Dec 12, 2024 103 min read Daily News Summaries

Mongolia News Summary for December 12, 2024

Sorry for the late newsletter today! OpenAI had a global outage for several hours and this was the main reason for the delay. Also, there is has been a significant improvement in the de-duplication of articles going forward. This means more unique stories and broader coverage. If you have any feedback please reach out via email.

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

J. Enkhbayar: Mongolia Will Not Join the Eurasian Economic Union

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: news.mn

The Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, J. Enkhbayar, was asked about Mongolia's possible entry into the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the sector's budget. He stated, "The Mongolian people have endured the severe challenges posed by the pandemic. We learned that when we were in lockdown for 1-2 months, we became overly reliant on foreign trade to the extent that we were forced to depend on rationed goods. The National Security Council analyzed this issue, and at the President's initiative, Resolution No. 36 of the Parliament launched the 'Food Revolution' program. As a result, we have worked towards growing specific types of goods domestically and processing our products. This has been implemented over 2.5 years with very positive results. Exports of agricultural products have increased by one trillion tugriks, while spending on imports has decreased by 250 billion tugriks. Thousands of jobs have been created, and 25 new factories have been built or are under expansion. The goal of providing our people with healthy and safe food is being achieved successfully. To support this policy, the Fourth Agriculture Campaign, New Cooperative Movement, White Gold, and three other comprehensive policies are being implemented. There are approximately 40 categories of goods and products such as meat, flour, milk, eggs, chicken, and pork. The domestic demand for liquid food is fully met. Protecting these domestic industries is the duty of our ministry. We will continue to communicate our policies and explanations. Furthermore, our agreements are ongoing. Of course, there are positive effects in areas such as leather, wool, and cashmere industries. Therefore, please do not be hasty with this agreement. We will discuss each type of goods and calculate the pros and cons. The agreements must continue. We are postponing joining several international organizations within the region. The time is not right yet. We have not finished calculating the positive and negative impacts. Therefore, we will not join the Organization for Security Cooperation. We will participate as observers in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Mongolia will not join the Eurasian Economic Union, but only engage in bilateral agreements and temporary experimental agreements. We are very thoughtful, carefully calculating, and making cautious steps when considering the resulting impacts and negotiating subsequent agreements."

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Political Issues Surrounding the Budget: What's Happening in Mongolia, France, and South Korea

