Aug 26, 2024 57 min read Daily News Summaries

Mongolia News Summary for August 26, 2024

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 Mongolia Strategy Center or its members.

Today's Stories

Politics

VIDEO: Member of Parliament D.Regdel, who made a strange statement that "Russia will not support Eg and Shuren power plants," used to work as a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Published: Sat, 24 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

Our country is dependent on Russia for electricity, fuel, and railways. However, efforts to reduce energy dependence by progressing projects like the Eg and Erdeneburen hydroelectric power plants have stalled.

During this week's extraordinary session of the Parliament, D. Regdel, who became a member of the Parliament through the MPP list, stated that "Russia will never support the simultaneous operation of Shuren and Eg river power plants," which has led to criticism from many. The state policy of our country should not depend on any one country. Therefore, some citizens criticize D. Regdel, who became a member of the Parliament through the MPP list, as a "Russian dog."

Another Russian dog.... pic.twitter.com/Df8AH5Yjdz
— Tsogt (@tsogt_tsogt)

D. Regdel was elected as a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences in June 2022. He was also elected President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences in 2016.

EVIDENCE: Parliamentary Staff Provides Legal Opinion on the Law on Tenders Opposed by B. Enkhbayar and Ch. Lodoysambuu, Stating it Conflicts with Relevant Laws

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

At midnight on the night of the 22nd-23rd of this month, the Standing Committee on Budget convened to discuss the Law on Tenders.

The new government, in presenting the 2024 budget adjustment to the State Great Khural (Parliament), included several legal amendments, some concerning the Law on Tenders and Public-Private Partnership.

For instance, the government included a provision in the Public-Private Partnership Law stating:

-In cases announced before this law takes effect, supplemental contracts to concessions will be signed with the selected entity according to the Concession Law. However, the Concession Law is no longer in force and has ceased to be valid in Mongolia, and this provision from the government proposes to use the invalidated law for some activities.

-In the changes to the Tender Law, article 2.3.3.7 states: If the government decides a development policy, renewal program, and needs to select a consultant individual or entity with special knowledge and skills, then the tender law will not be followed.

-In the changes to the Tender Law, 31.5: if no tender is received after announcing at least twice by that method, it allows state or local government-owned, or state-participated legal entities to execute the procurement of goods, works, or services.

-In the changes to the Tender Law, 36.9: Allows tender processes for projects and measures listed to begin before the funding sources are approved.

-In the changes to the Tender Law, tenders of state-owned or joint-stock companies valued over 10 billion will be regulated by the Procurement Agency.

Members of Parliament B. Enkhbayar and Ch. Lodoysambuu oppose these proposed changes, claiming that "$40 billion worth projects and programs are being resolved without an open tender and outside parliamentary oversight. We advocate for the tender law amendments to be submitted independently to Parliament for discussion as an independent proposal, not packaged with the budget as a means of theft." However, their proposal to return the law to the government during the midnight meeting of the standing committee was not supported. Their opposition focuses on the submission of laws that enable legal theft involving projects valued at hundreds of billions without a selection process or tender, reminding other MPs to maintain vigilance and oversight.

Additionally, the parliamentary staff has provided a legal opinion on these laws.

THE DELIVERED CONCLUSION INCLUDES

-“If the government decides on development policy renewal programs and deems it necessary to select a consultant person, legal entity with special knowledge, and skills, then regulations in the Law on Procurement of Goods, Works, and Services with State and Local Government Property do not apply.” This formulates provisions in the law proposal to disregard the said procurement laws.

-The change in the Law on Procurement of Goods, Works, and Services with State and Local Government Property, first article tenth section or ninth part: "Project, measure in the list with capability-based negotiation can start tender processes before funding sources are approved" is seen as encroaching on Parliament's "exclusive authority to approve the state budget" hence, a recommendation to exclude this aspect. In other words, beginning tender procedures for projects or measures before Parliament approves the annual budget puts pressure on Parliament to approve the funding sources for those projects or measures.

The supplement law to follow the procedure of implementing the Public-Private Partnership Law, effective from December 31, 2023, prescribes when competitive selection announced for choosing projects, it involves forming concession contracts and supplemental agreements with chosen entities. This is assessed as not complying with article 27.3, paragraph 1.3 of the Law on Legislation: "protecting, recognizing, confirming, altering, invalidating citizen and legal entity rights and obligations and eliminating negative consequences conditions, methods" regulation, and paragraph 27.1.5 “specific conditions, instances when previous laws or some parts’ effectiveness remains,” as commented.

The Law on Tenders will continue to be discussed in Parliament.

"Do Not Support the Laws Following the Budget"

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

We asked Member of Parliament J. Bat-Erdene about current issues.

- The discussions are about the amendments to Mongolia's 2024 budget and its accompanying laws. What is your stance on the amendments to the budget?

Under the coalition government, many issues are being reformed and changed, which I believe affects the budget in certain ways. Secondly, major construction projects are being introduced. To overcome difficulties, we must bring in substantial investments, which is the context for the budget amendments. It is necessary to thoroughly reconsider issues related to investments in budget expenditures. It seems the accompanying laws are also being discussed. I have expressed that I do not support them. The current Procurement Law provides all possibilities. Various measures were taken around bypassing the Tender Law, leading to mining issues. Now, rather than bypassing, there is a move to have us legally approve such matters. In the issues being raised, nothing seems right. They are talking about amending the Law on Budget Stability again. We had broadly discussed and made significant reforms to spend the budget properly and improve monitoring. We talk about the principle of stable operation everywhere. However, on actions, we cannot show this. Recently, many laws have been following the budget. If such a need had existed, they should have corrected them earlier, not urgently passing them along with the budget today or tomorrow. Politicians should be mindful of following the law more than becoming conscious. Laws must be adhered to, and the correctness of the law must be emphasized.

Enkebish's Zolzaya Nominated for Supreme Court Judge

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The State Great Khural's (Parliament of Mongolia) Standing Committee on Legal Affairs convened today to hear the introduction of the candidate for the position of Supreme Court judge.

The introduction of the candidate, Enkebish's Zolzaya, was presented by L. Enkhbileg, Head of the General Council of Courts, during the meeting.

He explained, "According to Article 51, Part 2 of Mongolia's Constitution, 'The President appoints Supreme Court judges upon introduction by the General Council of Courts to the State Great Khural,' and Article 35, Section 35.1 of the Law of the Judiciary of Mongolia stipulates, 'Upon introduction by the General Council... the proposal for appointment of the Supreme Court judge candidate is submitted to the President after introduction to the State Great Khural.' Furthermore, as outlined in the 104.2 section of Article 104 of the Law on Parliamentary Procedure of the State Great Khural, we are introducing Enkebish's Zolzaya, who is ranked first in the candidate pool to fill the vacancy for the Supreme Court judge, at the Standing Committee meeting."

Candidate E. Zolzaya was born in 1970 in Ulaanbaatar, 54 years old. She is female and has a family of four members.

From 1978 to 1988, she attended the 18th Secondary School in the capital city.
From 1988 to 1994, she obtained a master's degree in engineering sciences from the State Academy of Public Life and Services in Moscow, Russia.
From 1996 to 1999, she graduated from the School of Law of the National University of Mongolia with a law degree.
From 2009 to 2016, she obtained a master's degree in legal sciences from the School of Law, National University of Mongolia.
From 1999 to 2004, she was the court session secretary at the Administrative Office of the Capital City Court.
From 2004 to 2006, a judge at the Bayanzurkh District Court.
From 2006 to 2013, a judge at the Sukhbaatar District Court.
From 2013 to 2014, a judge at the First Court of Civil Cases of the District Court.
From 2014 to 2015, a judge at the Tenth Civil Case Appellate Court.
Since 2015, she has worked as a judge at the Capital City Civil Case Appellate Court.

The candidate has 24 years and 7 months of experience in public service, 19 years and 9 months as a judge, 9 of which are in the appellate courts.

The Standing Committee on Legal Affairs got acquainted with the proposal from the General Council of Courts and decided to present its reflections and conclusions about the introduction of the candidate for the Supreme Court judge to the State Great Khural's plenary session, according to the Public Relations Office of the State Great Khural.

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

Over a year ago, as part of the "Bird" operation, former government member T. Badamjunai and former parliamentarian Ts. Anandbazar were brought from the Philippines to Mongolia and urgently detained. Their related cases are now being combined, and the investigation continues.

The case concerning T. Badamjunai, who left the country while under investigation for corruption and official misconduct, was examined. The initial court hearing for this case occurred in November, where the court returned the case to the prosecutor for additional investigation. However, the prosecutor filed an appeal to the Capital Criminal Court of Appeal, arguing that the actions outlined in the judge's order could be completed during the trial, making a return unnecessary. Out of the five grounds mentioned in the court's opposition, three were accepted while two were rejected, but additional investigations were nonetheless ordered. Consequently, the action of parliamentarian Ts. Anandbazar bribing T. Badamjunai was consolidated for court resolution.

Defense attorneys and prosecutors for Badamjunai and others disagreed with this ruling and appealed to the Supreme Court. However, the Supreme Court declined to consider T. Badamjunai's attorneys' complaints, resulting in Ts. Anandbazar's actions being resolved in the same case. To date, the investigation of this case continues with the IAAC, and an indictment has yet to be filed with the prosecutor. T. Badamjunai, charged with corruption and official misconduct, reportedly has been receiving healthcare in Mongolia due to his poor health. The court has imposed a measure to prevent him from leaving the borders of Mongolia.

Elon Musk Praises Mongolia's Population Growth Policy

Published: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Elon Musk praised Mongolia's government policy to increase the population.

Recently, the social media page More Births (@MoreBirths), which works in the field of global population growth and support for women's childbirth, published a post praising Mongolia's policy of encouraging mothers with many children.

