Apr 5, 2025 52 min read Daily News Summaries

Mongolia News Summary for April 05, 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

Launch of Audit on Mining License Issuance and Legislation Enforcement

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

The National Audit Office has initiated a performance audit on the "Issuance of Mining Licenses and Implementation of Legislation" today in Ulaanbaatar. The aim of this audit is to evaluate the enforcement of mining licenses issued under the legal framework of the mining sector and to identify any overlaps, gaps, or violations in the sector's legislation. Deputy Auditor General Ya. Sambuunyam opened the audit, providing recommendations on some issues that need attention during planning and execution. He highlighted that this audit involves the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority, the National Geological Office, the Professional Council of Mineral Resources, the Nuclear Energy Commission, and other related organizations in the mining sector. The audit will focus on examining the decisions and activities taken by these organizations from 2019 to 2025. The audit report is planned to be submitted to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Budget and the central administrative bodies of the government by July.

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Sukhbaatar: 5 billion 180.1 million tugriks of violations discovered during audit

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

The State Audit Office in Sukhbaatar province identified a total of 5 billion 180.1 million tugriks in violations during audits of budget administrators, state-owned, and locally owned enterprises. The audit revealed 41 violations amounting to 156.2 million tugriks which were subject to payment orders, 95 violations totaling 3 billion 073.2 million tugriks were issued official requirements, and 135 violations involving 1 billion 950.7 million tugriks were given recommendations and accountability demands. This resulted in a total of 5 billion 180.1 million tugriks in violations and 277 decisions. Compared to the previous year, payment orders decreased by 64%, official requirements by 26%, and corrected errors by four times. However, recommendations increased by 17% and accountability demands by two times. Common violations were found in budget expenditure, procurement activities, and financial accounting. The Audit Office provided recommendations to relevant organizations to eliminate these violations and is monitoring their implementation. Moreover, to reduce the recurrence of violations and deficiencies, the office emphasized increasing fiscal and financial responsibility, improving internal control, and ensuring the accuracy of reporting through planned policy measures. The State Audit Office shared the audit results with the relevant organizations, reminding them to ensure financial transparency, reduce violations, and communicate the outcomes of these measures to the public while adhering to the principles of accountability and oversight.

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Mongolia to Submit Fourth Report to UN Human Rights Council

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

This year, Mongolia will submit its fourth report on the state of human rights to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Last year, the mid-term report on the state of human rights was delivered to the council. Our country has approved an action plan to implement the recommendations given by international human rights organizations and has established a permanent council to monitor the implementation of the plan. In this context, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection introduced the policies and decisions being implemented to reduce poverty at the "Mongolia-European Union Human Rights Dialogue" meeting. Representatives from the European Union and from our country's ministries and governmental organizations working in the field of human rights participated in the meeting and provided information on how the recommendations given by international human rights organizations are being attended to. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has reported on the government's 2024-2028 action program which aims to improve Mongolia's human development index ranking by 10 positions and to halve the poverty rate. By 2030, within the "Vision 2050" long-term development policy of Mongolia, it plans to reduce the poverty rate to 15%, and by 2050 to reduce it to 5%.

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Thailand Bans the Entry of Heated and Electronic Cigarettes

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

The Royal Thai Government has decided to completely ban the use of heated and electronic cigarettes by tightening punitive measures related to them. Thus, during their stay in Thailand, individuals who sell, purchase, possess, import, or use heated and electronic cigarettes and their accessories will face legal consequences, including: - According to the Consumer Protection Act, selling heated and electronic cigarettes and their accessories to others can result in imprisonment for up to three years and a fine of 600,000 Thai Baht. - According to the Customs Act, purchasing or possessing heated and electronic cigarettes and their accessories from others may lead to imprisonment for up to five years and a fine four times the total value of the products. - According to the Customs Act, importing heated and electronic cigarettes and their accessories across the national border can result in imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine five times the total value of the products. - According to the Tobacco Control Law, using heated and electronic cigarettes in public places will incur a fine of 5,000 Thai Baht. Therefore, the Embassy of Mongolia in the Kingdom of Thailand advises the citizens of our country to strictly adhere to the laws and regulations during their travels and to exercise responsible conduct.

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Mongolian Liberal Party Submits Request to Join Democratic Party

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

The Secretary General of the Mongolian Liberal Party, B. Amgalanbaatar, submitted a request to join the Democratic Party to N. Ganibal, who is acting as General Secretary of the DP. With this submission, the Mongolian Liberal Party becomes the second party to officially submit a request to join the Democratic Party since the beginning of the year. Specifically, the Extraordinary 4th Congress of the NEW party, held on March 30, 2025, decided with 99.3% of the votes of its 1,089 delegates to join the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, the Mongolian Liberal Party held its regular 9th congress on April 2, 2025, and made a political decision to join the Democratic Party. During the upcoming 35th Anniversary Congress of the Democratic Party, the main committee members will discuss and decide on the request to merge the NEW party and the Mongolian Liberal Party.

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B. Bat-Erdene: Banning Online Gambling by Law May Lead to the Development of the Black Market

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

During today's session of the regular spring session of parliament, the issue of amending the Law on Licenses, specifically to restrict online gambling, was discussed. Member of Parliament B. Bat-Erdene stated, "I understand the concerns related to the harm of gambling. Any issue can be resolved with regulation. Prohibiting it by law does not mean that addiction will disappear. For example, alcohol consumption. By banning alcohol, the number of people who drink does not decrease. By closing nightclubs, domestic alcohol consumption increases and so does violence. So, rather than banning, was there no way to implement some form of regulation?" He continued, "During financial investigations, it was revealed that through legal entities registered in countries like the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, agreements were made with certain enterprises registered in Mongolia for sums ranging from $6,000 to $77,000, and 3,345,468,075 tugriks ($976,779) was transferred from 1XBET for advertising purposes. However, a total of 1.7 trillion tugriks ($500 million) was taken out of our country through agents." He warned, "If we choose to prohibit and restrict gambling completely, participation in illegal gambling will increase. Perhaps more people will go abroad to gamble. State control should be strict. Therefore, is there an opportunity to block what should be blocked and regulate what can be regulated?" He added, "There are rumors that police officials themselves are involved. Improving state control should insert precise regulation and create conditions where high-ranking officials of control bodies do not become involved." N. Uchral, Head of the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government, responded, "According to the Law on Licenses, the Minister of Justice grants permits for gambling and betting activities. Essentially, this means our country has allowed betting activities. Organizations engaging in activities resembling online gambling set up 110 agents to mediate gambling on a single application, charging commission fees of 2-5%. The $500 million taken out went through registered commercial banks, but the amounts going through unregistered channels or cryptocurrencies are unknown. Although places like 1XBET claim to support our national sports teams, they brought in 3.3 billion tugriks through advertising and sponsorship. In 2024, due to economic crimes in Mongolia, a total loss of 417.2 billion tugriks has occurred, and 1.7 trillion tugriks has already gone away while the government has done nothing. We cannot neglect this issue by claiming it's merely a problem of the people who play. It affects inflation. Therefore, if the issue can be regulated by law, a 65% reduction is possible." Afterwards, B. Bat-Erdene commented, "You only know about officially registered cases. How many are unregistered? By amending the Law on Licenses, will the registered segment decrease while the unregistered segment increases? Such a process could lead to a more developed black market."

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N. Nomtoibayar: Legal authorities often mislead and intimidate citizens, taking advantage of their lack of legal knowledge to infringe on their rights.

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

During the plenary session of the Parliament, members are raising questions and receiving answers from the Minister of Justice and Home Affairs, O. Altangerel, and the working group members in relation to the discussion of a draft law to amend the Criminal Procedure Law and other relevant bills. MP N. Nomtoibayar: I support the draft law proposed by the Minister of Justice and Home Affairs, O. Altangerel, to amend the Criminal Procedure Law. Often, individuals are quickly labeled as suspects or defendants. Although the law includes human rights and specifies their standards, in practice the enforcement does not align with the law. Every day, issues arise where the legal authorities mislead, intimidate, trick, and take advantage of individuals' lack of legal knowledge, thereby infringing on their rights. To what extent does the development of human rights jurisprudence match with the criminal procedure law? Recently, the bill of 9 members including D. Tsogtbaatar was resolved legally. I believe that it is not a law that fully ensures human rights. If this law had been enacted earlier, the recent public outcry involving the "Noorog" group of youth would not have occurred. The process stipulated in the law, the police authority's method of operation, their verification of information, and their professional skills appeared to be very weak. If this law was in effect, how would the "Noorog" incident have unfolded in real life? - 60% OF DETAINEES AND PEOPLE WITHIN THE TEMPORARY DETENTION ARE GIVEN STATE-APPOINTED LAWYERS, BUT THESE LAWYERS ABANDON THEM - Third, individuals are quickly labeled as suspects or defendants. These people cannot afford private lawyers due to financial difficulties. Unfortunately, due to the irresponsible execution of duties by state-appointed lawyers, these individuals suffer greatly. Among the youth with temporary detention or incarceration status, about 60% rely on state-appointed lawyers for their defense. However, these lawyers often abandon their clients, failing to familiarize themselves with the necessary cases. Such deficiencies exist.

