Apr 18, 2025 76 min read Daily News Summaries

Mongolia News Summary for April 18, 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

SBKH: The Initial Reading of the Draft Law to Amend the Law on the State Great Khural Elections was Held

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Standing Committee on State Structure of the State Great Khural convened and conducted the initial reading of the draft law to amend the Law on the State Great Khural Elections. The Constitutional Court of Mongolia, in its plenary session, reviewed disputes regarding whether Article 41.9 and Article 44.6 of the Law on State Great Khural Elections violated Article 1.2, Article 14.1 and 14.2, and Article 16.9 of the Constitution of Mongolia and issued Conclusion No. 03. Upon discussing the aforementioned conclusion, the State Great Khural passed a resolution accepting the Constitutional Court's finding that parts of Article 41.9 and Article 44.6, which allowed printed reports of parliamentarians' work to be distributed before the start of the candidate nomination process and not be considered campaign material, were inconsistent with the basic constitutional principles of equality, rule of law, and non-discrimination by official status, as well as the right to be elected. According to Article 84.3 of the Law on the Procedure of State Great Khural Sessions, if the Parliament accepts the Court’s finding, amendments to the relevant laws must be made within 15 working days. Article 84.5 states that such amendments are to be drafted by the relevant Standing Committee without the need to collect opinions from the government or other agencies. Thus, by Resolution No. 03, a working group was formed, chaired by MP Ts. Sandag-Ochir and including MPs B. Batbaatar, O. Nomintsetseg, G. Uyankhishig, and O. Shijir, to draft the necessary amendments. The working group met three times, and the head, Ts. Sandag-Ochir, introduced the draft. The draft law proposes to repeal Article 41.9, so that Parliament members may no longer distribute printed work reports before the nomination process, and such reports will be considered prohibited campaign materials. Similarly, the provision that meetings with voters to present such reports by members of parliament should not be considered part of campaign activity is proposed to be revised so that any person, not just MPs, organizing meetings for presenting reports will not be considered as engaging in campaigning. It was also proposed that, as per Article 48.1.1, from the start of the election year until the voting day, the distribution of any items – including printed work reports – aiming to influence voters is prohibited. Conversely, the distribution of digital (electronic) reports is not considered prohibited. During the meeting, MPs posed questions and expressed opinions. MP S. Zulpkhar pointed out that the proposed changes expand the right to organize meetings for presenting work reports from MPs to any person, and asked if this does not risk the early start of campaign activities as soon as the election year begins. The head of the working group responded that the Constitutional Court identified two issues: 1) The provision allowed MPs to distribute printed reports between the start of the election year and the nomination process, thus providing them an advantage; 2) Allowing only MPs to organize such meetings violates equality and non-discrimination principles. The revised law would thus open up the right to organize meetings to all individuals – MPs, government members, and ordinary citizens – to ensure fair and equal opportunities in elections. MPs have a four-year term and are responsible for reporting on their work and introducing government policies. Such activities should not be exclusive to MPs and must be accessible to all. Therefore, the amendments propose to ban the distribution of printed reports after the start of the election year, but allow meetings, assemblies, and discussions for all. This also precludes MPs using state funds to print large reports, which may amount to hidden campaigning and misuse of budget. Digital presentation of reports will remain open, making the process fair and cost-effective. The draft law was discussed article by article, and since no substantial differences were raised by MPs, it was decided to combine the first and final readings and proceed accordingly. The session also discussed a draft resolution on forming a selection commission for the State Civil Service Council. As the terms of two civil service representatives on the Council had expired, it was necessary to form a selection commission as per relevant regulations. Accordingly, official communications requesting nominations were sent to appropriate organizations, and the draft resolution was prepared. No questions or comments were raised, and the resolution to form the selection commission was adopted by majority vote. Finally, the session considered whether to discuss draft laws not included on the spring session agenda. Chairman J. Bat-Erdene referred to the session procedure law stating that draft laws submitted but not included on the main agenda may be discussed if supported by the majority of those present. A vote was held, and it was approved to consider amendments to the Law on Police Service, submitted by MP D. Tsogtbaatar, and related bills at the plenary session, as reported by the State Great Khural's press office.

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VIDEO: Police Begin Investigation into Member of Parliament E. Bolormaa’s Alleged Illegal Donations from Foreign-Owned Company

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

Member of Parliament E. Bolormaa, who was elected from Constituency II (Uvs, Khovd, Govi-Altai, Zavkhan) in the 2024 parliamentary elections, is alleged to have received a donation from a foreign-invested company and may have violated the Law on Parliamentary Elections to obtain a high state position. We previously prepared a report and broadcast on this matter. Specifically, during the parliamentary elections, MP E. Bolormaa allegedly received a donation from “Khanbogd Exploration” LLC, a company fully owned by "QGX Holdings Limited" registered in the United Kingdom, and used this illegal donation in her election campaign. However, the relevant government agencies did not stop this illegal act or withdraw her nomination as a candidate for parliament. Furthermore, the failure to investigate and hold her accountable for violating the law indicates that the law does not apply equally to everyone, as we have revealed with evidence. Now, sources inform us that the police have begun investigating the illegal act of MP E. Bolormaa in potentially obtaining a high government position through illegal donations from a foreign-invested company. Specifically, the Criminal Registration Department at the General Police Department has started this investigation. To recall, MP E. Bolormaa spent about 789 million MNT in total for her election campaign. Of this, 460 million MNT came from donations by 17 companies, including "Khanbogd Exploration"—a foreign-invested company—which was mentioned in the National Audit Agency’s consolidated report. More specifically, on June 6, 2024, the foreign-invested company "Khanbogd Exploration" donated to E. Bolormaa’s Khan Bank account number 5107157116 under the purpose of “business income.” However, the fact that E. Bolormaa did not return this illegal donation is confirmed by her interim report submitted to the National Audit Agency in June 2024. According to Article 56.1.1 of Mongolia’s Parliamentary Elections Law, “It is prohibited for foreign-invested organizations to give donations.” Article 56.2 further states, “If a foreign-invested company makes a donation, it must be returned.” Yet, E. Bolormaa spent the donation from the foreign-invested company on her election activities without returning it. This was also confirmed by “Niislel Audit” LLC, which audited her campaign expenses, and they sent official documentation about this to the National Audit Agency.

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Head of the Cabinet Secretariat N.Uchral Submits Documents on the Togrog Lake Deposit Issue to the Anti-Corruption Agency for Investigation

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Head of the Cabinet Secretariat, N. Uchral, reported that the "Togrog Lake deposit" is related to former President Kh. Battulga. During this announcement, he emphasized, "Regarding the investigation of Kh. Battulga, I trust Minister O. Altangerel, I am watching." Now, the Head of the Cabinet Secretariat, N. Uchral, has submitted his documents related to the "Togrog Lake deposit" to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ATG). Regarding this matter, the Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, O. Altangerel, stated: "Minister N. Uchral presented materials related to the 'Togrog Lake deposit' at the government meeting. If the described facts are true, it might be a crime related to money laundering, which was also discussed. The authority to verify and investigate it lies with law enforcement agencies. As I understand it, Minister N. Uchral has transferred his materials to the ATG. The relevant investigation procedures will probably be carried out there. On the other hand, the people themselves stand firmly on the principle, as stipulated in the Constitution, that they should receive benefits from national wealth. Today, it has been 54 days since the government started discussing the issue related to the 'Ukhaa Khudag' deposit. It has been 31 days since we officially sent the matter to the State Great Khural and submitted the draft resolution. We are waiting to see when and how it will be discussed and submitted to the parliament. We hope a date will be set soon," he said.

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O.Shijir: Budget Expenditure Increases by 20-30% in Election Years

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

At today's session of the State Great Khural, the first discussion of the draft law to amend the Law on Parliamentary Elections is taking place. In connection with the topic under discussion, members of parliament are asking questions and expressing their opinions. Member of Parliament O. Shijir said: "Article 48.1.1 of the Election Law, which prohibits distributing money or valuables, offering goods at discounted prices, organizing mass competitions or sponsoring them during election years, is still in force. Therefore, this provision should be nullified based on the principle of equal rights. The reason I bring this up is that research on cash outflows during the last two election years has been conducted. In 2019, the total cash withdrawn from commercial banks was 156.1 billion MNT, while in the election year of 2020, it increased to 268 billion MNT. Of this 268 billion MNT, 88.9% was withdrawn in only the first six months of the election year, while the remaining 11% was withdrawn in the last six months. If it had been distributed evenly, about 20–30 billion MNT would have been withdrawn each period. The expansion of the national budget in regular election years consistently increases by 20–25%, and this has almost become a rule. But in 2024, a total of 302 billion MNT has been withdrawn from commercial banks, with 284 billion MNT, or 94.5%, withdrawn in the first six months of the year. These figures show that elections have become excessively dependent on money. For this reason, we must ensure transparency in political party financing and election donations. Political parties have the right to receive donations, but accepting donations from companies is, in a way, against principles. While individuals can donate to parties or candidates as an expression of their personal opinions, a company makes profit and earns business income, and does not represent an individual's views. Therefore, in the future, we must include specific provisions in the law regarding political party financing, cash donations, and expenditures. Only then can we talk about fair elections, equality, and accepting the results of elections. Everyone says that there is a lot of money being spent. But just look: out of a total of 301 billion MNT, 268 billion MNT is withdrawn in just the months leading up to the elections. How can we consider this a fair election?" he said.

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Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

Minister of Justice O. Altangerel has reported that the issue concerning Dav. Tsogtbaatar has reached a legal impasse and cannot be resolved. Member of Parliament Davaagiin Tsogtbaatar was convicted in connection with the so-called Development Bank case and sentenced to a two-year ban from holding public office as well as a fine of 20 million MNT. However, he has announced that he does not accept the court's decision. Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs O. Altangerel commented on how this issue would be handled. He stated: "The court's verdict on the issue of MP Dav. Tsogtbaatar has been sent to the General Executive Agency of Court Decisions (GEACD). Now, what GEACD must do is to forward the relevant order to the official who appointed or elected the individual in question. However, Members of Parliament are not appointed or elected by an official; they are elected by the people. So who is covered under the terms 'appointed' or 'elected'? Is the General Election Commission (GEC) involved here? As Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, I have sent inquiries to the relevant organizations regarding this issue. In general, the issue concerning MP Dav. Tsogtbaatar has reached a legal deadlock and, as of now, there is no way to resolve it," he said.

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Can the Government Survive Without a Troll Army?