"The special example of Mongolia addressing low birth rates by elevating mothers' status. Mongolia's leaders have been awarding the 'Famous Mother' honor to mothers for 68 years. This has helped elevate mothers' status and foster a wonderful culture of childbirth," the post states, accompanied by a map comparing Mongolian women's birth rates with those of neighboring countries.

A few hours ago, Elon Musk, known as the world's richest person, shared this post with his 195.5 million followers, praising Mongolia's government policy as a "great idea."

Wow, this a great idea!
Good for Mongolia. https://t.co/eSJxsnfr6C

Some researchers believe that if population growth is not limited, the world's resources will not suffice in the future.

However, Elon Musk strongly opposes this view, arguing that if humanity does not grow, civilization will collapse.

He is known to have 12 children from three different women.

Economy

Erdenes Mongol Group Achieves 3.8 Trillion MNT Net Profit

Published: Sat, 24 Aug 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

The "Erdenes Mongol" group's "First Half Year Results - Winter Preparation" executive meeting, a tradition from last year, was held at Bagnuurt LLC. Attending the meeting were Minister of Mongolia and Head of the Cabinet Secretariat N. Uchral, Chairman of the Board of Erdenes Mongol LLC Sh. Munkhtseren, CEO S. Narantsogt, and executives from the group's subsidiary and affiliate companies. They evaluated and discussed the implementation and results of the first half-year’s planned activities and how winter preparations are being made.

During this period, Minister N. Uchral introduced a comprehensive reform to improve the governance and operations of state-owned mining companies, enhance efficiency, increase the beneficial use of mineral wealth for the nation and citizens, and establish a National Wealth Fund under the motto "Mongolia's Wealth for Mongolians," aligned with the government's action plan.

The comprehensive reform to establish the National Wealth Fund will be carried out with the following directions:

Reform to make state-owned operations transparent and clear, achieving good governance and improving efficiency by aligning state-owned companies’ governance with international standards, and creating a favorable legal environment. This will enable state-owned companies to be IPO-ready, clearly define their various types and legal uncertainties.
Reforming the legal environment to foster an industry-friendly setting by processing minerals domestically, supporting the foundation infrastructure for manufacturing value-added products and industry, thus improving the legal environment to enhance the beneficial use of natural resources and promote value-added product manufacturing within production technology parks.
Establishing a unified management system (ERP) within state-owned companies to improve daily operational efficiency and oversight by employing a big data-based electronic system to enhance operational output by at least 30%.
Organizing human resource selection based on AI, openly and transparently on skill-based principles, and deriving necessary expertise research for strategic development projects.

Secondly, the “End of the Raw Materials Era” reform, aimed at creating an industrial ecosystem, will involve legal reforms to support private sector investment alongside establishing essential infrastructure and foundational factories for industrial basic raw material production to develop an industrial chain.

The main goal of the wealth fund reform is to improve the operations of state-owned mining companies, increase the dividend share attributable to the state’s up to 34% ownership, and construct the Savings Fund’s revenue to distribute mineral resource benefits equitably and fairly to the public. The reform envisions state-owned companies’ operations becoming digital, transparent, and open while reducing costs and increasing productivity.

The Erdenes Mongol group surpassed its production and financial targets for the first half of 2024. Production-wise, operational companies and factories reported extraction at 100%, concentrate production at 106%, and land clearance at 88%. Financially, against a plan of generating 8.7 trillion MNT in revenue, they achieved 9.0 trillion MNT, with a net profit of 3.8 trillion MNT - fulfilling the plan by 140%.

As of the first half of 2024, 2.6 trillion MNT in taxes and fees have been centralized to the state. Regarding winter preparation, among the six areas planned, companies engaged in extraction, production, and transport have a 44.1% average completion rate out of 810 planned tasks.

In response to directive number 22 of the government in 2024, to ensure the reliable operation of the central energy and heating systems, the head company allocated a total of 29.0 billion MNT for renewing the equipment and machinery of Baganur LLC and Shivee Ovoo LLC. However, attention should be paid to the slow execution of some investment works to ensure the reliability of buildings and water supply.

The Government's Debt Will Be Calculated at Face Value Instead of Present Value for Better Public Understanding

Published: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

In relation to the discussion of the draft law for amending the special requirements of the Law on Budget Stability at the extraordinary session of the State Great Hural, we spoke with G. Zolboo, Director of the Financial and Budget Research Department of the Ministry of Finance.

The budget amendment is being discussed in the extraordinary session. Could you provide information on what budget rules, or special requirements of the budget, are? How are they implemented by countries? This is a legal provision commonly used internationally. As of 2021, 106 countries are following budget rules or special requirements. These are classified into four main sections: budget revenue, expenditure, balance, and debt rules.

Budget balance and debt rules are commonly applied by countries. Mongolia is one of the five countries that use all of these budget rules. Other countries apply budget rules with common goals such as promoting economic growth with limited resources, ensuring budget stability in the medium to long term, and preventing debt pressure.

A total of 3.4 trillion MNT was accumulated in the Future Heritage Fund to protect from mining price fluctuations, and 1.3 trillion MNT was saved in the Stabilization Fund aimed at stabilizing the budget.

Each country has defined and implemented its budget rules based on its characteristics, income sources, and economic conditions. It is possible to observe from international experience that budget rules are generally improved depending on the stage of development and economic needs.

Do you think it is time to change this rule? Our country first adopted the Law on Budget Stability in 2010, and since 2013, the special requirements of this law have been fully enforced. At that time, the mining industry was experiencing rapid growth. The law was adopted to protect against mining fluctuations, keep the budget stable, maintain discipline, and support the economy.

We aimed to save a portion of the income from the mining sector to protect the economy and budget from cycle-induced fluctuations. Compared to the economic conditions of that time, the GDP, balanced budget revenue, and total trade turnover have increased approximately four times, and the economic capacity has expanded 2-3 times.

Does this mean that the need and demand still exist today? We have managed to accumulate 3.4 trillion MNT in the Future Heritage Fund to be equitably distributed to current and future generations from the non-renewable mining wealth income, and 1.3 trillion MNT in the Stabilization Fund to protect from mining price fluctuations and stabilize the budget.

The special requirements that have been implemented for the past decade have fulfilled their historical role by ensuring budget stability and supporting economic growth, so they were updated.

Going forward, operational expenses will not exceed 30% of GDP.

What are the distinguishing features and advantages of the new special requirements compared to the previous ones? In the past decade, the economy has expanded, population growth has increased, and social expenditures have significantly risen. As the share of operational expenses, such as basic services to citizens, salaries, pensions, and child subsidies, increases in the total expenses, the space for investment has been shrinking.

On the other hand, there is a need for major infrastructure projects like energy, roads, and transportation to expand the economic base and move to the next stage of rapid development.

Therefore, the main objective of the updated special requirements we introduced is to fulfill Mongolia's long-term and medium-term development goals and provide opportunities to undertake major infrastructure projects necessary for achieving rapid economic growth. It is also noteworthy that budget stability is maintained, preventing debt pressures.

What was the approach to incorporating these rules in the budget amendment? Firstly, the special requirement has been refined to ensure that operational expenses do not exceed 30% of GDP. This will restrain government involvement in the economy and create fiscal space to invest in critical development projects.

Secondly, by financing operational expenses through domestic economic resources, the basic balance depending on state investment is brought out with a profit of 2% or more of GDP, and a provision is included that the profit can only be used for paying principal debt.

Thirdly, the government debt, which was previously calculated at present value, is now calculated at face value, making it more understandable for the public and easier to monitor. International experience shows that most countries with government debt rules calculate at face value. By transitioning to this methodology, Mongolia is aligning with international standards.

By excluding foreign loan use and bond-financed investments from the budget's special requirements, is there a risk of future debt burdens? The updated special requirements have not altered the limit of keeping the government debt's share within GDP at 60%. Currently, the government debt's share in GDP is 39% at present value, and about 44% at face value.

Although the government debt balance will increase to some extent due to the rise in foreign loan usage, it is legally included that the principal debt will be paid from the basic balance's profit each year. This will secure about 2% of GDP's basic balance profit, approximately 400-500 million USD annually, for paying the principal government debt, thus preventing debt burden.

Previously, the Law on Budget Stability did not have a specific provision on how to pay the principal debt, but this time it was specially incorporated into the law. Therefore, the government has submitted the special requirements to the State Great Hural to be refined in accordance with Mongolia's new development model and international standards to ensure budget stability and prevent debt pressure in the medium and long term.

Thank you for providing the information.

Source: Ministry of Finance

The Stance of Economists and the Ministry of Finance on the 2024 National Budget Amendment

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Under the name of moving forward with mega projects, the government has amended the 2024 national budget by three trillion MNT and submitted projects to the State Great Khural (SGK) intending to amend certain laws.

This is being discussed by SGK under an urgent procedure.

An important discussion on the budget amendment, initiated by the Economic Journalists' Club and involving the Ministry of Finance, the Council for Budget Stability, and economists, was organized today at the Mongolian Bank Association.

Chairman of the Budget Stability Council, Economist N.Enkhbayar: The budget discusses development policy issues. According to the Law on Development Policy Planning, we must first align with the five-year basic direction. Behind it, there is the State Investment Program. It is categorized by source, and the required amount is set. The issues being discussed now should be included in this. Power plants and railroads are medium-term development policy issues. If we are to change the development policy, we must discuss it first. The law stipulates that the SGK will define short, medium, and long-term development policies. This is the way it should go.

The presented amendment is not fully understood as a development policy. The Law on Budget stipulates organizing a public discussion while submitting the budget. The Budget Stability Council received all this quantitative information after it was submitted. It is practically impossible for our SGK members to read, understand, and give feedback on three volumes of books within 14 days.