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Z. Dashdavaa reappointed as head of the Anti-Corruption Agency

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

Members of the State Great Khural (Parliament) have decided to extend Z. Dashdavaa's term as the head of the Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC). Z. Dashdavaa, head and chief commissioner of the IAAC, is completing his six-year term, and the government proposed to reappoint him. This proposal was discussed in meetings of the parliamentary groups of the MPP and DP, and in the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs. Subsequently, the plenary session of the State Great Khural decided on the reappointment based on the provision of Article 21.1 of the Anti-Corruption Law, which states, "The head of the Anti-Corruption Agency shall be appointed by the State Great Khural upon the proposal of the Prime Minister for a term of six years." In the vote, 89 out of 112 MPs, or 79.4%, supported Z. Dashdavaa's reappointment, allowing him to lead the IAAC for another six years. The Prime Minister, L. Oyun-Erdene, presented his proposal for reappointment to the government and parliament based on Article 21.4 of the Anti-Corruption Law, which states, "The head and deputy head of the Anti-Corruption Agency may be reappointed once." This marks the first time since the establishment of the IAAC 18 years ago that a head has been reappointed. Z. Dashdavaa, a Distinguished Lawyer, has been credited by the State Great Khural and the government for his exceptional work in recovering damages caused by corruption during his tenure. For example, since 2020, the IAAC has succeeded in bringing back $13.9 million taken out of Mongolia due to criminal activities. He has also expanded the IAAC's international relations, modernized electronic systems, and introduced advanced technology to monitor asset declarations and manage complaints and petitions efficiently. Under Z. Dashdavaa's leadership, the IAAC has conducted investigations into several high-profile cases, involving senior state officials in matters like the SME Fund, the 'Coal' case, the 'Development Bank's case, and the 'Green Bus' case, processing them through the judiciary. This indicates that the IAAC has demonstrated its ability to operate independently, according to the members of parliament.

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Parties That Failed to Update Their Bylaws and Notify the High Court Will Be Deregistered!

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

According to the revised Law on Political Parties, all political parties and coalitions must develop their internal regulations and programs and notify the Supreme Court this year. By law, parties were supposed to update their registration information and submit it to the Supreme Court by December 31 of last year, but this was postponed due to political circumstances. Specifically, the second article of the law on compliance with the Law on Political Parties was amended to allow parties to take measures to align their regulations, programs, and internal organization with the revised Law on Political Parties and submit these changes to the Supreme Court by December 31, 2025. Parties that fail to update their regulations and comply with the law by this deadline will not be registered as of January 1, 2026. The decision to amend this law was made on April 19, 2024. Subsequently, article 34.6.12 of the second article of the Law on Political Parties was renumbered as "34.6.13." Member of Parliament L. Munkhbaatar stated that parties requested an extension of the deadline to register their regulations, programs, and internal organization with the Supreme Court in compliance with the Law on Political Parties and other relevant legislation. As a result, the deadline was extended by one year, and now all parties are required to comply with the law and register with the Supreme Court by December 31, 2025. He noted that it would be better not to extend the deadline again. He reminded that the provision in the Constitution stating that a party can be established by at least one percent of eligible voters in Mongolia will come into effect on January 1, 2028. Parties must have around 22,000 members, according to statistics, to engage in political activities nationwide. The 37 parties registered with the Supreme Court need to ensure legal compliance according to the revised Law on Political Parties. Changes to the enforcement of this law were discussed in a Parliament session. He also emphasized the necessity for parties that have not participated in two or more elections to be considered inactive and to convene their governing and representative bodies every five years or else be considered inactive. A main provision of the Law on Political Parties, which grants state funding to parties that receive at least one percent of the total voters' support, began implementation this year. Based on the results of the parliamentary elections, seven parties are eligible to receive support totaling 7.4 billion tugriks from the state. In particular, the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), Democratic Party (DP), Human Mongol National Party, National Coalition, and Civil Courage Green Party will receive funding from the state as they have seats in the UIK. Additionally, although they did not secure seats in parliament, the New United Coalition and the True and Right Wing Party, which received more than one percent of voters' or 40-69 thousand voters' support, became eligible for state funding according to the law announced by the General Election Commission. Thus, the MPP will receive 2.8 billion tugriks from the state, the DP 2.1 billion tugriks, the Human Mongol National Party 993 million tugriks, the National Coalition 446 million tugriks, the Civil Courage Green Party 455 million tugriks, the New United Coalition 312 million tugriks, and the True and Right Wing Party 250 million tugriks, totaling 7.4 billion tugriks in funding.

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Economy

Risk of GDP Growth Decline Due to EAEU Agreement

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

"Our GDP growth could risk declining by 6.1% due to the agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union," according to Bloomberg. Certain citizens have criticized our country's decision to sign an agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which comprises five member countries: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia, and was established by Russian President V. Putin. Bloomberg TV reported that "the risk of a 6.1% decline in GDP growth exists due to a free trade agreement with the EAEU." The report pointed out that such a free trade agreement only zeroes out customs duties without considering VAT or excise tax rates. Researchers from the National University of Mongolia's Business School presented an estimate that Mongolia's GDP growth would drop by approximately 6.1% if a temporary free trade agreement is signed with the Eurasian Economic Union. By 2024, Mongolia exported goods worth $110.1 million to the EAEU countries and imported $2.9 billion worth of goods. If 375 types of goods are mutually imported duty-free under the agreement, it is estimated that exports could increase by approximately 3.7%. Of particular focus is a 4.23% increase in exports from the agricultural sector, which Mongolia is especially concerned with. On the other hand, total imports are expected to grow by 4.72%, with the industrial sector's imports anticipated to surge by 118%. The free trade agreement reduces customs duties and creates conditions for cheaper imported goods, thereby increasing the supply of raw materials, spare parts, and equipment in the industrial sector, leading to a rapid rise in sectoral imports, according to the researchers. Conversely, domestic industrial production is at risk of declining by 17.9%, while agricultural production could shrink by 4.3%. Other sectors are projected to grow by about 1.2-5%. Due to these impacts, the income of individuals and businesses is estimated to drop by roughly 5.5%, while state budget revenues could decline by 3.24%. The free trade agreement only "zeroes out" customs duties without considering VAT and excise tax rates. Currently, VAT in Russia is 20%, while in Mongolia it is 10%. According to the Ministry of Economy and Development, a list of 366 goods and products has been finalized under the agreement. Requests were made to exclude a total of 23 types of products, resulting in the removal of eight products, including liquid and condensed milk and potatoes, and reaching an agreement on 11 types of products. Specifically, an import quota of 50,000 tons for wheat was set, with a 3.75% tax to be applied. Furthermore, up to 90 million eggs can be imported with a 7.5% tax; anything beyond that will be taxed at the current rate of 15% according to the agreement. Source: Bloomberg TV.