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: itoim.mn

For the first time in thirty years, Mongolia has failed to approve its budget twenty days before the new year. The newly formed 126-member parliament also annulled the budget it initially passed, marking a historical first. Additionally, President U. Khurelsukh issued a rare veto on the entire budget, making the political dispute over the 2025 budget in Mongolia intense. However, this year, Mongolia is not the only country experiencing political turmoil over the national budget. In South Korea, the budget issue became grounds for initiating the impeachment of the President, while in France, the government collapsed due to budgetary disputes. Let's examine the budget-related issues unfolding in Mongolia, South Korea, and France. According to the International Budget Partnership's 2023 survey, the budget scores for Mongolia, South Korea, and France are as follows (scored out of 100): Mongolia: - Public participation in budget approval - 19 points - Budget oversight - 80 points - Budget transparency - 62 points South Korea: - Public participation in budget approval - 65 points - Budget oversight - 85 points - Budget transparency - 71 points France: - Public participation in budget approval - 37 points - Budget oversight - 82 points - Budget transparency - 74 points French Government Collapsed Due to Excessive Taxation and Power Abuse The French parliament rejected the government's budget proposal to amend tax policies, which included high taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations. Critics argued this approach was counterproductive and that broadening the tax base would be more effective in increasing revenue. Prime Minister Barnier defended his budget cuts, which reduced expenditures by 40 billion euros ($42 billion) and increased taxes by 20 billion euros, but these moves deepened political divisions and inflamed tensions in the lower house, fueling political confrontation. The Prime Minister was accused of abusing power by passing the budget without majority support and without a final parliamentary vote. Subsequent to this, a confidence vote resulted in 331 out of 577 parliamentary members supporting the ousting of the French government. Just three months after being appointed, the Prime Minister and his government have been dissolved. France is likely to end 2024 without a Prime Minister and without a clearly decided budget. Andreas Eisl, a researcher at the Notr Europe Center for Studies, stated that "France has not suffered a real budget crisis regarding debt stability, but ongoing political strife may worsen the situation." Budget Dispute in South Korea South Korea faces its own budget woes due to a disagreement between President Yoon Suk Yeol's People Power Party and the majority Democratic Party in parliament over the 2025 national budget. The proposed government budget for 2025 stands at 677.4 trillion won, approximately $473 billion, a 3.2% increase from the previous year. The main goal for the 2025 budget is to improve fiscal balance and reduce debt. The government has been criticized for making no effort to allocate necessary investments to address urgent public livelihood and economic issues. Despite this, the national debt surpasses 1,000 trillion won, significantly increasing the burden on future generations, thus complicating the national financial situation. The ruling Democratic Party in South Korea unilaterally cut next year's government budget by around 4.1 trillion won ($2.94 billion) and presented this revised budget to the National Assembly's plenary session. The party proposed cutting targeted funding for the presidential office, prosecutor's office, and police. This budget misunderstanding has deadlocked parliament, and if the government's budget is not approved by the end of the year, a provisional budget system must be implemented starting in January. Projected total government revenue is expected to be 651.8 trillion won (an increase of 39.6 trillion won), a 6.5% rise compared to the 2024 budget, due to strong corporate performance and gradual recovery of domestic and international conditions, trends expected to continue into the next year. Projected total government expenditure for 2025 has been set at 677.4 trillion won (an increase of 20.8 trillion won), a 3.2% rise from the previous year, considering revenue conditions and expenditure needs. South Korea's 2025 Budget by Sector: - Health, employment, and social welfare - 249 trillion won - Government administration and local administration - 111.3 trillion won - Education - 98.5 trillion won - National defense - 61.6 trillion won The 2025 budget aims to establish an era focused on workers and the middle class by ensuring stability in people's livelihoods and enhancing the economy's capacity. This essentially involves prioritizing national finances on public top concerns, increasing South Korea's economic competitiveness, reforming social structures, and maintaining fiscal stability through innovative budget management. The government has stated, "Budget cuts hinder the government's response to external challenges and delay policy measures targeting small businesses and vulnerable groups." Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myeong commented, "Passing the bill swiftly will help resolve the current unfavorable conditions and crisis." Mongolia Submitted a Budget Proposal with No Deficit The Mongolian government submitted its 2025 budget proposal on September 1, which was discussed by parliament for over 60 days before being approved. However, just days before its approval, some parliament members raised strong objections to what they consider excessively high budget expenses, pressing for a reduction of 3.6 trillion tögrögs. Despite these demands, the government and the Great State Khural passed a budget with expenses 30-40% higher than the previous year and a two trillion tögrög deficit. Following the passage of the budget, the President of Mongolia vetoed both the 2025 budget and the accompanying law submissions. Parliament accepted the President's veto and is now revisiting the 2025 budget. The government resubmitted the 2025 budget proposal based on the President's veto, and parliament is currently considering it. The 2025 budget is expected to be finalized and approved this week. The proposed budget reflects a significant advancement as expenses have been reduced by 2.4 trillion tögrögs, presenting a deficit-free budget. Despite the controversy surrounding the reversal, annulment, and high expenditure projections of the national budget, no accountability has been assigned for these issues in Mongolia up to this point.

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Discussion on Mongolia's 2025 Budget and Other Legislative Proposals