Many researchers agree that "the Mongolian economy is cyclic, and external factors significantly influence the equilibrium dynamics." However, without considering this, the indicators in the budget statement are considered stable growth. Economic growth is accounted for at 6-8%. However, researchers have different opinions about this. The Mongolian economy cannot decide whether it will grow 6% or 8%. Over the past 20 years, we have fallen into a recession three times.

If you look at the economic and business cycles, the next recession cycle has come very close. If issues are not resolved based on fundamental research, negative consequences arise in a short period. One of the negative consequences following major construction is the rapid growth of imports. For the first seven months of the year, our imports grew by 26%.

When construction increases, it will not grow by 26% but by 30-40%. If revenue growth does not keep up with this, our trade balance may shift into the negative in 2026. This should be considered and discussed with a complete picture.

Economist G.Bumchimeg: The budget increased by a considerable percentage. It seems that the more than 10% growth is related to the high budget execution in the first half of the year. However, a lot of unplanned expenses could accumulate risks for the economy in the coming years. Investment costs increased by 1.7 trillion MNT, and current expenses increased by 1.2 trillion MNT. Apart from major projects, it was understood that current expenses would increase. Is it right to increase current expenses under current conditions?

Furthermore, the government submitted an operational program alongside the budget amendment for the next four years. It contains 149 projects and programs totaling 120 trillion MNT. The previous government had a program of 90 trillion MNT. They continuously add funds to their operational programs, but it is unclear which will be implemented and which will not.

65 trillion MNT is to be financed from the state budget and public-private partnerships, while it is unclear where 55 trillion MNT will come from. It seems that 35 trillion MNT should be financed solely from the private sector if the debt ceiling is reached at 20 trillion MNT. This is a large sum.

Operational programs are introduced optimistically and in large numbers. However, whether all those programs can feasibly be implemented is questionable.

G.Zolboo, Director of the Financial and Budget Research Department of the Ministry of Finance: The main reason for the increase of three trillion MNT in the budget is the aim to increase the utilization of foreign loans. Due to insufficient utilization of foreign loans, projects often underperform or get delayed. Therefore, it is proposed to increase the utilization of foreign loans by one trillion MNT.

The most significant increase in current expenses is due to land clearance in the capital city. Approximately 600 billion MNT will be spent on land clearance for the Selbe Revival construction. Additionally, 131 billion MNT is allocated for energy transitions and upgrades. Some necessary subsidies for strategic products, such as white gold and agricultural subsidies, have also been increased, essential for getting through winter.

Dr. V.Danaasuren: We should talk about project management. When the funds come in, there seems to be an inability in managing and reaching the intended results. From selection to evaluation, it is necessary to manage funds in the most efficient manner to achieve tangible results—ensuring the best quality is selected, ongoing evaluations are done, and corrections are made during the evaluation if errors occur, guaranteeing the project can be completed efficiently.

Understanding the concept of project management, ensuring proper ongoing and outcome surveillance, and conducting impact assessments after project implementation are necessary but not done in our case. With poor oversight leading to a "funds received, spent, done" mindset, the question remains as to whether the loan utilization truly achieved results.

L.Sonor, Head of the Financial Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance: A public misconception is that there is an unlimited amount of loans being taken. This will be limited by our debt ceiling. Two major points are introduced to improve debt discipline with the proposed reforms.

Firstly, instead of calculating the government's debt based on the present value, it will now be calculated as a nominal amount. The debt ceiling remains at 60% and will not increase beyond it. At the end of 2023, the present value of our debt was 39% of the GDP, while the nominal amount was 44%. With this change, we have reduced the room to incur debt. Previously, there was a possibility to incur debt equal to 20%, which will be reduced to 15%.

Secondly, there is a strict provision that the baseline balance must have a surplus of 2% in the Law on Budget Stability. This 2% surplus must be used to pay the principal of the debt from the budget. Previously, surpluses exceeding revenue were used to pay the principal of the debt, but now it must be paid from the budget. Approximately 550 million USD will be borrowed back to pay foreign debt from the budget next year.

The government highlighted 14 mega projects:

Trans-boundary connection railways and cargo transfer terminals at the "Gashuunsukhait-Ganqmod," "Khangi-Mandal," and "Shiveekhuren-Sekhee" border ports.
Export capacity will increase up to 40 million tons (Gashuunsukhait-Ganmod 20 million tons, Khangi-Mandal 10 million tons, Shiveekhuren-Sekhee 10 million tons).
Export revenue will double, coal export capacity via rail will triple, and the capacity of passenger and freight transport will double, enabling fast border crossing for vehicles and comfortable service for passengers.
The 450 MW Tavantolgoi Thermal Power Plant
Produces 3150.0 million kWh of electricity annually, meeting the growing demand of Oyu Tolgoi (2,242.5 million kWh) and other strategic southern regional mining projects from domestic sources.
Ceases the currency flow of 110-120 million USD previously imported by Oyu Tolgoi LLC from China.
During construction, 2000 temporary jobs will be created, and 300 permanent jobs will be established upon operation.
The 90 MW Erdeneburen Hydropower Plant
Produces 366 million kWh per year, ensuring 100% reliable and continuous electricity supply for the western region starting from 2027.
New energy sources will supply 52,000 households, with 4,430 businesses, 5,400 apartments, and over 36,000 ger area consumers supplied with domestic electricity.
Saves 17.5 billion MNT imported from Russia and China yearly.
The 310 MW Egiin Gol Hydropower Plant
Ensures reliable, stable, and fast operation of the power system and provides a balanced source ratio for the system.
Saves 25 million USD in annual import payments to Russia.
Reduces coal consumption by 438,700 tons and greenhouse gas emissions by 709,000 tons annually.
Creates a 5.7 billion cubic meter fresh water reserve, ensuring the water security of Mongolia.
Renewable Energy and Distributed Sources
Mongolia has been found to have a 2,600 GW renewable energy resource, with new sources offering opportunities to compensate for growing domestic electricity deficiencies and export to other countries.
Bringing the renewable energy sector into economic circulation will increase non-mining exports, diversify the economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enable participation in carbon credit trading for additional revenue.
Kherlen-Toono and Orkhon-Ongi Water Supply Lines

Kherlen-Toono Water Complex: * Secure 5-9% of Kherlen River’s average annual flow through sealed pipes, fully meeting water needs for residents, livestock, factories, and mining operations in Khentii, Choir, Dornogovi, and Omnogovi provinces. * Reduces greenhouse gas by 30,000 tons annually. * Solves water problems for the "One Billion Trees National Movement," mitigating desertification and aridity.

Orkhon-Ongi Water Complex: * Revitalizes the Onq River and Ulaan Lake, stabilizing water levels and supplying 29.2 thousand residents and over 230 thousand livestock along the Onq River with surface water. * Enhances soil air moisture and groundwater recharge, restoring the lake’s ecosystem and biodiversity, reducing soil erosion, and minimizing desertification.

Ereentsav-Choibalsan-Baruun Urt-Bichigt Vertical Axis Highway
Facilitate increased trade turnover and reduced transportation costs.
A Joint Mongolian-French Uranium, Nuclear Power Plant
Extracts and exports 2,500 tons of uranium annually at full capacity.
Expected to pay over 1 billion USD in taxes to the national and local budgets during the project period.
Over 1,000 jobs will be created from the production pilot project to full-scale mining. Local purchasing and business opportunities will increase.
Coal-Chemical and Coke-Chemical Industrial Complex
Develops value-added heavy industry and advances processing industry, increasing export revenue and less dependence on international raw material prices.

Coke-Chemical Plant: * In the 1st stage, wash 10 million tons of coking coal, producing 5.4 million tons of washed coal and 3 million tons of middling products. * Produces 2 million tons of hard coke and 107 MW of electricity from 2.7 million tons of washed coal. * Exports 1.5 million tons more coke products than domestic demand.

Altanshireet TEDP: * A 500,000-ton/year pig iron plant with accompanying factories, a 140-hectare wet beneficiation plant for iron ore, coal washing, coke production, and pellet production will be operational.

Copper Processing Complex
- Processes 560,000 tons of copper ore concentrate annually, producing 125,000 tons of cathode copper, 72 kg of gold, 38.2 tons of silver ingots, and 182,000 tons of elemental sulfur, generating 1.1 billion USD in sales revenue.
- The cathode copper plant will significantly advance domestic copper wire, cable, and electrical equipment production.
- The 182,000 tons of elemental sulfur will be extensively used in chemical and fertilizer industries, increasing possibilities for value-added product production.
Steel Plant
- Aiming to fully meet the domestic demand for steel reinforcement and other steel products with a production capacity of 1.0 million tons of steel billets and products.
- The initial phase of the plant will produce 500,000 tons of cast iron and 500,000 tons of steel billets, manufacturing building reinforcement, angle iron, wire, etc., fully meeting domestic building reinforcement needs.
Oil Refinery Complex
- Produces 1.3 million tons of products annually from 1.5 million tons of crude oil, fully meeting about 55% of domestic oil consumption needs. This reduces import dependence and provides flexibility in regulating fuel prices independently.
Gold Refinery Plant supported by the Oyu Tolgoi Project
- Capable of refining and monetizing 70% of gold previously refined abroad domestically.
- Increases enriched gold percentages, allowing market sales, raising foreign currency revenue.
- Mongolia has so far refined its gold abroad, but the plant will save transport, insurance, and protection costs when operational.
National Satellite
- 4G networks cover 26.8% of Mongolia's territory. Connecting the remaining 73.2% of rural residents and herder households via fiber for the Internet will save 29 trillion MNT, extending the Internet network throughout the country.
- During natural disasters or sudden hazards, satellite networks serve as a reliable communication network when terrestrial networks fail.

Warning: Media outlets (Television, Radio, Social Networks, and Websites) must mention their source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, whether in full or partially.