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C. Nyamdorj: I want to tell the government that interfering in economic matters with legal force is very harmful

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

Member of Parliament and former Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs C. Nyamdorj answered questions from journalists. - The Prime Minister has suggested to former members of the National Security Council to work as Special Ambassadors. Do you plan to work as a Special Envoy? If so, what responsibilities would you undertake? - I have received an offer to work as a Special Envoy. So far, I have not made any proposals myself. If needed, I might provide some advice. This is not an official position. It does not require salary or anything else. If there are issues related to the state interest, I can make one or two suggestions about what to do next. It's at that level. - There has become a trend of people who have held high positions in the party or state being appointed to some position when they leave politics. However, you did not get appointed to a position after leaving politics. What is your stance on this matter? - It's better to stay quiet after having been like a blazing fire during the time in politics. I have a firm stance on this. To be in politics means to take an oath to the state and serve like a soldier, even to the point of sacrificing one's life if necessary. After leaving, I don't like to cause confusion. That is my nature. If I am invited by the leaders to express opinions on how to proceed correctly to minimize mistakes, I will speak. A person in politics has a limited time to act, which must be understood. - What job offers have you received since? - I've received one or two offers. - Have you been offered to become an ambassador? - No, why would I go for something like that? I'm a person who understands when it's time to leave. However, there's always concern for those who have been involved in politics about what might be lost. Even now, I see some things that concern me, so I express my opinion to the leaders. Whether they listen or not is their concern. - You mention being worried about mistakes. What mistakes is this government making? - I have things to say about stopping certain actions. I didn't talk about cases while I was a Minister. I only spoke about certain issues after a court decision was final. There's a red line that the Minister of Justice should not cross. I believe young ministers have considered this. - Mongolia has been transitioning to a new society for 35 years now. The Mongolian economy is like early spring grass. During such times, interfering in economic issues with legal force is very dangerous. I almost didn't move the police to engage in business. I used to say not to participate in political company battles or engage in blackmail. Businesses, when like early grass, don't recover if trampled. I stuck to this principle for 20 years. Now distressing issues are being discussed. Big company conflicts have entered the parliament, causing division and arguments, which is not appropriate. - Do you see it as a conflict between companies? - When I was the Speaker of the Parliament, I wrote two or three laws about the Parliament. One provision was that the Parliament does not establish working groups to inspect companies. Because people who visit with political goals interfere with healthy business operations. If there is a need to inspect companies, it should be done only by the state through its own structure. It is wrong for members of Parliament to inspect both private and public businesses with political intent. Unfortunately, inspections seem to have started again, which is very wrong. Business and market economy should progress through competition. Legal interference in a free market economy is very bad. - A resolution by the 2007 Parliament tasked the registration of 39 deposits as strategic deposits, but this has not been done by the government. Is there significant political lobbying against registering the deposits? - In 1994, the Law on Minerals was enacted, written by renowned geologists of the time, Ch. Khurts and B. Chimed. During its enforcement, Prime Minister M. Enkhsaikhan introduced a new Minerals Law as part of a World Bank project. In Western countries, particularly those that have perfected colonization, forced small countries to pass laws and then entered their political and economic sphere through them. The 1998 Minerals Law was such a law. It issued licenses on a first-come-first-served basis. There was a Minerals Authority back then. Wrestlers queued day and night, causing much commotion. I realized that this law was not working and passed a law with the Strategic Deposits provision while I was the Speaker of the Parliament. An ambassador from a foreign country came to see me at that time, trying to interfere. I told that ambassador, "Mongolia has gained the right to independently decide its issues. No foreign ambassador can interfere with this freedom. We will pass this law in 14 days." And we did it exactly in 14 days. After the enactment, proposals came from the government to register about 50 deposits as strategic deposits, and 17 complete materials were registered and approved. The rest were returned to complete their materials. - Why were the remaining deposits never brought back to the Parliament? - Maybe governments loosened their attention and simply did not bring the issues. But with the passage of the Sovereign Wealth Fund Law, this issue might be actively discussed again. However, from a pure legal perspective, companies should not be blamed. For they acquired rights under the then-applicable laws. There is no blame on their part. - There is a proposed law to confiscate assets acquired through illegal enrichment by high-ranking officials. What is your position on this? - Ask the person who is talking about it. This should generally fall under the Criminal Code. The Criminal Code has provisions for penalties and confiscation of property. It cannot deviate from the Criminal Code. I have been involved with the Criminal Code for a long time. Our 2002 law had its foundation written alongside Germany's great scholars. I adjusted it for Mongolian conditions and got it approved. Unfortunately, the 2012 Parliament tinkered with it and rendered it ineffective. We have not recovered from that.

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Government Decides to Issue Securities on Domestic Market

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

As part of the aim to support the securities market and establish a benchmark interest rate for bonds in the financial market, the Ministry of Finance, through the Mongolian Stock Exchange, will be openly trading domestic securities starting from the 16th of this month, after an 8-year hiatus. The government is offering investors safe, reliable securities with stable returns, high liquidity, and interest income tax-free features. Uniquely, bondholders can use their bonds as collateral for payments and other guarantees. By starting to trade securities in the domestic market, a benchmark yield interest rate will be formed and bond valuations will align with international standards, contributing to the development of the domestic bond market. There will be increased participation of professional investors such as open and closed investment funds in the capital market. Trading government domestic securities is expected to be a significant stimulus for increasing the participation of citizens and enterprises in the capital market, according to the Financial Regulatory Commission.

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Mongolians to Gain 18 Million USD Thanks to the "Year of the Camel"

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

The time is approaching when the camel will break its tether and the Mongolians will exceed their limits. An ancient legend tells of a camel that wished to be part of the twelve-year animal cycle but was tricked by the mouse and excluded. However, in this era, the camel has become a focal point of global attention, representing more than just a goal in sustainable development. It is now a symbol of a significant event that will be boldly marked in the history of Mongolia. Alongside the UN General Assembly announcing 2024 as the International Year of Camelids, Mongolians have received the official right to host the JCI Asia-Pacific Conference in Ulaanbaatar in 2025. The "JCI ASPAC 2025" conference, symbolized by the two-humped camel unique to Mongolia, will be the largest international event ever organized in the country, bringing together over 5,000 youths from 70 countries for four days to participate in 143 activities unified by their values and beliefs. The influx of people from different sectors and countries will greatly impact sectors such as flights, hotels, public transportation, taxis, food production, security, and insurance. Our new airport has a capacity to manage over 2,000 arrivals daily, and this event coincides with the peak tourist season in Mongolia. Not only are flights and airport capacities a challenge, but also accommodation and conference halls to host 5,000 people at once are currently insufficient, pushing the limits of Ulaanbaatar's resources. We have only two months left to prepare and overcome these challenges, aligning with the camel breaking its tether and taking the step beyond limits. Typically, a two-humped camel can carry 200-240 kg on its back or pull 400-500 kg when harnessed. We've already harnessed our camel. Mongolia's Exceptional Ambition Having a strong position in the Asia-Pacific region offers opportunities to demonstrate geopolitical leadership globally. Therefore, powerful regional countries compete fiercely to host the ASPAC conference. Initially, in 2007, the desire to host ASPAC in Mongolia was expressed by P. Batsaikhan, then President of the Shunkhlai Group and leader of JCI Mongolia. Surprisingly, however, global leaders didn’t believe it would be possible at the time. Yet, through a decade of relentless effort, the youth of JCI Mongolia succeeded in hosting the conference for the first time, clearly demonstrating their capabilities to over 160,000 individuals with branches in over 120 countries. Generally, hosting such major international conferences repeatedly in the same city is uncommon. For a small country like ours, with just one mega-city named Ulaanbaatar, being granted the right to host it a second time is an event akin to the camel entering the twelve-year cycle. For the small nation of Mongolia, this could be seen as a strategic foreign policy move. Leaders from 71 countries, including economic powerhouses Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Australia, will participate in this conference. G. Baasankhuu, a senior lecturer at the International Relations Department of the National University of Mongolia, stated that as international relations deepen, creating positive perceptions through soft power methods is prioritized. Such policies are continuously supported by multi-faceted initiatives and activities. Successfully hosting another international conference would demonstrate that Mongolia has the capacity to organize major events and actively engage in regional and international cooperation, as well as creating new partnerships. With over 4,000 guests from more than 70 countries attending, it will influence the political climate in foreign relations, establishing preliminary conditions for interested parties to invest. He also emphasized that the "Green Conference" concept of this event communicates the wisdom with which Mongolians have lived in harmony with nature and conserved their environment, contributing positively to the international community. Our traditional lifestyle can serve as a model for responsible development globally. From 18 Thousand to 18 Million In 2024, Cambodia, which will host the conference, was selected after over a decade of effort. This opportunity allowed Cambodia to promote its history and cultural heritage worldwide, resulting in $4 million in profits thanks to a group of young leaders contributing voluntarily. For Mongolia, the conference is expected to inject a minimum of 16-18 million USD into the economy, directly activating over 18,000 jobs. The Chair of the "JCI ASPAC 2025" Organizing Committee, O. Naranbaatar, noted that they are organizing ASPAC for the second time. In 2017, they managed to gather 3,600 people, making it the largest international conference to date in Mongolia. Over four days, 3,600 youths from 51 countries came at their own expense, contributing $12 million to the economy. During a pivotal attempt to diversify the economy, "Go Mongolia" was able to attract 810,000 tourists, generating $1.6 billion in tourism revenue, thanks to a unified strategic approach. Youth NGOs are now modestly contributing to the economy and getting Mongolians ready to compete internationally with confidence. B. Barsbold, Board Member of the Professional Tourism Association and CEO of Discover Mongolia Travel LLC, stated that organizing a major international conference is a significant opportunity for the tourism industry. When 5,000 guests arrive from abroad, 5,000 new consumers are created. Attendees are not ordinary tourists. Many are entrepreneurs, researchers, and representatives of large organizations. Thus, the tourism offered to these people is different. Studies show that such tourists spend 2-3 times more money than regular tourists. They require excellent services due to their limited timeframes, opting for premium hotels, private transport, and VIP guides. In addition, these visitors seek quick and effective services, wishing to engage with the cultural heritage of the country while exploring new business opportunities. Silk Road to Freedom with 1,500 Volunteers O. Naranbaatar, chair of the "JCI ASPAC 2025" Organizing Committee, stated that they have set their sights on the freedom of the Silk Road. He expressed confidence that this year's ASPAC will convey the message that Mongolians are carrying their heritage into the future and developing alongside the digital era, represented through the imagery of camels traversing the Silk Road. Our ancestors made significant contributions to developing the corridor connecting Asia and Europe, known as the Silk Road, which was safe and peaceful under the Mongol Empire. The Silk Road was not just about trade but also a vast cultural exchange bridge. Just as any country's traders were free to travel on the Silk Road, they hope that this year's ASPAC will evoke the same feeling. Participants will enroll in international standard training, participate in debates and public speaking competitions in second languages, promote their businesses, seek investments from global business leaders, and engage in collaborative social projects with other organizations. For the first time, the "Green Conference" strategy will be introduced to the Asia-Pacific conference, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They plan to achieve Net-Zero emissions through balanced solutions of gas emissions and sequestering effects. As an example, each registered participant will plant a tree in Mongolia's soil, aiming to plant an average of 5,000 trees, absorbing 100-150 tons of carbon annually. They intend to express Mongolia's progress into the future while utilizing the most advanced technology and digital solutions in JCI's history, planning to integrate artificial intelligence for efficient resource use and reduce food waste. Interestingly, more than 1,500 volunteers from 17 JCI Mongolia branches are working without financial compensation, enthusiastically embodying the extraordinary ambitions of small Mongolia. Good luck to the 1,500 striving towards the freedom of the Silk Road!