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

Mongolia has slid down the democracy index and now ranks among countries shifting towards autocracy. This is the result of having a communist party that considers censorship and bans to be solutions, holding state power for the ninth consecutive year. The democratic system, freedom of speech, expression of opinion, and freedom to publish that were gained 35 years ago have been gradually restricted, leading to today’s situation. With no opposition to defend the values of democracy, the ruling MPP (Mongolian People's Party) seems to be aiming to eradicate rights and freedoms altogether. At a recent Legal Standing Committee meeting, MP J. Aldarjavkhlan proposed blocking Facebook for three months, claiming, "It's become a tool for anyone to livestream, sell things, and insult people." Mongolia hasn’t completely lost its democratic system yet—freedom of speech and expression are still enshrined in the Constitution. Yet is it acceptable for a lawmaker to complain that "People are expressing their opinions too freely"? LIMITATION WON’T IMPROVE THINGS
During the committee’s session, information was presented on bullying, discrimination, and psychological violence among youth in the digital space, including the tragic figure that 253 children under 19 committed suicide between 2019 and 2023. However, no in-depth research has proven that these suicides were entirely caused by online bullying and harassment. Instead of addressing the root causes—children’s family backgrounds, mental well-being—the proposal is simply to "shut down digital platforms." This mentality is central to the MPP. They have made numerous decisions to block or ban things in recent years: to reduce Ulaanbaatar's traffic congestion, they introduced a tax on vehicles with provincial license plates and charge 5,000 tugriks per day for stays longer than 48 hours. On regular days, 16,000-19,000 such vehicles use the capital’s roads, increasing to 38,000 during holidays. Their solution is to tax and ban them, believing it will reduce congestion. Furthermore, the city mayor, Kh. Nyambaatar, has restricted the issuance of license plates, which has fueled a business in license trading and inflated prices, benefiting only a handful. When traffic is stopped, odd/even driving is imposed, sometimes for months. Taxes on vehicles and road use are repeatedly increased, without deducting days when vehicles are unused—they must pay the full amount regardless. These decisions that restrict or ban generally harm the public while benefiting a few. Now, add to this the push to infringe upon citizens’ freedom of expression by trying to block the international Facebook platform. MP J. Aldarjavkhlan asked, "We lived without it before. What will happen if we block it now? Will crime decrease?" There is no shortage of ministries or agencies capable of conducting research and drawing conclusions without resorting to blocks or bans. Social networks had not developed previously, but times have changed. As the world develops through advanced technology, Mongolia should not regress to an isolated, backward state. If the mentality remains “we managed before,” it will bring back a society with no private property, no right to criticize those in power, and where dissent lands people in jail. Such attitudes are now spreading once more. However, Education Minister P. Naranbayar praised this idea as “very interesting and innovative,” yet wondered how he would disseminate information to his followers without it. He suggested such an experiment could be simulated, cautioning that an actual ban might impinge on freedom of speech and publication, so it should be approached carefully. Many use social networks to share opinions and information, exercising their freedom of the press. Facebook has become a huge platform for this. Relevant laws exist to address insults or defamation. Many were frustrated by MPs’ remarks that “Facebook only shows negative content.” The algorithms display data according to users’ selected interests—if you choose well, there are abundant opportunities online to see positive, educational, and beneficial information. Social networks offer many possibilities to learn, know, and develop oneself. LEFT WITH NO "DIRECTION" GIVER
Both our government and parliament commonly make decisions based on stances and opinions expressed on social networks. Sudden, unresearched decisions are frequent, after which officials observe public reactions on social media. If the sentiment is negative, the decision is revoked. Ideally, decisions should be based on real research of actual conditions. Unfortunately, this principle has long been lost in Mongolia—there is almost no research or analysis. Overnight, bus routes can be completely reversed, leaving people in confusion, especially in places like Songinokhairkhan where residents are forced to walk three or four bus stops to catch transportation. The officials in the city’s central Zone A seem oblivious to the fact that people live and work in these areas. After days of public outrage and disruption, the decision is sometimes repealed, and now citizens have reached the point of asking MPP leaders to "do nothing and keep things as they are." Therefore, without social networks, how will leaders get feedback and direction on their decisions? The work of all government agencies now runs through Facebook. Press offices distribute information in special group chats. Official communication by phone or email is almost non-existent in most organizations. Without social networks, how will they communicate information to their superiors? There are also now many media organizations. Politicians use their private pages for promotion and feeding their egos, so many of their “jobs” would stop. Even the Education Minister wonders how to inform his 101,000 followers. Aside from "work" communication, everyone knows social networks are used to attack critical citizens and smear opposition MPs. For example, when a motion was raised to oust the Prime Minister, MP Ch. Lodoisambuu was attacked for weeks with troll armies. Without social media, these trolls would be out of work and the government’s smear campaigns would stop. The Prime Minister would lose a key tool to distinguish himself and control public perception. Whether they like it or not, times have changed and social media is now an integral part of both citizens’ and the government’s daily lives. The ruling powers lack the courage to give this up because restricting citizens’ voices would also mean losing a tool for their own propaganda. Globally, technology is used for many positive things, even if negative phenomena like cybercrime inevitably exist. Yet no country is banning all social networks. It is pitiful only our politicians behave so arbitrarily. MP even asked: “How do ‘Meta’, ‘YouTube’, ‘TikTok’ respond when you raise issues with them, and how fast?” Our country has cooperated with Meta since 2019, YouTube since 2020, and TikTok since 2024 to address digital crime and illegal content, reportedly communicating directly with their Asia-Pacific specialists. Kh. Nyambaatar, now ex-Minister of Justice, once petitioned for Meta’s Central Asia director George Chen to be fired—believing Meta would dismiss a director just because a minister from a small Central Asian country asked. Such naivety is ironic. It would be far better if the MPP kept its moments of folly and autocratic urges to itself.

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Economy

Discussion on Amendments to the Law on the Mining Product Exchange

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Spring session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) for 2025 convened today at 10:00 am with a 61.1% attendance rate. The members discussed whether to deliberate on the Bill to Amend the Law on the Exchange of Mining Products and accompanying bills and draft resolutions, which had been submitted by the Government on March 28, 2025. The bill’s initiator and Minister for Industry and Mineral Resources, Ts. Tuvaan, presented the rationale for the amendments. As of the end of 2024, Mongolia’s mining sector accounted for 26% of the country’s GDP, 72% of industrial output, 81% of foreign direct investment, 94% of export income, and 34% of state budget revenue. Mongolia’s total foreign trade turnover reached USD 3.72 billion in the first two months of 2025, a decrease of USD 120.4 million (3.1%) compared to the same period last year. While the difference from exports and imports increased by USD 294 million, export income decreased by USD 235.4 million (10.5%), totaling USD 2.00 billion. Currently, mining products are traded at the exchange through spot and forward contracts. Between January 12, 2023, and March 14, 2025, a total of 43 million tons of mining products were traded, amounting to 17.07 trillion tugriks. Twenty-one registered companies sell mining products through the "Mongolian Stock Exchange", and 471 registered buyers have entered into contracts. The month with the highest volume of mining products traded was April 2024, with 4.2 million tons traded for 951.5 billion tugriks over 55 exchange trades. However, Minister Ts. Tuvaan noted in his presentation that due to legal gaps and lack of coherence in regulations, the operation of trading mining products through the exchange risks stagnation. Consequences include limiting the income of participating enterprises and, consequently, hardships in growing the National Wealth Fund. For instance, demand and trade volumes rose when product prices increased, as seen when coal prices hit 816,000 tugriks in December 2023 and 1.9 trillion tugriks’ worth of coal was traded. But in February 2025, when coal prices fell 30% to 568,800 tugriks, the number of trades dropped ninefold compared to the previous year. In January and February 2024, 3.9 million tons of coal were sold for 1.8 trillion tugriks, with an average of six buyers per trade. But in 2025, only 428,800 tons were sold for 122.9 billion tugriks, with an average of 1-2 buyers, showing a sharp drop in demand. According to Article 10.2 of the Mining Products Exchange Law, "State and locally-owned enterprises or legal entities with state/local ownership must trade the mining products specified in Article 10.1 only through the exchange." This has prevented such enterprises from selling to domestic processing and beneficiation plants. For example, the state-owned "Erdenes Critical Minerals" plant and "Darkhan Metallurgical Plant" have encountered difficulties. Currently, due to lack of legal environment for state-owned enterprises to sell to domestic firms, piles of intermediate iron ore products containing 15-40% iron, worth about 2.5 million tons or 42 billion tugriks, have accumulated. Storage facilities are currently at 87% capacity, risking further accumulation and operational difficulties. Domestic factories placed orders to purchase 1.5 million tons in 2024; enabling such sales would contribute 33 billion tugriks to state and local budgets and increase tax revenue. As of March 2025, there are 49 processing plants (11 for coal, 19 for iron, 19 for fluorspar) not holding mine use licenses, as registered with the Minerals and Petroleum Agency. In 2024 and 2025, 27 and 18 plants respectively submitted operation plans, contributing 12.2 billion tugriks in taxes in 2022, 11.7 billion in 2023, and 2.8 billion in 2024, showing a decline. Furthermore, the law’s strict regulation that "exchange prices are set at the border crossing price" and contract prices are set at the price announced by the exchange contradicts the spirit of Article 14.2. Coal prices rose by 47% from July 1, 2023, to January 1, 2024, but fell by 44% over the next year. Due to these drops, 31 contracts for 6.83 million tons valued at USD 727.5 million have not been fulfilled, and 4.3 million tons have piled up at the Gantsmod border warehouse. Forward contracts can last up to a year, and such price volatility exposes sellers and buyers to risk. Indexing contract prices to the market, it is argued, will provide a more accurate reflection and reduce risk. Another issue is that requiring sales at the border condition only affects market competitiveness. By setting export conditions per the International Chamber of Commerce's rules and allowing direct sales to end users, volumes can increase and prices can be set at the then-current Chinese exchange price. The amendment provides that state and state-influenced entities, upon Government proposal and Parliamentary decision, may enter into mutually beneficial, stable, and long-term barter contracts for large-scale projects of social and economic importance. This could facilitate funding major projects (e.g., fighting air pollution, housing, traffic congestion) when traditional finance or investment is unavailable. Per the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Mongolia must report sales of radioactive minerals to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Thus, the amendments propose that the responsible authority consolidate and monitor such reporting, and additional changes to the Law on Nuclear Energy are being drafted to establish a Nuclear Energy Agency and to require Government approval for uranium exploration and mining licenses. The bill, containing three main articles, is urgently submitted to support using and selling mineral resources per international standards and to support an independent, multi-pillar national economy. Member L. Soronzonbold presented the Economic Standing Committee’s recommendations, noting that at its April 16th meeting, most members supported discussing the bills in principle. Several MPs then asked questions and received information from ministers and the working group. MPs B. Purevdorj, M. Gankhuleg, and O. Batnairamdal stressed the need to improve coal transport and management at "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" JSC, with the Transport Minister replying that transport is handled by selected companies through tenders. The bill introduces a choice for buyers to pick delivery location in line with international trade rules. Open trading of mining products via the exchange is seen as highly beneficial to the country’s economy and society. MPs asked clarifying questions on the barter provisions. The bill would amend Article 10.3 to allow state and state-participated entities, upon Government proposal and Parliamentary approval, to enter into long-term, mutually-beneficial barter agreements for large-scale projects. Ts. Tuvaan explained this addresses limited budget and foreign investment, seeing barter as an optimal solution. MP O. Tsogtgerel expressed opposition, saying bartering would distort budget policy and create dual budgeting, risking destabilization of the financial system. Questions were also raised about reflecting price changes based on quality and market indices; the working group replied that quality will be certified by internationally recognized labs. Some MPs warned that this could invite great disputes over contract prices. MPs such as J. Ganbaatar and O. Batnairamdal emphasized that the heart of the law is to enable fair and transparent market pricing via the exchange, and criticized any provision that alters this principle. Many MPs stated that if the bill is supported in principle, a working group should be formed to carefully consider the details. Some criticized the bundling in of changes to the Law on Nuclear Energy and stressed the need to support domestic processing plants, noting that the current situation prevents them from participating in exchange trades. MPs D. Batbayar and B. Uyanga noted that if Article 16.3 is implemented, local processors could purchase lower-grade ore and, after beneficiation, acquire rights to export, thus they support this clause. During discussions, Chairman D. Amarbaysgalan expressed concern about regulating some matters by procedure rather than law, warning that giving regulatory power to mid-level officials can create corruption and red tape, and that clear legal regulation must be embedded in the law itself. After questions and debates, and with the support for the Economic Standing Committee’s recommendation, MPs L. Soronzonbold and L. Munkhbayasgalan expressed support for the provisions to increase value-added processing and exports, while others stressed the need for careful attention to pricing and legal clarity. It was agreed that further group discussions are necessary to refine the bill before the full Parliament votes on April 24, 2025. Thus, the morning session concluded, according to a release from the Parliament’s Media Office.

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L.Gantomor: The Temporary Eurasian Agreement Will Attract Investment in the Agricultural Sector

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: news.mn

Minister of Economy and Development L. Gantomor provided information regarding the draft of a temporary trade agreement to be established between Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states. He stated, "This is not an issue that was suddenly brought up. It is included in the government's four-year program and is also part of the development plan until 2050. During the negotiations, 23 additional goods were discussed. As a result, domestic production security is being maintained. In total, tariffs on 17 goods remain unchanged. The negotiations must be mutually beneficial. The opportunities that Mongolia gains are matched by the opportunities we offer to the other side. Negotiations started in September 2023, during the tenure of Minister Ch. Khurelbaatar. However, this is not about individuals like Ch. Khurelbaatar or L. Gantomor—this is an issue enshrined in state-approved documents. If we do not implement the plans approved by parliament, the ministers would be out of a job. Ministers are responsible for enforcing the laws and legislation enacted by the state. As the Minister of Economy and Development, I can assure you that this agreement is beneficial. Investment and exports will increase. Mongolia's manufacturing will diversify. Otherwise, honestly, we have become entirely dependent on a single market. We have gotten used to doing all our trade with our southern neighbor. This could pose risks in the future. Therefore, balance is needed. From the Russian side, or the Eurasian side, reducing existing tariffs by 10–40 percent is itself a significant benefit. In other words, it means that Mongolian goods and products can reach the shelves of Russia, Kazakhstan, and other countries without tariffs. However, we do not know what volume they will buy. Similarly, we do not know how much we will be able to sell. The government itself does not do the trading. However, there is policy support at the government level for traders. This started from the discussion about compensating Mongolia's trade deficit. For example, if we currently export 100 million tugriks’ worth of goods and import three billion tugriks’ worth of goods, what is the gap? If, at the very least, they would import one billion USD worth of goods from us and three billion USD worth of their goods would come in, that would be mutual business. For the last 20 years, we have been trying to find ways to sell our goods on this market. It's especially important for herders. Today, hides and skins have no value. Now, however, foreign and domestic investors will start moving to process hides and skins in Mongolia and export them to this market. Wool and cashmere will be processed and with added value exported to the Eurasian market. Investment will flow into this sector as well, and this is guaranteed," he said.