BUDGET 2024: Necessary to Amend Due to 3 Trillion Tugriks Increase in Expenditure

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Economic journalists, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, are conducting a budget discussion.

With the coal price dropping, the Ministry of Finance is increasing expenditure. How and where will the revenue be compensated? This year, it's planned to export 75 million tonnes of coal. As of today, there are no risks in mining exports. Copper prices remain stable. As of today, about 40 million tonnes of coal have been exported. We've estimated mining income to grow by 3 trillion tugriks by the year's end. We strive to predict budget revenue realistically, not optimistically. By year's end, the budget won't be profitable.
Is it feasible to add expenses for construction and roads to the budget when the cold season approaches? The budget amendment did not introduce any tax changes.

Economist N. Enkhbayar: In the last 20 years, our economy has fluctuated three times. Imports increased by 26% in the first 7 months of this year. With the budget adjustment, this number will rise to 40. By year's end, the foreign trade balance might become slightly profitable. But it will be negative next year. We need a big picture view when approving our budget plan.

Economic Policy Adviser A. Batpurev of the AN Party: The joint government is adjusting the budget, which is understandable given their ambition. However, politicians often ignore tomorrow, so it's essential for the Ministry of Finance to protect economic policy. The budget adjustment is changing debt requirements, even though adjusting the budget is meant to modify requirements.

Economist B. Lakshmi: With economic activity declining, but the autumn season approaching, plans are being made to adjust the budget and increase spending, which may burden the private sector. We must consider foreign risks and conditions, as our situation is strongly influenced by Russia and China. The northern neighbor is limiting fuel exports and setting internal consumption limits, raising questions of when—not if—prices will increase. China's smaller banks are at risk of collapse. The business environment lacks reforms, yet expenses are rising. When incomes have increased, is it necessary to spend?

The economic journalists, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, will conduct the budget discussion tomorrow.

In the meeting to be held at 10.00 am at the Mongolian Bankers Association, the following representatives from the Ministry of Finance will provide information related to this year's budget amendment:

G. Zolboo, Head of the Financial and Budgetary Research Department of the Ministry of Finance
L. Sonor, Head of the Financial Policy Department
P. Bat-Erdene, Head of the Expenditure Division of the Budget Policy and Planning Department
L. Ichinnorov, Head of the Revenue Division of the Budget Policy and Planning Department

Representatives from the Council for Budget Stability and economists from the Open Society Forum will also participate in this discussion.

L. Sonor, Head of the Financial Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance: Along with the budget amendment, the Budget Stability Law has been introduced. We provide daily updates on the government's debt through our website. The debt ceiling must have 4 special requirements. The ceiling should not exceed 60% of GDP. This change will switch from using present value calculations. A future $1,000 and today's $1,000 have different costs. Though a developing nation, we now rank as high-income among those countries, so debt will be measured in nominal value, aligning with international standards. Using nominal values, the government’s borrowing capacity will decrease.

Numerous loan agreements were made by the parliament, with a need for 10 trillion tugriks to implement them all. This year, 1 trillion tugriks was paid in foreign loan interest. In the coming years, 1.4-1.5 trillion tugriks will be paid, funded through the budget.

Economist G. Bumchimeg: It's important first to decide what projects to implement. It's not always right to take concessional loans just because they are available. In 2023, mining generated 8.6 trillion tugriks in revenue. This year, around 50 million tonnes of coal were exported. About 7 trillion tugriks are from coal income, making risk analysis crucial. It's correct to do risk analysis alongside budget amendments.

G. Zolboo, Head of the Financial and Budget Research Department at the Ministry of Finance: No new loans will be taken. The budget revision includes better use of previously agreed loans by the parliament. Fourteen projects have been listed, seen as extending the economic base. We are not secretly establishing loan agreements without notifying the parliament. Increased operating announcements are connected to municipal expenses. 600 billion tugriks will be spent on land clearance for establishing the Selbe sub-center. This includes money for FSs of energy projects and subsidies for agriculture. Minor projects like cultural centers are not added in the amendment. No ineffective projects exist, and any project without a ranking does not exist.

Economist N. Enkhbayar: We must learn from our past. Japan provided a loan to build a new airport. The project's 10-year span does not reflect financial issues but poor project management, even as loans were secured. Multiple ministries participated, including Transport Development and Finance. Beginning loan repayments before a project starts is poor management, as exemplified by Oyu Tolgoi.

The oil refinery project's deadline this year was unmet due to inefficient coordination between government agencies.

STARTED BUT DELAYED PROJECTS DUE TO FINANCING:

Oil Refinery Construction
Erdeneburen Hydropower Plant Construction
Solongo 1 Housing Development
Power Plants in Ten Provinces
Tuul Highway Designing
"Ambitious Mongolia" or "Go Mongolia" Cable-Stayed Bridge
Khushig Valley Tunnel
Government Administrative Office in Khushig Valley
"Five New Circles of Revitalization" Road Project Connecting Province and Border Soums
New Kharkhorin Project
New Zuunmod City Project

Session: Foreign Investment as the Key Focus

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

The regular session of the Parliament's special meeting began today.

MP G.Ganbaatar:

If we work on taxes and foreign investment, I believe the quality of life for the Mongolian people will improve in these four years. Another issue is the oil refinery.

MP D.Ganbat:

The last eight years have been governed solely by the Mongolian People's Party, which passed by as lost years. You can see it in the poverty of the people. We are dependent on foreign countries for everything. If the power goes out this winter, who will be held accountable? If there is a drought, will we run out of gasoline again? These are the issues being questioned. It's been years of lies, and if someone wants to do good now, it should be said and done. Now the Parliament has 126 members, like having too many rams for 100 sheep. There are many ministries and ministers, so who will be responsible?

Deputy Prime Minister L.Gantomor:

There is no argument that there are MPs questioning the coalition government's work. Our work must be visible. We want foreign investors to come and meet in Mongolia. Our primary goal is the national interest. The economy must rise to create a capable nation that can pursue industrial activity, and we are paying special attention to this.

Voters gave a mandate for the Democratic Party to implement its manifesto. It's easy to wish people ill, while it's difficult to see the good for the country.

That's why we are working to make the manifesto a reality.

MP N.Uchral:

The government's action plan includes these programs. As MP D.Ganbat said, development planning and the economic development ministry have these included.

MP D.Enkhtuvshin:

Many programs with beautiful names have been proposed. Statistics show that over 140,000 citizens live abroad. The salary increase in the last eight years is just 17%, which is the main reason working-age people are fleeing the country. The labor market in Mongolia lacks over 300,000 people. We need to expand the economy for big mega projects.

Mongolians abroad express their desire to return. How has this been reflected in the government's manifesto?

Moreover, it's pleasing that human rights are addressed in the program. Additionally, we are looking at how economic freedom for individuals is ensured. Today, without needing a permit, protests and demonstrations can be held; at least, this is my understanding. How is this regulation being changed?

Additionally, there is talk of establishing an Asian Human Rights Center in Mongolia. Are there any detailed plans? It's mentioned in 4.1.2 that freedom of the press is also included.

MP L.Enkh-Amgalan:

According to the latest figures, over 240,000 Mongolian citizens are working abroad. In the coming years, we intend to bring back our citizens with a policy focus.

We aim to support small and medium enterprises for those returning from abroad, particularly South Korea. We see potential in this direction.

Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, O.Altangerel:

In 2023, 230 requests to demonstrate at the central square were rejected. Not registering them is an issue of violating people's rights, which we see as needing legal regulation.

MP S.Erdene:

Many actionable plans are included in the government's manifesto. However, it's inappropriate to take loans and push forward projects without economic support. Therefore, in the next four years, representatives from every sector should consider how to increase the average income of citizens. This is an issue of every sector, not just one ministry. There is talk of reforming the civil service. In the future, many projects and programs will engage civil servants and service sector workers. Therefore, rather than reducing the number of civil servants, we should focus on quality instead of quantity.

MP S.Ganbaatar:

I proposed a program and pursued it for a week. It concerns constructing a copper concentrate smelter and processing plant based on Oyu Tolgoi among the 13 mega projects. At the very least, we should support even if we aren't defending our national producers.

C.Tuvaan:

The program mentions launching a copper processing complex that touches on the issues addressed by MP S.Ganbaatar.

MP J.Bat-Erdene:

MP S.Ganbaatar, the professional standing committee based on your long-discussed issues, was appointed. As the head of the policy agency, you will bring them forward. Accountability is necessary.

MP N.Uchral:

Reforming the civil service has become necessary. More than 21,000 people serve in the true public service. We see the need to use technology to make the civil service faster and more efficient. We are focused on non-technology-dependent solutions. Monitoring and assessment of results will be standard. Secondly, some government functions will be transferred to professional associations.

MP L.Soronzonbold:

Many customs points' activities are supported in the manifesto. How are the controls, inspections, and laboratories at these points being addressed? Secondly, how is the social insurance savings fund being fulfilled? Thirdly, the manifesto mentions establishing university campuses. Besides, it's said that qualified personnel is lacking in the private sector. What does the Minister of Education plan for the private sector and the specialization sector?

The next issue is related to urban planning concerning energy and water independence; the concept of environmentally friendly portable housing technology will be researched. Isn't it more appropriate to develop a model design for private housing rather than apartments? I would like to ask the Minister of Construction and Urban Development about this.

Minister of Education, P.Naranbayar:

Lifelong learning programs and action plans are in place. According to 2.2.6 of economic measures, opportunities for learning and employment will be fully implemented, along with integrated job training.

Urban Development, Construction, and Housing Minister J.Batsuuri:

The three parties' manifesto includes the construction of 105,000 apartments, with the "HUN" party focusing on improving housing quality and types.

MP N.Uchral:

The development program is structured from future heritage funds composed of royal and mineral resource taxes. At least one percent of the Heritage Future Fund will be allocated to innovation and technology. The National Wealth Fund is also composed of three funds, just like the development fund.