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Operation of Seven Unlicensed Gas Stations Halted

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

The City Inspection Department has issued an official order to temporarily suspend operations at seven gas stations. The "Tod Petroleum" station, located in the 3rd khoroo of Khan-Uul district, had received land permits. However, since it was operating without obtaining a construction commencement permit from the Urban Development and City Standards Office, its operation has been temporarily halted by official order. The head of the City Inspection Department, S. Enkhbayar, stated, “There are 270 gas and automobile refueling stations operating across the city. Since last October, the CID has conducted preliminary inspections on these stations and identified violations at 47 of them. Of these, operations at seven stations without construction or operational permits have been temporarily suspended, and fines have been imposed.” In the case of the "Tod Petroleum" gas station, it was found to have obtained land permits but not an official construction permit in compliance with urban development standards. Therefore, an official directive with fines has been issued, and it is required to complete the necessary documents and obtain a permit within three months. If the requirements are not met by the specified deadline, the station will be closed, and its land permit will be revoked. The CID’s Senior Inspector for Petroleum and Gas Control, Ts. Munkhbold, remarked, “Gas stations must adhere to approved plans, building codes and regulations when constructing facilities. We will continue to monitor stations operating in locations that fail to meet urban development, environmental, and standard requirements.” Additionally, the CID is inspecting issues related to the safety of gas stations and fuel facilities, urban standards, road signage, transportation, driver training, and permits. Officials have stated that they will consider factors such as the station's proximity to residential areas or its location within drinking water source zones, and will collaborate with relevant organizations accordingly.

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Diplomacy

Meeting of the Joint Committee on Cooperation between Mongolia and the European Union took place

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

The 23rd meeting of the Joint Committee on Cooperation between Mongolia and the European Union was held in Ulaanbaatar today. During the meeting, the parties exchanged information about the latest political, social, and economic situations and discussed possibilities for continuing to work together to expand the relationship and cooperation between Mongolia and the European Union within the framework of common objectives outlined in the long-term development policies of both sides. Specifically, they discussed expanding cooperation in the renewable energy and green transition sectors and increasing trade turnover by effectively utilizing the European Union’s trade preference system. They also exchanged views on contributing jointly to combating climate change, particularly by focusing on the effective implementation of measures outlined in the roadmap for the "Forest Partnership" memorandum. The committee also discussed the results of the Human Rights Dialogue and the Development Cooperation Working Group's regular meetings. Following the conclusion of the 23rd meeting of the Joint Committee on Cooperation between Mongolia and the European Union, a joint press release was issued. The meeting was led by Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs L. Munkhtushig and Deputy Director-General for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Action Service Paola Pampaloni, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Signed a Cooperation Plan

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

In connection with the government declaring 2025 as "The Year of Supporting Construction in the Capital," the Government Control and Implementation Department has exchanged proposals with the Mayor's Office of the Capital City to collaborate on resolving issues faced by citizens and businesses. Within the framework of this cooperation, the Head of the Government Control and Implementation Department's Office, G. Buuviehuu, and the Head of the Capital's Mayor's Office, D. Amgalan, signed a cooperation plan. Present at the signing were the Head of the Government Control and Implementation Department, Ch. Unurbayar, the Head of the Legal Department, B. Az, the Head of the Integrated Service Center of the Capital's Mayor's Office, B. Uuganbat, and Senior Specialist of the Capital's Mayor's Office, Ts. Battulga. Ch. Unurbayar, Head of the Government Control and Implementation Department, stated: "We have agreed to collaborate with the Capital's Mayor's Office in three main areas. The Government Control and Implementation Department not only conducts monitoring and inspections but also research and analysis. We have provided specific recommendations to address the challenges in increasing the productivity of state organizations. Furthermore, we consolidate complaints and requests from citizens across all state administrative organizations and present them to the government. In this regard, besides just presenting petitions and complaints, we conduct joint research and analysis to ensure compliance with rules and regulations and have made proposals to resolve issues and implement technological advancements." He also expressed the commitment to collaborate within the framework of the authorized functions to streamline overly complex rules, registrations, and approvals, and to deliver government services quickly, efficiently, and without hassle to citizens and businesses. D. Amgalan, Head of the Capital's Mayor's Office, who organized the meeting, expressed gratitude for the exchange of proposals related to cooperation and stated that this marks the beginning of an important undertaking. In collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization, there was discussion on implementing project programs, synchronizing joint activities, and working together through planning. PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION OF THE CAPITAL'S MAYOR'S OFFICE.

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Orkhon: Ambassador Helmut Kulitz Visits Erdenet Plant

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

In the framework of social relations and cooperation, many delegations visit Erdenet Factory SOE to familiarize themselves with its operations. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Mongolia, Helmut Kulitz, along with Udo Weber, head of the Development Cooperation Department, and specialist D. Delgerjargal, visited "Erdenet Factory" SOE. They familiarized themselves with the activities of the Open Pit, the Concentrating Plant, and the Repair and Mechanical Plant. They also met with the leadership of the "Erdenet Complex" University and exchanged views on the possibility of future collaboration, such as teacher and student exchanges, collaboration in scientific research, improving material properties for machinery development, and enhancing wear resistance with the help of world-class companies. They visited the Welding Training Center established with the help of Germany, where they learned that around 100 people from the provinces of Orkhon, Bulgan, Khuvsgul, Darkhan-Uul, and Umnugovi have acquired professional skills in electric, semi-automatic, and argon welding. Ambassador Helmut Kulitz said, "For Mongolia, mining is the most important sector. I came to Erdenet for the first time with the purpose of personally getting acquainted with Erdenet Factory, which holds a major position in this sector. I believe this will be a valuable visit for defining our future cooperation direction, providing recommendations, and seeking new opportunities together. During my visit to the Open Pit, Concentrating Plant, and Repair and Mechanical Plant, I was greatly impressed by the hard work of the miners," and wished them great success in their work.

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Infrastructure

Implementing Baga Khangaikhushigiin Valley Railway Construction Project

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

"Mongolian Railways" JSC has signed a memorandum of cooperation with state-owned and state-participated enterprises. In line with the "Vision 2050" long-term development policy of Mongolia and the action program of the Government of Mongolia for 2020-2028, the project aims to develop the national railway transport and logistics system as specified in the Government's resolution No. 229 dated December 25, 2024, and No. 86 dated February 12 of the same year. The project seeks to fully secure the necessary financial resources in a short period for the construction of the Baga Khangaikhushigiin Valley railway. This new branch railway will extend from Baga Khangaikh station, passing through Sergelen soum of Tuv province, to Khushigiin Valley, with a total length of 102 km. It will have a single track with 3 stations, 4 passing loops, and a 2.5 km long bridge structure. Construction work is planned to start this month and is expected to be completed by August. This project, to be implemented with investments from state-owned and state-participated enterprises, is commissioned by the Ministry of Road and Transport Development and organized by the State Property Policy and Regulation Agency. The "Mongolian Railways" JSC company will execute the project within five months, involving around 110 domestic enterprises and more than 2,500 workers.

