims of Russian victories. Domestic political narratives supporting Russian influence and attempts to affect Mongolia's internal affairs were notable. Criticisms such as "salaries and pensions are insufficient, government decisions are wrong," contrasting with the "better conditions with Soviet support," were aimed at denigrating democracy. Unique narratives not observed globally involved using anti-Chinese ideology and exploiting Mongolian paranoia about China to maintain Russian influence. Additionally, messages inciting disdain against the West, connected to Mongolia's third neighbor policy and the uranium investment deal with France's Orano Mining, were prominently spread. Posts highlighted toxic effects on the environment and health, sharing false reports about malformed livestock and offspring from other countries, maintaining active distribution from late 2024 through January 2025. The total reach of posts from the studied accounts was 475,006, with 278,757 reactions, 162,372 shares, and only 33,877 comments, emphasizing limited genuine discourse but elevated public emotional response and engineered engagement. Warnings: Media outlets (TV, Radio, Social, and Web pages) are prohibited from using our information in any form entirely or partially unless agreed upon by crediting the source (ikon.mn).

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Mongolia's 2026 Development Plan is Being Discussed by the Public

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: isee.mn

A multi-stakeholder discussion on Mongolia's 2026 Development Plan is being held today at the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI). Specifically, the Ministry of Economy and Development is working on the short, medium, and long-term development policies and planning documents of Mongolia. These documents are being prepared to ensure the coherence between national, regional, and local plans, support human development, boost sustainable development, and diversify the economy. Within this framework, the Development Policy and Planning Department has prepared the draft of the 2026 national development plan, which is a short-term policy document of the country, after collecting suggestions from relevant organizations. Therefore, this discussion is being organized to gather public input on the draft plan and ensure multi-stakeholder participation.

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Professionals Pushed Out of the Development Bank's Management Team, Replaced by Political Appointees

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The reshuffling of the coalition government's positions is still ongoing. The reason for saying "still" is because, although it has been eight months since the formation of the government, the disturbances within the state administration continue. Recently, new positions titled "control manager" and "productivity manager" have been created in state-owned companies, banks, and state enterprises, with the assignment of these positions causing a power struggle between the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) and the Democratic Party (DP). Let's present the recent appointments at the Development Bank as an example of these governmental changes. Essentially, the Development Bank has been handed over to the Democratic Party. Previously, the Development Bank was under the Ministry of Finance, but after the establishment of the coalition government, it was transferred to the Ministry of Economic Development. In this context, Minister of Economic Development L. Gantomor has filled most of the management team of the Development Bank, starting with the appointment of Z. Narantuya as Executive Director, with members of his party. Naturally, the Democratic Party has a right to be involved in the distribution of positions since they are part of the coalition government. However, having inexperienced political appointees lead the newly developing Development Bank could pose significant risks. Since the beginning of 2025, seven new directors have been appointed to the management team of the Development Bank. Except for one person, all are political appointees who seem to have been rewarded with positions for their campaign contributions in the last election. Four of them were candidates for the 2024 State Great Khural elections from the Democratic Party but were not elected. First Deputy Director of the Development Bank, Kh. Erdenebaatar The First Deputy Director of the Development Bank oversees and directs the operations of the project financing, business development, and investment departments. This position has been entrusted to Khash-erdeniyn Erdenebaatar. Kh. Erdenebaatar ran for office in the 2024 State Great Khural elections in the 4th district of Hövsgöl, Orkhon, and Bulgan aimags from the DP but was not elected. During the election, there was a lot of talk that he was associated with former President Kh. Battulga. His experience in state affairs and the banking sector is very limited. Instead, he is known to own a non-banking financial institution. Strategic Planning and Business Development Department Director, L. Bolormaa The director of this department is responsible for managing and directing the Marketing and Public Relations Division, Market Research and Project Development Division, and Strategic Planning and Policy Division. Lhagvaagiyn Bolormaa has been appointed to this position. L. Bolormaa was ranked 30th on the DP's party list for the 2024 State Great Khural elections and worked at the Governor’s Office of Govi-Altai aimag and the aimag’s Citizen Representative Khural until 2018. She worked as the head of the working office of the Social Development Women’s Movement NGO of the DP from 2018 to 2025 before being appointed as a director at the Development Bank. She does not have experience working in the banking and financial sector. Control Manager or Finance Management Department Director, D. Ayurzana The finance management director of the Development Bank also performs the role of control manager, managing financial planning, monitoring, report registration, and asset management. This position has been filled by Davaagiyn Ayurzana since the end of 2024. D. Ayurzana is an accountant and auditor by profession and worked as the Chief Accountant at the Development Bank's subsidiary "DBM Leasing" LLC in 2019-2020. She also worked as a senior accountant at "Tavantolgoi Railway" LLC in 2023-2024 before being appointed as the Director of Financial Management at the Development Bank. She is the sister of Member of the State Great Khural D. Tsogtbaatar. D. Tsogtbaatar was found guilty of abuse of power while working as the Director of the Credit Department at the Development Bank from 2016-2020 and was sentenced by the court. While D. Tsogtbaatar was working as the Director of the Credit Department at the Development Bank, his sister D. Ayurzana was working as the Chief Accountant at a subsidiary of the Development Bank. Administration Management Department Director, N. Gansukh The Administration Management Department is responsible for the Development Bank’s human resources and internal operations. Norovsambuuyn Gansukh has been appointed to manage this department. N. Gansukh was an advisor to DP Leader L. Gantomor before running unsuccessfully in the 2024 City Council elections from the DP. His long-term stable work experience in state administration is very limited. Risk Management Department Director, D. Basbish The Risk Management Department of the Development Bank is responsible for implementing risk policies and monitoring. Dunaiyn Basbish has been appointed as the director of this department. He is an economist by profession and has worked at Credit Bank, Energy Resource, and several non-banking financial institutions. He also worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when DP was in power from 2012-2016. He ran as a candidate in the 2020 City Council elections in the 11th district of Songinokhairkhan. Asset Management Department Director, E. Naranbayar In 2025, Erdnebaatiyn Naranbayar has been appointed as the Director of the Asset Management Department at the Development Bank. This appears to be the only professional appointment. E. Naranbayar has experience working in banking and financial institutions since 2010 and worked as a branch director at the Trade and Development Bank from 2020-2024 before being appointed to the Development Bank. Productivity Manager, J. Munkhjargal From the MPP side, J. Munkhjargal has been appointed as the productivity manager at the Development Bank. The Productivity Manager is responsible for overseeing the Administration Management Department and Information Technology and Digitalization Department. Among the former directors of the Development Bank, B. Sainzaya, Director of the Project Financing Department, and L. Temuujin, Director of the Investment Department, continue to work but may soon leave their positions according to sources. Since the beginning of the year, the Development Bank has restructured its composition and increased its staff from 120 to 135, mostly filled with politically affiliated individuals, while experienced professionals who have worked for many years are being pushed out as “contract workers.” Filled with a management team of political appointees, the Development Bank has started working on raising 1.5-2 billion USD in bonds and has selected its underwriter and presented its proposal to investors. In the past, everyone saw and scrutinized how political appointees used the Development Bank’s funding. Today, the detrimental effects have not been fully cleared, with a remaining balance of 1.7 trillion tugriks in non-performing loans. What will the future hold for the Development Bank?

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Deputy Prime Minister L. Gantomor Attends Boao Forum Meeting

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development L. Gantomor participated in the 2025 annual conference of the "Boao Forum for Asia" held in Boao, Hainan Province from March 25-28. Deputy Prime Minister L. Gantomor met with Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the State Council of China, on March 26 to exchange views on bilateral relations, cooperation, mining product exports, infrastructure development, and science and technology parks. He also met with the Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia, Ambassador Zhang Jun. During the meeting, Minister L. Gantomor highly praised the Boao Forum for Asia's significant contributions to strengthening cooperation among Asian countries and fostering regional development and prosperity. He expressed Mongolia's commitment to deepening cooperation and actively involving Mongolian entrepreneurs in the forum's annual meeting to achieve tangible results from collaboration. This meeting convened under the theme "Creating Asia's Future in a World of Change," and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development L. Gantomor attended the opening ceremony of the forum.

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Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The Inspection and Analysis Division of the Anti-Corruption Agency reviewed the preliminary declarations of personal interests of 858 candidates nominated for appointment to public office and resolved 410 declarations. Currently, the preliminary declarations of 448 candidates are under review. For three appointed officials who had not submitted their declarations to HASUM, administrative hearings were conducted according to the Administrative General Law, and official letters were sent to impose accountability. Last week, 72 complaints and reports related to corruption and conflicts of interest involving public officials were received from citizens, businesses, and organizations. Out of these, 22 complaints and reports were reviewed and resolved. Through the inspection of requests, complaints, and reports, official letters were sent to hold three officials accountable for violating the prohibitions and restrictions stipulated in the Law on Regulating Public and Private Interests in Public Office and Preventing Conflicts of Interest. Within the scope of the planned inspection, the personal interest and asset declarations of six officials were reviewed. Actions and information related to two officials who may have accumulated assets without justification were discovered during HASKOM's inspection and are being scrutinized under Article 22.10 of the Criminal Code.