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Discussion on Amending the Law on the Commodity Exchange of Mining Products

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The regular spring session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) is being held at the State Palace. Today's session will discuss the following issues: - The draft law on amendments and changes to the Law on the Commodity Exchange of Mining Products, as well as related drafts of laws and resolutions submitted together with it. - The draft law on amendments to the Law on Elections of the State Great Khural of Mongolia /developed in response to the conclusion No. 03 of the Constitutional Court, first reading/. - The draft law on amendments to the Law on Courts of Mongolia /developed in response to the conclusion No. 02 of the Constitutional Court in 2025, first reading/. - The draft law on amendments and additions to the Law on Credit Information and the accompanying draft resolution /submitted by Member of Parliament E. Batshugar on 2024.12.25, first reading/. Warning: Media organizations (TV, radio, social media, and websites) are prohibited from fully or partially using our information in any form, and may only use it after reaching an agreement and citing the original source (ikon.mn).

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TODAY: "Bond Forum-2025" Event to Take Place

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar Overview of today's events: 8:30 a.m.: The "Bond Forum-2025" will be organized at the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI). 9:00 a.m.: The national discussion on "Comprehensive Policy for Student Development: Issues and Solutions" will take place at the State Palace. 10:00 a.m.: The press conference for Mongolia’s first puppet film, "Poedoo" feature film, will be held at the Mongolian Children’s Puppet Theater. 11:00 a.m.: The "Sustainable Development – Green Future" exhibition and trade fair will be held at the Mongolian Trade Union Cultural Palace. 4:00 p.m.: The "Gobi Mirage" art exhibition will open at the Gallery of the Union of Mongolian Artists. - The regular session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) will take place at the State Palace. - The "Mongolia Mining-2025" exhibition will open at the Buyant-Ukhaa Complex. - Today marks "International Day for Monuments and Sites." - A united performance featuring about 230 artists from more than 10 Mongolian circus troupes is ongoing at Sukhbaatar Square. - The solo exhibition "From the Steppe to the Tip of the Toe" by "Khukh Nar" (Blue Sun) Modern Art Center artist and civic coordinator N. Soninbayar will be on display at the Mongolian National Art Gallery until the 30th of this month. - The exhibition "Legacy of the Great Zanabazar" dedicated to the 390th anniversary of the birth of Undur Gegeen Zanabazar is taking place at the Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts. In the provinces: - The herders' conference will be held in all soums (districts) of Khuvsgul province until the 21st of this month. Abroad: - The international exhibition "Chinggis Khaan" is being held at the National Museum of the Czech Republic until June 22. Follow @montsame.mn

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Ts.Tuvaan: When We Try to Sell Coal at the Exchange Price, the Chinese Side Cites Lack of Loading and Unloading Facilities as a Reason

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The discussion on whether to continue deliberating the draft law to amend the Law on the Exchange of Mineral Products is underway. During the session, Member of Parliament P.Sainzorig expressed the following opinion: "The issues are very serious. They brought in issues with three separate ideologies into this draft law. For example, the issue of wealth exchange has been included. I am supportive of this in principle, but it is not an issue for this law. There is an underlying content of simply forcing things through. Some newcomers think they can just approve it easily. Article 14.6 of the draft law states that changes to the price can be stipulated in the contract based on the quality of mining products and the movement of the market price index. The issue of quality is decided by the neighboring country. If a high threshold is set for quality, all of Mongolia’s coal may fail. I do not understand why such a serious matter is being placed in the buyer's hands. Mining companies have been turned into transport companies. During times when prices are high and selling coal could be profitable, the companies are told to handle transportation themselves. As a result, Mongolia’s economy is entirely suffering due to the policies of the owners of the coal loading and unloading facilities at China’s Gantsmod border port. Because the coal loading and unloading areas are full, even after a purchase is made, the coal cannot be picked up, resulting in attempts to adjust the price from $140 per ton to $90 per ton. Mining companies and the state budget are bearing this $50 loss. The entire economy of Mongolia has been handed over to the owners of coal loading and unloading sites in Inner Mongolia by this exchange law. It is meaningless for mining companies to be worrying about transportation issues." In response to his question, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Ts.Tuvaan said: "Internationally, exchange prices and values are linked to quality. At present, the issue of price indexation is related to coal sales and procurement. The matter concerning quality can be changed within the working group. Due to global trade wars, there are uncertain conditions, and it has become risky for income to be interrupted or for sales to not occur. Therefore, the draft law was urgently submitted to address this issue. Previously, there used to be a stockpile of 14 million tons of coal at Tsagaan Khad. Now, such a stockpile has accumulated at the Gantsmod port. There is a bottleneck similar to the one at Zeltser. When we try to resolve this bottleneck and sell coal at the exchange price, the Chinese side cites the lack of loading and unloading areas as the reason." Note: Media organizations (TV, radio, social, and web pages) are prohibited from fully or partially using our information in any form, except in cases where they have an agreement and designate the original source (ikon.mn).

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The "Top 100" Companies Preparing to Enter the Capital Market Gather Today

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

The "Bond Forum 2025" event is being held in the main hall of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI). The top 100 companies are participating in this event, which will include presentations and discussions on important topics such as entering the bond market, issuing securities, and increasing the participation of both domestic and foreign investors. In addition, speeches will be given by D. Amarbaysgalan, Speaker of the Parliament, T. Jambajamts, Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Commission, and L. Tur-Od, President of the MNCCI. Important representatives from the banking and financial sector, as well as top executives of leading companies, will also be present.

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B.Jargalan: Rosneft is not only engaged in supplying aviation fuel, but also in the retail sale of petroleum products, and the agreement stipulates that Mongolian law does not apply to these activities

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

The draft of the "Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Supply of Aviation Fuel to Mongolia" was discussed, but the Democratic Party caucus took a break. The caucus will re-examine this issue in detail at its meeting next week. Member of Parliament B.Jargalan expressed his opposition to the agreement and stated his position. Here is his position.

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Sales of the Mining and Extraction Sector Decreased by 1.5 Trillion Tugriks

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: news.mn

The National Statistics Office has released the first three months' statistical data for the industrial sector in 2025. According to these statistics, total production in the industrial sector increased by 17% compared to the same period last year. Specifically, preliminary results show that total industrial production reached 7.9 trillion tugriks in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 1.1 trillion tugriks over the same period last year. This growth was mainly influenced by a rise of 18.6% in mining and extraction, and 27.2% in the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning sector. Additionally, preliminary results show that the sector's output increased to 5.5 trillion tugriks, with metallic ore extraction up by 27.2% and stone and brown coal extraction up by 11.8%, which were the main contributing factors. However, the extraction of unrefined gold, crude oil, silver concentrate, stone coal, enriched coal, and iron ore concentrate decreased by 8.5% to 32%. Regarding the production of key industrial products, the preliminary sales results for the first quarter of 2025 showed that sold industrial products amounted to 11.2 trillion tugriks, which is a decrease of 1.1 trillion tugriks or 9.3% compared to the same period last year. The main contributing factor was the 1.5 trillion tugrik decrease in sales from the mining and extraction sector.

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R. Shinegerel: Unless the massive structure and staff size of the state are reduced, the tax burden on citizens will not decrease

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

Let us present our conversation with economist R. Shinegerel about distortions in the tax and social insurance system and the need for reform. He launched a public petition to reduce the individual income tax to one percent, which in less than a week received support from over 100,000 people and is now being reviewed by the relevant standing committee and working group. — Following your suggestion and petition, the Speaker of Parliament assigned related officials to draft and discuss a bill. Drafting a bill does not guarantee its final approval; it could easily be shelved after some discussion. How confident are you that your proposal will actually become law? — This initiative gained support from 100,000 citizens in a very short time. Immediately, the Speaker transferred the issue to the Budget Standing Committee, which formed a working group led by MP Kh. Gankhuyag to study and make recommendations on tax laws. Since the launch of the “D-parliament” system for public petitions and complaints, I’ve studied what has happened to issues that gain 100,000 signatures. In 2023, three such petitions reached this threshold, two of which were related to tax and social insurance premiums: one to reduce personal income tax and social security contribution rates by up to 50%, and another to increase VAT refunds from two to five percent. These were sent to the relevant standing committee but were essentially set aside by Parliament giving vague guidance to the Government without real results. Only one petition last year received 100,000 signatures—a petition opposing a provision to allow 100-year land leases—which led to an amendment to the law. This year, only the petition to reduce personal income tax to one percent has crossed the threshold so far. EVEN AS STATE BUDGET REVENUE HAS INCREASED SIXFOLD, CITIZENS’ LIVING CONDITIONS HAVE WORSENED — There have been many official petitions to reduce taxes and social insurance premiums, not just these, and both citizens and businesses have long demanded action. Yet lawmakers, who have the power to change this, rarely take action—some actively claim that taxes and contributions cannot be reduced. — If you look back historically, you’ll see the state budget has grown nearly sixfold over the past ten years, whereas average wages have only tripled. In theory, as budget revenue increases, the country should develop and citizens’ incomes and living standards should improve. This seems logical, but in reality, the opposite is true. As the state budget has grown, state involvement has expanded, and the bureaucracy has become bloated, deepening poverty among citizens. To fund this massive structure, the state has continued to add new taxes and increase rates. We’ve reached the end of this unsustainable cycle. Whether the new Parliament—now with 126 members—can implement the significant changes needed for development will be shown by tax law reforms. If they maintain the current oversized bureaucracy, changing tax policies will have no effect; citizens will continue to suffer under tax and administrative burdens. Fortunately, there are some lawmakers in the new Parliament who see the need for change. Of course, broad debates about tax law reform will occur, and the government will likely insist on not lowering taxes or premiums. Still, those who realize cuts are necessary exist in Parliament. As of last Tuesday, three MPs have officially announced they will draft legislation to reduce individual income tax, and the Democratic Party group has stated it will support the proposal in principle. I believe more MPs will support the initiative, and personally, I will continue to actively promote it to all relevant parties. — Collecting 100,000 signatures in six days is huge. Registering support online with verified digital signatures is a significant act, showing substantial public engagement. — The e-petition only allows verified digital signatures. You have to log in via secure government information systems—like e-Mongolia, Khur, Dan—with your unique credentials; duplication is impossible. So, it’s a major indicator. Of the signatures, 62,000 are from Ulaanbaatar, and 85% are youth aged 18-40—clearly the working-age population wants tax relief. If the signature collection for this petition hadn’t been stopped after reaching the threshold, it’s likely it would have gathered 300,000-400,000 signatures in 30 days. — Many have proposed reducing or abolishing the personal income tax. What is your reasoning for making it one percent? — The personal income tax (PIT) has several categories, the largest of which is salaried income. In 2024, 81% of PIT revenue came from salaries—973,145 citizens paid about two trillion tugriks from their wages as PIT. In other countries, people pay tax only on profit, not total income—they deduct expenses like rent, utilities, etc., and pay tax on net income, sometimes receiving refunds at year-end. But in our country, it doesn’t matter if your wage covers your living; the state takes 10% from your gross salary. About a million people pay this tax, meaning typically one person per household is working. Therefore, PIT is a burden borne by the vast majority of working people. Currently, PIT is calculated in brackets of 10%, 15%, and 20%. 99.2% of taxpayers fall into the 10% bracket (up to 10 million tugriks per month). According to people involved in tax reform, there are no plans to grant relief to this group. Only about 8,000 people earn above 10 million and face higher brackets; whether they should be penalized with higher rates is questionable. Mongolia has not yet developed a true middle class—these 8,000 are the ones who might become such, founding companies, introducing new technology, attracting investment. They are the most educated and productive people, driving the country’s development. The goal should be to increase their number to 50,000 or 100,000, and support the main 99% to extend this group. THE STATE HOLDS BANQUETS AND BUILDS TOILETS WITH TAXPAYERS’ MONEY — How significant is the 10% salary tax in total budget revenue—is it true, as some ministers claim, that reducing it would cripple public finances? — The notion that reducing taxes will crash the state budget is wrong. The roughly 2.5 trillion tugriks collected from salary tax is only about 6-7% of tax revenue. Meanwhile, total tax revenue has doubled in four years, but citizens’ real incomes have not. This budget growth comes from multiplying taxes. Parliament made tax reforms in 2022, introducing a three-tier PIT system and doubled Ulaanbaatar taxes last year. This year, the number and rates of car-related taxes have multiplied. To fund the oversized bureaucracy, the state keeps inventing and raising taxes, taking more of citizens’ real income. There is room to reduce taxes, but it requires reducing duplication in government structure and cutting redundant positions. In some countries, there are ten state employees per thousand citizens—here, it’s 50-60. The state should shift focus from funding itself to enabling citizens to earn. Only then will people invest in health, education, and development. Otherwise, poverty, corruption, health, and education gaps will never close. — Politicians deliberately spread fear that reducing taxes or insurance premiums will make the government collapse or social funds go bankrupt—scaring people that retirees will not get pensions. — Citizens and businesses pay plenty of tax. 3.5 million Mongolians are projected to contribute 33.5 trillion tugriks in taxes and fees in this year’s budget by working day and night. This money should be spent on improving health care, education, safety, living conditions, and providing infrastructure for business, but instead, the government holds food festivals and builds toilets every 100 kilometers in the countryside with taxpayers’ money. Wasteful spending continues while the state’s involvement in all sectors spreads resources thin. Only if the state focuses on its core duties will the country develop. There is no need for 200,000-300,000 public employees. Former soum governors have told me that of 20-30 public sector roles in a soum, seven to eight people would suffice, and work overlaps a lot. Bureaucrats waste their time on paperwork; digitalizing this would save resources for health and education. It is regrettable that while budget revenue increased sixfold in ten years, we’ve not solved energy dependency—instead, enormous money continues to go into a bloated, inefficient bureaucracy. We cannot go on like this. If Parliament and the government really want to reform the tax and social insurance system, they must also overhaul government structure—only then will tax pressure genuinely decrease. SMEs NEED THE MOST SUPPORT — If the government does not make tax policy more flexible, what will be the fate of businesses? — Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are suffering everywhere. Foreign investors are leaving—only a handful remain in mining and may leave as well because of political issues with strategic deposits. That would be catastrophic. One entrepreneur told me that after deducting taxes and fees from gross revenue, 50-60% is gone; after covering operational costs, almost nothing remains. SMEs are the most in need of support—they employ few people and produce small volumes, but create the majority of jobs. They need actual tax relief. Regarding VAT, there is currently an unequal burden, with some paying and others not; the government is studying how to make it fair and provide refunds to SMEs. For corporate income tax, a bill is being drafted to let companies with up to 2.5 billion tugriks annual revenue pay a flat 1% tax (up from 1.5 billion)—this is an improvement. For large companies, progressive rates are being considered, but this should be well-studied. Mongolia also lacks a supportive tax policy to attract foreign investors to its SME sector—currently, foreign investors are taxed 20% on dividends, making it doubtful any will invest here. To adopt best international practices and cooperate with investors, we must abandon outdated and fearful mindsets. — Reforming the social insurance system is also now a united demand among citizens, with some MPs drafting bills. What is your view? — Social insurance is different from taxation but also imposes a heavy burden on citizens and businesses. Even a small bonus paid to employees triggers a premium. Seasonal and part-time workers also pay high rates, which is damaging to businesses and the labor market. Companies want to maintain and grow their workforce, support their welfare, and address social issues, but constant taxes and premiums restrict this. The practice of double-charging social premiums from both employee and employer must be changed immediately.