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The Standing Committee on Education, Culture, Science, and Sports of the State Great Khural (Parliament) convened yesterday to conduct the second discussion of several draft laws including the 2025 state budget of Mongolia, amendments to the law on the budget of the Social Insurance Fund for 2025, and amendments to the law on the budget of the Health Insurance Fund for 2025. During the committee meeting, Finance Minister B. Javkhlan explained that, following Parliament's directive to the government to draft a balanced budget, principles to reduce spending have been adhered to. He noted adherence to principles such as not reducing pensions and allowances paid from the Social Insurance Fund, health services financed by the Health Insurance Fund, and various children's allowances, social welfare pensions, and living support subsidies paid by the National Social Security. Additionally, the salaries of civil servants, one-time payments upon retirement, and allowances for stable work in rural areas—all of which sustain household income—remain unchanged. External debt service payments and essential operation expenditures for the Human Rights Commission and certain judicial bodies, reviewed by the Legal Standing Committee of Parliament, were also preserved. However, operational expenses for certain budgetary entities have been reduced by 10-100%. Specifically, spending on furniture and equipment purchases, conferences, seminars, organizing sports tournaments, hiring contract workers, renting vehicles, and the reward costs for members of councils, committees, and commissions have been cut across all sectors. Budget for cultural entitlements, creative production, the Film Arts Support Fund, bonuses for performance in administrative units, and active healthy living programs have been reduced as well. Furthermore, transportation and fuel costs for entities other than health and special-purpose organizations, foreign official visits except high-level state visits, and training expenses for non-essential sectors have been cut by 50%. Internal assignments, stationery, and equipment purchases for all budget levels have also been slashed. The budget plan also calls for a 10% reduction in operational expenses involving building maintenance, food supplies, medication, uniforms, routine maintenance, occupational safety equipment, subsidies, loans, and other service costs. Projects and activities funded by state capital in 2024 need to be completed promptly if commenced. Yet, projects still uninitiated will be prioritized or postponed. Financing for some major repairs, feasibility studies, design projects, and equipment are slated for reduction, including a deferral of projects at the negotiation stage such as the National Satellite and others. An increased investment is allocated for the "National Center for Cancer," Phase II. Then, Mongolian National Auditor D. Zagdsav gave an overview of the audit conclusion on the draft budget law for 2025, noting that while the proposal aligns with Mongolia's medium and long-term development concepts and annual development plans, certain aspects need attention. Minister of Education P. Naranbayar commented that while 580 billion MNT was budgeted for school and kindergarten construction, 26 billion MNT was cut. As of December 1, 14 uncontracted projects have been excluded. From the Education Support Fund (ESF), 17.5 billion MNT was cut but efforts will be made to improve loan recovery and increase the fund's resources in collaboration with legal and regulatory bodies. Minister of Culture and Sports Nomin cited a 12.7% or approximately 75 billion MNT cut in budget allocation for culture and sports programs and activities. National teams' preparation budgets were cut by 60%, making participation in continental and world competitions challenging. Parliament member J. Galbadrakh inquired about including school and kindergarten expansion in the 14 mega projects underway. Finance Minister B. Javkhlan noted that out of the 14 mega projects, three—namely the oil refinery, and the Erdeneberens hydropower station—are already initiated. Other projects are planned for multi-source financing. Mega projects tackle economic development differently from social sector investments. Parliament member Ch. Undram asked about additions to the children's food budgets. Parliament member Ts. Munkhtuya queried the extent of cuts from the education budget, and D. Bum-Ochir questioned how fluctuating education expenditures were adjusted. Education Minister P. Naranbayar noted food expenses were increased to 178 billion MNT from 130 billion MNT in 2024. Educational budgets were short of the previous presidential veto but exceed the 2024 net budget. To achieve a balanced budget, the initial proposal to cut more than 400 billion MNT from education was reduced to 152 billion MNT or 3.6%. The education sector still received a budget submission for 1.3 trillion MNT to fund 189 projects, ensuring 58 kindergartens, 85 schools, and 20 boarding facilities by 2025 with 472 billion MNT in investments. After members of the Standing Committee on Education, Culture, Science, and Sports expressed opinions regarding the budget proposal's second discussion, a vote was held to finalize principal amendments. Thus, the second discussion's conclusion on the State Budget Law for 2025, the Social Insurance Fund Budget Law for 2025 amendments, and the Health Insurance Fund Budget Law for 2025 amendments will be forwarded with recommendations from the Standing Committee on Budget. Subsequently, discussions on the accompanying draft law nullifying certain sections of the Violations Law, changes in the law on Government Special Funds, and the "Law on State Efficiency" amendments were deliberated with specific proposals from Parliament member D. Bum-Ochir and resolved by majority decision. Finally, the proposal "On Measures to be Taken Following the Approval of the State Budget Law for 2025" with conclusions and recommendations from the first discussion of legislative and resolution drafts will be submitted to the Parliament's Standing Committee on Budget, according to Parliament's Press Service.