MP O.Nominchimig:

Based on Parliament's Law, Article 8.1.5, Section 27.8 of Article 27, and Section 22.22.3 of the Parliament's Session Procedure Law, a draft resolution to amend the subcommittee's composition is submitted. The Standing Committee on Government Organizations discussed this on August 21. MP J.Bat-Erdene was relieved from the subcommittee on inviolability and MP J.Ganbaatar was included, supported by 67.7% of the committee members.

Parliament Speaker D.Amarbayasgalan:

A vote on the resolution resulted in 54.3% of the 50 members agreeing to adopt it.

The next agenda item is for finalizing the Procedures Law amendments. No member requested to speak, so the amendments are considered final. Agenda item 4 is the introduction of the Supreme Court justice nominees. Since there is no representative from the Legal Standing Committee, we'll address item five.

A draft resolution for Parliament to approve the government's 2024–2028 program is presented for its initial discussion.

MP J.Bat-Erdene:

The 2024–2028 government action program submitted by the government on August 125 is reviewed by the Standing Committee on Government Organization on August 21. Feedback and fundamental disagreements are submitted from the meeting.

MP N.Naranbaatar:

What changes in the legal framework will address local autonomy in the upcoming four years? Secondly, legal changes are needed for regional development. With such steps, it will become actual work with leadership, a committee, and a budget. So what changes are planned? The first focus of the new revival policy is the revival of customs points. The Law on Borders has one clause stating that there will be customs administration. We believe there should be a legal framework for customs expansion. Could you inform us how this will be addressed? My constituency issues concern the proposal to build a 50 MW thermal power station in the center of Ömnögovi province, among others. How are these progressing?

Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, O.Altangerel:

As noted in the program, the government's action manifesto introduces multiple measures for human rights and freedoms. Improvements on press freedom and rights are among the focus areas. The section on combating corruption will also be essential. We will continue the 5S campaign, implement human rights programs, and intensify our anti-corruption actions. Mongolia will undertake the implementation of its second legal reform program. In addition, the legal regulation of law enforcement agencies will be refined.

MP N.Uchral:

According to the regional development policy, the issue of administrative-territorial organization changes should not be included in the government's program. Since a joint government agreement addresses regional development policy, the adjustment of administrative units, and some executive appointments will be transferred to local leadership, this was reflected in the joint government agreement. The government's action program should include the separate status of city and town legal entities and ensure the implementation of city and town laws, which will take effect on January 1, 2026, bringing significant changes to local autonomy. Deputy Prime Minister for Regional Development is working to refine the policy.

Deputy Minister of Energy N.Tavainbekh:

The proposal to build a 50 MW thermal power plant in Dalanzadgad to meet the electricity and heating demand in Ömnögovi province is supported by the standing committee. The Ministry also supports it.

MP O.Tsogtgerel:

There are three main channels for currency influx: export, foreign investment, and loans. In the past, loans were utilized more, and export didn't increase as expected. Every government speaks optimistically, but there's no result. Can you present specific numerical metrics you're considering for mining exports?

MP C.Tuvaan:

Aiming to create jobs by focusing on industrialization and adding value, we’re paying attention to this issue. Additionally, the minerals sector follows a sequence. First, geological exploration, then extraction, and production. In terms of exploration, we focus on using airborne magnetics rather than traditional drilling methods.

Parliament Speaker D.Amarbayasgalan:

The Ministry of Laos gifted office furniture as a symbol of friendship in 2003. These have been used in the Parliament chamber to this day. Due to the number of MPs being 126 now, Laos has kindly agreed to help in creating the new furniture necessary, which we are grateful for.

The China Products Exhibition - 2024 to be held at Misheel Expo

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The China Products Exhibition - 2024 will be held at Misheel Expo in alignment with the Mongolian Government's "Step Road" national program and China's "Belt and Road" initiative. This event aims to enhance trade and economic relations with new content, increase investments, and expand cooperation in all sectors.

The exhibition will feature products from over 70 manufacturers, including:

Technology
Automobiles and heavy machinery
Spare parts
Construction materials
Energy
Household and electrical appliances
Food and various consumer products

The "China Products Exhibition - 2024" opened at the Misheel Expo International Exhibition Hall at 11:00 am on August 23 and will continue for three days until August 25.

You are invited to explore the products and services in your area of interest and seek opportunities to expand cooperative endeavors.

Selecting an Independent Member of the Board for "Cement Lime" LLC

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

Based on Articles 62.1.7, 75.4, 79.1, 81.5.1, 81.5.2, and 81.5.3 of the Company Law, the recruitment process for selecting an independent member of the Board of Directors of "Cement Lime" LLC is announced.

Number of independent board members to be selected – 1

I. Requirements for candidates for independent board membership:

A. General requirements:

Must possess the skills, knowledge, education, and work experience necessary to perform the duties of a member of the Board of Directors of the entity;
Must not have any conflicts of interest in serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the entity;
The candidate must not own, either individually or in concert with related parties, more than five percent of the ordinary shares of the company;
The candidate or related parties must not work or have authority at the company or any other participant in the company's union, and must not have held such roles within the past three years;
Must not hold any government position other than public service;
Must not have any business relationship with the company;
Must have completed corporate governance training and hold a certificate;
Must meet the general requirements approved by Government Resolution No. 85 dated March 7, 2023.

B. Specific requirements for candidates:

In areas of economics, finance, and accounting:

1.1. Must hold a higher education degree in economics, finance, or accounting, and have at least 5 years of experience in the field;

1.2. Must be a certified accountant or tax consultant in Mongolia;

1.3. Experience in collaborating on implementing large projects or initiatives will be an advantage.

II. List of documents to be submitted by candidates:

Application for participation in the selection process;
State employee questionnaire with two 4x6 size photographs;
Proof of residence or statement from E-Mongolia;
Employment reference (for those employed, provide a reference from the organization, for those unemployed, provide information on completed work along with evidence);
Social insurance payment statement from E-Mongolia;
Certified copies of diplomas, certificates, and training or seminar participation;
Copy of national ID card;
Copy of corporate governance certificate;
Proof of criminal history status from E-Mongolia.

III. Application deadline for selection documents:

Documents must be submitted by 11:00 AM on September 3, 2024.

IV. Submission location for selection documents:

Suite 15160, 1st District, Chingeltei, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, "Erdenes Mongol" LLC Building, Phone: 99084516.

Important Notes:

Documents must be sealed and addressed to the Nominations Committee of the Board of Directors of "Cement Lime" LLC, along with the participant's contact information clearly written on the outside of the envelope;
Submit only one set of documents per envelope;
Documents will not be returned after the selection process;
Late submissions will be rejected;
Contact will be made with candidates meeting the selection criteria.

For further information, please contact 99084516.

Board of Directors Nominations Committee of "CEMENT LIME" LLC

Diplomacy

Emphasis on Mongolia's Contribution to the UN's Development Activities and Peacekeeping Efforts

Published: Sat, 24 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh met with the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who is participating in the World Women's Summit. Both sides agreed that the World Women's Summit stands as proof of the international community's efforts and determination to achieve gender equality, enhance women's rights, and reach sustainable development.

During the meeting, they discussed Mongolia-UN relations and cooperation, exchanging views on fortifying past achievements over the past 60-plus years, and enriching them with new content and directions. President Khurelsukh highlighted the importance given to relations and cooperation with the UN, emphasizing Mongolia's commitment to contributing to solving global issues within the framework of this organization. He also confirmed continued close cooperation with the UN to increase the effectiveness of Mongolia's proposed initiatives.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed expressed high regard for Mongolia's contribution to the UN's development activities and peacekeeping efforts in tackling regional and international challenges. She specifically noted the importance of expanding cooperation. Amina Mohammed is the second woman in UN history to hold the position of Deputy Secretary-General.

The Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman Will Visit Our Country Today

Published: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

At the invitation of Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad Bin Hamoud Albusaidi, will make an official visit to Mongolia on August 25-26, 2024. This is the first visit at the level of Foreign Minister from the Omani side.

During the visit, the Foreign Ministers will hold formal talks and discuss a wide range of issues to expand and develop friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries, as well as sign cooperation documents.

As part of his visit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad Bin Hamoud Al-Busaidi, is scheduled to meet with the President of Mongolia, U. Khurelsukh.

Diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the Sultanate of Oman were established on April 27, 1992.

Infrastructure

MTZNH: Containers to Mongolia are Delayed at Tianjin Port for an Average of 90-120 Days

Published: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

As of August 19, approximately 5,100 containers are waiting at Tianjin Port to be shipped to Mongolia, according to the Mongolian Freight Forwarders Association. Between the 1st and 19th of this month, a total of 26 trains have departed from the port towards Eren and Zamyn-Uud. On average, containers are shipped to Mongolia 90-120 days after arriving in Tianjin. The sector association has reported that 50% of the imported cargo consists of vehicles from Japan and South Korea.

To reduce container congestion, urgent shipments are being sent to Ulaanbaatar first, with the remainder being delivered to available customs areas, as stated by N. Enkhnyasan, Chairman of the Board of the Mongolian Freight Forwarders Association.

Since last spring, there has been a buildup of containers at the port. The decrease in the number of trains heading to Mongolia and the increase in used car imports have been identified as causes of the congestion, according to officials.

Additionally, the President of the Mongolian Logistics Association emphasized that the capacity to receive rail cargo, terminal issues, and transportation logistics in Mongolia are contributing factors. Solving the transport logistics from Tianjin to Ulaanbaatar could resolve this issue. He highlighted the need for good agreements with neighboring countries and the necessity of establishing a dry port.