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Statistician: Mongolia Has Always Imported 100% of Its Aircraft Fuel from Russia

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: news.mn

At the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Budget of the State Great Khural (Parliament), the draft agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the supply of aircraft fuel to Mongolia was discussed. The essence of the draft agreement is to create a joint company with Russia to provide a continuous aircraft refueling service at Chinggis Khaan International Airport. Previously, MIAT (the Mongolian national airline) used to announce tenders and select a supplier for aircraft fuel. According to this proposed agreement, for the next 20 years, a Mongolian-Russian joint company will supply the aircraft fuel. This proposal has triggered debate and discussion amongst the public. We provide now a summary of information regarding from which countries Mongolia has imported aircraft fuel so far, how many tons have been imported in recent years, and why Mongolia does not buy large amounts of fuel from its southern neighbor or other countries. AIRCRAFT FUEL CONSUMPTION HAS STEADILY GROWN OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Mongolia currently imports 100% of its aircraft fuel from Russia, and in the last five years, usage has increased steadily. For example, according to the infographic mentioned, in 2021, 27,879 tons were used; in 2022, 38,492 tons; in 2023, 61,719 tons; and by 2024, it reached 82,443 tons. Compared to 2021, last year's figure is up by 66%. So why is it not possible to import aircraft fuel from China? Due to differences in railway gauge, it is difficult and limited to import aircraft fuel from China. Furthermore, the facilities at Zamiin-Uud for transferring goods do not currently have specialized storage tanks, pump stations, or domestic special-purpose tank wagons for aircraft fuel. Regarding fuel standards, the standard jet fuel produced in China is Jet-A, which was not included in the technical design of the new airport's fuel facilities. Moreover, as China itself is an importing country and faces the risk of fuel shortages, it is prone to impose export bans, and thus, from a risk perspective, Mongolia does not import aircraft fuel from China. THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT WILL ENABLE THE SUPPLY OF STANDARDIZED FUEL AT STABLE AND LOW PRICES
Mongolia is expected to see its tourism sector develop further in the coming years. In this way, the country can generate real economic recovery not only from mining exports but also through tourism. With the increased economic and tourism activity, passenger and cargo transportation is steadily rising. Passenger air traffic is projected to increase from 2.2 million in 2024 to 2.55 million in 2028. Accordingly, there is a justified need to expand the operations of Chinggis Khaan International Airport, to supply both domestic and international, as well as transit aircrafts with competitively priced fuel. Additionally, in the future, considering potential changes in global oil prices and possible decisions by the Russian government regarding export restrictions or higher taxes for petroleum products, Mongolia may face supply risks and shortages of aircraft fuel. Therefore, it is being discussed that a joint company should be established between the state-owned Erchis Oil LLC of Mongolia and RN Aero, the Russian state-owned company, as per the agreement on the supply of aircraft fuel to Mongolia. The agreement will ensure the stable supply and provision of aircraft fuel to Chinggis Khaan International Airport and give operators in Mongolian air transport sustainable access to affordable, internationally standardized aviation fuel. Alongside the existing agreement between Russia and Mongolia on the supply of 96% of petroleum products, this new agreement will greatly contribute to the energy and fuel security of Mongolia. As can be seen, the cooperation between Mongolia and Russia in the petroleum supply sector offers significant economic and strategic advantages. Among landlocked countries, Mongolia is second only to Kazakhstan in terms of land area. However, due to the small capacity of air transport, limited ticket availability, and high costs, Mongolia’s airlines are less competitive globally, making it difficult to introduce new international routes, increase tourism flights, or revive domestic flight services. Due to fluctuations in global oil supply, the price of aviation fuel often increases dramatically, accounting for 28% of airline operating costs in normal times, but rising to 46–70% in some cases. The aviation sector is therefore crucial for Mongolia's trade, economy, and access to external markets. In addition to economic growth, the development of aviation is also critical for creating jobs and boosting the export of food, agriculture, cashmere, and tourism. For these reasons, relevant authorities assert that the discussed agreement is of significant importance for Mongolia.

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B. Purevdorj: Members of Parliament and Ministers Go to Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi and Make Contracts with Only 2-3 Dollars in Profits

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Parliament is currently discussing the draft law on the Exchange. During this session, lawmakers asked questions and received answers from the initiators of the law. Member of Parliament B. Purevdorj said: “Mining and the exchange must be run correctly. The opportunity exists. Selling through the exchange is the right approach. However, when it comes to making exchange contracts at Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi, it takes 1-2 months. When coal prices are rising, those people can wait. But when coal prices are falling, this becomes a major problem for the companies. This is being done deliberately. Ministers, directors, and Members of Parliament go to Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi and make deals with only 2-3 dollars in profits. All of their coal gets sent out first. That’s why the exchange’s coal is not standardized. The shipments are not happening. This has become an issue. There are even frauds at Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi about how to make coal as expensive as gold.” Minister of Road and Transport Development B. Delgersaikhan responded: "There is no such thing as contracts of ministers or directors, or companies belonging to directors. If there are issues, the legal authorities will investigate and resolve them."

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Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The revenue of the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) reached 1,573.5 billion MNT in the first quarter of 2025. This shows an increase of 315.5 billion MNT compared to the same period in 2024. The growth in the fund's revenue was mainly influenced by an increase of 259.4 billion MNT from the pension insurance fund and 23.6 billion MNT from the benefits insurance fund. Expenses from the fund amounted to 1,443.2 billion MNT in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 326.9 billion MNT compared to the same period in 2024. The main contributors to this increase were an additional 278.8 billion MNT in expenses from the pension insurance fund and 26.3 billion MNT from the benefits insurance fund. During the first quarter, the pension insurance fund provided a total of 1.3 trillion MNT to 513,800 people. Compared to the same period in 2024, the number of pension recipients increased by 13,200 and the amount paid out in pensions rose by 279.9 billion MNT. Of the pension recipients, 79.2% were old-age pensioners, 12.5% were persons with disabilities, 4% were survivors, and 4.3% were military pensioners. In the first quarter, the benefits insurance fund provided benefits to 47,700 people, distributing 117.4 billion MNT. This is an increase of 17,300 beneficiaries and 46.9 billion MNT compared to the same period in 2024. Maternity and childbirth benefits were provided to 13,300 people, totaling 51.5 billion MNT in the first quarter. This shows an increase of 2,600 recipients and 19.2 billion MNT in amount compared to 2024. As of the first quarter, 2.2 million people received social welfare services amounting to 643.6 billion MNT. This is a decrease of 102,000 recipients compared to the same period in 2024. However, the total amount of pensions and benefits distributed increased by 60.9 billion MNT. Of those receiving social welfare, 59.2% received child benefits, 7.1% received support for mothers or parents heading large families, 6% received social welfare benefits, 3.9% received social care and development services, 2.6% received pensions, and 21.2% received other services, according to the National Statistics Office.

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GAO: Recommendation to Suspend Funding Until Violations are Fully Resolved

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: news.mn

The State Audit Office presented its performance audit report on the "2023 Income, Expenditure, and Results of the Local Development Fund" to the Standing Committee on Budget of the State Great Khural. The Local Development Fund is one of the budgetary mechanisms that focuses solely on citizen suggestions in planning, and aims to support the development of local areas, ensure balanced regional growth, and create stable living conditions for residents. The fund's resources are sourced from domestic value-added tax, oil resource usage fees, mineral resource usage fees, and certain portions of income from exploitation and exploration licenses. The audit covered the Unified Local Development Fund, the 21 provinces, and the local development funds of Ulaanbaatar in 2023. In 2023, the national budget approved the transfer of 298,478.6 million MNT to local and unified development funds. In June 2023, as mineral resource usage fees increased, the fund was supplemented by another 71,460.7 million MNT. Additionally, provincial, city, district, and neighborhood Citizen Representative Councils each approved sources of 174,450.7 million MNT. Thus, a total of 544,390.0 million MNT was allocated to the fund that year, of which 94.3% was actually realized. During the reporting period, contracts were signed for 8,672 projects and activities worth 521,864.4 million MNT, out of which 408,507.6 million MNT was spent, leaving a balance of 105,238.2 million MNT at year end. However, the audit found a total of 162,768.3 million MNT in violations that year. Of these, the state audit offices in the aimags and Ulaanbaatar issued 62 payment acts for 550.8 million MNT. Formal requirements were issued for 76,245.0 million MNT, recommendations for 85,908.7 million MNT worth of violations, and 63.8 million MNT worth of violations were referred to legal and oversight authorities for investigation. The audit summary noted that in 2023, the income from oil resource usage fees and mineral exploration and exploitation license fees was not fully accumulated, which led to underfunding of revenue transfers to local development funds of the provinces and the capital. It was also mentioned that citizen participation was not fully ensured in project and activity planning, and overly fragmented budgets created problems such as no bidders for tenders, work spanning fiscal years, and delays. Additionally, it was found that incomplete or missing information about projects and activities was frequently entered into the management information system, yet funding was still disbursed from the fund. Based on the audit results, recommendations were issued to the relevant organizations and officials. Among them, the National Audit Office advised the State Great Khural to discuss setting regional unified tariffs for livestock head taxes by amending the Law on Budget and the Law on Livestock Head Number Tax. It was also recommended to hold local Citizen Representative Councils accountable if projects were approved without citizen proposals or if submitted initiatives were altered, to align the calculation methodology for transfers from mineral resource usage fees and exploration/exploitation licenses with applicable legal regulations, to transparently register citizen proposals in the fund’s management information system, to strengthen oversight of the fund’s activities, and to take measures to suspend further funding until violations are completely resolved. These recommendations were delivered to the government, the Ministry of Finance, all levels of Citizen Representative Councils, and Governors.