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Two Agencies Under the Mayor of the Capital to be Dissolved Due to Overlapping Functions

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: itoim.mn

According to Mayor H. Nyambaatar, the capital's State Registration Office and the Office for Family and Child Development and Protection will be dissolved. The main function of the State Registration Office is to organize and implement registration activities as per the legal requirements. Meanwhile, the Office for Family and Child Development and Protection is the implementing agency of the city mayor, tasked with executing the government's and city's operational programs, economic and social goals of the city, and coordinating the state's policies, strategies, and laws concerning family, children, and youth development and protection. These functions are also found in departments and offices at the district level. Since there is an overlap of functions at the state and district levels, it is deemed unnecessary to operate these two organizations as implementing agencies of the city mayor. Mayor H. Nyambaatar stated, "We speak of efficiency in the state and cannot allow overlapping structures to exist. The civil service must be concise and capable. In this context, the dissolution of some project units will also commence." Under the current laws, the State Registration Office and the Office for Family and Child Development and Protection will be dissolved by the decision of the authorized entity that established them. The dissolution process will follow the decisions and procedures of the authorized entity. Specifically, according to the Law on State Registration of Legal Entities, the dissolution process is organized in the following order: 1. Article 23: Notify the state registration organization about the dissolution of the legal entity. 2. Article 24: Compile the necessary documents required for registering the dissolution of the legal entity with the state registration. 3. Article 25: Register the dissolution of the legal entity. 4. Article 26: Remove the legal entity from the state registration.

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Where is the Budget for the Government's Luxurious Local Visits?

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

In January, it was proudly announced that "As part of the regional development policy, the government will travel in full composition to the provinces for meetings." However, following public criticism, the government reconsidered and rebranded it as an expanded regional council meeting, deciding to conduct these meetings in each region, as clarified in February. Although now modestly termed as an "expanded regional council meeting," the schedule for the government meetings in the provinces became nearly clear by mid-March. Deputy Prime Minister S.Amarsaihan introduced the preparation process for organizing these meetings to the government members, directing N.Ukhraal, the head of the Cabinet Secretariat of Mongolia, to ensure preparations for each region. Thus, the expanded meeting of the Northern Region will be held in Bulgan on April 11, the Khangai Region in Arkhangai on April 14, the Gobi Region in Dornogovi on May 12, the Central Region in Darkhan-Uul on May 26, the Eastern Region in Dornod on June 9, the Western Region in Bayan-Ölgii on June 23, and finally, the capital region meeting is scheduled for June 30 in Ulaanbaatar. Officials responsible for executive governance frequently alter official announcements, sometimes even removing them from social media to avoid public criticism, indicating there might be some underlying issues. First and foremost, it is necessary to prove that taxpayers' money will not be squandered. According to the plan, "Governors of provinces, cities, counties, and districts are instructed to resolve expenses for organizing various measures to support, activate regional cooperation, and launch regional movements within the approved budget of 2025." However, it seems more of a slogan and does not prevent Oyun-Erdene's government from traveling to the provinces with extensive costs. Under the regional development policy, the Northern region meeting will be held on April 11 in Bulgan province, with Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene and sector ministers expected to work there in full. As the Bulgan Province Governor's Office eagerly highlights, this event is extremely important for generating results in all sectors, from planning to investment in the province. However, upon calculating the costs from their funds and comparing them with the province's budget, it becomes clear that there is little reason for celebration or pride. Locals lament that it costs around 10 million tugriks for a member or minister from the city with 8-10 attendants to visit a province for one night and return. Local authorities wonder about the budget for hosting the luxury needs of the so-called 'spoiled government' in the provinces. For hosting ministers and attendants, 250 million tugriks is required for accommodating them in high-rated hotels. Additional expenses include gifts, meals, drinks, confectioneries, and fruits. Meanwhile, advisors dictate to locals, "Only bottled water should be on our boss's table." The expenses for the visit of 23 ministers, some agency heads, National Committee representatives on regional development, and local MPs elected from Bulgan could be reviewed. Each of the 23 ministers (with external protection and state ceremonial personnel for the Prime Minister) is accompanied by 2-3 advisors, aides, representatives, drivers, plus 2-3 people from the press office, making a company of about 10 people. With other agency heads and MPs' staff, around 250 people are expected to land in Bulgan from the capital just for one meeting, amidst eight months of expected visits by ministers and MPs. Bulgan Province allocated 15 million tugriks in 2025 for the expenses of welcoming guests and delegations, which might barely cover the expenses for receiving and sending off the government members. However, an estimated 500 million tugriks will be required for accommodating 250 people in Bulgan for two days, if taken from the 900 million tugriks budgeted for 2025. For regional development discussions, executive officials seem to 'burden' provinces such as Arkhangai, Bayan-Ölgii, Bulgan, Darkhan-Uul, Dornogovi, and Dornod, with governors' reserve funds ranging from 594 million to 1.1 billion tugriks planned for 2025. Due to the "savings" law implementation, provinces like Arkhangai, Darkhan-Uul, and Dornod did not budget anything under "guest and delegation hosting expenses," but managed from governors' reserve funds. Hosting guests and delegations, Dornogovi budgeted a maximum of 35 and Bayan-Ölgii 30 million tugriks. Even if 30 million tugriks are available, that won't satisfy the vanity requirements of ministers, MPs, CEOs, and their advisors. Especially with the trend of 'big shots' traveling together, it's risky as they compete with each other for greater privileges. Advisors claiming special rights for their superiors further burden the provinces. Governors may partly use their reserve funds, while the rest is sourced from provincial police, disaster, court, prosecutor, hospital, school, tax, and insurance departments, creating additional pressure. Every visit burdens local budget organizations as even hosting ministers requires removing obstacles just to keep up appearances. The idea of gathering the government in full to provinces might look impressive, but without additional expenses or achieving significant development goals, it’s merely a pretentious move. Especially given the travel alone costs a fortune, including reliant needs for complete suite hosting, food, and travel expenses, the flight to other regional meetings continues to strain resources unnecessarily. Instead of imposing additional expenses, think about contributing income to the province. Whenever on an assignment, apart from hotel, meal, and petrol expenses traditionally funded by limited budgets, avoid imposing extra local costs. Enforcement of the discipline is crucial to ensure that the local expenses are balanced by enough local benefits, or it's otherwise detrimental to any positive regional precedent setting. Journalists accompanying officials should foot their own accommodation, meals, and travel expenses, as used to happen during the incumbency of Enkhbold who strictly managed budget allowances. Ultimately, this lavish spending should not overshadow the fundamental goal of substantial on-ground investment for regional consciousness and aid. As transparency is advocated, maintain restraint from double-burdening accompanying journalists who should manage self-sustained funding policies. Provinces should not disproportionately bear visiting expenses; natural limits and even fiscal responsibility necessitates clarifying excess sectors thoroughly. Thus local officials are encouraged not to bear unnecessary burdens, while accompanied journalists needlessly making expenses for their personal greed extend no courtesy. Standards still crucially echo rational based on maximizing gains over avoidable costs amidst regional interventions. As part of substantial influence impact, advocating tourism opportunities should constructively not erode regional resources while executive approvals must also judiciously ponder minimized time frame objectives.

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Economy

Tugrug Card Now Usable in Hong Kong

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The Tugrug card, a national brand, can now be used in Hong Kong's Special Administrative Region at points of sale and service locations where the card's logo (₮) is displayed. The Bank of Mongolia has been expanding the usage of the national brand Tugrug card, aiming to allow it to be used in foreign payment card networks. To this end, a memorandum of understanding was signed last year with EFT Solutions, a company in Hong Kong's Special Administrative Region, to facilitate this collaboration. As a result of this partnership, the national brand Tugrug card can now be used for payments. Currently, it has been introduced at points of sale and service locations displaying the Tugrug card logo (₮), and it will soon be usable in convenience stores, subways, and taxis. As a note, the Bank of Mongolia introduced this card in 2012 and linked it to the globally recognized Apple Pay service in 2024, enabling smartphone-based payments.

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The Minimum Wage Increases Today Along with Pension Contributions, Taxes, and Penalties

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: isee.mn

According to resolution number 03 of the Tripartite National Committee for Labor and Social Partnership, the minimum wage has been increased by 20%. As a result, from today, the minimum wage is increased to 792,000 MNT. The minimum wage has been increased annually since 1995. For instance, it was 9,600 MNT in 1995, and after steady annual increases, it reached 140,000 MNT in 2011. Since then, it has been increased eight times. With the new setting of the minimum wage, 106,320 MNT will be deducted for social insurance contributions from the 792,000 MNT. In other words, the increase of the minimum wage by 20% will also result in an increase in social insurance contributions. Additionally, there is a real risk that taxes and penalties will increase for individuals, business expenses will rise, and it will negatively affect inflation, as economists have pointed out. To read the detailed interview with an economist related to this news, CLICK HERE.