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Tuul Water Complex to be Built with a Loan of $200-300 Million

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

As part of 24 mega projects to develop Ulaanbaatar city, it is planned to build the Tuul water complex on an area of 5,569 square meters between 2025 and 2032. The reservoir will be constructed with foreign financing of 200-300 million US dollars. At present, the citizens of the capital city use 100% groundwater, consuming 185-225 thousand cubic meters of clean water per day. By 2040, the city's water consumption is expected to increase to 772,450 cubic meters per day. Therefore, by building flow regulation dams on the Tuul and Terelj rivers and constructing the Tuul water complex, it will be possible to utilize surface water. Preliminarily, 3-4 options for the dam's cross-sections have been selected. The Tuul water complex is projected to have the capacity to accumulate 50-100 million cubic meters of water, with the dam having a length of 685.15 meters, a height of 35.8 meters, and a depth of 19.84 meters, as specified in the feasibility study. The complex is planned to be used for protecting the capital city from flood risks, providing a reliable drinking water source, maintaining the ecological balance of the Tuul River, and generating electrical energy. Source: Public Relations Department of the Capital City Mayor's Office Notice: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social and Web pages) are prohibited from using our information in any form, either in whole or in part, unless agreed upon. When using, they must cite the source (ikon.mn).

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H. Nyambaatar Plans to Establish 14 New Satellite Cities, Allocating 56 Billion Tugriks

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

The City Council held an extraordinary meeting last Friday to amend the 2025 budget of the capital city. - THE CAPITAL'S BUDGET REVENUE EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS BY 1.6 TRILLION - In particular, although the total revenue of the capital's 2025 budget was initially approved at 4.025 trillion Tugriks, it increased by 1 trillion 664 billion Tugriks. In other words, by the end of the first quarter of 2025, the capital's budget revenue exceeded expectations by 1.6 trillion, prompting the City Council to discuss its allocation. From this 1.6 trillion Tugriks surplus, 18.3 billion Tugriks was allocated to securities fees and swap expenses, 5 billion Tugriks to the mayor's contingency fund expenses, 3.8 billion Tugriks to rewards for district section leaders, and 7.6 billion Tugriks to operational costs of four organizations established under Government Resolution No. 33 and corresponding decisions of the City Council. - TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICES OF THE MAYORS OF "AGRO CITY" AND "NALUU UHAA", 2.6 BILLION TUGRIKS WAS ALLOCATED - In addition, 86 billion Tugriks from 15 uncontracted projects and initiatives were cut, and the financing amount of two projects was reduced by 16 billion Tugriks in line with realistic performance and funding, totaling a reallocation of 116 billion Tugriks to finance 33 new projects and initiatives. These projects include the establishment of four new satellite cities: "Agro City," "Naluu Uhaa," "Khunnu," and "Emeelt." Specifically, 1.4 billion Tugriks was allocated to establish the office of the Mayor of "Agro City," and 1.2 billion Tugriks for "Naluu Uhaa." Additionally, 680 million Tugriks was budgeted for the development and promotional center of "Khunnu" city, green building design costs, and consultancy services; 10 billion Tugriks was allocated for "Khunnu" city's domestic wastewater and treatment plant project, and 30 billion Tugriks was added for "Emeelt" eco-industrial park's thermal power plant and wastewater treatment plant project. - MAYOR H. NYAMBAATAR PLANS TO RESTRUCTURE ULAANBAATAR CITY WITH 14 SATELLITE CITIES, BUDGETING 56 BILLION TUGRIKS - Moreover, Mayor H. Nyambaatar increased the budget by 56 billion Tugriks in line with the law on the legal status of towns and settlements, and in relation to reorganizing the capital Ulaanbaatar city with 14 satellite cities, to implement the master development plan of Ulaanbaatar until 2040 and to formulate a partial general development plan for developing satellite cities.

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Construction Begins on the Long-Delayed Tuu-1 Sewer Collector

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

The decision to build Ulaanbaatar city's "Tuu-1" sewer collector, stretching 32 km from Gachuurt village to the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, was made in 2007. Since then, 19.3 km of plastic pipes have been installed, but construction has stalled for many years. However, under an order from the city's Mayor, the Water and Sewer Authority (WSA) is now responsible for the project, and the plastic pipes are being replaced with cast iron pipes. This year, the WSA plans to install 10 km of pipe. The "Tuu-1" collector is a major horizontal axis sewer line that will relieve the load on Ulaanbaatar's wastewater system. It is a strategically important engineering network for directing wastewater from existing and future buildings. Specifically, the collector is designed to transport wastewater from the districts of Gachuurt, Khujirbulan, Uliastai, Nalaikh, Amgalan, Shargad, Dambadarjaa, Doloon Buudal, Bayankhoshuu, Tolgoit, and the Bayangol Valley, directly and via Nalaih, Southern, Central, and 23rd collectors, to the central treatment facility. According to the Director of the Water and Sewer Authority, Mr. T. Turhuu, "Currently, about 190,000 households in Ulaanbaatar's ger district live without access to sewer infrastructure. To modernize these areas with apartment buildings, infrastructure issues must be resolved, and the Central Treatment Plant must be expanded. In this regard, we have started the installation of the "Tuu-1" sewer collector. Connecting this pipeline to the new treatment facility is accelerating the Central Treatment Plant's project. Initial water transfer will be conducted in May next year, and preparations are underway to receive a second batch of test water in August. The new central treatment facility will be able to handle 250,000 cubic meters of water per day." Furthermore, Mr. Turhuu emphasized, "Currently, the Central Treatment Plant can receive 160,000-170,000 cubic meters of water per day. However, during normal times, it receives up to 210,000 cubic meters, and in rainy summer months, the volume can increase to 240,000 cubic meters. This creates a necessity to expand the facility." Regarding the progress of "Tuu-1," Wastewater Line Engineer A. Enkhbayar of the WSA's Line Operation and Maintenance Office stated, "Over 18 years, Bridge Construction LLC built 19.3 km of pipeline. However, the plastic pipes fail to meet quality and operational requirements, causing leaks and raising the water level in trenches. If left unchanged, groundwater levels could rise further during rainy summer months, posing risks. Therefore, replacing the plastic pipes with cast iron pipes has become essential."

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Flights on Ho Chi Minh, Ordos, Muan Routes to Begin

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

South Korea's Gimhae International Airport has announced an increase in the number of flights to Ulaanbaatar. According to the updated summer flight schedule of the country, this schedule will continue until December of this year. Meanwhile, during the summer season, Mongolia has planned a total of 10,116 flights by 17 international carriers. This represents an increase of 100.9% compared to 2019 and an increase of 8.9% compared to 2024. In the summer of 2025, new flights will be added on the routes to Ho Chi Minh, Ordos, and Muan. Additionally, for domestic scheduled flights, MIAT Mongolian Airlines is planning to operate 764 flights on six routes.

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Multi-Level Intersections to be Built in 18 Locations

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

Within the framework of Ulaanbaatar's 24 mega projects, multi-level intersections will be constructed in 18 locations around the capital. Specifically, the intersections will be built in areas such as Baruun 4 zam, Sapporo, Mechanical Engineering School, Central Post Office, Geser Temple, Bayanburd, 32 roundabout, 17th School intersection, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zuun 4 zam, and Ikh Mongol. The plan includes 9,000 meters of roads and 4,500 meters of underpasses. Once the project is implemented, the average speed of road traffic is expected to increase by 7.1 percent. The project is scheduled to be completed between 2025 and 2028. According to the Public Relations Department of the City Governor's Office, the multi-level intersections will help reduce traffic congestion in the central districts of Ulaanbaatar, improve the efficiency of road traffic, support economic growth, save citizens' time, and develop a modern standard road network.