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Increasing Domestic Enterprises' Participation in the Corporate Bond Market

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: montsame.mn

TOP-100 enterprises now have the opportunity to raise financing from the capital market. Last year, Mongolia's securities trading reached 1.58 trillion MNT, which is twice as high as in 2023. Of this, corporate bonds accounted for about 60%. The amount of short and medium-term government bond auction orders announced yesterday exceeded the issued amount by four times. The six-month bonds received orders 4.6 times higher, and the 24-month bonds received 4.2 times more orders, totaling 43.7 billion MNT worth of orders. The bond market has thus been developing each year. Business owners and researchers consider it important to increase the opportunities for major companies to raise financing from the capital market by issuing bonds. B. Dölgoön, Head of the Securities Department of the Financial Regulatory Commission, stated: "Most of the world's leading enterprises are joint-stock companies. In our country, about 10% are public joint-stock companies. We aim to increase this number and create more transparent, well-governed companies. For this purpose, we have approved a program to bring the TOP-100 enterprises to the capital market. According to the regulations, they can raise the necessary medium- and long-term financing from the bond market. For example, certain types of bank loans are short-term depending on repayment schedules, but there are no such time restrictions with bonds. Investors can lock in bond yields for periods of 5–10 years, which allows companies to plan their finances for the long term." M. Narangerel, Director of the Investment Department at Golomt Capital, said: "The bond market has grown rapidly since the creation of an over-the-counter market regulatory environment in 2021. However, while government and local bonds are long-term, corporate bonds in our market are relatively short compared to developed economies, with a maximum term of 24 months. This is somewhat difficult for heavy industry and infrastructure sectors implementing new projects. Interest rates, maturities, and basic terms for bonds need to be more flexible for companies to be more interested in issuing bonds." T. Khash-Erdene, Director of Business Development at the Mongolian Stock Exchange JSC, said: "There are 13 companies registered as open joint-stock companies on the Mongolian capital market. These companies have issued around 300 billion MNT worth of bonds to date. In the future, we plan to make several changes to the bond registration procedure to increase the number of public companies. As part of this, registration procedures will be simplified to save time, reduce market entry costs, and lower fees connected to bond expenses. For bonds with certain amounts and maturities, no collateral requirements will be imposed. Companies are receiving financing to expand and start their businesses. We will continue to support domestic national manufacturers in the bond market." Going forward, not just the TOP-100 enterprises but other companies will also be given the opportunity to participate in the bond market, as highlighted by participants at the "Bond Forum 2025" meeting. The forum aimed to promote the importance of the capital market, increase participation of the public and both domestic and foreign investors, and encourage government and private enterprises to raise financing through bond issuance. The conference discussed the development of the government's domestic securities market, the significance of setting benchmark interest rates, and the challenges faced by investors and bond issuers, as well as how to address them.

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Diplomacy

J. Bayarmaa: The Aviation Sector, Independence, and Security Will Become Dependent on Russia

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

We sought the opinion of Member of Parliament J. Bayarmaa regarding the draft agreement on establishing a joint company with Russia to supply aviation fuel. She stated, "There is a standard for international treaties and agreements. There is a question arising as to whether this standard is being violated. There are also concerns about whether the agreement complies with the requirements of international conventions, for example, that any disputes would only be resolved by the Arbitration of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Secondly, we are struggling to build our own oil refinery. There's a huge effort to establish a single refinery. But who will receive the fuel produced by this refinery? Also, following this issue, the question arises whether Mongolia can remain independent and autonomous. In terms of railways, energy, and other areas, we are already dependent on Russia," she said.

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Russia's 'Ultimatum' That Could Make Mongolia a 'Logistically Dependent Country' Presented to All 126 Members of Parliament

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

In 2008-2009, Russia's Rosneft company proposed to establish 100 fuel stations in Mongolia—a suggestion that was widely discussed in political and economic circles at the time but ultimately not approved by the Parliament. Specifically, at the beginning of 2008, Rosneft proposed to supply fuel to Mongolia at preferential prices on the condition that they be allowed to set up 100 fuel distribution stations in key hubs like Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan, Erdenet, and along the Millennium Road. This would have granted them a right to participate in the Mongolian retail fuel market. The proposal was discussed by the government of then Prime Minister S. Bayar, and a draft amendment to the Law on Petroleum Products was submitted to Parliament. However, most Members of Parliament opposed the proposal, citing the risk of Russian monopoly over Mongolia's fuel market, and thus did not support the draft law. Now, 15 years later, history is repeating itself as Rosneft and Mongolia's Erchis Oil have started pushing for a joint venture at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, with Russia supplying aviation fuel for 20 years. The so-called "ultimatum" agreement is currently being discussed in Parliament. Notably, in the event of a dispute, the agreement stipulates resolution in the International Commercial Arbitration Court within the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia. Furthermore, if the agreement is terminated, it stipulates that obligations made under any contract within this agreement will continue to be fulfilled during its validity period—a clause effectively allowing only the Russian side to decide on termination. Additionally, Rosneft will import its own equipment and products from Russia and have the operations managed by Russians while supplying Mongolia's aviation fuel for 20 years. During their operations, they would enjoy all tax exemptions from the Mongolian side and seek conditions for Russians to freely enter and exit Mongolia each year without limitations. O. Tsogtgerel, the leader of the Democratic Party faction in Parliament, commented: "Looking at Article 7 of the agreement, it's not just a long-term supply contract. More specifically, it ensures stable Mongolian tax exemptions and tariffs for 20 years, with no right to alter them in any way. Any changes to Mongolian legislation will not be reflected in this agreement. This is a very one-sided, ultimatum-like document. Disputes will be resolved in Russian courts. Frankly, our interests are not represented at all." O. Tsogtgerel also stated: "For our country, relations with a third neighbor are crucial. Yet, airspace is our main route to third neighbors. Now, we are trying to grant too much advantage to a foreign company and enter into a 20-year contract in this field." State-owned and private companies like Merge Van and Erchis Oil in Mongolia currently buy aviation fuel from Rosneft or its subsidiary Rosneft-Aero through ordinary commercial transactions. In short, this is already a matter between two companies. There is therefore no need to cede an airport, stabilize tax for 20 years, and accept Russian courts for dispute resolution. But should Rosneft build their complex at Chinggis Khaan Airport and provide uninterrupted aviation fuel for 20 years, Mongolia risks becoming overly dependent on a single country. A 20-year supply would directly impact Mongolia's aviation safety, international transport, and air borders for two decades. Moreover, this could deliberately neutralize Mongolia's relations with Western countries like the US, France, Japan, and South Korea. In short, Mongolia may appear to outsiders as a "logistically dependent state of Russia." This might be Russia's "long arm" policy to keep Mongolia as a satellite. Most notably, Russian companies generally supply oil and fuel only to their own country or politically and militarily allied countries such as Belarus and Tajikistan—rarely do they take exclusive charge of civil aviation fuel for 20 years as they propose for Mongolia. Even in other Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Russia acts simply as a supplier without such extensive privileges. Mongolia operates under a parliamentary system, and Article 3.1 of the Constitution stipulates: "In Mongolia, all power belongs to the people. The people of Mongolia exercise their power directly or through elected representatives." Yet today, the so-called Russian "ultimatum"—an agreement to be concluded between the two governments—is being debated in Parliament. It remains to be seen whether Mongolia’s 126-member parliament will repeat the precedent of 2009, when it rejected Rosneft's proposal to establish 100 fuel stations in Mongolia.

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Speaker of the State Great Khural D. Amarbaysgalan Receives Ambassador Corinne Pereira Da Silva

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: montsame.mn

On April 16, Speaker of the State Great Khural of Mongolia, D. Amarbaysgalan, received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Mongolia, Corinne Pereira Da Silva. At the beginning of the meeting, Speaker D. Amarbaysgalan emphasized that developing mutually beneficial cooperation with France, Mongolia's "Third Neighbor" and a close trusted partner in Europe, is an important objective of Mongolia's foreign policy. He also expressed his aspiration to maintain the momentum of the rapidly expanding bilateral cooperation seen in recent years, and to elevate the level of Mongolia-France relations, which are based on mutual trust and shared values, to a strategic partnership. Ambassador Corinne Pereira Da Silva highlighted the significant role played by parliamentary friendship groups in further developing the active relationship between the two countries based on shared values, and expressed confidence that cooperation will continue to expand. She noted that, in addition to major economic projects and programs, active cooperation is taking place in many sectors such as civil security, urban development, public transportation, and agriculture. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the French Republic, according to the State Great Khural's Press Department.

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China Rejects Another Russian Gas Pipeline Proposal as a Substitute for "Power of Siberia 2" Project

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: ikon.mn

According to Interfax, China has reportedly rejected another gas pipeline project proposed by Russian authorities as a substitute for the "Power of Siberia 2" project, which was intended to deliver gas through Mongolia. After negotiations on the "Power of Siberia 2" project failed to yield results, in November 2024, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak introduced a different project to the Chinese side. This new proposal involved supplying 45 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to the Chinese market via Kazakhstan. "It is not feasible to implement a project to transport gas from Russia through Kazakhstan because a single pipeline would be overloaded. If we were to import gas from Russia through this route, we would need to build a new pipeline. This would be too costly," China's ambassador to Russia, Zhang Hanhui, was quoted as saying by Interfax. In 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initially proposed to Chinese President Xi Jinping the idea of supplying up to 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. This plan aimed to use the Chinese market to replace the European market lost by Gazprom. However, the Chinese authorities continue to reject the proposal. According to some sources, the Chinese side has insisted that the price for gas delivered via the "Power of Siberia 2" pipeline should be set at the same level as Russia's domestic rate—$60 per 1,000 cubic meters. Currently, the gas delivered via the "Power of Siberia 1" pipeline is priced at $260 per 1,000 cubic meters. Last year, Gazprom supplied 31 billion cubic meters of natural gas to the Chinese market, which is about 15 percent of the amount previously supplied to the European Union. At its peak, Gazprom used to supply up to 200 billion cubic meters of gas per year to the EU. This year, Gazprom plans to increase deliveries via the "Power of Siberia 1" pipeline to its maximum capacity of 38 billion cubic meters. Source: Interfax Note: Media outlets (television, radio, social media, and websites) are prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form unless agreed upon. If used, the source (ikon.mn) must be acknowledged.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey to Visit Mongolia in May

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

At the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the Republic of Turkey, President U. Khurelsukh of Mongolia made a state visit to Turkey from January 15 to 19 this year. Now, it is announced that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey will pay an official visit to Mongolia this coming May. This reciprocal visit marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During the visit, both sides are expected to sign documents on cooperation in certain sectors.