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E. Batshugar: "The implementation of the law that the government will not demand information from citizens and businesses is inadequate"

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: news.mn

At the "Innovation, E-Policy Standing Committee" meeting, Member of Parliament E. Batshugar expressed the following opinions on the draft law on "Amendments to the Law on State Savings" submitted in conjunction with the 2025 budget law of Mongolia. Member of Parliament E. Batshugar said: An important provision was included in the Law on Transparency of Public Information. It is specified that the government should not demand information it already has from citizens and businesses, but in practice, the implementation is inadequate. For example, when a citizen retires, they have to go through many government agencies. Although it was said that through the Dan, Khur system, the government would retrieve the information it already has from other agencies and government ministries, it is not being implemented, leading to bureaucratic hurdles. Secondly, in a resolution approved in January of this year, it was decided to establish the "Khudan" platform in each district and subdistrict. This will open up the possibility for citizens of Mongolia to receive government services at the nearest subdistrict office without having to go to a one-stop service center. What level of implementation has been achieved in this work? Thirdly, this year, to support digital transformation and reduce bureaucracy, 109 laws were amended. With the implementation of e-Mongolia today, it has achieved economic savings of 1.2 trillion tugriks. "E-Mongolia" is a platform for citizens, and similarly, there is an "E-Business" platform for entrepreneurs. For instance, when establishing a company, a person can sit at their computer, obtain a name electronically from the state register, open a bank account online, and even order their seal online. What level of implementation has this platform achieved? Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Communications Ts. Baaterkhuu: Member of Parliament E. Batshugar mentioned the critical needs for Mongolia's digital transformation. Currently, even though government agencies have converted paper information into digital formats, the exchange of information between them is slow. By updating certain procedures, information needed for judicial and law enforcement agencies will be obtained electronically instead of on paper. Therefore, there is a need to revise procedures following the laws approved last year. We are working to include this in the government meeting agenda by the first quarter of 2025. - In collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we will digitize business entities in partnership with business organizations. - In recent years, private companies have stopped participating in network installation in provincial districts funded by the state budget. This is because they see little economic benefit due to the small number of households. Director of the State Electronic Services Regulatory Agency P. Batbaatar: Following the law passed by the State Great Khural on January 12, 2024, by Resolution No. 05, the "Khudan system" has been operating in 256 locations at the provincial level and 103 locations in the capital city level. We are working to install this system in Sukhbaatar District within this month.

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M.Chimeddoj: If We Make Agreements with the Eurasian Economic Union, We Will Have to Ask Them About Our Other Agreements /VIDEO/

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

Mongolia is negotiating to establish an economic agreement with the Eurasian Union, which includes five countries: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. This topic has become a divisive issue in society, with citizens debating whether it is a right or wrong move. Therefore, we invited economist M. Chimeddoj to the 39th episode of our program "LINE" to discuss important issues regarding the Eurasian Economic Union talks. Our country is about to make a temporary agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. The Eurasian Economic Union is not about trading with Europe. This union was established by Russia's V. Putin and includes five member countries: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. Do you think it's right for Mongolia to make an agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union during this time when international relations are tense? At the level of international trade, there are two types of agreements countries make with each other. One is direct free trade agreements between two countries, and the other is multilateral regional free trade agreements. Multilateral trade relationships are quite complicated. Because when they say they will enter into a common integration without customs duties between them, it means the customs issues of all member countries surrounding them will become unified. Thus, they accept a certain degree of reduction in their own independence when participating in such agreements. Another thing required from member countries is that if you join this union, you cannot make agreements with other countries at will. If we join the Eurasian Agreement, the biggest danger is that Mongolian free trade agreements with countries like China or South Korea will require approval. Because they will say since you're a member of this union, you cannot make a trade agreement with South Korea without consulting us. This is the real danger. Currently, if we look at the countries that are members of the Eurasian Union, it is detrimental to all the small member countries. Our country is an open economic system. However, it is not advisable for us to voluntarily enter a block and then have to consult others when trading with other countries. This concerns the fundamental national interests of Mongolia. The Eurasian Union is an economic block dominated by Russia. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have disrupted global supply chains. Joining a block with these countries under sanctions is a dangerous phenomenon for Mongolia. It is as if we are voluntarily entering into sanctions ourselves. Our rulers are explaining it as a temporary measure. Is there really such a thing as temporary agreements or temporary negotiations? One dangerous thing we're hearing about is that they are going to sign the agreement on December 21. Most free trade agreements are made without a specific time limit. If they are calling a free trade agreement temporary after its establishment, it is foolishness. From one side, it's a poor trap by those in power to deceive the people. First, the standards that are applied to our trade with other countries will be discussed differently in these countries. Moreover, two countries in this union, Russia and Belarus, are under sanctions and have been excluded from the international banking system. How will we trade goods with these countries, in what currency and through which banking system? This is a huge issue. Perhaps gaps in the banking system could be exploited by the sanctioned countries to approach international financial transactions using Mongolia's territory, which would result in Mongolia itself falling under sanctions. So we are risking cutting our financial system off from the world ourselves. What necessity do we have to do this to our struggling economy? A few people with power cannot gamble with the interests of Mongolia. The head of the Democratic Party, Lu. Gantumur, is saying that the agreement with the Eurasian Union will bring Mongolia to the world stage. But is our country capable of producing enough goods to supply Russia's 140 million people? Also, how favorable is an agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union for our domestic manufacturers? If we want to enter the global market, we need to see what goods we are bringing to Tianjin port and Incheon airport. This is what entering the global economy means. Russia itself has been unable to export its wheat. There is a very cheap supply of wheat there. We also buy our fuel from our northern neighbor. If we sign a free trade agreement, we will have no option but to accept whatever prices they set. Also, if we sign a free trade agreement, perhaps canned meat and meat products will sell a little better. Our goal is to produce products that meet international standards, not to sell at their low standards. Even if we sell a little more meat, agriculture will come to an end.