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National Brand ₮ Card Can Now Be Used for Payments in Hong Kong

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The Bank of Mongolia initiated the creation of a national brand ₮ card in 2010, collaborating with banks to successfully introduce the ₮ card in 2012. Since signing a license agreement for M/Chip technology with Mastercard in 2019, the Bank of Mongolia has worked for two years to transition the national brand ₮ card to an EMV chip and NFC contactless reading technology, ensuring high-level security and confidentiality. This shift established a foundation for numerous services, such as conducting transactions through QR codes based on chip-enabled ₮ cards and the tokenization of ₮ card information. Cardholders can now conveniently make contactless payments using their ₮ card for low-value transactions like public transportation, parking, and road tolls without the need for a PIN code. By implementing these steps gradually, the potential for integrating the national brand ₮ card with the renowned Apple Pay service to enable smartphone-based transactions has been prepared for 2024. To broaden the usage of the national brand ₮ card and to establish pathways for its use in global payment card networks, the Bank of Mongolia and Hong Kong's EFT Solutions Company signed and cemented a Memorandum of Cooperation, starting their collaboration. As a result, the opportunity to utilize the National Brand ₮ Card for payments in Hong Kong has opened up. Currently, it is usable at points of sale displaying the ₮ card logo, and in the future, it will be available in convenience stores, subways, and taxis. Bonum LLC, a representative of Mongolia's fintech sector, played a crucial role in this operation. Bonum LLC became the first fintech company in Central Asia to be a primary member and service provider partner of Mastercard. Last year, the linking of the ₮ card to the Apple Pay network enabled cardholders to use their smartphones for conducting ₮ card transactions internationally and making payments, and now the possibility to use the ₮ card directly in Hong Kong's card network has increased the opportunities to utilize Mongolia's means of payment in the international market.

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Investigation into Transport Company for Large-Scale Tax Evasion Concludes

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The investigation into "Uchral Trans" LLC, a company operating in the field of freight transport and trade brokerage in Sukhbaatar Province, has concluded. The company’s director, A. Erdenesaikhan, was charged with large-scale tax evasion and was investigated by law enforcement authorities. He is alleged to have falsified purchases of goods and services during the tax reporting period with the aim of concealing his substantial tax liabilities and avoiding payment. It was discovered in the course of the investigation that he had been reducing the amount of value-added tax payable to the state budget. As a result, the Prosecutor General’s Office has drawn up an indictment against A. Erdenesaikhan under section 18.3-1 of the Mongolian Criminal Code, which deals with tax evasion by taxpayers, either individuals or legal entities, through false reporting or concealment of income, property, goods, or services intending to evade substantial tax liability. The case has been transferred to the Sukhbaatar Province Primary Court for further proceedings. Furthermore, it should be noted that between March 24-28, the prosecution service prepared indictments for 274 criminal cases, including the one above, and transferred them to the court. Additionally, indictments were prepared in 10 cases of corruption and official misconduct for court resolution. For example, an indictment was issued for a customs inspector from the Selenge Customs Office for accepting bribes and creating an advantage for others by allowing vehicles transporting alcohol to pass without inspection or reporting violations from the Altanbulag free zone, and the case has been transferred to the Selenge Provincial Primary Court for further action.

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Gold and Copper Prices Reach Historic Highs

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Gold and copper prices continue to rise in the global market. This increase is influenced by decisions made by U.S. President Donald Trump to raise import tariffs. These measures aim to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, prompting investors to increase their purchases of gold as a hedge against risks. The saying "someone who is afraid buys gold" is common in financial circles. Investors tend to direct their investments into gold during uncertain times when situations become unpredictable and inflation rises. "Apex Capital" reported that "The price of gold has increased by 17% since the beginning of the year. Due to growing political and economic instability and inflation risks, gold has become a safe investment tool." While it is beneficial to take advantage of the current favorable period of rising prices, the country had planned to extract a total of 18 tons of gold last year but managed to extract only 16.5 tons. From gold, 311 billion tögrögs were collected in the state budget in 2023 and 375 billion tögrögs in 2024. Meanwhile, revenues from copper were 2.2 trillion tögrögs in 2023 and 2.3 trillion tögrögs in 2024. The current purchase price of gold by the Bank of Mongolia is 349,069 tögrögs per gram. Over the past year, the purchase price of gold has gradually increased. We sold our copper concentrate for 1,721 USD per ton in 2023 and an average of 1,957 USD per ton in 2024.

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RESEARCH: Apartment Prices in Ulaanbaatar Skyrocket

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: isee.mn

RESEARCH: The price per square meter of an apartment that was once 3.2 million MNT has now increased to 8.5 million MNT, causing prices to skyrocket in Ulaanbaatar. As of February 2025, the price of a new apartment per square meter in Ulaanbaatar varies between 3.2 and 5.6 million MNT depending on the location, while the price of an old apartment ranges between 3 and 5.6 million MNT, according to the National Statistics Office. However, according to a 2021 study by the "Tenkhleg Zuuch" company, apartment prices in the six central districts of Ulaanbaatar increased by 81.7% compared to the end of 2010. Professional sources predict that the average price of apartments will continue to rise over the next 10 years. In Sukhbaatar District, a 36 square meter two-room apartment is priced at 190 million MNT, according to a study by JICA’s Mongolia office. It is predicted that the gap between supply and demand for apartments in Ulaanbaatar will balance out by 2027-2030. Until then, the gap is expected to be between 20,000 and 68,000 annually. The demand for comfortable apartments is not expected to decrease in the next 5 years, which may be one of the reasons why apartment prices will continue to rise over the next 10 years. According to an advertisement posted in the "Unified Apartment Trade Group", a new one-room apartment of 27-35 square meters in Khan-Uul District is priced between 75 and 96 million MNT. On the other hand, in Sukhbaatar District, a two-room apartment 1.4 km from the central square measuring 36 square meters is 190 million MNT, or 5.2 million MNT per square meter, while a three-room apartment measuring 69 square meters is 346 million MNT, or 5.014 million MNT per square meter. The Secondary Housing Market Price Grows 9.2% Annually. The National Statistics Office reported that the average price of old apartments fluctuates between 3 and 5 million MNT; however, luxury apartments have reached 7-10 million MNT per square meter in reality. For example, the "River Garden" complex built and commissioned by NCD Group in 2010 was taking orders at 3.4 million MNT per square meter in 2014, but today it has reached 7.5 million MNT per square meter. In short, a 138 square meter four-room old apartment in this complex is currently priced at 1.1 billion MNT. According to a study by "Tenkhleg Zuuch" in 2023, the secondary housing market showed an average growth of 9.2% over the previous year. For example, the "Hunnu Plaza" complex, which became operational in 2020, was priced at 3.2 million MNT per square meter but is now selling for 8.5 million MNT. Specifically, a 188 square meter five-room apartment is priced at 1.5 billion MNT. In Gumye City, China, a 3-room apartment is 370 million, and a four-season house is 500-800 million. In Mongolia, the price of apartments rises every year and is "skyrocketing." Because of this, some citizens have started selling everything and heading to South Korea or China instead. This is because in Gumye City, China, a 140 square meter three-room apartment is 370 million MNT, while a 200-300 square meter four-season house is priced at 500-800 million MNT. Meanwhile, a house in the Zaisan Valley of Ulaanbaatar is priced at approximately 6 billion MNT.

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Proposal to Reduce Personal Income Tax to 1% Supported by 100,000 Citizens; To Be Discussed in Parliament

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: isee.mn

A proposal to reduce the profit tax from individuals' salaries from 10% to 1% has been drafted, and citizens have started providing their input. This petition suggests amending the Personal Income Tax Law's Article 6.3 to lower the formal tax rate to 1% on income that includes: 6.3.1. Salaries, wages, bonuses, incentives, and other similar employment income, 6.3.2. Operational income, 6.3.3. Income from property, 6.3.4. Income from the sale or transfer of property, 6.3.5. Indirect income, 6.3.6. Other income. As of today, 100,100 people have signed the petition. Once 100,000 signatures are collected, it becomes possible to initiate a legislative proposal and have it discussed in the Parliament. Thus, the opportunity to draft a law proposal has now been established.

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1072 Shares Dividend to Be Distributed This Month

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The remaining dividend money for the 1072 shares is expected to be distributed this month. On the 28th of this month, a meeting of the board of directors of Erdenes Tavantolgoi will take place, and if you have 1072 shares, you will receive approximately 93,500 tugriks after tax. The remaining dividend money for the 1072 shares is expected to be distributed this month. On the 28th of this month, a meeting of the board of directors of Erdenes Tavantolgoi will take place, and if you have 1072 shares, you will receive approximately 93,500 tugriks after tax.

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93.5 thousand MNT from the third installment of 1072 shares to be paid at the end of this month

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: isee.mn

The third installment of dividends allocated from the net profit of 2024 will be paid to shareholders of "Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi" JSC this month. Specifically, the Board of Directors of "Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi" JSC will meet on April 28 to decide whether to distribute the third installment of the dividend. Following this, the remaining dividend amount, which is approximately 93.5 thousand MNT after tax, will be disbursed. According to the 225th resolution of the Government dated December 20, 2024, it was ordered to take measures to distribute a certain portion of the net profit from the previous year to citizens in the form of dividends based on the annual performance results of "Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi" JSC. Based on the resolution of the company's Board of Directors, it was decided to allocate a dividend of 350 thousand MNT from the net profit of 2024 to a single shareholder holding 1072 shares, to be paid in three installments. The first installment of 200 thousand MNT was distributed to citizens before the Lunar New Year celebration.