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Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

There have been reports that the Democratic Party (DP) has proposed former Director of the General Intelligence Agency, B. Khurts, as the Trade Representative to Taiwan. On this matter, DP leader L. Gantomor clarified, "B. Khurts was nominated as consul to Taiwan. Can't the DP stop trying to hastily appoint just one or two people? Members of the DP have the right to enter the government and share its responsibilities." B. Khurts graduated from Secondary School No. 23 in the capital in 1990, the Irkutsk Construction College in the Soviet Union, the Institute for Management Development in 1992, the Higher School of Economics, Statistics, and Informatics in Moscow, Russia in 1999, and the Russian Academy of Intelligence in 2000. From 1992 to 2000, he was a manager and representative in Moscow for Silk Road LLC. From 2000 to 2002, he worked at the General Intelligence Agency. In 2002–2003, he was First Secretary at the Embassy of Mongolia to Hungary; in 2003–2004, First Secretary at the Embassy of Mongolia to Turkey. From 2005 to 2006, he was Deputy Head and Head of a department at the General Intelligence Agency. From 2006 to 2009, he was the MIAT airline's General Representative in Seoul. From 2009 to 2011, during President Ts. Elbegdorj's tenure, he was Chief of Staff at the National Security Council. From 2011 to 2014, he was Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency. From 2014 to 2017, he served as the Director of the General Intelligence Agency. In November 2017, the cabinet led by Prime Minister U. Khurelsukh proposed appointing B. Khurts as Mongolia's Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to South Korea, but the proposal was not supported by the majority of parliament members in the plenary session. He was nominated twice for the post of Ambassador to South Korea, but the host country also refused to accept him. The reason was said to be his repeated involvement in human rights violations. Furthermore, he was accused in the case of torturing T. Chimgee and B. Sodnomdarjaa, who were convicted of the murder of S. Zorig, and in 2020 the Tuv Province Criminal Court sentenced him. Specifically, B. Khurts, J. Mönhgal, S. Bayar, and G. Erdenebat were sentenced to three years in prison to be served in an open prison. O. Byambajav and U. Otgonbayar received two years each, and Prison Authority Officer E. Ölziibayar received one year. Investigators O. Barkhasbad and S. Erdenebat were acquitted. He was awarded the rank of Major General by Decree 195 of President Ts. Elbegdorj on December 28, 2015. He has also received the Order of Sukhbaatar, the Military Distinguished Service Order, and other medals.

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The Temporary Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union Deferred at the Suggestion of Minister B.Choijilsuren

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Yesterday, the Standing Committee on Budget of the State Great Khural discussed the issue of negotiating the draft temporary trade agreement to be established between Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and its member countries. The draft was introduced by L.Gantumur, Member of Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Economy and Development. In his introduction, he noted that formal negotiations for a temporary trade agreement between Mongolia and the EAEU and its member states began in September 2023, with both sides having held two consultative meetings and three rounds of negotiations to date. The issue and process of establishing the agreement have also been presented to the Cabinet six times, and four open consultations have been held with foreign trade and business representatives. The working group to negotiate the agreement was initially headed by the Deputy Minister of Economy and Development. According to Government Resolution No. 44 of 2024, the working group was renewed under the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development. In January 2025, the new working group was established, consisting of two subgroups: one, led by the Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Development, focused on finalizing the agreement's text, with participation from department heads of relevant ministries; the other, led by the Secretary of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, focused on preparing the goods list, with participation from industry associations, enterprises, and representatives from relevant ministries, totaling 25 members. On January 23, 2025, the subgroup responsible for the goods list proposed removing 23 goods from Mongolia's tariff concession list in the agreement. Minister L.Gantumur explained that both sides agreed to reduce tariff barriers through four main methods applied to 367 types of products (with six-digit Harmonized System codes): "zeroing tariffs immediately," "reducing tariffs," "zeroing within agreed quota thresholds," and "granting tariff concessions within agreed quota thresholds." Mongolia specifically focused on minimizing the impact on strategic and major food imports by setting quantitative limits and excluding certain goods, thereby protecting domestic production through regulatory provisions included in the draft agreement. For example, Mongolia's average domestic consumption of eggs over the past three years was 448.6 million units per year, of which 165 million units (36.8%) were imported. To protect the domestic egg market, it was agreed that the import quota would cover up to 20% of the market—up to 90 million imported eggs would have a 7.5% customs tariff, but if imports exceed 90 million eggs, the tariff would rise to 15%. Regarding wheat, Mongolia imports 30,000-70,000 tons annually, depending on crop conditions and milling needs. The other side proposed a quota of 180,000 tons for hard and soft wheat, with the first 50,000 tons subject to a 3.75% tariff (a reduction of 1.25 points from the current rate), and imports above 50,000 tons taxed at 5%. Using the widely adopted "General Equilibrium Model" (GTAP) for free trade agreements, estimates show that Mongolia's GDP could increase by 0.02%, investment by 2.57%, and total exports to the EAEU by 24.1% ($28.4 million). Exports of meat and meat products to the EAEU market could increase by 125-140%, clothing by 84%, wool and cashmere by 64%, textiles and knitwear by 55%, and leather products by 46%. If Mongolian goods enter these markets tariff-free, their market share and competitiveness could further improve, according to Deputy Prime Minister Gantumur. The authors of the proposal assert that the temporary trade agreement will reduce export costs for businesses, make trade operations more transparent, and help resolve common issues faced by foreign traders. Notable provisions include: - Inputs and materials originating from foreign countries, which Mongolia cannot supply domestically but are essential for export products, can be counted towards up to 50% of the export product's value, allowing easier access to tariff exemptions. - Customs authorities are required to deliver goods to traders within four hours, reducing practical obstacles for traders. - Certificates of origin for goods can be submitted within 12 months for tariff concessions, without a strict requirement for immediate submission. - Overall customs inspections are reduced, with enhanced risk management implementation. - No certificate of origin is required for goods valued under 5,000 euros, facilitating small, medium, and online business exports. During the discussion, MPs raised questions and shared opinions. For example, MP J.Batjargal highlighted the need to assess whether Mongolia is ready to join the temporary trade agreement and whether there are 367 products that meet the standards of the five EAEU countries. He also warned that, during the ongoing national "Food Revolution" initiative that aims to supply 19 key products domestically, entering into an agreement that zeroes tariffs on some products within quotas could undermine domestic producers' efforts. MP O.Nomintshimig said that the agreement should also consider its impact on public health and noted that Mongolia joined the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003, which stipulates that tobacco and tobacco products should not benefit from customs exemptions or investment incentives under free trade agreements. Therefore, she suggested excluding tobacco and e-cigarettes from the trade deal. Deputy Prime Minister L.Gantumur responded that since July 3, 2024, when both sides finalized their goods lists, he has just begun participating in the negotiations and cannot give full answers. Since most parliamentarians expressed the need to protect domestic producers, they proposed continuing the negotiations and sought input from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry on which goods to retain tariffs for. Proposals to protect 23 domestically produced goods have been received, and negotiations have been ongoing for the past three months. Additionally, he stated that currently 50% of tobacco imported into Mongolia comes from South Korea and 23% from Kazakhstan, and proposed that the Ministry of Economy and Development would seek to increase excise taxes on tobacco and tobacco products. MP H.Gankhuyag suggested establishing a joint working group of the Economic and Budget Standing Committees to conduct consultations and present opinions and conclusions. MP Ts.Davaasuren agreed, stating that more calculations and research are needed, and that the negotiations should incorporate specific issues that assess the real economic benefits and outcomes. MP B.Choijilsuren emphasized that the agreement is directly related to the economy and everyday life of Mongolians and suggested postponing the discussion to further review the matter, compile the positions of parliamentarians, and gather more information. This proposal was supported by 52.6% of the attending MPs. Note
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Infrastructure

United Airlines to Begin Flights from the US to Mongolia via Tokyo Starting Next Month

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

United Airlines will begin operating flights from the United States to Mongolia via Tokyo Narita Airport starting from the 1st of next month. The company began selling tickets for these new flights, operated with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft three times a week, since last month. With this, United Airlines will become the first and only American airline to operate scheduled flights to Mongolia. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia has stated that discussions and preparations for direct flights between the two countries are ongoing under the "Open Skies" agreement signed in 2023.

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KHOVD: Unauthorized Land Will Be Forcibly Vacated Starting May 1st

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Steps are being taken in Jargalant district, the center of Khovd province, to resolve violations related to land use. The Citizens' Representative Hural (local council) of Jargalant recently held a meeting to address discrepancies in the 2025 land management plan that conflicted with the city's general development plan, as well as to resolve issues such as plots that exceeded their allotted boundaries and land not being used according to its intended purpose. They have decided to vacate 78 hectares of land at 108 locations. Additionally, it was decided to forcibly dismantle garages that were constructed without permits on public land, and research on this is being conducted. On the 16th of this month, the governor of Jargalant issued order A/172 regarding the forced removal of occupants from these lands. Starting from May 1, certain areas where buildings and fences were erected without proper permission, or where land is not being used as intended, will be forcibly vacated in order to resolve these violations.

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B.Jargalan: The capital is going crazy, planning to build roads for over 2 trillion tugriks

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: ikon.mn

During the morning session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) meeting, the draft law on amendments to the Law on the Mining Exchange was discussed. During the discussion, Member of Parliament B.Jargalan asked the Minister of Finance about the economic situation. MP B.Jargalan: Today, the US dollar rate is 3,560 tugriks, the euro is 4,070 tugriks, and the yuan is 489 tugriks. According to the first quarter report, the budget deficit has reached 1.2 trillion tugriks. The price of coal has fallen by 30-40% since the time we discussed the budget. At that time, Finance Minister B.Javkhlan submitted the coal price as $105, saying: "I will take full responsibility. The coal price will not fall. There are many buyers. You should approve the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod port agreement." However, we are now facing the facts. Should we not amend the budget now? The government has started hastily introducing and debating all kinds of measures to urgently obtain money from anywhere without amending the budget. In the law on exchanges currently being discussed, the issue of a "product exchange agreement" has been included. There is talk of bartering coal, copper, and other resources to finance mega projects. But mineral raw materials are supposed to bring us foreign currency. Now, here we are, sitting and discussing bartering our coal and copper. We need to discuss whether to stop some of our mega projects or amend the budget and face the reality. The capital city is going crazy. A budget of 5-6 trillion has been approved. For the Tuul Expressway alone, a tender was announced for 1.9 trillion, and that money is not enough—they are increasing it by another 300-400 billion, so now they are planning to build roads for over 2 trillion tugriks. The capital has become like a kingdom unto itself. Finance Minister B.Javkhlan: If revising the budget increased revenue, we would do it every day. Revision is not something you can just decide to do one morning. The general budget law sets the conditions. With or without revision, this year's budget is legislated to be without deficit. That means we can only spend as much as we earn. We will not violate this. We have approved the capital's budget. Operations are proceeding within that framework. Notice:
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VIDEO: Golomt's D. Bayasgalan May Take Over the Underground Parking in the Park Being Built by Bod Group Instead of 'Urt Tsagaan'

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

A decision was made to redevelop Building No.3 of the capital's property, known as Urt Tsagaan Trade and Service Center, and in January 2024 it was demolished to construct a park with an underground car park. In addition to the park at this location, a four-story service building aimed at tourists, including one underground floor (B1), is being constructed. A total of 44 billion MNT is being spent on this project. The tender for the design work of this development was announced in March 2024, and "Bodi Properties" LLC was selected as the contractor, signing an agreement on August 23 last year. This company is a subsidiary of "Bodi Group" and is owned by the so-called "Golomt" D. Bayasgalan. As such, many are now paying attention to whether Golomt's D. Bayasgalan is about to start another business using city property. D. Bayasgalan has repeatedly won contracts for large city and state projects or received public funds to support his private business. To specify, Kh. Nyambaatar raised bonds from the city and invested 300 billion MNT in Golomt's D. Bayasgalan's "Boereljuut Power Plant". Also, when Kh. Battulga became president, the Tavantolgoi-Zuunbayan railroad construction was done by "Bodi Group" after signing an off-take agreement. There is ample evidence showing D. Bayasgalan establishes connections with high-ranking government officials, expands his business, implements major projects, and profits from them. Now, D. Bayasgalan's "Bodi Properties" has started working on the 44-billion-MNT Urt Tsagaan development project initiated by City Mayor Kh. Nyambaatar, which will include a park with 196 car parking spaces. The underground car park is planned to be operational by July 1 of this year, and the park is also expected to open this summer. It Is Uncertain Whether the Park on Urt Tsagaan's Site Will Be Completed Next Year When we visited the development site, construction of the park itself had not yet begun. Due to Mongolia's four seasons, planting and landscaping in parks are only possible in spring or summer, and since the park construction on Urt Tsagaan's site hasn't started yet, there is doubt whether it will be completed within the coming year. One complex method of resolving traffic congestion is to build many car parks in city centers. Most local residents supported the idea of establishing an underground car park on Urt Tsagaan's site. However, concerns remain about whether, yet again, a private business—specifically Golomt's D. Bayasgalan—is about to start a new venture on public land with public money. That is why we have prepared and delivered this report to our readers.