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I. Batkhuu: There Has Been No Discussion About Mongolia Joining the EAEU

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Mongolia is planning to sign a temporary free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), as per official information from the Ministry of Economic Development. The State Secretary of the Ministry, I. Batkhuu, emphasized that there have been no discussions about Mongolia joining the EAEU as a member. He stated, "Countries like Vietnam, Singapore, Iran, and Serbia have entered into free trade agreements with the EAEU without joining as members. Similarly, the Government of Mongolia is planning to conclude a three-year temporary free trade agreement. The main goal is to expand Mongolia's export market. While more than 1,790 types of goods are imported from EAEU countries, especially Russia, Mongolia exported 494 types of goods as of 2023. The draft outlines mutual agreement to import 375 types of goods duty-free and quota-free between the two sides. Of these, Mongolia will export 633 types of goods, particularly competitive agricultural products like wool, cashmere, leather, and meat to Russia and non-member countries of the union. In return, 511 types of products could be imported from Russia and EAEU countries." Regarding concerns about potential conflicts between the temporary free trade agreement and programs like the "Food Revolution" and "White Gold," he stated, "Concerns about damaging the light food and agricultural sectors are unfounded. Initiatives like the ‘Food Revolution,’ ‘White Gold,’ the IV Campaign on Planting, and the ‘New Cooperation’ are aimed at strengthening the supply system in the agricultural sector. Once this system is strengthened domestically and supply conditions improve, businesses are expected to venture into foreign markets. To do so, improving competitiveness is crucial. This involves increasing investment, improving technology, and adopting new technologies. These initiatives support all this. To support businesses, customs duties on imported processing equipment will be eliminated, and certain income taxes will be deferred, aiming to boost export capability. Development should be geared towards export competitiveness, not just the domestic market. "Over the past 30 years, Mongolia has received a total of 47 billion USD in investments, with over 70% in the mining sector, according to officials. Other sectors have received significantly less investment, due in part to the small market size, which needs to expand. Regarding how to protect the domestic market, Batkhuu noted, "There was talk about negotiations being conducted secretly and the domestic market being dominated by foreign products. Mongolia has been part of the World Trade Organization since 1997. Since then, Mongolia has implemented an open foreign trade policy. Apart from certain goods which meet specific standards, Mongolia charges a 5% customs duty. Prohibited goods are few. If not on the prohibited list, products can be imported to Mongolia with a 5% duty. Conversely, duties imposed by other countries, like those in the EAEU, range between 15%-50%. Added to this, exporting goods to Russia poses many challenges. The free trade agreement would reduce these obstacles, creating a more export-friendly environment. The mindset that fears competition and believes in developing while blocking competition is most harmful to the future of non-mining sectors. Enterprises should see their future development through competition." "We held numerous consultative meetings. Now, the Ministry of Economic Development is ready to openly discuss with opposing enterprises and associations," he said. Warning: Media outlets (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) must mention the source (ikon.mn) when fully or partially using our information in any form.