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Position: Increasing Debt to Boost Foreign Exchange Reserves is an Unhealthy Economic Practice

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: news.mn

On Wednesday of last week, the Mongolian government decided to increase the utilization of the swap agreement with the People's Bank of China by $550 million, draw $300 million from foreign banks and financial institutions under the condition of repayment with gold revenues, and recoup $283.4 million by internationally trading government bonds held by the Savings Insurance Corporation and the State Bank. Let's examine the economists' views on these decisions made by the government. THE GOVERNMENT IS FACING REALITY Economist J. Delgersaikhan highlights that the government's decision to increase the swap agreement utilization by $550 million was made considering Mongolia's current economic situation. While it's a decision to protect the economy from risks during a time when foreign currency reserves might decrease, it's true that Mongolia's debt increases in the same amount. In short, it means borrowing $550 million from the People's Bank of China. However, this debt does not add to the government's debt; it adds to the central bank's debt. In other words, it increases the total national debt. Other measures, besides the swap agreement utilization, attempt to increase the foreign exchange reserves without increasing the debt. Converting the bonds held by the two state entities, the Savings Insurance Corporation and the State Bank, into cash implies monetizing them. Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene has tasked the working group led by the Finance Minister to increase the foreign exchange reserves by $1 billion in the near term. This policy tool aims to achieve that task. Economically, these tools are not poor options. The economy is undoubtedly in a severe condition, which needs to be acknowledged and confronted. Thus, the government is using its resources and taking feasible measures within its capacity. Various methods utilize the swap agreement as a financial tool to reduce risks, like lowering the dollar exchange rate, paying interest, and increasing currency reserves. It's a method of exchanging currencies at a pre-agreed rate and negotiating interest rates on currency loans. The main risk is if the exchange rate changes significantly, leading to a high likelihood of losses. There's also interest to be paid until the borrowed currency is repaid. Therefore, repaying the borrowed currency quickly within the swap agreement period can reduce potential risks. INCREASING DEBT TO BOOST FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES IS NOT A HEALTHY ECONOMIC PRACTICE Economist Ch. Otgoculuu expresses concern over the government's decision to receive $550 million under the swap agreement with the People's Bank of China, stating that it is not counted as government debt according to the Debt Law. It is considered the central bank's debt. According to domestic laws, government and central bank debts are viewed separately, but the IMF and World Bank consider the central bank's debt as part of the government debt. Since the government guarantees the central bank's debt, the loss is covered from the state budget. Ultimately, it increases the amount that taxpayers have to pay. Moreover, the GDP growth in Mongolia is an inflated figure on paper. Following this paper growth in GDP, the debt threshold increases. Thus, increasing debt burdens future taxpayers with significant liabilities, essentially eradicating future opportunities. Globally, the total government debt is about 20% of GDP. For developing countries like Mongolia, there is a high need for funding to implement and advance large-scale projects that boost the economy. Thus, governments can borrow up to 40% of GDP. However, our level is 60%. With Mongolia's economy at $15 billion, government debt is approaching $8-9 billion. Additionally, the central bank's debt increased from $2.5 billion to $3 billion after last week's government decision. Now, Mongolia's real debt approaches 70-80% of the total economic indicators. Recently, the dollar has strengthened while the tugrik has weakened. This exchange rate loss creates more risk. What's the current dollar rate compared to 3-4 years ago? How will it change next year? Borrowing $100 when the dollar is 3,500 tugriks and repaying it when the dollar reaches 4,000 tugriks, along with interest over a year, leads to exchange rate and interest risk. The government is using minor tactics to prevent a reduction in foreign exchange reserves. With recent high coal prices, instead of reducing debt, Mongolia decided to refinance, delaying repayment and paying higher interest. It swapped relatively long-term, low-interest bonds for short-term, high-interest ones and falsely claimed debt repayment. Now, additional debt is being taken on. Increasing debt to boost foreign exchange reserves is not a healthy economic practice. Instead, increasing gold reserves or promoting foreign direct investment can enhance currency reserves. Dollars from foreign direct investment are absorbed into Mongolia. Conversely, dollars entering through exports quickly leave through imports, negatively impacting trade balance. Additionally, the decision to recuperate $283.4 million by internationally trading government bonds aims to give a positive message. Mongolia's dependence has grown excessively high on a single export commodity, mining, and China as a buyer. Although coal exports are delayed, foreign investors will require much to trust Mongolia, particularly to purchase State Bank's securities. APPARENTLY SEEN AS A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TOOL RATHER THAN 'BIG DEBT' Economist R. Davadorj states that with a single-product economy based on coal, it is difficult to maintain stability. The government's decision appears to be a step to protect the exchange rate. It's the plight typical for consumer economies. Soon, the revised budget will aim for reducing the expansive and undisciplined budget expenditure and correctly estimating revenue. The swap agreement with China’s People's Bank is a currency exchange deal between the Central Bank of Mongolia and the People's Bank of China. Its primary aim is to support trade and economic cooperation and enhance financial stability by increasing short-term liquidity. The Central Bank of Mongolia first established a swap agreement with China's People's Bank on May 6, 2011. Initially, it was agreed to exchange 5 billion yuan (about 1 trillion tugriks) for three years. Later in 2012, it increased to 10 billion yuan, and then to 15 billion yuan (about 7.25 trillion tugriks) by 2014. This upgrade was part of the agreement renewed during Xi Jinping’s 2014 visit. Regrettably, the country's officials dragged the contract to extend it for 3-year terms in 2014, 2017, 2020, and finally agreed to extend it until 2026. From 2011 to 2016, Mongolia used 12 billion yuan (1.8 billion dollars at then-current rates) under this agreement, while in 2023, it paid 1.5 billion yuan (210 million dollars) and in 2024, 4.5 billion yuan was to be paid, leaving a remaining utilization of 6 billion yuan, halving from the 2016 level. As of March 2025, a decision was made to increase swap utilization by $550 million. The Central Bank of Mongolia takes yuan loans under the swap agreement and converts them into dollars to boost foreign reserves. This does not constitute new debt but is a fuller utilization of the existing contract limit. However, future financial pressure might arise from repayment schedules and interest. The government measures aim to boost reserves and improve the balance of payments without creating new debt but by leveraging existing financial tools. Mongolia's foreign exchange reserves reached $4.7 billion, sufficient for 5 months of imports. Amid a $35 billion foreign debt load, Mongolia pays 2 trillion tugriks annually in interest. Financial and economic irresponsibility permeates levels, like the capital Ulaanbaatar issuing $500 million bonds, followed by provinces. Policies encouraging debt creation are underway. Regarding the $300 million secured against gold revenues, it constitutes new debt and adds to obligations, though repayment ties to gold revenue. International trading of securities ($283.4 million) represents asset liquidation, not debt. These measures rapidly increase currency reserves, aiding economic stability. Yet long-term, the swap deal and gold-backed loans depend on export revenue, exposing potential risks. It resembles more of a financial management tool than a straightforward 'big debt.'

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Discontinuation of Night Time Electricity Tariff Discount

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: news.mn

The Ulaanbaatar Electricity Distribution Network ("UBEDN" JSC) has announced that the night time electricity tariff discount will be discontinued starting today. Specifically, the night time electricity tariff discount for households in the capital city's ger districts began on November 1 of last year. This year, 189,000 households were included in the night time electricity tariff discount program. For customers with dual-rate meters in ger districts, electricity consumption from 21:00 to 06:00 was discounted. For consumers with 220V voltage levels, usage up to 700 kWh per month was fully discounted, and usage above that was discounted by 50%. For consumers with 380V voltage levels, usage up to 1500 kWh per month was also fully discounted, with a 50% discount applied to consumption beyond that. However, starting today, the night time electricity tariff discount will be discontinued.

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Nighttime Electricity Tariff Discount Ended

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: gogo.mn

In order to reduce air pollution, discounts were given to users with double tariff meters in ger districts for electricity usage between 21:00 and 06:00. This discount has ended today. The discount was regulated by the Energy Regulatory Commission to provide a 100% discount for monthly consumption up to 700 kWh for users with a voltage level of 220 V, and a 50% discount for consumption beyond that. Similarly, a 100% discount was applied to consumption up to 1500 kWh per month for users with a voltage level of 380 V, with a 50% discount on consumption beyond that.

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The Economic Affairs Standing Committee to Review the Report of the Bank of Mongolia's Supervisory Board

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: isee.mn

Today, standing committees will meet according to schedule. Specifically, the State Structure Standing Committee, the Economic Affairs Standing Committee, the Security and Foreign Policy Standing Committee, and the Social Policy Standing Committee will convene to discuss the following issues.

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The Economic Standing Committee Supports Amendments to the Credit Information Law

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: isee.mn

In today's meeting of the Economic Standing Committee, the committee supported the proposal to discuss the draft law for amendments to the Credit Information Law, which was submitted by Member of Parliament E. Batshugar. As of February 2025, the total assets of Mongolia's banking and financial sector have reached 67 trillion MNT, a 7-fold increase compared to 2011. Member of Parliament E. Batshugar, who tabled the draft law, noted that legal reforms have become imperative to ensure the financial sector's stability. Mongolia's 13 banks, over 400 non-bank financial institutions, along with both state and private entities, regularly contribute credit information on citizens and businesses to the Credit Information Fund. The fund currently holds credit information on approximately 4.7 million loans from 1.6 million citizens and 17,000 businesses. The proposed amendments aim to provide favorable financial service conditions not only to large enterprises and borrowers with collateral but also to incentivize individuals and businesses with financial discipline. In other words, it aims to establish a legal environment where the creditworthiness of financially disciplined individuals and businesses can be determined using big data and advanced technology, allowing for flexible conditions based on borrower scores, rather than collateral-dependent terms, according to MP E. Batshugar. The draft law aims to create the following favorable financial and economic conditions: increasing the accessibility of services in the banking and financial sector and enhancing competition within the sector; integrating a flexible, score-based financial service in addition to collateral-backed fulfillment of credit obligations; reducing loan interest rates; eliminating the "blacklist" financial penalty for borrowers; and enhancing the financial sector's risk-bearing capacity, thereby positively impacting economic and financial stability. As a result of these legal reforms, the accessibility of the banking and financial sector will increase, promoting the development of financially disciplined businesses and individuals, which will have a positive economic impact.