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Land of 2,206 Households Cleared in Chingeltei and Sukhbaatar Districts

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: news.mn

It has been announced that 24 mega projects will be started in some form in Ulaanbaatar City from 2025 to 2028. The year 2025 has been declared the Year of Construction. In this context, the project to build housing for 10,063 households in the Selbe sub-center is underway. A total area of 158 hectares is being cleared for the implementation of this project. As of today, 85 percent of the land clearance has been completed. In other words, the land of 2,206 households has been cleared, compensation agreements have been signed with 1,725 households, and compensation has already been provided to 1,700 households without losses. Consequently, the residents of subdistricts 14 and 18 in Chingeltei District and subdistrict 14 in Sukhbaatar District, where the project will be implemented, are satisfied with the land clearance process. In previous years, many projects were launched under the name of converting ger districts into apartment housing, but quite a few were suspended. The main issue causing delays was that residents did not want to vacate their land, as they did not want to suffer losses from relocating. This time is different. The Selbe ger district housing project has learned from the previous mistakes and experiences of other housing projects and does not repeat those errors, having been planned accordingly. It is also a comprehensive project supported by the government and consistent with the "20-minute city" concept. What this means is that not just apartment complexes will be constructed. Schools, kindergartens, commercial and service centers, entertainment and sports centers, roads for cars, bicycles, and pedestrians, as well as green spaces—everything necessary for people—will be built within the framework of the Selbe sub-center housing project, i.e., the city of Selbe.

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Schedule of Electricity Restrictions for Tomorrow, April 18

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Repair work on the electrical lines and equipment in Ulaanbaatar City has been ongoing since last March. According to information from the "UBEDC" JSC, electricity will be restricted and maintenance will be conducted in some neighborhoods of five districts in the capital, as well as in Zuunkharaa, Erdene, and Bayandelger soums of Tuv province, affecting households and businesses in these areas. The locations where electricity restrictions will take place are: A detailed schedule for repair work on the electrical lines and equipment can be found by clicking HERE. Notice: Media outlets (TV, radio, social and web pages) are prohibited from fully or partially using this information without permission. It may only be used with consent and by citing the source (ikon.mn).

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Assembly of Zaisan Bridge Girders Has Begun

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

As part of the project to expand and renovate the old Zaisan Bridge into a 225-meter, four-lane reinforced concrete twin bridge, the western bridge was put into operation in September 2023. The eastern bridge was closed on January 10th of this year and was fully dismantled by March 7th. The works included laying foundation reinforcements, preparing bridge girders, and installing piles to a depth of 17 meters below ground level. Today, the assembly of the main girders for the eastern section—the new Zaisan Bridge—has begun.

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Society

ARKHANGAI: Japan's "Onodera" Group to Train 100 Specialists for the Tourism Sector

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Within the framework of a tripartite memorandum of understanding, Japan's “Onodera” group plans to implement a comprehensive program to provide youth from the Khangai region and adjacent areas with initial professional orientation, training, and subsequent internship opportunities to gain experience in Japan. In other words, the “Onodera” group has arrived in Arkhangai province to begin training 100 young people from the Khangai region in the fields of restaurant and hotel management, hotel services, and tour guiding for the tourism sector. After six months of training, the prepared youth will work in Japan for three years and then return to work in their local region with their acquired profession. In March of this year, Minister of Foreign Affairs B. Battsetseg and Governor of Arkhangai Province B. Tserennadmid, along with their delegations, paid an official visit to Japan. During the visit, they held discussions on various issues regarding relations and cooperation between the two countries. They also agreed to cooperate on developing human resources, training specialists, and providing internships in the fields of food production, technology, and services. As the first step of this cooperation, a tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed on April 14 between the Khangai Regional Council, the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST), and representatives of Japan's “Onodera” group.

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Ch. Nomin: Entertainment Events for Tourists Will Be Organized on the Night of the Festival's Opening

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The regular meeting of the National Grand Festival Organizing Committee is being held. The meeting is discussing matters such as the selection of a director for the National Grand Festival's Honorary Concert, updates on the preparation and progress of the opening and closing ceremonies, approval of the budget expenses, and the composition of subcommittees. For the 2025 National Grand Festival, the state-honored and distinguished artist, director N. Naranbaatar, has been appointed as the chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies. Regarding the opening and closing ceremonies, Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Ch. Nomin said, “The annual National Grand Festival is not only a symbol of national unity and independence for the Mongolian people, but its opening is also the largest entertainment event to promote our national identity, history, culture, and heritage to tourists. We have started the planning of the festival’s program, stage design, general layout, and infrastructure development. The opening will be planned in a 360-degree format so that all spectators in the stadium can fully experience it, and an additional evening program and entertainment events will be organized specifically for tourists.”

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WARNING: 82.5% of Victims of Pickpocketing Crimes Are Children and Women

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The General Police Department (GPD) advises that criminals who commit theft crimes are targeting children and women. On the topic of preventing this type of crime, Police Lieutenant S. Myagmarsuren, a specialist at the GPD's Prevention Division, shared the following information: "On April 11th, a report was filed with the police stating, 'My child lost his mobile phone at a certain PC game center.' Upon investigation, officers discovered that citizen B had stolen the individual's iPhone 12 Pro Max mobile phone, and an investigation is ongoing. In the capital city, 82.5% of the victims of pickpocketing crimes registered in 2024 have been women and minors. Therefore, the GPD advises parents to educate their children on how to prevent such crimes and to remain vigilant when visiting markets, shopping centers, bus stops, and other public places. VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/policemng/videos/698975539225271 Warning: Media outlets (TV, radio, social media and websites) are prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form. It may only be used with prior agreement and by citing the source (ikon.mn).

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Environment

The 'Sustainable Development – Green Future' Trade Fair Opens

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The "Sustainable Development – Green Future" exhibition and trade fair, organized collaboratively by public and private sector organizations, has officially opened. Now in its second year, this exhibition aims to promote eco-friendly products and services, disseminate knowledge and information about sustainable development, and features policy discussions and presentations by sector specialists about current issues. Moreover, experts openly answer public questions and offer advice, making the event unique. During last year's exhibition, a discussion was held on the topic of "New Technological Solutions for Private Housing, Opportunities to Lower Costs, Quality Standards, and Improving Accessibility to Green Loans," which resulted in the introduction of banking products and services tailored to the needs of customers. This initiative enabled self-employed individuals to be provided with workplaces through these financial solutions. This year, sector experts and policymakers will discuss the topic "Sustainable Development – Green Building" in line with global sustainable development goals. They will address future directions, potential opportunities, and solutions for green projects and programs to be implemented in the sector. Attendees of the fair will have the opportunity to learn about the latest, most advanced eco-friendly technologies, study the options for green loans, and purchase products. The exhibition and trade fair will continue at the MUESTO until the 23rd of this month.

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GOVI-ALTAI: Emphasis on Calculating Risks and Planning Early Response Measures

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: montsame.mn

On April 16, G.Ariunbuyan, the Deputy Head of the National Emergency Commission and Head of the National Emergency Management Agency, Major General, visited Govi-Altai province and attended the Emergency Commission meeting. He reviewed the current situation and ongoing measures, and emphasized the importance of local authorities forecasting potential risks within the province and planning timely responses in advance. At the Govi-Altai Emergency Commission meeting, it was reported that the local council for disaster risk reduction has decided to gradually increase the budget for the disaster risk reduction fund and is organizing preventive activities. Furthermore, in connection with the implementation of the “New Cooperative – Prosperous Herder” program, the conditions of 1,029 herders across 18 soums (districts) were assessed, results of the project were reviewed, and guidelines and advice from professional organizations were provided. Within the framework of the agreement established between the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia and the Governor of Govi-Altai province, this year the National Emergency Management Agency will organize the national disaster preparedness inspection, and training for the management teams of 18 soums will be held to check readiness and provide instructions. Currently, 72.4% of the provincial territory is facing insufficient pasture for livestock to get through the winter within their own soum boundaries, demonstrating the necessity to regulate winter and spring preparation at an early stage by measures such as long-range herding, preparing additional fodder, and reducing the number of livestock. Major General G.Ariunbuyan stressed the importance of forecasting potential risks at the provincial and local levels, planning and implementing preventive measures in advance, intensifying training and drills related to disaster preparedness at all levels, and ensuring readiness and preparedness. Additionally, based on the proposal from Provincial Governor G.Chinbat, it has been decided to provide a 5-ton capacity unmanned cargo drone to the Emergency Management Department.

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Innovation

A malfunction has occurred in the data system of the 'EBarimt' system

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Due to a malfunction in the data system of the 'EBarimt' system, it is currently not possible to pay health insurance premiums via the Ebarimt application or the Ebarimt.mn website. Therefore, insured citizens are advised by the General Department of Health Insurance (GDHI) to pay their premiums through the E-Mongolia application. For the past 2-3 days, it has been impossible to access the EBarimt application. Notice: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) are prohibited from fully or partially copying and using our information in any form, and may only use it with prior agreement, citing the source (ikon.mn).

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Unlocking New Opportunities Through Space Exploration

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar – Mongolia currently covers 24% of its territory with telecommunications infrastructure, including mobile networks and the Internet. However, four soums and border outposts are not yet connected to fiber-optic cables, which is why the Ministry of Digital Development and Communications (MDDC) plans to extend cellular network coverage to 139 such locations this year. Nonetheless, laying fiber-optic cables and installing stations on mountain tops is economically costly, prompting countries to seek more optimal solutions. For example, Japan has enhanced its telecom infrastructure using satellites instead of fiber-optic cables. Thus, in a country with 1,564,116 square kilometers like Mongolia, improving telecommunication infrastructure is essential for opportunities such as providing world-class education to herders from remote locations or enabling citizens in rural areas to access government services without needing to travel to the capital. Scientists and researchers emphasize the crucial role of a national satellite for these improvements. Currently, 104 countries worldwide have launched a total of 11,833 satellites, over 70% of which serve telecommunications purposes. While only 14 countries had launched satellites into space at the start of the 21st century, this has expanded to 91 nations in just the past 20 years. As a result, the space sector is becoming a driving force in the expansion of the economy, science, and all areas of society, opening brand new possibilities, as highlighted by the MDDC Minister Ts. Baatarkhuu. He stated, “Between 2023 and 2035, the world’s nominal GDP is expected to increase by 5% annually. The space economy, valued at 630 billion US dollars in 2023, is projected to reach 1.8 trillion US dollars by 2035, growing on average 9% per year. The semiconductor market, measured at 600 billion US dollars in 2021, is also projected to grow annually at 6-8% until 2030,” during the opening of the "Telecommunications Satellite Policy and Regulation" forum. Mongolia is currently developing the country’s legal and regulatory framework for space activities, conducting research on the need and requirements for space legislation, and preparing its first draft law on space. This draft law will be presented and discussed among government agencies, private sector representatives, and academics before being submitted to Parliament, according to the MDDC. The Ministry, together with the Communications Regulatory Commission, recently organized the above-mentioned forum to foster a unified understanding and involvement of government, private sector, and researchers regarding the national satellite initiative.

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EBARIMT: System Access Disrupted Since 13:30 Yesterday, Efforts Underway to Restore Normal Operations

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Due to a malfunction in the electronic payment receipt system, known as eBarimt, system access has been disrupted since 13:30 on April 16, 2025. All services that function through eBarimt—such as paying taxes, fees, and charges—have been rendered inoperative. An engineering and technical team is taking immediate action to resolve the issue and restore normal operations. Additionally, the lottery draw scheduled for April 16, 2025, was successfully organized, and the incentives for the lucky winners will be distributed within the period specified in the official rules, according to the official page of the electronic payment receipt system. The statement also apologized for any difficulties or inconveniences caused by the system disruption. Notice: Media organizations (TV, radio, social, and web pages) are strictly prohibited from using our information in full or in part without permission. Information may only be used by indicating the source (ikon.mn) upon agreement.

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"Ebarimt Website and Application Not Working, Under Maintenance"

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: news.mn

Since yesterday, it has not been possible to access the Ebarimt application, which registers value-added tax receipts and selects lottery winners, due to an error. As a result, other services available through this website and application have also been suspended for an indefinite period. Therefore, we contacted the General Department of Taxation for more information. According to the General Department of Taxation's unified hotline, the Ebarimt website and application are being repaired due to a malfunction. It is currently unclear when they will return to normal operation. It has also been announced that, due to damage to the system’s database, it is not possible to pay health insurance premiums through the Ebarimt application and Ebarimt.mn website. The Ebarimt system has issued the following statement.