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Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The Supreme Court of Mongolia has reviewed the case involving 80 individuals and 4 legal entities related to the Development Bank, which consists of 540 case files. The case was reviewed based on the prosecutor's objection and complaints filed by 41 defendants and their lawyers. The decision of the Supreme Court's criminal case supervisory proceedings was presented. The Supreme Court divided the case into five parts based on the relevance and involvement of the cases and resolved them accordingly. The contents of the supervisory court's decision were summarized by Judge M. Purevsuren during the court session. A retrial will be conducted because the acquittal of N. Altankhuyag and N. Batbayar was deemed incompatible with the law. 1. Case involving the Prime Minister and Cabinet Member The case related to former Prime Minister N. Altankhuyag and former Minister of Economic Development N. Batbayar involves three issues linked to the companies Goviin Zam, Beren, and Monroad. The first and appellate courts dismissed the case and acquitted them, with their rationale not aligning with the actual circumstances of the case and not giving importance to the context. Regarding the case linked to Monroad involving former Minister N. Batbayar, the appellate court's decision was considered reasonable. However, the statute of limitations was incorrectly pre-calculated and dismissed by the first instance court without a decision on the specific timeline of the crime, marking a serious procedural violation. Based on these grounds, the prosecutor's argument was found to be reasonable, and the acquittal decision related to N. Altankhuyag, N. Batbayar, E. Shinebayar, and N. Munkhbat was annulled, and a retrial was ordered. The case involving the Chairman and members of the Development Bank’s Board of Directors will be revisited. 2. Case involving the Chairman and Members of the Board of Directors The first instance court dismissed the case related to the Chairman and members of the Development Bank's Board of Directors without giving importance to significant circumstances, and their reasoning did not align with the actual state of the case. The court did not base its conclusions on evidence supporting each defendant’s actions and did not provide legal opinions based on the relevant laws and regulations concerning the Board’s roles defined in the Development Bank’s law. This includes project funding decisions exceeding certain financial thresholds. Thus, the appellate court's decision to order a retrial for the Board's Chairman and members was considered reasonable. Moreover, in 2014, when the Beren company received a $22 million loan, the first and appellate courts did not provide legal opinions on factual evidence, only appearing to implement government decisions, which was not sufficient for acquittal. Thus, the appellate court's decision to reconsider the case remains unchanged. Names of those involved include Daajamba, Oyunсhimeg, Makhbal, Davaasambuu, Bat-Ochir, Ukhertar, Bat-Erdene, Magnaiсuren, Bayarmagnai, Shinebaatar, Otgocоluu, Nergui, Bayanmunh, Naidalaa, Lkhagvasuren, R. Batbayar, Zoljargal, Dashzeveg, Odontool, Batzaa, Battul, Bayarchimeg, and Khuyagtsogt. The Board must operate independently, so the cases involving these individuals require further investigation. Also, certain cases involving specific Board members were decided accordingly. For example, Board Chairman Daajamba was linked to two cases of abuse of official position and two bribery cases, totaling four cases. The cases involving abusive handling of Berеn and Mongol Dry Milk loans need further probing. However, the primary court's finding on receiving bribes from NVTS, Mongol Meat Impex, and Mongol Em Impex companies was substantiated, correctly interpreting the Criminal Code, and this section remains unchanged. Board member B. Shinebayar, when working as a Deputy Director of the Erdenet Plant, violated procurement rules and used his position to buy two heavy-duty BELAZ vehicles. Since his case, linked with the Goviin Zam company, is subject to review, it should be reconsidered alongside this case. 3. Case involving the Head and Members of the Credit Committee of the Development Bank The Head and members of the Credit Management Committee were convicted under Article 22.1.2 of the Criminal Code for abuse of position, creating advantages for others, accepting bribes during loan decision processes, and causing substantial damages to the Development Bank. The verdict of the primary court is deemed reasonable. Thus, the legal provisions concerning their convictions are upheld. Names include Batbayar, Enkhbat, Budkhuu, Choijiljalbuu, Myagmardorz, Delgersaikhan, Tsogtbaatar, and Munkhbayar. Additionally, the non-confirmed facts for Tsogbaatar led to a dismissal, while others remain unchanged. Concerning the Injir company's loan case, Ganhuyag, who was in charge of supervision and the administration division at the Development Bank, was convicted of accepting bribes, and Erdenee, a public official, was convicted of offering bribes. The primary court's ruling is deemed lawful and remains unchanged. Regarding the loan case linked to the Beren company, the statute of limitations led to the dismissal of the case involving former Director N. Munkhbat. However, since other cases related to him, including Goviin Zam, are subject to reconsideration, it's decided to jointly review the similar classified cases. 