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Three Locations with Special Permits for Betting Games Did Not Pay 3.4 Billion Tugriks in Taxes

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: itoim.mn

While being Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, H. Nyambaatar and Member of Parliament P. Saizorig, when he was the State Secretary, issued special permits for betting games to three companies. Specifically, "Temp Partners" LLC received a permit in 2022, while "En Zed Ji Em" LLC and "Mon Ex Bay Ti Bileg" LLC received permits in 2023. MP P. Saizorig explained that these permits were issued in compliance with court decisions. However, these three establishments have not paid a single tugrik in taxes to the state since receiving their special permits. According to Article 6.5 of the Excise Tax Law, a monthly excise tax equivalent to 36,250,000 tugriks is levied on individuals and entities operating paid prediction and betting game activities through electronic, internet, or mobile network. Additionally, they must pay tax under the Corporate Income Tax Law. However, according to information from the Ministry of Finance and the tax authorities, these companies with special permits have not paid any taxes since obtaining their permits. This means that "Temp Partners", "En Zed Ji Em" LLC, and "Mon Ex Bay Ti Bileg" LLC have failed to remit a total of 3.4 billion tugriks in taxes to the state budget over two years. This grounds for the suspension of these companies' special permits, as stipulated in Article 6.1 of the Permit Law, has led Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat N. Uchral to decide to forward a proposal to the Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs to suspend these companies' special permits on this basis.

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Diplomacy

The U.S. Embassy Issues Advisory on 'Not Violating Immigration Laws'

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: isee.mn

During his election campaign, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would deport immigrants living in the country illegally. Now, this promise is beginning to be put into action. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Mongolia has published information on social media stating, "The United States is strictly enforcing laws against illegal immigration. Every year, many thousands of Mongolians travel to the U.S. for tourism, work, or study. Violating U.S. immigration laws while traveling could have serious consequences, so the U.S. Embassy is sharing several recommendations to help you travel responsibly and prevent potential risks." The information includes: "Don't Risk Your Future: The U.S. is strictly enforcing laws against illegal immigration. Every year, many thousands of Mongolians travel to the U.S. for tourism, work, or study. Violating U.S. immigration laws while traveling could have serious consequences, so the Embassy in Ulaanbaatar is sharing several recommendations to help you travel responsibly and prevent potential risks." "The Choice is Clear – Follow the Law. President Trump emphasizes that strictly adhering to U.S. immigration laws is necessary to keep America safe, strong, and prosperous. Attempting to immigrate illegally to the U.S. brings no benefit to you. Doing so could make you ineligible for a U.S. visa in the future, negatively impacting visa decisions for your family and other Mongolians as well. Overstaying a U.S. visa or working illegally not only violates U.S. law but also jeopardizes your ability to remain safely and securely in the U.S. This could lead to imprisonment, separation from family, deportation, and a permanent ban on entering the U.S. If you know someone in the U.S. illegally, the best thing you can do for them is to encourage them to return home voluntarily before they are caught. Everyone is advised: Make wise choices, follow the law, and do not endanger your safety, your family, or your future. U.S. Visa Fraud Has Serious Consequences. The U.S. visa process is one of the most reliable and secure in the world. However, some people try to manipulate the system by using forged documents, providing false information on visa applications, misstating the purpose of travel, or overstaying their visa. These actions constitute visa fraud, a serious crime. Violating the law in this manner incurs penalties, and you will lose the opportunity to ever enter the U.S. again. Falsifying information about your circumstances, misstating your purpose of travel to the U.S., concealing information about family members in the U.S., or attempting to enter the U.S. illegally by other means will lead to permanent disqualification from obtaining a visa. Individuals who haven't engaged in deceptive activities during the visa process stand a higher chance of being granted a U.S. visa. Working on a Tourist Visa is Illegal. Most Mongolians apply for a B1/B2 tourist visa to the U.S. Even if you do not overstay your visa in the U.S., working is illegal if you hold this type of visa. This includes working for relatives, friends, or any organization, regardless of the nature of paid employment. A tourist visa allows you to travel in the U.S. only, and undertaking any type of paid work constitutes a violation of the law. If there is no applicable type of U.S. visa for the activities you wish to conduct there, such activities are considered illegal, and such trips should be avoided. Overstaying a Visa Can Lead to Deportation. Extending beyond the time granted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection when you entered the U.S. is illegal, laying grounds for arrest and deportation, and may also result in a permanent ban on entering the U.S. Illegal stays affect your friends and family wanting to travel next; they may become ineligible for visas as well. Do not forget that your actions could impact others, not just yourself. President Trump is Demanding Responsibility from Everyone. The U.S. Government is working against those assisting illegal immigration into the U.S. This includes transporting prohibited merchandise, human trafficking, and foreign government officials supporting illegal immigration. Recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy for foreign officials, including immigration, customs, and port officers, who do not strive to halt illegal immigration. This policy is based on similar restrictions directed toward the transport and tourism sectors. Our nation is not open to those who support illegal immigration and threaten U.S. security. Let's Travel Responsibly. To travel responsibly in the U.S., learn and follow the laws and rules before your trip, and adhere to them throughout your journey. Complying with U.S. immigration laws, traveling responsibly based on the information provided in visa applications, and returning to Mongolia in due time sets a positive example for yourself, your family, and other Mongolians.

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Ambassador E. Bulgan Presented Credentials

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar, April 1, 2025. On March 27, Mongolia's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of South Africa, E. Bulgan, presented his credentials to President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria. After presenting his credentials, Ambassador E. Bulgan met with President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa to convey greetings from Mongolia's President U. Khurelsukh to President M.C. Ramaphosa. They exchanged views on the possibilities of expanding and developing Mongolia-South Africa relations and cooperation in areas of mutual interest. President M.C. Ramaphosa wished Ambassador E. Bulgan great success in his work and expressed full support for the development of relations and cooperation between the two countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Some Border Checkpoints to be Temporarily Closed

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Some border checkpoints of Mongolia will be temporarily closed on Friday. According to Chinese law, due to the Qingming Festival, which falls on April 4, the road checkpoints at Bulgan, Burgastai, Shivee Khuren, Gashuun Sukhait, Khangi, Zamiin-Uud, Bichigt, Sumber, Bayankhoshuu, and Khavirga will be temporarily closed. However, the air and railway checkpoints will operate as normal according to their schedules, as reported by the Ministry of Road and Transport.

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Embassies urge citizens to contact them if documents are lost while traveling in China

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Citizens of our country traveling to China are advised to be cautious to avoid losing important items such as passports and money, or forgetting them on public transportation. Losing a passport can result in difficulties like being unable to book a hotel or cancel flights. In such cases, one must register with the relevant district police department to obtain a document confirming the loss. After that, permission to exit China needs to be requested from the local entry-exit office, which can take 5-7 days, causing time delays and financial losses. The embassy provides assistance to citizens who have lost their passports and documents by issuing return permits and obtaining exit permission from Chinese authorities. Therefore, Mongolian citizens traveling to China are urged by the embassy to increase personal responsibility, stay alert, and keep their passport, money, and belongings secure. In case of document loss while in China, citizens are advised to contact the embassy's hotline or online contact. Embassy hotline: +86 176 0078 7323, +86(10) 6532 1203
Email: beijing@mfa.gov.mn, beijing.consul@mfa.gov.mn
Source: Embassy of Mongolia in China
Warning: Media organizations must not use this information in whole or in part without permission and must credit the source (ikon.mn) when doing so.

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Some Border Crossings Will Temporarily Close on Friday for the Qingming Festival

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: isee.mn

Here is the operating schedule for the border crossings in April 2025. On April 4th, which is this Friday, some of the border crossings between Mongolia and China will temporarily close in observance of the Qingming Festival, according to Chinese legislation. Additionally, the Ulkhan road border crossing will not operate from April 28th to 30th.