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A Malfunction Occurred in the 'E-receipt' Electronic System Database

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

Since yesterday, it has not been possible to access the "E-receipt" electronic system, displaying a "Not connected to the network" error. The General Office of Health Insurance has issued a statement regarding this. The statement says: "Due to a malfunction in the 'E-receipt' system's database, it is currently impossible to pay health insurance premiums. Therefore, insured citizens are requested to pay their health insurance premiums through the 'E-Mongolia' application. We will inform you as soon as the normal operation of the 'E-receipt' system is restored."

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A fault has occurred in the Ebarimt application and urgent repairs are underway

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

It is currently not possible to access the Ebarimt application and the official website, which are used to register VAT invoices and announce lottery winners. In an announcement regarding this issue, it was stated, "We apologize to our users as there has been a fault in the electronic payment invoice system. Our engineering and technical team is working urgently on the matter, and the system will be restored as soon as possible." It is worth mentioning that the live broadcast for the VAT incentive lottery was held nationwide yesterday. For this particular draw, a total of 47,027,161 receipts, related to purchases made from March 1 to March 31, 2025 and registered in the electronic payment system by 12:59 PM on April 15, 2025, were included. Among these: 17 receipts matched 8 digits; 56 receipts matched 7 digits; 415 receipts matched 6 digits; 4,084 receipts matched 5 digits; and 42,133 receipts matched 4 digits. 41,998 receipts were declared winners in the draw. However, citizens are currently unable to check if they are among the winners until the application is functioning normally again.

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Health

The Number of Laboratory-Confirmed Measles Cases Reaches 564, with 11,539 Contacts Identified, According to the National Center for Communicable Diseases

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: isee.mn

As of April 12, 2025, there are a total of 564 laboratory-confirmed measles cases, with 90 patients currently hospitalized, 7 under home care, 467 recovered, 38 suspected cases, and 11,539 contacts, according to the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD). Measles is a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable infectious disease. The majority of measles cases are occurring in outbreaks centered in general education schools. Therefore, children and individuals who study or work together are advised to receive the measles vaccine in order to protect themselves and others from the disease.

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BAYANKHONGOR: South Korea’s “Hyundai” Hospital to Expand Cooperation with Provincial General Hospital

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Bayankhongor province is working with the Ministry of Health to set the outpatient operations of the provincial General Hospital as a national benchmark and to strengthen human resource capacity. In this context, the Health Development Center is organizing the training and experience exchange of over 60 doctors, medical professionals, and staff from the province’s Health Department and General Hospital at South Korea’s "Hyundai" Hospital in four rounds. The first group, consisting of 15 members including Bayankhongor province Deputy Governor B. Naranbayar, Health Department Director T. Odontungalag, and General Hospital Director J. Ganzul, is currently attending training to learn about hospital management, outpatient care services, the quality and safety of health services, risk prevention and control, and the creation of a comfortable hospital environment. In connection with launching this model outpatient clinic, the hospital will expand its cooperation, committing to resolving issues such as renovating the Emergency Department, updating the operating room, installing an elevator, and providing long-term training and internships for doctors and specialists at the Bayankhongor Province General Hospital.

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The Number of Confirmed Measles Cases Reaches 564, of Which 467 Have Recovered

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: ikon.mn

With 12 new cases of measles reported, the total number of confirmed cases has reached 564 as of today. Of these, 467 have recovered, 90 are being treated in hospitals, and seven people are receiving treatment at home. Out of the confirmed cases, 230 are children aged 10-14. The infection has been registered in Bayankhongor, Umnugovi, Dundgovi, Tuv, Khentii provinces, as well as in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus and spreads through airborne droplets. According to the National Center for Communicable Diseases, the rash that appears during this illness is spotty, papular, bright red in color, and the skin between the rashes appears normal in color, which makes the rash appear mottled. Notice: Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social, and Website pages) are prohibited from using our information in any form, in whole or in part, without permission. Only with agreement and by citing the source (ikon.mn) is use permitted.

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Three Mining Workers Recover from Food Poisoning and Discharged from NCCD

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

Cases of food poisoning in large mining companies, which harm the health of workers, have become widespread. The National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) reported that three outbreaks related to food infections have been recorded in mining companies operating in Umnugobi province since March 17th. On March 17th, over 70 employees of "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" JSC, located in Tsogttsetsii soum of Umnugobi province, suffered from food poisoning and received treatment at NCCD. Mine workers say that a number of staff from the same company also experienced gastrointestinal issues twice last year. Once again, workers at mining companies operating in Tsogttsetsii and Gurvantes soums of Umnugobi province have reportedly suffered from possible food poisoning. Specifically, on the 8th of this month, symptoms of toxic infection appeared in about 800 workers of three mining companies located in Tsogttsetsii soum, and as of yesterday, 119 people were isolated and treated in the infectious disease department of the NCCD. Additionally, 40 people are being treated at home and 16 are hospitalized in local health institutions, as reported by the NCCD. Teams of clinical and surveillance professionals from the center and monitoring specialists of the local Health Department are working on site. While the infectious disease hospital was already overwhelmed with mine workers affected by poisoning, another 77 suspected cases of foodborne infection appeared at "SouthGobi Sands" LLC located in Gurvantes soum, and they were transported to the capital. The NCCD's Intestinal Infections Department is providing them with care and services. In connection with this, the administration and human resources department of "SouthGobi Sands" LLC issued a statement: "Due to the outbreak of an infectious disease at the project site in Gurvantes soum, Umnugobi province, the rotations scheduled for April 16th (arrival) and 17th (departure) have been postponed until further notice. You will be informed once the new rotation dates are determined." When asked about the workers' conditions, NCCD unit head N. Suvdmaa said, "As this is a suspected outbreak of foodborne infection, further surveillance, investigation and laboratory analysis are ongoing. Results are not yet available. After about 800 workers from three mining companies ate food, over 200 developed clinical symptoms of infection. Three of them have recovered and been discharged from the hospital. An NCCD team is working in Gurvantes soum. We have not received further reports yet." Previously, it was reported that samples taken from the stool of 24 people who suffered poisoning revealed salmonella bacteria in 19 of them in laboratory testing. This bacteria is known to cause food poisoning, leading to inflammation and acute infectious disease in the stomach and small intestine. Mining workers usually work away from home for 14 to 21 days each month. Frequent occurrences of food poisoning have caused fear among the workers, according to sources. Some are said to survive on instant noodles out of fear of poisoning. Those affected are young people aged 20-48, all exhibiting diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and fever. Some media reported that the catering company serving the mining company in Tsogttsetsii is "Red Rock" LLC, a subsidiary of "Bodi" Group. While reports of food poisoning are made, it remains unclear whether any party responsible for the harm to many people’s health is held accountable.

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NEMUT: Eight People Suffered Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Past Day

Published: 2025-04-17 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The National Center for Public Health (NEMUT) has provided the carbon monoxide poisoning statistics for April 15-16. Within this period, eight cases of acute carbon monoxide poisoning requiring medical assistance and services were reported. Specifically: - 37% were male - 63% were female By location, the cases were distributed as follows: In Ulaanbaatar, residents of Songinokhairkhan, Bayanzurkh, Nalaikh, and Sukhbaatar districts—across 10 neighborhoods and five households—sought medical care after being affected by carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities advise regularly ventilating homes and houses in the morning and evening to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Source: NEMUT Warning: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social media, and Web pages) are prohibited from fully or partially using our information in any form without explicit permission. It may only be used by citing the source (ikon.mn) upon agreement.

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Today's Stories

Politics

Economy

Diplomacy

Infrastructure

Society

Environment

Innovation

Health

Politics

SBKH: The Initial Reading of the Draft Law to Amend the Law on the State Great Khural Elections was Held

VIDEO: Police Begin Investigation into Member of Parliament E. Bolormaa’s Alleged Illegal Donations from Foreign-Owned Company

Head of the Cabinet Secretariat N.Uchral Submits Documents on the Togrog Lake Deposit Issue to the Anti-Corruption Agency for Investigation

O.Shijir: Budget Expenditure Increases by 20-30% in Election Years

Minister of Justice O.Altangerel Reports Legal Deadlock in Case Related to Dav.Tsogtbaatar

Can the Government Survive Without a Troll Army?

Economy

Discussion on Amendments to the Law on the Mining Product Exchange

L.Gantomor: The Temporary Eurasian Agreement Will Attract Investment in the Agricultural Sector

Discussion on Amending the Law on the Commodity Exchange of Mining Products

TODAY: "Bond Forum-2025" Event to Take Place

Ts.Tuvaan: When We Try to Sell Coal at the Exchange Price, the Chinese Side Cites Lack of Loading and Unloading Facilities as a Reason

The "Top 100" Companies Preparing to Enter the Capital Market Gather Today

B.Jargalan: Rosneft is not only engaged in supplying aviation fuel, but also in the retail sale of petroleum products, and the agreement stipulates that Mongolian law does not apply to these activities

Sales of the Mining and Extraction Sector Decreased by 1.5 Trillion Tugriks

R. Shinegerel: Unless the massive structure and staff size of the state are reduced, the tax burden on citizens will not decrease

Statistician: Mongolia Has Always Imported 100% of Its Aircraft Fuel from Russia

B. Purevdorj: Members of Parliament and Ministers Go to Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi and Make Contracts with Only 2-3 Dollars in Profits

Revenue of the Social Insurance Fund increased by 315.5 billion MNT compared to 2024

GAO: Recommendation to Suspend Funding Until Violations are Fully Resolved

Increasing Domestic Enterprises' Participation in the Corporate Bond Market

Diplomacy

J. Bayarmaa: The Aviation Sector, Independence, and Security Will Become Dependent on Russia

Russia's 'Ultimatum' That Could Make Mongolia a 'Logistically Dependent Country' Presented to All 126 Members of Parliament

Speaker of the State Great Khural D. Amarbaysgalan Receives Ambassador Corinne Pereira Da Silva

China Rejects Another Russian Gas Pipeline Proposal as a Substitute for "Power of Siberia 2" Project

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey to Visit Mongolia in May

L.Gantomor: B.Khurts Was Nominated as Consul to Taiwan. Members of the Democratic Party Have the Right to Share State Responsibilities.

The Temporary Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union Deferred at the Suggestion of Minister B.Choijilsuren

Infrastructure

United Airlines to Begin Flights from the US to Mongolia via Tokyo Starting Next Month

KHOVD: Unauthorized Land Will Be Forcibly Vacated Starting May 1st

B.Jargalan: The capital is going crazy, planning to build roads for over 2 trillion tugriks

VIDEO: Golomt's D. Bayasgalan May Take Over the Underground Parking in the Park Being Built by Bod Group Instead of 'Urt Tsagaan'

Land of 2,206 Households Cleared in Chingeltei and Sukhbaatar Districts

Schedule of Electricity Restrictions for Tomorrow, April 18

Assembly of Zaisan Bridge Girders Has Begun

Society

ARKHANGAI: Japan's "Onodera" Group to Train 100 Specialists for the Tourism Sector

Ch. Nomin: Entertainment Events for Tourists Will Be Organized on the Night of the Festival's Opening

WARNING: 82.5% of Victims of Pickpocketing Crimes Are Children and Women

Environment

The 'Sustainable Development – Green Future' Trade Fair Opens

GOVI-ALTAI: Emphasis on Calculating Risks and Planning Early Response Measures

Innovation

A malfunction has occurred in the data system of the 'EBarimt' system

Unlocking New Opportunities Through Space Exploration

EBARIMT: System Access Disrupted Since 13:30 Yesterday, Efforts Underway to Restore Normal Operations

"Ebarimt Website and Application Not Working, Under Maintenance"

A Malfunction Occurred in the 'E-receipt' Electronic System Database

A fault has occurred in the Ebarimt application and urgent repairs are underway

Health

The Number of Laboratory-Confirmed Measles Cases Reaches 564, with 11,539 Contacts Identified, According to the National Center for Communicable Diseases

BAYANKHONGOR: South Korea’s “Hyundai” Hospital to Expand Cooperation with Provincial General Hospital

The Number of Confirmed Measles Cases Reaches 564, of Which 467 Have Recovered

Three Mining Workers Recover from Food Poisoning and Discharged from NCCD

NEMUT: Eight People Suffered Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Past Day

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