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The new wastewater treatment facility will be operational by this October

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

The construction of the new central wastewater treatment facility is currently 91% complete. If the current pace continues, it is expected to be fully operational by October 1st of this year, according to Z. Batbayar, head of the Water Agency, who provided this update yesterday. The construction of the new facility began in 2020 in the Songino-Khairkhan district territory, funded by a $1 billion concessional loan from China. Initially, it was planned to be commissioned within two years, but the project was delayed due to the pandemic. The completion date was then set for 2024, but it was also not met. Last year, the project's leader, T. Bolorchuluun, announced, "The construction work is fully finished. Only the installation of equipment remains." During yesterday's discussion that included representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Water Agency, and the Tuul River Basin Authority, it was concluded that the building work progress of the treatment plant is over 90%. Z. Batbayar from the Water Agency stated, "The new treatment plant can purify 250,000 cubic meters of water per day. Once operational, the pollution in the Tuul River will be reduced to a certain degree. Starting from May, the new facility will accept 40,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day, increasing to 100,000 cubic meters by September, and thereafter it will operate at full capacity."

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Temporary Traffic Restriction on Central Square Roads

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

Today, the traffic on the roads to the west and east of D. Sukhbaatar Square will be temporarily restricted, as reported by the Traffic Control Authority (TCA). Specifically, within the framework of the "Independence 3333" program, 3333 students from grades 1 to 8 of general education schools will read the poem "Independence" by People's Writer D. Purevdorj at the Central Square today. To ensure the safety of the students and to prevent traffic accidents and violations, as directed by the City Mayor's Office, the traffic on the roads to the west and east of D. Sukhbaatar Square will be temporarily restricted today from 09:00 to 14:00. Therefore, citizens and drivers are advised to choose other routes and roadways to participate in the traffic.

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Road closure near central square for student recital

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

Today, an event will be held in the central square where 3,333 students from grades 1 to 8 of general education schools will read the poem "Independence" by People's Writer D. Purevdorj. To ensure the safety of the students, prevent traffic accidents and violations, and maintain traffic safety, the Mayor's Office of the capital has decided to temporarily restrict traffic on the roads to the east and west of Sükhbaatar Square from 09:00 to 14:00. Therefore, the public and drivers are reminded to choose other roads and routes to participate in traffic. The recitation of the poem "Independence" by school students during the first week of April has become a tradition for expressing patriotic feelings and the concept of independence through poetry, and this year marks its 9th anniversary. Warning Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) are reminded that our information is prohibited from being used in any form, either in whole or in part, except with agreement and mention of the source (ikon.mn).

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Society

A Study on the Situation of Women Living in Local Areas

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

As part of the project to enhance activities combating gender-based violence in the country, a study will be conducted on the situation of women living in remote local areas. The aim is to empower workers in legal institutions and improve public understanding and attitudes. Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, L. Munkhzul, discussed this matter during a meeting with the resident representative of the International Legal Development Organization, Charlize Bolland. The organization implemented a project to strengthen activities against gender-based violence in Mongolia from 2019 to 2023. The second phase of the project, funded by the Government of Canada, will be implemented in order to strengthen the family violence response system, enhance intersectoral cooperation, improve the professional skills of law enforcement, judicial authority, and responders, and to promote a victim-centered approach. Significant progress has been made in the last 10 years in combating domestic violence. Intersectoral coordination is considered the most important. As of March 1 this year, over 700 social workers for children and families have commenced work nationwide. Agreements have been made to collaborate on empowering them and providing recommendations, according to information from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. The project will involve collaboration with central government bodies, including the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the National Crime Prevention Council, and the National Committee on Gender.

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Uvs: Collaborating with World Vision Mongolia

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

World Vision Mongolia, an international organization that has been continuously working for children's welfare for 30 years in Mongolia, officially opened its branch in Uvs province today. During this event, the head of the Uvs aimag's Governor's Office, U. Ganzorig, and the national director of World Vision Mongolia, B. Bolortsetseg, signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate from 2024 to 2034. The local program of World Vision Mongolia will be implemented in Ulaangom, Naranbulag, and Tarialan soums, and has been active since October of last year. Since 2007, World Vision Mongolia has implemented several special projects in Uvs province aimed at supporting households' livelihoods and providing emergency assistance during disasters. The main goal of this program is to provide humanitarian assistance in child and family protection, as well as to carry out advocacy and protection work.

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Ulaanbaatar Residents to Celebrate at Central Stadium on June 27-28

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

During the peak tourism season, Ulaanbaatar city has planned many events, cultural, artistic, and sports activities this year, according to the city mayor, Kh. Nyambaatar. Among these, a special program is included just for city residents. Specifically, it is planned that on June 27-28, Ulaanbaatar residents will gather at the Central Stadium for the first time. According to the mayor's information, from April 8-14, 2025, there will be an international food festival "UB Food." Following this, starting from April 15, a Circus Week will begin in a pavilion on the central square that can accommodate more than 4,000 people. Additionally, on the 27th of the upcoming month, a Muay Thai boxing competition involving athletes from four continents is scheduled at the "UG Arena" complex. Thus, in the coming months, many interesting events and celebrations are expected in Ulaanbaatar, providing visual and experiential enjoyment for travelers, tourists, as well as the inhabitants of the capital city.

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S. Munkhchuluun: We will establish a tourism center based on Baga Gazriin Chuluu and Tsagaansuvarga /VIDEO/

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

Today, over 180 scholars and doctors from Dundgovi province are gathering at the Government Palace. We clarified this with the Governor of Dundgovi province, S. Munkhchuluun. Dundgovi province governor S. Munkhchuluun stated: "Today marks the inaugural meeting of the 'Steppe Light Scholars,' a non-governmental organization established by scholars from Dundgovi province. At this first meeting, scholars are presenting lectures on subjects they have researched and specialized in. At the conference, Mr. S. Demberel, the President of the Academy of Sciences, shared his thoughts on the activities to be implemented by the Academy of Sciences and how they could collaborate with Dundgovi province in the future. Additionally, our non-governmental organization has chosen academician Mr. S. Narangerel as our honorary president. From my side, I introduced the province's current situation and discussed which sectors we could collaborate with scholars."

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Environment

The Bactrian Camel is on the Verge of Extinction: Let's Focus Attention Like We Did with the Gobi Bear

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

The Gobi Desert's protected area celebrated its 50th anniversary today by showcasing information about rare animals. During the event, Dr. U. Tungulad of the Luuijn Zoological Society delivered a presentation titled "Challenges and Advances in Bactrian Camel Conservation". Dr. Tungulad noted that in 1877-1878, researcher M. Przhevalsky conducted studies around Lob Lake and discovered the wild Bactrian camel, which is distinct from the domesticated camel. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, the wild Bactrian camel is classified as critically endangered, ranking high among nine categories. The Bactrian camel is considered a key symbol of desert biodiversity. It is the only wild member of the camel family, playing a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of the Gobi ecosystem. The camel: - Stabilizes the soil with its large body, - Disperses seeds across hundreds of kilometers, - Establishes paths that regulate the region's water cycle, - Significantly influences the nutrient cycle, contributing to ecological balance. As a species highly sensitive to environmental changes, the Bactrian camel serves as an indicator of ecosystem health. It has adapted to harsh climate change conditions, such as extreme temperature fluctuations and drought. The degradation of habitats directly affects their decline. At a minimum, they are facing a water shortage, with oases drying up due to mining and climate change. Moreover, the lack of rainfall affects food availability, while hybridization with domestic camels poses another threat. Young camels are vulnerable to infectious diseases and water contamination, leading to fatalities. It has been illegal to hunt Bactrian camels in Mongolia since the 1930s. In 2007, the Zoological Society of London, now Luuijn, initiated conservation efforts for Bactrian camels through their "EDGE" program, which lists evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered animals, with the Bactrian camel ranked high on the list. A breeding center was established in 2003, focusing on: 1. Captive breeding to preserve genetic reserves and domestication; 2. Conserving their natural environment to ensure the wild population's tranquility. Dr. Tungulad highlighted several challenges in increasing Bactrian camel numbers: - An effective constant monitoring protocol does not exist. Annual counts can’t accurately track numbers affordably. - Population estimates are speculative as a result. - Many young camels perish; it remains unclear whether wolves or other factors are to blame. - Around 500 Bactrian camels survive near Lob Lake, having endured various Chinese nuclear activities. Communication and collaboration with other researchers are lacking. The conservation project relies heavily on foreign projects each year, without state funding. Instead, there is more focus on the Gobi bear. Warning: Media organizations must not use our information in any form, in whole or in part, without agreement and must credit the source (ikon.mn) if used.