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Infrastructure

TODAY: Multilateral Discussion to Formulate Mongolia's 2026 Development Plan

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Summary of events happening today: - Meetings of the permanent committees of the State Great Hural (Parliament) will take place. - At 9:00 AM: A multilateral discussion to formulate Mongolia's 2026 development plan will be held at the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. - At 9:00 AM: A training session preparing trainers to support the comprehensive development of young children will be held at the Millennium. - At 10:00 AM: A consultative meeting on social impact assessment will take place in the UN Conference Room. - Early detection screenings for eye, dental, and heart diseases for first-grade students will begin in rural areas. In the countryside: - The Emergency Management Department of Bayan-Ölgii Province will conduct disaster management command staff exercises in all soums. - At 6:00 PM: An evening of creative works by humor writer and MZIE member M. Batay will be held at the theater in Bayan-Ölgii Province to celebrate Comedy Day. Abroad: - The "Chinggis Khan" international exhibition is displayed at the Czech National Museum until June 22. Follow @montsame.mn

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Invitation to Collaborate on the Housing Project of "Darkhan Metallurgical Plant" LLC

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: news.mn

"Darkhan Metallurgical Plant" LLC is planning to implement a project for 800 housing units in Darkhan-Uul Province and invites organizations interested in participating in this project. The project involves constructing residential buildings and solving infrastructure issues, requiring high-quality standards. Therefore, we request detailed materials from organizations and individuals wishing to collaborate. Required materials: - Official request for collaboration - General introduction of the company - Copy of the registration certificate - Copy of the special permit for construction work - Information on machinery and technical equipment - Personnel information - Reports on works completed in the last 3 years - Financial capability documents for the last 3 years - Statement from the Judgment Enforcement Agency - Proposal and plan for implementing the project Submission deadline: Participants must submit their materials electronically to info@dmp.mn before 12:00 PM on April 15, 2025. Contact: For additional information or to clarify necessary details, please contact us at: Darkhan-Uul Province, Khongor District, "Darkhan Metallurgical Plant" LLC, Building 2, Room 208 Phone: 7555-0011 Email: info@dmp.mn

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There is a shortage of 119,676 parking spaces in residential districts

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

During an emergency meeting of the city's administrative staff, the current situation of parking spaces and the measures to be implemented were discussed. According to the city's Chief Architect Ch. Tugsdelger, there are 113,356 parking spaces available at 1,801 locations across six central districts. The demand for parking spaces is highest in Bagatoyruud. A study found that on average, a driver spends 26 minutes searching for a parking space. Additionally, there are 199,676 vehicles owned by households living in apartments across Ulaanbaatar city. However, the number of parking spaces is only 80,000, which amounts to a provision rate of 40.1%. To fully meet the need, 119,676 more parking spaces are required. The study shows that during the daytime, the demand for parking spaces is high around office areas, while at night, it surges in residential apartment complexes and mixed zones with many residents. Therefore, officials announced plans to build franchised parking facilities from foreign companies in 90 locations around the city. This would increase the number of parking spaces by 68,900 and reach a provision rate of 75%. A plan has also been drafted to build around 7,000 underground parking spaces in the 120 Myangat area. As part of these efforts, the city's Mayor H. Nyambaatar instructed the relevant authorities to expedite the clearance of fenced public roads and spaces used as parking and to dismantle kiosks and garages.

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The bridge from the end of Ikh Mongol Uls Street to Zuunmod city will have 4 lanes

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Ulaanbaatar City plans to implement 24 mega projects from 2025 to 2028. This time, the "Rising Bridge" project was introduced. The Rising Bridge will have a total length of 24.3 km and will be constructed over the Tuul River, extending from the end of Ikh Mongol Uls Street to Nomtin Am in Zuunmod city of Tuv province. The bridge will feature four lanes and be supported by cables, with a length of 1,230 meters. The road will be 7.27 kilometers long, and the tunnel will extend 15.8 kilometers.

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Households and Businesses Facing Power Restrictions Tomorrow

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Tomorrow, households and businesses in certain areas will experience restrictions in electric power supply. "UBEDC" JSC has scheduled repairs on the electrical grid equipment in Ulaanbaatar city. During these repair works, the electricity for households and businesses in the affected areas will be disconnected. On April 2, power restrictions are scheduled to be imposed in parts of Sukhbaatar, Chingeltei, Songinokhairkhan, and Nalaikh districts of the capital, as well as in certain areas of Lün district in Tuv province. You can view the detailed schedule by clicking HERE. If there are changes to the schedule due to weather conditions, notifications will be sent to the phone numbers registered in the contract. Warning: Media organizations are prohibited from using our information in any form, completely or partially, unless agreed upon and must cite the source (ikon.mn) when using it.

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Society

"Car-Free Day" to Take Place on May 24

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The "Ulaanbaatar Marathon" international run, which is organized annually, will be held on May 24. Registration for the run will continue from April 1 to May 20. Individuals, organizations, and foreign citizens who wish to participate can register and pay their fees online through the website https://ulaanbaatar.marathon.mn/ or the Hipay app. The race categories are similar to previous years, ranging from 500 meters to 42 km. The registration fees are as follows: for 1.5 km, 5,000 tugriks (each family member participates in this category for 5,000 tugriks), 5 km for 10,000 tugriks, 10 km for 50,000 tugriks, 21 km for 70,000 tugriks, and 42 km for 90,000 tugriks. Most participants choose the 5 km distance. Participants in this category will receive their bib numbers from May 1 to May 20, up to 5:00 PM, from the Capital City Physical Education and Sports Department and sports committees in nine districts. For participants in the 42 km, 21 km, and 10 km distances, the arrangement of distributing bib numbers, chips, and t-shirts, as well as the verification and bib number distribution for the 1.5 km distance, will be carried out by the Capital City Physical Education and Sports Department, with the registration for the 500 and 800 m runs managed by the Mongolian Special Olympics Committee, who will announce the timeline separately. Everyone who participates in the "Ulaanbaatar Marathon" will be able to print their "Certificate" from the online address https://ulaanbaatar.marathon.mn/, similar to previous years. Additionally, the achievements of participants in the 42, 21, and 10 km runs will be displayed on this website. The number of supporters interested in the "Ulaanbaatar Marathon" increases every year, with more than 30,000 people from abroad and locally participating in 2024.

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Environment

Altai Khuder to Pay 10.8 Billion MNT for Environmental Damages

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

In a remote clearing amidst the majestic mountains of Altai, the rumble of heavy machinery echoes, churning the fragile soil of the desert steppe and raising dust—a clear sign of ongoing mining activity. Eight centuries ago, this was the territory of the great Naiman tribe among the nomads of the plains, particularly the land of Tayan Khan, known today as Tayan mountains. This mountain range, once abundant with wildlife, has today become almost deserted save for vultures and crows, due to the activities of "Altai Khuder" LLC, which extracts iron ore and illegally transports it through Altai soum to the Burgastai border point, selling it to China. The operations of this company have inflicted significant environmental damage over the years, devastating livestock, wildlife, and plants. Transporting iron ore on dirt roads with heavy trucks not only affects Tseel soum of Gobi-Altai province but also harms the ecological balance of Altai soum. As a result, the company faced a lawsuit in 2016 by the "Lawyers for Environment" NGO, as well as citizens of Tseel sum and the "New Era Tseel" NGO based in Ulaanbaatar. The Supreme Court recently concluded this case, ruling that "Altai Khuder", having once come close to losing its exploitation license and processing equipment due to debts owed to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), must pay these damages. This followed a failure to repay a $30 million loan taken in 2012 to develop the Tayannuur mine. The London International Arbitration Court had previously decided on April 13, 2017, that "Altai Khuder" was to pay a total of $31,170,540, €15,736, and £1,138,549 to the EBRD. R. Bazar, founder and influential shareholder of the Transport Development Bank, has been under investigation by law enforcement since April 15 of last year, though his current status remains unclear. Reports suggest R. Bazar regained his right to travel and left the country. He, along with others, was accused of laundering money through "Credit" and other commercial banks by converting unspecified foreign funds to augment shared capital, also being involved in running illegal online gambling operations between September 2021 and November 2023 in Sukhbaatar and Bayangol districts, which included threatening others and unlawfully restricting their movement. R. Bazar was charged under Articles 18.13-1 (illegal capital formation of a bank) and 18.6-1 (money laundering) of the Criminal Code, while his associate V. Bat-Erdene faced similar charges. The Transport Development Bank itself received a $30 million injection from suspicious sources, which Bazar invested in by purchasing shares in 2018, and was allegedly gifted shares by his business partner M. Temuujin via a donation to an ally of Bazar, which is now under scrutiny by law enforcement. Despite a district court initially rejecting Bazar’s request to change his preventive measure from travel restriction, a higher authority later accepted it under specific conditions, allowing his release upon posting a bond of one billion MNT and similar arrangements for V. Bat-Erdene due to health reasons, enabling them to travel abroad. The case also established that "Altai Khuder" failed to build a 168.3 km paved road it was contractually obligated to construct for transporting ore from their Tayannuur mine to the Burgastai checkpoint on Altai soum land, failing to reduce environmental damage as promised. In 2016, local citizens and NGOs sued, ultimately leading to the Supreme Court's ruling to pay 10.8 billion MNT into the Environmental Protection Fund for damages caused by dust and other effects from 2007-2013 transport operations. The court found "Altai Khuder" responsible under the Environmental Protection Act and ruled to pay for soil damage, plant destruction, air pollution costs, and restoration expenses. Despite multiple appeals, the Supreme Court recently upheld the original lower court’s decision, highlighting the irreversible degradation to the environment, wildlife, and natural resources due to the company’s operations, mandating payment to the Environmental and Climate Fund. The government now bears responsibility for restoring the environment in the affected regions with these funds.

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Wildfires in Three Districts of Khentii Province Brought Under Control

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Wildfires have occurred today in Delgerkhaan in Khentii Province and Bayangol in Selenge Province. These wildfires have been brought under control, and emergency service personnel are working to fully extinguish them. Initially, the fires have affected an area of 29 hectares. Citizens are therefore urged to ensure fire safety, refrain from lighting open flames when traveling in the countryside, completely extinguish lit matches, cigarette butts, and ashes, and take precautions to prevent forest and grassland fires.