"The extended waiting time for containers has increased transportation costs. This may lead to higher prices for goods and potentially boost inflation. This situation is unlikely to be resolved in the short term and is expected to continue until the end of the year," said I. Tsogbayar, Executive Director of "Monlogistic Worldwide," in an interview with "Bloombergtv Mongolia."

B. Javkhlan: 484 Billion MNT Will Be Allocated in the Budget for Designing and FEED of Mega Projects

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The government program for 2024-2028, submitted by the government under an urgent procedure, is being discussed at the plenary session of the State Great Khural.

The government has included the initiation of 14 mega projects in its 2024-2028 action plan to expand the economy. These 14 mega projects are estimated to cost around 40 billion USD or 120 trillion MNT. Although the government has not specified how it will raise the funding for the projects, it has proposed to include the cost for designing, FEED, and preparatory work for initiating the projects in the 2024 budget revision.

Regarding this, Finance Minister B. Javkhlan stated: "The budget will include 484 billion MNT for the designing, FEED, and consultancy services of the major projects planned by the government. This funding is distributed among the four main budget directors: the Minister of Road and Transport Development, the Minister of Energy, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister in charge of the 20-minute city, who is a national committee member."

The financial scheme for implementing the major projects has not been defined. After designing and FEED are completed, work plans will be determined. Correspondingly, decisions will be made on which projects will be conducted by public-private partnerships, which ones will be conducted through direct investment, which will attract foreign investors' interest, and what state-owned companies can achieve. The Ministry of Economy and Development is now responsible for structuring and developing these tasks. Until major projects are concluded, none will be funded by the budget. They will proceed via public-private partnerships, direct foreign investment, or a mixed approach.

The Following Roads Will Be Closed and Renovated

Published: Sat, 24 Aug 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

With the start of the new school year, traffic congestion on the roads is increasing. However, officials have reported that planned road repair works will continue as usual. Here is a summary of the roads that will be closed starting next Monday.

The road on Tserennorov Street in the 4th microdistrict of Bayangol District will be closed and renovated from 23:00 on August 26th to 06:00 on August 29th. This road will be covered with asphalt concrete, and adjustments will be made to the levels of manhole covers for the engineering network, as well as road markings.

S.Tsedensodnom: Construction of a Park with an Underground Parking Lot on the Site of the Urguu Building Begins

Published: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Construction of a park with an underground parking lot on the site of the Urguu trading and service center began today. This year, the underground parking construction will be completed, and the landscaping work will commence in the spring.

Regarding this, S. Tsedensodnom, Head of the Capital City's Investment Department, announced, "On the site where the Urguu building has been dismantled, the construction of a park with a green area and underground parking has started.

The tender for this development was announced in March, and Bodj Properties was selected, and a contract was signed last Friday.

The underground garage building will be completed this year, and the landscaping work will be undertaken in the spring.

As the construction takes place in a highly dense area of the city, we plan to ensure safety and complete the project without causing disruptions to traffic and citizens in a short period," he stated.

Please note: Media outlets (TV, Radio, Social, and Web pages) must cite the source (ikon.mn) when utilizing our information in whole or in part.

The Road from Peace Avenue to Embassy Street Will be Closed

Published: Sat, 24 Aug 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

In the Sukhbaatar district, first khoroo, the road section from Peace Avenue to Embassy Street on G. Chagdarjav Street will be closed for repair and renovation from 23:00 on August 24, 2024, to 06:00 on August 26, 2024.

As part of this work, the manhole covers of engineering network systems will be adjusted to the level of the asphalt concrete pavement, and marking and asphalt concrete paving of the road section will be carried out.

Therefore, citizens and drivers are advised to choose other routes for transportation.

GSSUT to Implement Program for Analyzing Traffic Accidents

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

The National Trauma and Orthopedic Research Center has announced a meeting with the consultancy team tasked with developing and installing a traffic accident registration information platform. The consultancy service "Development and Installation of Traffic Accident Registration Information Platform" is being undertaken by the Indian company "TRL Technologies India Private Limited" and the British company "TRL Limited United Kingdom" as part of the "Sustainable Roads and Transport Project in Ulaanbaatar" funded by the World Bank through the office of the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar.

The goal of the consultancy service is to implement and develop software and mobile applications for registering traffic accidents in a geospatial information database, conducting analysis, and compiling reports and statistics.

Within this project, the lead consultant Tony Mathew and related officials have met with experts from the Statistics and Surveillance Research Department of the National Trauma and Orthopedic Research Center.

During this meeting, they reviewed the current status of Mongolia's traffic accident-related injury and mortality registration database, analysis, and report generation activities, and discussed future collaborative activities.

The road repair work from Enkhtaivan Avenue to Embassy Street will continue from today until Monday

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

In the 1st khoroo of Sukhbaatar district, the repair and renovation work of the road from Enkhtaivan Avenue to Embassy Street on G. Chagdarjav Street will be closed for repairs between 11:00 PM today, the 24th of this month, and 06:00 AM Monday, the 26th.

As part of this work, the manhole covers of the engineering network will be adjusted to the level of the asphalt concrete pavement, and markings and paving of the asphalt concrete on the roadway will be carried out. Therefore, citizens and drivers are advised to use alternative roads for traveling.

G. Bayarsaikhan: We Don't Discard Old Road Barriers; We Provide Them to Citizens and Businesses for Use

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The renovation of a 9.5 km road from Songinokhairkhan District's 20th and 32nd subdistricts, starting from the Sonsgolon intersection towards the western provinces at the former 22nd checkpoint, is underway. New drainage pipes are being assembled, and the old barriers are being replaced with stone barriers. On social media, citizens criticized the replacement of undamaged road barriers and the discarding of old barriers. However, the city's Road Development Department has announced that the old barriers are given to individuals and businesses for further use.

Regarding this matter, the head of the Road Development Department of the capital city, G. Bayarsaikhan, stated, "Concrete road barriers are used for 12-16 years. The road barriers of the route we are renovating have been in place for 14 years. We are replacing concrete barriers with natural stone barriers. Natural stone barriers are more durable and of better quality, so this year we are installing them in several locations. We do not discard old concrete barriers; instead, we provide them to citizens and businesses for use."

Society

URGENT: The case of Kh. Chinggis Khan, who received a "light sentence," sent back to primary court for re-trial

Published: Sat, 24 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

Kh. Chinggis Khan, who was a candidate from the People's Majority Governance party in the sixth district of the 2024 parliamentary elections, had previously filed a complaint with the Capital City Criminal Case Appellate Court.

Specifically, during the election campaign period, on June 14th, he posted a video with the title "From the Brothel" on his social media account named "Chinggis Khaan." Consequently, the Bayanzurkh District Primary Criminal Court found citizen Kh. Chinggis Khan guilty of violating Article 5.2 (hooliganism) of the Law on Violations on June 18th (2024.06.18) and imposed a fine of 100 units, equivalent to 100,000 tugrik.

However, he did not agree with this sentence and filed a complaint with the Capital City Criminal Case Appellate Court. The court reviewed his complaint and has sent the case back to the primary court for re-trial.

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

A Chinese citizen has shared on social media that she was raped while traveling in the rural areas of Mongolia.

Regarding this issue, Senior Specialist and Police Captain E. Enkhzaya from the Press Center of the General Police Department (GPD) stated that, "A complaint report was registered in the police department on the 15th of this month, about a foreign citizen who came to Mongolia for tourism and was allegedly raped. The Selenge province police department has registered the report and is continuing investigations according to the legal procedures and grounds. Information regarding this case cannot be disclosed publicly without the permission of the authorized organization as stipulated by the law. Therefore, individuals and businesses engaged in tourism-related activities are urged to cooperate with the police to prevent foreign visitors from being victimized by crime and offenses during their stay in our country."

The woman who claims to have been raped wrote on her social media page, "Around midnight, a man entered my tent, struck my head, and suffocated me. He then sexually assaulted me. Moreover, he stole 5000 yuan and my phone. After spending a whole day providing a statement to the police, I got my phone back. However, I couldn't retrieve the money. I need legal assistance," she reported. Her translator is helping her, and she is preparing to seek protection from the National Human Rights Commission.

D.Bum-Ochir: Without Educating and Cultivating Our People, Mongolia Cannot Remain Mongolian

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The plenary session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) has begun. The session is discussing the government's action plan for 2024-2028.

D.Bum-Ochir, Member of Parliament stated, "I generally support the government's action plan. Members are raising the issue of Mongolia possibly facing a lack of teachers if we proceed as we are. The main issue is the heavy workload and low salaries. As a result, our children have had Russian language teachers teaching English, society subjects taught by history teachers, and biology taught by chemistry teachers for many years. We need to urgently address this situation.

A first-grade teacher cannot manage to go around 50 students in a 40-minute class. Under such conditions, what kind of quality can be expected from teachers? The action plan includes gradually increasing teachers' salaries.

Culture is not something that exists on mobile devices, but in human intellect.

The assessment of teachers' performance is a highly controversial issue. How can we improve this? I want to see a detailed plan.

We should never reject investments in the education sector. I hope members understand that this is an investment in Mongolia's future and support it.

I also want to specifically state my support for the establishment of cultural centers in sum (district) centers. Furthermore, culture is not something found on mobile devices, but within human intellect. It is culture that makes us human. Without cultivating cultural and educational refinement in our people, we cannot maintain Mongolia as a Mongolian country. This is the most crucial aspect related to culture," he emphasized.

736 Citizens Appeal to Member S. Ganbaatar Regarding the Persecution of N. Önörtsétseg

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

736 citizens from Bayandelger soum in Bayankhongor aimag have sent a letter to Member of Parliament S. Ganbaatar and members elected from the Hangai region, which is the first district in the parliamentary election zone.