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Scientists' Council Discusses Solutions to Reduce Air Pollution

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

The second meeting of the Scientists' Council under the National Committee for Reducing Air Pollution took place today. At the start of the meeting, S. Davaasuren, the head of the working unit of the National Committee for Reducing Air Pollution, provided information regarding the research and solution options for modernizing the low-pressure steam boilers that use raw coal in the capital. The working unit has studied each of the low-pressure boilers individually and developed six solution options. Representatives from businesses and organizations that presented their air pollution reduction technologies to the working unit of the National Committee also discussed their solutions at the meeting. During this meeting, Tengis Development Group introduced their magnetic field boiler, ARYA LLC presented their smoke filter device, Monwatt LLC unveiled their heat accumulator, and Eco Resource LLC introduced their dual combustion stove, while also hearing the opinions and recommendations of scientists and researchers. In response, the Scientists' Council will issue recommendations for each solution and distribute them to the businesses.

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S. Batbold: It is Necessary to Promote the Use of Gas and Electric Vehicles in the Automotive Transport Sector

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

The Ministry of Road and Transport organized the “NEXUS Green Solution” public-private partnership forum recently. The discussion highlighted the need to establish charging stations and infrastructure for electric vehicles in Ulaanbaatar city, as well as along international and national highways in stages. It also emphasized the importance of regulating the maintenance and technical inspection of electric vehicles, addressing issues related to waste and battery recycling from automotive vehicles, and developing and implementing relevant standards and guidelines for electric vehicle regulation, as pointed out by experts. Regarding this, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Road and Transport, S. Batbold, stated, “The Ministry of Road and Transport considers it reasonable to support the use of gas and electric vehicles in the automotive transport sector. In 2019, we conducted a study on waste generated by automotive vehicles through a professional organization. During 2022-2024, a study to improve the system for controlling harmful emissions from vehicle engines was carried out, discussed at the Science and Technology Council, and received positive feedback. Based on these studies and reports, it is necessary to collaborate with public and private sector organizations to make the relevant decisions.” Global warming has begun to negatively impact human life by increasing the frequency and scope of natural disasters. In the last 30 years, the number of natural disasters has tripled, and within 10 years, insurance costs due to weather changes have increased eightfold, while non-insurance costs have risen sevenfold. Global warming, driven by pollution and excessive carbon emissions, has led to natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes, posing a risk of a 25% decline in global GDP by 2100. Consequently, policymakers have started to prioritize sustainable green growth, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, rather than solely focusing on economic growth. A significant demonstration of this shift is the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement, joined by 196 countries worldwide, aims to limit global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius in the 21st century. For Mongolia, this goal is specifically included in the "Vision 2050," the country's long-term development policy. Notably, under the "Green Development" objective’s 6.4 clause, it specifies reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy, agriculture, construction, transport, industry, and waste sectors, as well as increasing carbon absorption. In line with this, the Ministry of Road and Transport has reported plans to implement the "NEXUS NET ZERO" project in cooperation with MMS Engineering LLC.

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Sukhbaatar: 485 Animal Carcasses Affected by Fire Have Been Destroyed

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

In the province, due to a grassland fire, 760 animals perished unnaturally. As of today, 198 horses, 57 cattle, 151 sheep, and 79 goats, totaling 485 animal carcasses, have been disposed of. Additionally, disinfection has been carried out on 476,000 square meters of public, communal, and pastureland, including disposal sites, on-farm enclosures, and manure areas. This winter was favorable, so there were almost no recorded cases of animal losses due to poor weather. The main cause of losses this year was the grassland fire. Under the unified directive from the Director of the General Emergency Management Agency, the cleanup and disinfection activities to collect and dispose of animal carcasses are being implemented, and the 144th decree of the provincial governor is in place. The carcass disposal work continues in the Asgat, Sukhbaatar, and Erdenetsagaan soums where the fire occurred. This effort will continue until the end of the year. Furthermore, it is essential for the provincial and soum emergency committees to resolve the costs related to treating and rehabilitating animals affected by the fire by providing medications and feed supplements, according to J. Sunduij, head of the Department of Veterinary Health of the General Emergency Management Agency. Currently, 5.7 million tugriks have been spent on the animal carcass disposal work.

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Innovation

"Mongol ID Holdings" to Bring Payment System Innovation to a New Level in Kyrgyzstan

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

Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic – Mongol ID Holdings LLC, a UK-based provider of all types of financial services based on international payment systems, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with one of Kyrgyzstan's leading banks, Kompanion Bank, to introduce the most advanced technology-based payment solutions to the market of the country. This signing marks a significant step towards delivering modern, secure, and efficient payment solutions to consumers and businesses in Kyrgyzstan. Based on this partnership, Kompanion Bank will be able to implement payment systems, SoftPos, integrated QR infrastructure, and other financial services. To implement the main execution of this cooperation, Mongol ID Holdings has officially launched its operations by opening its subsidiary, Minu Payment Solutions, in Kyrgyzstan. The opening was attended by entrepreneurs and representatives from international organizations, including: - Charlie Morris, Regional Economic Development Advisor at the British Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - Margarita Cherikbaeva, CEO of Kompanion Bank, one of Kyrgyzstan's leading banks - G. Batgerel, CEO of Mongol ID LLC - B. Bodgerel, CEO of Minu Payment Solutions, Kyrgyzstan, who officially inaugurated the operation by cutting the ribbon. During the opening ceremony, B. Bodgerel, CEO of Minu Payment Solutions, commented: "We are pleased to successfully launch our technology and payment system infrastructure in Kyrgyzstan. Our solutions will simplify the operations of small, medium, and large businesses and create a payment ecosystem." Additionally, Kompanion Bank's CEO, Mrs. Margarita Cherikbaeva, remarked: "Kompanion Bank has always supported any initiatives aimed at strengthening financial infrastructure and innovation. Today’s cooperation is evidence of this commitment. The opening of Mongol ID Holdings' new branch in Kyrgyzstan is a significant step not only for our two companies but also for the financial sector of our country. The modern payment and digital solutions offered by Minu Payment Solutions have become an indispensable tool for our entrepreneurs, providing them with more efficient, reliable, and fast-working opportunities." Mongol ID company was founded in 2015 and has been a leader in the fintech sector, serving 40,000 users domestically by the first quarter of 2025. A notable achievement this year was their participation in the UK Government’s "Global Entrepreneur Program," through which they moved their headquarters to the UK under the name Mongol ID Holdings. Charlie Morris, the Regional Economic Development Advisor at the British Embassy in Bishkek, who was present at the opening ceremony, highlighted: "It is a historic event to support and participate in the expansion of a successfully implemented domestic financial product internationally. By moving its headquarters to the UK, Mongol ID Holdings is provided with the opportunity to reach a wider international market with its products." B. Tögstögtögtör, Director of International Strategy at Mongol ID Holdings LLC, stated: "The opening of our new branch in Kyrgyzstan is a broader opportunity than merely expanding our business operations. We view this as the beginning of a great initiative to create a digital bridge between the UK and Central Asia," reaffirming the company's strategic foundation to expand its activities across the wider Central Asian market.

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Health

Khan Bank Continues Investment in the Healthcare Sector

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

Leading in its sector, Khan Bank has consistently and reliably implemented social welfare programs, with a prominent example being the "National Campaign Against Cancer," now in its 15th year, and the "Campaign Against Hypertension," now in its 9th year. Khan Bank, as the first private sector entity to implement sustainable development and corporate social responsibility initiatives, established the Khan Bank Foundation in 2007. Since then, through this foundation, it has successfully implemented a total of 523 projects and programs across all sectors of society with funding of 16.2 billion Mongolian tugriks. Within the framework of sustainable development goal three, "Promoting Health," Khan Bank has persistently implemented these two major campaigns in the healthcare sector, spending around 2.5 billion tugriks over the years. The "National Campaign Against Cancer" and "Campaign Against Hypertension," which have been continuously implemented for many years and have yielded positive results, held their opening ceremony and the signing of a memorandum of cooperation with participants at Khan Bank Tower on April 3, 2025. Through these campaigns, healthcare services are provided to remote rural citizens, who receive free preventive screenings from specialized doctors, health information, and even surgeries when necessary, serving as a prime example of successful public and private sector collaboration. Specifically, teams from the "National Campaign Against Cancer," implemented in cooperation with the National Cancer Center and Mongolian National Public Radio and Television (MNB), have screened over 136,000 citizens, detected 680 cancer cases, performed 527 urgent surgeries, and trained about 11,000 doctors and specialists, demonstrating tangible results. This year, the "National Campaign Against Cancer" is planned to be implemented in Arkhangai and Dornogovi provinces in April. On the other hand, under the "Campaign Against Hypertension," implemented in cooperation with the Third General Hospital named after P.N. Shastin, the National Center for Public Health, and MNB, the team has toured all 21 provinces of Mongolia, empowering 1,140 medical professionals and providing screenings and examinations to over 60,800 citizens. This year's campaign plans to operate in Orkhon and Bulgan provinces and Mandal district of Selenge province, which have high risks of hypertension, in June and July. Growth through partnership – Khan Bank.