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Permafrost Coverage Will Halve by 2050

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

In 2016, our country ranked fifth in the world by the extent of permafrost coverage. Specifically, 29.3% of the total land area was classified as having some degree of permafrost presence, which is how this ranking was achieved. However, researchers from the Permafrost Division of the Institute of Geography and Geoecology at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences have now calculated that the area of permafrost will reduce by half by 2050. At that time, it is predicted that only 10.6% of our country's land will have permafrost. By 2100, this is expected to decrease even further, by 11.7 times to just 1.9%. While 2050 and 2100 might seem distant, it is not a long time in the context of the current rate of rapid thawing, and researchers warn that these figures might be reached even sooner. In 1971, permafrost covered 63% of our country's land. However, a study conducted 45 years later found that this had decreased to 29.3%. This dramatic reduction in permafrost coverage is attributed to the effects of climate change, which have significantly shrunk its area of extent. Permafrost is critical for sustaining clean water, fresh air, and green vegetation, and it helps maintain ecosystem balance. Therefore, the world is focused on preventing its thaw and preserving it. Unfortunately, even though this issue has been highlighted in recent years in Mongolia, researchers from the field criticize the lack of substantial actions being taken to protect it. For example, none of our national laws and regulations include measures to protect permafrost, there are no standards for restoration, and businesses do not pay fees for using or destroying permafrost, which indicates a dysfunctional system, according to experts.

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Establishment of a Center for Studying Gobi Bears in Mongolia

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

An initiative by the President of Mongolia to implement a comprehensive program to protect the Gobi bear has been in progress for about two years. The working group comprises representatives from the Office of the President, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the A section of the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area, along with researchers and scientists studying Gobi bears. The working group has developed a plan for several activities this year aimed at protecting the Gobi bear. These activities include creating engineered ponds to increase water supply in the Gobi region, setting up surveillance cameras, analyzing the dietary structure of the bears at the cellular level, improving the quality of supplementary feeding, and equipping bears with satellite signal collars. Additionally, studies on the internal and external parasites of the Gobi bears will be conducted, and regular cloud seeding measures will be implemented to increase precipitation in their habitat. Furthermore, two major endeavors are planned for this year: organizing the next meeting of the International Bear Association in Mongolia and opening a center for the study of Gobi bears. Incidentally, under the "Technical Assistance Project for the Protection of Mongolian Gobi Bears," supported by China, researchers conducted a census in 2022 and established that there are 52 individual bears living in Mongolia's Gobi region.

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Innovation

"Geology and Exploration of Mongolia-2025" Conference Successfully Held

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – The Corporate Convention Center successfully hosted the "Geology and Exploration of Mongolia-2025" conference for the 16th time under the theme of "Supporting Exploration." This important event aimed to expand collaboration among public servants from the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources, government administrative bodies, private sector employees, representatives of professional non-governmental organizations, university professors, research and laboratory specialists, investors, and scholars. Organized by the Mongolian Association of Production Geologists, the event was a major highlight, promoting the latest advancements, knowledge, and technology in the field of mineral exploration. It successfully fostered cooperation among stakeholders in recent mineral exploration efforts. Key Events and Outcomes of the Conference: Over the two days, the following key activities were successfully conducted: - Main Sessions and Discussions: Presentations by leading scientists, researchers, and experts in geology and mining. - Exhibitions by Organizations: Introduction of new technologies, equipment in production, and ongoing projects. - Investor Business Meetings: Important discussions on mining project investments and establishing connections. - Award Ceremony: Honoring outstanding teams for the best achievements in geological mapping, thematic research, and exploration. - Student Scientific Conference: Young researchers presented and deliberated on their studies, determining the best ones. - Specialized Training and Seminars: Training sessions led by internationally renowned and experienced professionals were organized. - Mine Tour: Participants were given the opportunity to visit major mining projects and learn about the production on site. An open public exhibition was organized, aiming to provide balanced understanding, information, and educational knowledge on the areas of interest to the public. For the first time, this included activities such as the Science Academy, universities, precious stone enthusiasts, photo exhibitions, and wall presentations as part of this public event. Internationally Renowned Guest Speakers: This year's conference featured three world-renowned guest speakers who shared their innovative insights: - Dr. Jeff Krause (Professor at Stanford University, founder of Mineral-X) gave a lecture on "Enhancing Exploration Efficiency with Human-Involved Data Science and Artificial Intelligence." - Dr. Michael Doggett (Mineral economics expert with over 35 years of experience) conducted a training session on "Evaluation and Professional Development of Mineral Projects." - Armelle Kloppenburg (Structural Geologist/Consultant, Doctor of Geological Sciences) presented on the topic "Structural Geology of Mineral Exploration - Structural Features of the Bayan Khundii Gold Deposit." Their invaluable knowledge and research provided participants with important insights into the new development trends in geology and exploration. Express Our Gratitude to the Sponsoring Organizations: The Mongolian Association of Production Geologists extends gratitude to all the sponsoring organizations for supporting and collaborating on this event. The Future of Mongolia's Geology and Exploration: As a result of the conference, participants emphasized the importance of responsible and sustainable development in Mongolia's geology and mineral resources sector. Innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing will play vital roles in maintaining Mongolia among the leading countries in the global mining sector. The "Geology and Exploration of Mongolia" conference will continue to be a significant event guiding future development directions in the sector. If you wish to receive updates on next year's conference and the latest industry news, please stay in touch with us! Contact Information: Website: www.mmer.mn Facebook: www.facebook.com/MMERoundUp Email: hello@monseg.mn Phone: 8818-5558 We look forward to meeting again at next year’s "Geology and Exploration of Mongolia" conference!

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"1000 AI Ambassadors" Project Launched

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Communications has developed a national strategy for artificial intelligence and discussed it with the public last February. As part of this strategy, the ministry, in collaboration with UNICEF, announced the commencement of a project to prepare 1,000 young leaders as ambassadors for artificial intelligence (AI). During the "1000 AI Ambassador" project, young people will be empowered through training to gain an understanding of AI, digital skills, and new technological knowledge. The sector's minister, Ts. Baatarkhuu, stated that AI ambassadors will play a key role in promoting knowledge and skills to the public and improving citizens' education in this field. Specifically, they will organize training and events to inform urban and rural populations about AI applications and their significance. In addition to enhancing digital literacy among citizens, the project will explore opportunities to contribute to social and economic development through the introduction of innovation and the use of artificial intelligence. It is worth mentioning that the "1000 AI Ambassador" project will be implemented nationwide, and the selected young ambassadors will be provided with educational materials and computers.

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Establishment of a High-Performance Supercomputing Center

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: gogo.mn

A meeting was organized with the leadership, managers, and researchers of the fields of Chemical Sciences, Biology, Environmental Systems Science, and Computer and Computational Sciences. As part of this official meeting, discussions were held to promote cooperation between the scientific and technological sectors of the USA and Mongolia. They studied the leading "FRONTIER" supercomputer, its operating system, management, equipment, and preparation of human resources, exchanging proposals for collaboration in this direction. Starting in 2024, the Ministry of Economy and Development and the Academy of Sciences plan to implement the "High-Performance Supercomputing Center" project in cooperation with the National University of Mongolia (NUM) and the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST). The goal of this project is to establish a "High-Performance Supercomputing Center" based on the existing material base and human resources in Mongolia. In implementing this project, collaboration is being carried out with Mongolian scientists and researchers in the USA and South Korea, which is a policy solution to utilize and re-attract the highly knowledgeable and skilled human resources working and residing abroad. Successful implementation of the project will enable analysis of large state-related data concerning national security, climate change, natural disasters due to global warming, pasture degradation, and desertification, as well as conducting research on new materials, minerals, detailed mineral studies, and artificial intelligence and machine learning research. An extensive range of scientific and technological advancements will be achieved. Moreover, by introducing the latest scientific research tools, it will elevate the development of science, technology, and innovation in Mongolia to a new level, providing new opportunities for scientists, researchers, and students to acquire modern research technologies. The meeting was attended by Dr. D. Battogtokh, Head of the Department of Unified Policy on Science and Technology of the Ministry of Economy and Development, Academician B. Avid, Vice President of the Academy of Sciences, and D. Ulzii-Erdene, Adviser of the Department of Macroeconomic Policy of the ministry, who work at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, USA.

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The court ruled that the National Information Technology Park should reclaim its premises

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: isee.mn

The court hearing regarding the land clearance issue involving the National Information Technology Park and the "Urgoo-2" cinema area took place yesterday at the Bayanzurkh, Sukhbaatar, and Chingeltei District Civil Court of First Instance. The decision of the civil court of first instance was issued yesterday evening at 22:35, ruling that the National Information Technology Park should reclaim its premises, and ordering the forced eviction of the "Urgoo 2" cinema.