The letter states, "We have been watching on television and social media how the head of the Zarig.mn site, journalist N. Önörtsétseg, who has exposed various shortcomings in Mongolia, such as theft, bureaucracy, tenders, project loans, coal-based corruption, bribery, and military deaths, has been detained over several months. We have trusted in Mongolia's state, law, and judiciary. However, we are deeply saddened to hear she has been sentenced to 4.9 years and transferred to the 461st prison section."

Therefore, we urge the Members of Parliament elected from the Hangai region to address and resolve the issue of the journalist N. Önörtsétseg's unjust persecution, who was sentenced behind closed doors without a lawyer. We wish for this matter to be resolved truthfully and correctly. We sought clarification from Member of Parliament S. Ganbaatar. He said, "It is time for all organizations caring for democracy to pay attention to N. Önörtsétseg's case. If people are accused for speaking the truth and criticizing ministers and authorities, we have to question whether our country is truly democratic." He also mentioned that he would bring up this issue in the meeting of the relevant subcommittee and the party group's meeting.

Environment

Be Cautious of the Hazards of Hail, Thunderstorms, Strong Winds, and Floods

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

According to the weather organization's report, tomorrow there will be rain and thunderstorms in the western parts of the western provinces and the eastern parts of the eastern provinces. On the 25th, this will affect the mountainous regions of Altai, Khangai, and Khentii, on the 26th in some areas of the central provinces, and on the 27th in the mountainous regions of Khentii.

Wind speeds will generally be 5-10 meters per second, with temporary gusts before the rain in some areas.

Therefore:

Ensure your safety and dress warmly when traveling long or short distances.
Be vigilant and cautious when relaxing near rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
Be cautious of hail, thunderstorms, strong winds, flash floods, and flood hazards.
Regularly receive weather forecasts and warnings.
When traveling and vacationing, use verified roads and crossings to prevent potential risks.

Gathering Nuts Before Allowed Period is Prohibited

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

The Environmental Department of the capital city has issued a warning against collecting and preparing pine nuts before the allowed period, as they have not yet ripened. Additionally, citizens and legal entities found collecting, preparing, or selling pine nuts before the permitted time will be subject to measures under the Law on Environmental Protection, the Law on Forests, the Law on Natural Plants, the Law on Offenses, and relevant rules and regulations.

The fully ripened cones begin falling to the ground starting from October, and according to regulations, individuals are allowed to collect up to 50 kg of nuts for domestic use starting from October 20, after paying a fee of 1,000 MNT per kilogram and obtaining a permit from the local environmental guardian.

Based on proposals and conclusions from the state administrative body in charge of forestry issues, the maximum allowable amount of forest secondary products for domestic and production purposes is determined for each province, city, county, and district by October 5 each year. Harvesting pine nuts before they are fully ripe and improperly collecting large quantities can lead to pest infestation, loss of growth potential, disruption of ecosystem balance, and negative impacts on the food sources for birds, rodents, and animals that feed on the nuts. A nut-producing pine tree begins yielding after growing for over 50 years, but due to human-induced damage, the tree may fail to regrow. In other words, gathering green nuts by hitting the tree reduces its lifespan by about 30%. A pine tree that should have lived for about 140 years in the forest would only live around 100 years after being damaged. Officials are emphasizing the severe environmental harm this causes.

The public is also encouraged to report environmentally harmful incidents to the capital city's Environmental Department, either by calling the number 72720303 or via the organization's Facebook page chat, based on which inspections and monitoring are conducted, followed by notifications.

N. Manduul: Cleaning the Dund River with a Motorboat Capable of Removing 50 Meters of Sludge Per Hour

Published: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Since last June, work has begun on relocating trees and shrubs along the Selbe and Dund rivers, as well as cleaning the sludge deposits. As of today, 194,000 cubic meters of sludge have been cleaned.

Previously, 1-1.5 meters of sludge from the Dund River were cleaned with excavators. The cleaning process now uses the "River dredge pump" technology, which involves a motorboat. This boat stirs the compacted sludge in the river with a force of 100 units and then sucks it up with a force of 300 units.

Regarding this, N. Manduul, the first deputy of the Mayor, stated, "The technology of the River dredge pump, or motorboat, was used to clean the Han River in Seoul, South Korea, and it has a capacity to clean 50 meters of sludge per hour. After finishing the cleaning of the sludge deposits, trees, grass, and green spaces will be established.

In the future, we will study and acquire additional river cleaning equipment. Cleaning the sludge from the Selbe and Dund rivers has reduced the risk of flooding compared to previous years. The next plan is the Selbe Revival Project. As part of this project, embankments on the Selbe and Dund rivers will be strengthened, and green spaces will be built," he announced.

This motorboat is the only one in Mongolia, and the company "Darkhan Big Trade" is supplying the sludge cleaning equipment. During the suction process of the sludge, a large amount of household waste was uncovered.

Additionally, T. Gantulga, the director responsible for operations at the company, mentioned that the buildings constructed near the Dund River were discharging their wastewater into the river, leading to a significant amount of cement waste."

6,154 Meters of Unauthorized Fencing Demolished

Published: Sat, 24 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Capital City Land Management Department has demolished 6,154 meters of fencing in 187 locations where land possession had been exceeded.

The freed area is being developed into pedestrian and bicycle paths, as well as green spaces. Additionally, 1,224 garages in 76 locations have been removed to resolve land violations. In 2022, a resolution by the City Council established fencing standards and specified areas where fencing is to be allowed. In relation to this, the City Planning and Standards Office is conducting inspections on unauthorized fence extensions and garage constructions, ensuring compliance with fencing standards, according to the department.

Cleaning of Dund River Silt Using New Technology

Published: Sat, 24 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

The cleaning of the silt in Dund River using new technology is underway.

Since June, efforts have commenced to relocate trees and shrubs and clean the silt along the Selbe and Dund Rivers. As of today, 194 thousand cubic meters of silt have been cleaned. Previously, an excavator was used to clean 1-1.5 meters deep in the Dund River, but now a "River dredge pump" technology using an engine-powered boat is in use. This boat moves the compacted silt in the river with 100 points of force and sucks it up with 300 points of force. This technology was used to clean the Han River in Seoul, South Korea, and can clean 50 meters of silt per hour. There is only one such engine-powered boat available in Mongolia, and further research will lead to the acquisition of additional river cleaning equipment. The cleaning of the silt in the Selbe and Dund Rivers has reduced flood risks compared to previous years. After the silt is cleaned, the area will be turned into a green space.

The flood protection dam of Dund River was built in two phases in 1980 and 2010, and no silt cleaning has been done since, according to the capital city's Press Office.

Innovation

B. Bolor-Erdene: Some provincial children who participated in the "Girls Code" program have gone to study at MIT and Harvard

Published: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

A world women's summit was held in Ulaanbaatar city under the theme "For a Green Future" during August 22-23, attended by over 200 women leaders from various fields from foreign countries and over 600 delegates from Mongolia.

B. Bolor-Erdene, a strategic communication advisor to SpaceX and an AI policy researcher at Oxford University, participated in the summit. She took part in the panel on the educational importance and impact on empowering women and girls, where she introduced the implementation of the "Girls Code" program.

She stated, "One of our initiatives was to implement a program for coding skills called 'Girls Code'. It is a 2.5-month program to teach coding.

The program was started in 2021 to involve girls from rural areas. From the 110 children who participated, some have gone to study at MIT and Harvard.

Also, organizing coding competitions greatly aids the girls, despite being small.

For example, upon meeting with graduates, one girl developed an application and sold it to a software company, starting to earn money.

From last year's graduates, there are girls who launched an application called 'Alarm'. It is aimed at teenagers to connect with friends, peers, and family for support during emotional distress through the app.

This year's 'Girls Code' program is supported by UNICEF," she noted.

B. Bolor-Erdene served as the Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Communications in 2022.

Warning

Media outlets (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) must always mention their source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, either fully or partially.

Health

MOH: In the last 24 hours, the number of measles cases in Bayan-Ölgii province has increased by eight and now stands at 12

Published: Sat, 24 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Ministry of Health provided an update on the current situation. Specifically, the number of measles cases in Bayan-Ölgii province has increased by eight in the last 24 hours.

During the press conference, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, D. Ochirbat, stated, "According to the World Health Organization, there are currently over 340,000 suspected cases of measles recorded in more than 170 countries. In our country, in the last 24 hours, eight new cases have been reported in Bayan-Ölgii province, bringing the total number of domestic infections to 12. The Ministry of Health has conducted training for our doctors on measures to be taken in case of a measles outbreak.

The measles outbreak has a high incidence rate. Therefore, local government surveillance teams are operating in provinces and districts. Due to the concentrated outbreak in Bayan-Ölgii province, two advisory teams are working there. A decision has been made to conduct surveillance testing on individuals coming to Ulaanbaatar. Those who have not been vaccinated, such as students, infants, the elderly, and people with underlying health conditions, are urged to get vaccinated as a priority. Being vaccinated helps prevent the disease and reduces the severity of the symptoms. Therefore, we encourage citizens to participate in supplementary vaccination booster programs," he said.

The "Anti-Hypertension Campaign" Successfully Implemented in 21 Provinces

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

The "Anti-Hypertension Campaign," aimed at reducing cardiovascular diseases, a leading cause of mortality among the population, and preventing hypertension, has been successfully implemented today with the support of the KHAAN Bank Foundation in collaboration with the P.N. Shastin Third Central State Hospital, the National Center for Public Health, and the MNB since 2017.

This campaign, carried out annually in certain provinces, has now covered the entire country, assessing over 61,000 individuals for cardiovascular diseases and hypertension risks and providing specialized medical examinations and diagnostics. Additionally, training was organized for more than 1,500 local doctors and specialists in provinces and areas, contributing to the enhancement of their professional skills.

This year, the "Anti-Hypertension Campaign" unfolded in the eastern region of Mongolia, in provinces including Dornod, Sukhbaatar, Khentii, and most recently conducted specialized screenings, diagnostics, and health advice for the residents of Gobi-Sumber province.