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Funding for Industrial Accident Prevention Needs to be Increased

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

There is a need to clearly establish financial sources and increase funding for preventive measures to reduce the number of accidents and injuries in our country. On one hand, this is related to improved detection of accidents and injuries, but on the other hand, it signals an increase in industrial accidents, as discussed by occupational safety specialists during the "Occupational Safety and Health - 2025" conference. In 2023, 408 cases of industrial accidents were reported nationwide, while last year it increased to 712 cases, marking a rise of over 40 percent. Therefore, attention is being focused on maintaining occupational safety and creating a healthy and safe environment in the energy sector, adopting the motto "Positive Attitude - Leadership" for 2025. The detection of industrial accidents has also improved since last year with the modernization of industrial accident record-keeping and the introduction of digital documentation. The funding from the Industrial Accident and Occupational Disease Insurance Fund for preventive measures remains limited. Thus, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has drafted a revised bill on occupational safety and health to be discussed in the national parliament. More than 150 representatives from governmental administrative bodies of the energy sector, state and state-owned companies, occupational safety and health officers, and labor unions attended the conference organized jointly by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and the Ministry of Energy.

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Korean Medicines Offered at a 50-70% Discount

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

To establish a system for providing medicines produced in countries with strict pharmaceutical regulations at affordable prices, our country has initiated centralized procurement. Initially, price negotiations were conducted with South Korean pharmaceutical companies. As a result, 18 types of medicines have been imported from South Korea. These medicines are now being sold at pharmacies that dispense reimbursed medications through the Health Insurance Fund. Specifically, 18 types of medicines supplied by four South Korean pharmaceutical companies are being offered at a 50-70% discount. For instance, medicines commonly used for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, digestive disorders, and male reproductive and endocrine diseases have been supplied to the Mongolian market at reasonable prices. These medicines can be purchased at discounted rates with prescriptions bearing a special code from local Family Health Centers and both public and private hospitals.

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NCCD: Check the Vaccination Records for Measles in 10-14 Year Olds Due to High Incidence

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

The National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) provided information today about the current situation regarding measles. As of today, there have been 328 confirmed cases of measles. Five of these are imported cases, while 323 are domestic infections. Of these, 74 are being treated in hospitals, 15 are being treated at home, and 239 cases have recovered. In Ulaanbaatar, there are 160 confirmed cases, 98 in Ömnögovi, 64 in Dundgovi, and 1 in Khentii. The spread of this infection is high among those aged 10 to 14, and the NCCD urges parents and guardians of children in this age group to review their children's vaccination records. If vaccinations are incomplete, supplementary and additional immunizations should be administered. Most cases exhibit symptoms such as rash and fever, so if these symptoms appear in your child, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Measles cases have been reported in 132 countries, with a high probability of disease importation, prompting parents and guardians to plan their travels responsibly. Countries with high measles incidence include the “Stan” countries, Thailand, Vietnam, and India, which are among the top ten. The NCCD issued a warning that media organizations (Television, Radio, Social and Web pages) are prohibited from using this information in whole or in part, in any form, without agreement, and must cite the source (ikon.mn) in such cases.

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Reimbursement of 68 Million MNT Illegally Spent from Health Insurance Fund

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

According to the Health Insurance Law, the costs for health services of insured individuals who have suffered losses are recovered from the responsible party through collaboration with relevant legal authorities. A total of 68 million 605 thousand 750 MNT was spent from the Health Insurance Fund on 99 insured citizens. The amount has been reimbursed by the responsible party, thus protecting the Health Insurance Fund from loss. Article 12 of the Health Insurance Law covers the reimbursement of health service costs. It states under section 12.1.1 that if an insured person has incurred health damages due to crime or violation, the health service costs must be compensated by the responsible party through the relevant legal institutions and paid to the health insurance organization.

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Sports

The Ambition of Ts. Anandbazar to "Take Control" of the Mongolian Football Federation

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

The Mongolian Football Federation (MFF) will hold a by-election for the President and Council members on April 28. The Election Committee of the MFF has reviewed the applications from six candidates who expressed their interest in the presidential election. As per the rules, after five days of deliberation, they announced their decision yesterday. Among the candidates, G. Dashnyam, Chairman of the Board of Directors of G-Mobile and founder of "Jet Sharing Mongolia," was disqualified for campaigning before the election according to his social media post. Candidates for the by-election for President include: - B. Garidmagnai, Director of the MFF Technical Department - Former Member of Parliament and President of "Sod Mongolia Group" Ts. Anandbazar - Manager of "Khovd Broncos FC" team U. Altai - N. Bolor-Erdene - S. Jargal, Director of Sports at the Mongolian Sports Corporation Candidates for the Council include: - L. Enkhbaatar - Ts. Munkh-Erdene - B. Purev-Ochir - G. Anarkhuu - D. Batnasan - D. Turbat - G. Tegshjargal Among the five candidates registered for the presidency, it is unclear whether former Member of Parliament Ts. Anandbazar meets the requirement "candidate must have actively participated in football for at least four years" as outlined in the rules. We contacted relevant parties for clarification, but no one could give a definitive answer. Ts. Anandbazar is believed to be associated with the former president of the MFF, current Member of Parliament A. Ganbaatar. There is evidence that when Ts. Anandbazar worked as general director at "New-Tour" company from 1997 to 1999, A. Ganbaatar worked as a manager there. Many believe that the foundation of the numerous issues surrounding the Mongolian Football Federation was laid by the old leadership. Recent statements made by ex-president M. Bold and former general secretary T. Dagvadorj indicated that the organization had several billion MNT in debt when they took over. Specifically in December of last year, T. Dagvadorj told journalists that "When we first took the office, the federation had a debt of 3.8 billion MNT." A. Ganbaatar, who is considered responsible for putting the federation into trouble, still holds the position of a Council member and continues to participate in the federation's activities "from afar." Warning: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social and Web pages) are prohibited from using our information in any form, either partially or fully, without an agreement. They are allowed to use it by mentioning the source (ikon.mn) only if an agreement is reached.

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Arts

Photographer B. Inzhinaash Exhibits Photography in Tokyo

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

Artist and photographer B. Inzhinaash is showcasing her first solo exhibition titled "Encountering Light: Mongolia 100 Years Ago and Now" in Tokyo. Her exhibition consists of four sections: Young City, Tranquil Countryside, Portraits, and My Favorite Photos. She presents works depicting modern Mongolia. B. Inzhinaash was born in 1989 in Ulaanbaatar. She joined the "Gamma" photo agency in 2007 and received a scholarship from the "Magnum" Foundation in 2016. Her works have been published in international outlets such as "National Geographic" and "Time."

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Today's Stories

Politics

Economy

Diplomacy

Infrastructure

Society

Environment

Innovation

Health

Sports

Arts

Politics

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Z. Dashdavaa reappointed as head of the Anti-Corruption Agency

Parties That Failed to Update Their Bylaws and Notify the High Court Will Be Deregistered!

Economy

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Diplomacy

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Signed a Cooperation Plan

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Infrastructure

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The new wastewater treatment facility will be operational by this October

Temporary Traffic Restriction on Central Square Roads

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Society

A Study on the Situation of Women Living in Local Areas

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Ulaanbaatar Residents to Celebrate at Central Stadium on June 27-28

S. Munkhchuluun: We will establish a tourism center based on Baga Gazriin Chuluu and Tsagaansuvarga /VIDEO/

Environment

The Bactrian Camel is on the Verge of Extinction: Let's Focus Attention Like We Did with the Gobi Bear

Scientists' Council Discusses Solutions to Reduce Air Pollution

S. Batbold: It is Necessary to Promote the Use of Gas and Electric Vehicles in the Automotive Transport Sector

Sukhbaatar: 485 Animal Carcasses Affected by Fire Have Been Destroyed

Innovation

"Mongol ID Holdings" to Bring Payment System Innovation to a New Level in Kyrgyzstan

Health

Khan Bank Continues Investment in the Healthcare Sector

Funding for Industrial Accident Prevention Needs to be Increased

Korean Medicines Offered at a 50-70% Discount

NCCD: Check the Vaccination Records for Measles in 10-14 Year Olds Due to High Incidence

Reimbursement of 68 Million MNT Illegally Spent from Health Insurance Fund

Sports

The Ambition of Ts. Anandbazar to "Take Control" of the Mongolian Football Federation

Arts

Photographer B. Inzhinaash Exhibits Photography in Tokyo

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