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O. Batnayramdal: It Is Right to Provide Scholarships for Undergraduate Students and Loans for Master's and Doctoral Studies

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Standing Committee on Education, Culture, Science, and Sports of the State Great Khural of Mongolia has established a Working Group to monitor and inspect the activities and implementation of the procedures of the Educational Loan Fund, and to develop a draft decision to present relevant proposals and conclusions. This working group is headed by Member of Parliament O. Batnayramdal. I interviewed him. - Why was it necessary to establish the Working Group? - One of the 23 funds financed by taxpayers' money from the government is the Educational Loan Fund. It is the most valuable and, accordingly, the most invested fund. However, this fund has been accompanied by many issues from the loan granting procedures to repayment over the past period. Although 360 billion MNT have been allocated as foreign loan financing, problems arose in repayment. The Educational Loan Fund has been regulated by procedures. The current procedure, which has undergone many amendments consisting of 27 pages, has become a confusing document cited from citations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to completely revise the procedure. Accordingly, we are working to revise the loan procedures of the Educational Fund before the 2025 selection process. Our working group has prepared its proposals and conclusions for discussion at the Standing Committee meeting and is ready to submit them to the relevant ministry. - What proposals for changes have been developed in the draft procedure for the Educational Loan Fund? - In general, there is a need to reform the Educational Loan Fund from its vision to its strategy. For example, although it is called the Educational Loan Fund, about 87% of the total financing is granted as scholarships. As the economic structure changes, the strategy of the Educational Loan Fund should be defined to align it with the labor market's demand and align with in-demand professions. Thirty-five to forty-five percent of the Educational Loan Fund's financing goes to the President's scholarship, or for obtaining a bachelor's degree. Yet, loans are provided in the form of scholarships to students who pass the world's top 100 schools. This creates a relative inequality. Furthermore, it is problematic for students who have taken loans of high amounts, i.e., 100-200 thousand USD, to repay them after graduating with a bachelor's degree. It is generally difficult for someone with just an undergraduate education to repay large loans, which is linked to poor loan repayment. Therefore, it is right to regulate providing scholarships at the undergraduate level without repayment conditions and providing loans at the master's and doctoral levels. In other words, students studying at an advanced level are financially able to repay the loan. Secondly, for the selection and assessment of students to study at foreign universities, only rankings and general tests are used. Solely considering the rank is one-sided, and initiative-taken scholarships should also be recognized and included in the assessment. Incorporating the school fee amount into the assessment is also rational. Schools with similar rankings often have significantly different fees. For example, we should assess whether to send one student to Stanford University in the USA for 200 thousand USD or 10 students with the same budget to the University of Tokyo with a similar ranking. By incorporating such connectivity into the assessment, it is seen as possible to implement a newly revised and mutually beneficial loan granting system. - Can public officials be given scholarships from the loan fund to improve their knowledge and education? - A policy-based approach to support and empower public officials to enroll in master's and doctoral programs both domestically and internationally is being formed. Necessary opportunities for participating in foreign language preparation are also provided if required. Additionally, the flexible arrangement allows graduates to gain work experience in the country after studying abroad. If they do not return, the scholarship will convert to a loan that needs to be repaid. The new procedures aim to ensure that the students thoroughly understand this. Additionally, the regulations should include opportunities for targeted groups to study with non-repayable aid. - It is budgeted based on the principle that the next loan will be granted from the loan repayments. How is the loan repayment being improved? - In the state budget for 2025, 158.4 billion MNT has been allocated for the activities of the Educational Loan Fund. Of this, 33.6 billion are expected to be financed from loan repayments. In other words, repayment must be made to operate the Educational Loan Fund normally. If loan repayment is not carried out, students who study at domestic universities are listed in the Mongol Bank's blacklist. However, those who study abroad and do not repay loans are not included in this blacklist. This discrepancy needs to be eliminated, which is reflected in the draft procedure. Proposals to enhance loan repayment and align the loan fund with principles of fairness have been developed.

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Health

Draft Law on Organ and Tissue Transplantation Submitted

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Chairman of the State Great Khural of Mongolia, D. Amarbaysgalan, along with members of parliament J. Chinburen, A. Ariunzaya, J. Aldarjavkhlan, and N. Batsumberel, submitted the draft law on organ and tissue transplantation. In 2000, Mongolia adopted the Donor Law to regulate blood donation activities, and since then, it has undergone four amendments and revisions to include organ donation and organ transplantation treatments. Currently, as many new methods and technologies such as the use of stem cells for tissue regeneration treatments and embryo transplantation are being introduced worldwide, the initiators of the law emphasized the need to develop these advanced new technologies in Mongolia's health sector. Organ and tissue transplantation treatments are being performed in 93 countries worldwide, with 90 countries having passed independent legislation on this treatment. The passage of the draft law on organ and tissue transplantation is expected to improve the legal environment, allowing effective treatment methods to be introduced. Additionally, it is anticipated that citizens will have access to high-quality treatment and services that meet international standards in their home country. Clear and distinct policies and regulations regarding organ and tissue transplantation from deceased donors will be established, improving the quality, accessibility, and outcomes of treatments, according to a report from the Press and Public Relations Department of the State Great Khural. Warning: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) are prohibited from using our information in any form, whether in full or in part, without agreement, and must cite the source (ikon.mn) when using it.

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Bill on Blood Donation Introduced

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar. Members of Parliament J. Chinpürren, N. Batsümberel, A. Ariunzaya, and J. Aldarjavgkhlan submitted the draft law on Blood Donation to the Speaker of the Parliament, D. Amarbayasgalan, on March 31. According to the demographic projections of Mongolia, the percentage of active donors (aged 24-45) is expected to decrease, making the continuous supply of blood and blood products a critical issue. According to the World Health Organization, out of 171 countries with blood services, 110 have specific laws regulating the safety and quality of blood transfusion. The passage of the Blood Donation Law will improve the legal framework of this sector, enhance the training and public awareness of blood donors, and bring progress to local areas, as explained by the proponents of the law. They also believe that the social welfare and incentives for blood donors will increase, potentially raising the number of donors. Moreover, they highlighted that during disasters and public health emergencies, the supply and availability of blood and blood products will be fully secured, according to the Parliamentary Press Office.

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Sports

Asian 3.3 Zone Championship to be Held in Mongolia

Published: 2025-04-01 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The Asian 3.3 Zone Championship will be held in Mongolia for the first time, jointly organized by the Mongolian Chess Federation and the Asian Chess Federation, starting in Ulaanbaatar. Female players with a rating over 1800 and male players with a rating over 2000 are eligible to participate. Participants will have the opportunity to compete against top players from strong Asian countries, increase their international ratings, fulfill title norms, and potentially earn a spot in the World Cup. Twenty top male and female chess players from Mongolia will be selected to participate in the championship. The selection process will be open and will take place at the Independence Palace. The top 20 players in this selection will earn the right to participate in the 3.3 Zone Championship. Additionally, it should be noted that a super grandmaster from Singapore, Ting Zhing Yao, with a rating of 2600, has also submitted his application to participate.

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Today's Stories

Politics

Economy

Diplomacy

Infrastructure

Society

Environment

Innovation

Health

Sports

Politics

24th Report on the State of Human Rights and Freedoms in Mongolia Submitted to Parliament

Pro-Russian Facebook Accounts Actively Spread Information on Ukraine War, Domestic Politics, and Anti-Uranium Messages

Mongolia's 2026 Development Plan is Being Discussed by the Public

Professionals Pushed Out of the Development Bank's Management Team, Replaced by Political Appointees

Deputy Prime Minister L. Gantomor Attends Boao Forum Meeting

72 Complaints Related to Conflicts of Interest Reviewed

Two Agencies Under the Mayor of the Capital to be Dissolved Due to Overlapping Functions

Where is the Budget for the Government's Luxurious Local Visits?

Economy

Tugrug Card Now Usable in Hong Kong

The Minimum Wage Increases Today Along with Pension Contributions, Taxes, and Penalties

National Brand ₮ Card Can Now Be Used for Payments in Hong Kong

Investigation into Transport Company for Large-Scale Tax Evasion Concludes

Gold and Copper Prices Reach Historic Highs

RESEARCH: Apartment Prices in Ulaanbaatar Skyrocket

Proposal to Reduce Personal Income Tax to 1% Supported by 100,000 Citizens; To Be Discussed in Parliament

1072 Shares Dividend to Be Distributed This Month

93.5 thousand MNT from the third installment of 1072 shares to be paid at the end of this month

Position: Increasing Debt to Boost Foreign Exchange Reserves is an Unhealthy Economic Practice

Discontinuation of Night Time Electricity Tariff Discount

Nighttime Electricity Tariff Discount Ended

The Economic Affairs Standing Committee to Review the Report of the Bank of Mongolia's Supervisory Board

The Economic Standing Committee Supports Amendments to the Credit Information Law

Three Locations with Special Permits for Betting Games Did Not Pay 3.4 Billion Tugriks in Taxes

Diplomacy

The U.S. Embassy Issues Advisory on 'Not Violating Immigration Laws'

Ambassador E. Bulgan Presented Credentials

Some Border Checkpoints to be Temporarily Closed

Embassies urge citizens to contact them if documents are lost while traveling in China

Some Border Crossings Will Temporarily Close on Friday for the Qingming Festival

Infrastructure

TODAY: Multilateral Discussion to Formulate Mongolia's 2026 Development Plan

Invitation to Collaborate on the Housing Project of "Darkhan Metallurgical Plant" LLC

There is a shortage of 119,676 parking spaces in residential districts

The bridge from the end of Ikh Mongol Uls Street to Zuunmod city will have 4 lanes

Households and Businesses Facing Power Restrictions Tomorrow

Society

"Car-Free Day" to Take Place on May 24

Environment

Altai Khuder to Pay 10.8 Billion MNT for Environmental Damages

Wildfires in Three Districts of Khentii Province Brought Under Control

Permafrost Coverage Will Halve by 2050

Establishment of a Center for Studying Gobi Bears in Mongolia

Innovation

"Geology and Exploration of Mongolia-2025" Conference Successfully Held

"1000 AI Ambassadors" Project Launched

Establishment of a High-Performance Supercomputing Center

The court ruled that the National Information Technology Park should reclaim its premises

O. Batnayramdal: It Is Right to Provide Scholarships for Undergraduate Students and Loans for Master's and Doctoral Studies

Health

Draft Law on Organ and Tissue Transplantation Submitted

Bill on Blood Donation Introduced

Sports

Asian 3.3 Zone Championship to be Held in Mongolia

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