"The campaign did not stop at screenings and diagnostics; it also spread knowledge on preventing hypertension and other related diseases among citizens and urged them to change their lifestyle, thus holding significant importance," said Ts. Tumur-Ochir, General Director of the Third Central State Hospital.

Furthermore, M. Mandakhmyagmar, Director of the Sustainable Development Department of KHAAN Bank, highlighted, "Implementing this campaign successfully across all 21 provinces and achieving our goal of protecting the health of residents was truly an admirable result."

The KHAAN Bank Foundation, responsible for implementing KHAAN Bank's social responsibility initiatives, invested one billion MNT in supporting the campaign, marking one of the largest private sector contributions to Mongolia's healthcare sector. It also served as a clear example of how private businesses can contribute to social welfare.

Although the "Anti-Hypertension Campaign" is concluding, KHAAN Bank and its partner organizations express their commitment to continue coming up with new initiatives dedicated to a healthy lifestyle for citizens.

We express our deep gratitude to the Third Central State Hospital, the National Center for Public Health, MNB, and the medical teams of the 21 provincial hospitals for their collaboration in successfully implementing this campaign.

Arts

N.Mandul: Supporting the Creative Industry

Published: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Ulaanbaatar City Mayor's Office, the Ulaanbaatar Tourism Department, the Embassy of Japan, and "Let's Travel" LLC are jointly organizing the "Japan Culture and Tourism Days-2024" event at D.Sukhbaatar Square. Organized for the 12th year, this event offers an opportunity to closely experience Japanese language, culture, heritage, and especially Japanese national art.

N.Mandul, the First Deputy of the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, opened the event, and in his speech, stated, "Within the framework of the 'New Revival Policy' proposed by the Government of Mongolia, we have set the goal to develop the cultural sector as an economically independent sector and have had the 'Law on Supporting the Creative Industry' approved by the Parliament. In this context, we have embarked on an ambitious project to promote cultural heritage globally using technological advancements, and I am confident that the tourism sector will also align with this initiative. I believe we are already walking this path. Strengthening the cultural ties between the peoples of Mongolia and Japan and enhancing mutual understanding among citizens is of great importance, and the Japan Culture and Tourism Day we are organizing is an indication of this," he emphasized.

During the "Japan Culture and Tourism Days-2024" event, the Japanese national music group "Etosetora" will present their works, and there will be performances by participants selected from the "Who Sings Japanese Songs Best?" contest.

PHOTO: From the Rehearsals of the Best Dancers of China's Ballet Theater

Published: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The gala concert of the dancers from the Ballet Theater of Liaoning Province in China is set to take place at the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Mongolia on the 24th and 25th of this month.

The theater's dancers arrived in our country on the 22nd of this month, and today we attended their rehearsal session at the theatre.

The Liaoning Ballet Theater, established in 1980, is one of the famous ballet theaters in China. It creates ballet works that incorporate both classical world elements and Chinese national characteristics.

Since its establishment, this theater has staged around 20 classic ballets such as "Swan Lake," "Sleeping Beauty," "Sylphide," "Corsaire," "Don Quixote" and more.

The Chief Ballet Master of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, D. Dashlhagva, was giving ballet exercises and guidance to the dancers from this theater.

He expressed, "It's the first time for the complete team of China's ballet theater to visit our country and present their gala concert. These dancers introduce humanity to classical art and continue to spread it worldwide. In today's world, the concept of 'mine' and 'yours' has started to fade, becoming one vast flat world.

The world's top artists are coming to the stage of Mongolia's classic art.

The core of global ballet has started to revolve around China. Starting tomorrow, on the 24th and 25th, the gala concert of China's top classical artists is scheduled to be performed at the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. This performance will showcase masterpieces of ballet and feature ballet intertwined with the national style of China. Additionally, the second act of Swan Lake will be performed.

Ballet narrates the story of love. So, who will create and embody love in my homeland? Classical art itself shares and spreads that very love.

We learn and observe the principled and responsible craftsmanship from the Chinese dancers. Classical art is a package of expressions of love. The world's best artists are coming to the stage of Mongolia's classic art," he stated.

Now, we present the photographs from the rehearsal session.

Published: Sat, 24 Aug 2024 | Translated from: isee.mn

An international academic conference on the theme "Heritage of the Mongol Empire, Literary Sources, and Cultural Artifacts" organized by the Office of the President of Mongolia, the Chinggis Khan National Museum, and the International Association for Chinggis Khan Studies, is taking place today.

Nikolai Nikolaevich Kradin, the director of the Institute of History, Archaeology, and Ethnography of the Russian Far East, and the president of the International Association for Chinggis Khan Studies, emphasized the significance of the conference: “Our association aims to unify researchers of the Mongol Empire and Chinggis Khan, and to present their works to the world. Many researchers and archaeologists from different corners of the world work in this field, and this conference provides them with opportunities to share their research findings, exchange experiences, and collaborate.”

Participants from countries such as Mongolia, Japan, Russia, Italy, Austria, China, Iran, France, and Germany are presenting on topics related to the Mongol Empire and its constituent states, their political institutions, religions, ethnic minorities, and trade exchanges. Professor Lorenzo Pubblici from the University of Naples stated, “Based on twenty years of research regarding the communications between the Golden Horde state and European countries, it appears that Mongols managed the countries they conquered in ways suited to each, rather than imposing their culture by force. In today's presentation, I specifically discussed how these aspects were documented in the archives of Venice and Geneva in Italy, and Russia.”

Academician S. Chuluun noted, “The Mongol Empire significantly influenced global politics, economy, religion, history, culture, intellectual thought, law, and the development of science and technology, leaving a unique cultural legacy. Consequently, in past years, we have been developing studies on Chinggis Khan, supporting research related to the Great Khan and the Mongol Empire, and establishing a Chinggis Khan Study Center based on the Chinggis Khan National Museum. One such endeavor is this international academic conference. Following the conference, we plan to hold special exhibitions aimed at correctly introducing the history of the Mongol Empire and Chinggis Khan to the international community at the National Museum of the Czech Republic in Prague in March next year, at the Rietberg Museum in Zurich in October, and at the Historical Museum in Berlin in 2026. Exhibitions are also planned for Canada and the United States.”

This academic conference will continue until the 23rd.

Today's Stories

Politics

Economy

Diplomacy

Infrastructure

Society

Environment

Innovation

Health

Arts

Politics

VIDEO: Member of Parliament D.Regdel, who made a strange statement that "Russia will not support Eg and Shuren power plants," used to work as a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences

EVIDENCE: Parliamentary Staff Provides Legal Opinion on the Law on Tenders Opposed by B. Enkhbayar and Ch. Lodoysambuu, Stating it Conflicts with Relevant Laws

"Do Not Support the Laws Following the Budget"

Enkebish's Zolzaya Nominated for Supreme Court Judge

The Cases Related to T. Badamjunai and Ts. Anandbazar are Combined and Under Investigation by the IAAC

Elon Musk Praises Mongolia's Population Growth Policy

Economy

Erdenes Mongol Group Achieves 3.8 Trillion MNT Net Profit

The Government's Debt Will Be Calculated at Face Value Instead of Present Value for Better Public Understanding

The Stance of Economists and the Ministry of Finance on the 2024 National Budget Amendment

BUDGET 2024: Necessary to Amend Due to 3 Trillion Tugriks Increase in Expenditure

Session: Foreign Investment as the Key Focus

The China Products Exhibition - 2024 to be held at Misheel Expo

Selecting an Independent Member of the Board for "Cement Lime" LLC

Diplomacy

Emphasis on Mongolia's Contribution to the UN's Development Activities and Peacekeeping Efforts

The Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman Will Visit Our Country Today

Infrastructure

MTZNH: Containers to Mongolia are Delayed at Tianjin Port for an Average of 90-120 Days

B. Javkhlan: 484 Billion MNT Will Be Allocated in the Budget for Designing and FEED of Mega Projects

The Following Roads Will Be Closed and Renovated

S.Tsedensodnom: Construction of a Park with an Underground Parking Lot on the Site of the Urguu Building Begins

The Road from Peace Avenue to Embassy Street Will be Closed

GSSUT to Implement Program for Analyzing Traffic Accidents

The road repair work from Enkhtaivan Avenue to Embassy Street will continue from today until Monday

G. Bayarsaikhan: We Don't Discard Old Road Barriers; We Provide Them to Citizens and Businesses for Use

Society

URGENT: The case of Kh. Chinggis Khan, who received a "light sentence," sent back to primary court for re-trial

A Chinese Citizen Reports on Social Media That She Was Raped and Robbed of Her Phone and 5000 Yuan While Traveling in Mongolia

D.Bum-Ochir: Without Educating and Cultivating Our People, Mongolia Cannot Remain Mongolian

736 Citizens Appeal to Member S. Ganbaatar Regarding the Persecution of N. Önörtsétseg

Environment

Be Cautious of the Hazards of Hail, Thunderstorms, Strong Winds, and Floods

Gathering Nuts Before Allowed Period is Prohibited

N. Manduul: Cleaning the Dund River with a Motorboat Capable of Removing 50 Meters of Sludge Per Hour

6,154 Meters of Unauthorized Fencing Demolished

Cleaning of Dund River Silt Using New Technology

Innovation

B. Bolor-Erdene: Some provincial children who participated in the "Girls Code" program have gone to study at MIT and Harvard

Health

MOH: In the last 24 hours, the number of measles cases in Bayan-Ölgii province has increased by eight and now stands at 12

The "Anti-Hypertension Campaign" Successfully Implemented in 21 Provinces

Arts

N.Mandul: Supporting the Creative Industry

PHOTO: From the Rehearsals of the Best Dancers of China's Ballet Theater

Researchers Discuss Their Works Related to the Mongol Empire

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