4. Case Involving Development Bank Officials The first instance court acquitted Development Bank staff Bilguun, Uyаnga, Oyunсhimeg, Chinzorig, Purevsuren, Muntulga, Choijilsuren, Batzorig, Khuchitbaatar, Amgalan, Gantogtoh, and Tsolmon, altering Azzaya's bribery case categorization from a public official's standpoint, and dismissed it after the statute of limitations expired. The appellate court found it necessary to reconsider the culpability of Bilguun, Purevsuren, Batzorig, Batbaatar, and Munkhtulga. Following a review of these individuals, the supervisory court decided to uphold all except the case against Batbaatar. Batbaatar was linked to the Gaz Import loan case. The primary court's decision to acquit was based on factual evidence and deemed legally justified, confirming his innocence. 5. Cases Involving Borrowing Enterprises, Citizens, and Others Regarding the cases alleging loans granted by the Development Bank to Modun, Shine Yaarmag, and Vertex Mining, these were dismissed as they lacked criminal characteristics. Relevant staff and citizens involved were deemed innocent. The primary court’s decisions were deemed lawful and remained unchanged. It is noted that these companies have fully repaid the loans from the Development Bank. B. Gansannyam of Selenge Hereford, Ts. Tsolmon of Pyramid Ord, Sh. Buteed of Mondulaan, T. Myagmardorj of Gaz Import, E. Bat-Erdene of Mongol Dry Milk, Baatarbileg of NVTS, Munkhtur of Beren Group, and B. Ulzii of Injir were considered instigators in exploiting their positions for crime, thus being ruled legally justified by the primary court. However, the penalties as fines for causing unsolved damage contradicted the crime’s social danger and justice principles, as highlighted by the prosecutor’s arguments. The court failed to apply punitive laws severely on instigators as required, thus breaching principles for company directors arrested. Further, NVTS, Gan Khuder, and Injir's money laundering cases were dismissed following the incorrect calculating of crime completion time and statute limits expiry. The court reversed the criminal liabilities under Articles 22.1, 22.5, and 18.6 of the Criminal Code for the mentioned entity officers, prompting reconsideration at the primary level. The sentence against former Parliament member Yo. Baatarbileg became effective today. Defendant Yo. Baatarbileg was convicted of taking a $100,000 bribe from company director Ts. Baatarbileg concerning NVTS loans, deemed legally grounded under Article 22.4.6 of the Criminal Code for a five-year sentence fitting his crime. Yet, the courts initially failed to confiscate his criminally acquired funds per the law; thus, under this order, 73 million MNT is adjusted to $100 or 246 million MNT from him. Legal regulations mandate confiscation of crime proceeds and used weapons, not affecting Baatarbileg’s legal rights adversely. Baatarbileg's acquired wealth without grounds converted to a money-laundering crime under Article 18.6.2.1 of the Criminal Code retains his given sentence, now formally effective. In the NVTS loan case, Khan Kharhuu company gave bribes to Battulga for licenses, leading to guilt charges against Bayarsaikhan and fines. In addition, for Yo. Baatarbileg's unfounded wealth, Dorjsumyа and Tserendavaa, associated with Ts. Baatarbileg, were excused of false testimony violation, deriving under constitutional rights and affirmed lawful by the primary court's decision.

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O.Altangerel: Instead of cutting the budget of law enforcers, let's all stop taking salaries

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The budget working group held a meeting until 3:00 AM last night, developed its proposals, and today, the Budget Standing Committee of the Parliament met to discuss and vote on the proposals brought by the working group. However, the standing committee did not support the proposals submitted by the working group. Members criticized the cuts for being uncalculated and unsupported, and did not support the proposals entirely. For instance, the police organization proposed to add 863 new positions, which the working group proposed to cut in half. However, the Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, O. Altangerel, opposed this, stating that it would lead to reducing personnel responsible for traffic management. He said, "They talk about increasing positions by 50%, yet the law mandates law enforcement agencies to perform certain duties legislated by Parliament. For example, at the beginning of the year, the law on detention procedures transferred detention responsibilities from the police to the Execution Agency. Detention and detoxification facilities are considered one position. The detoxification remains with the police, while the detention facility moves to Execution. It will require guards, duty officers, doctors, nurses. How will we fulfill this duty? The city announced that the 160 contracted positions financed by the city cannot be financed next year. Will you go out and manage the traffic yourself? We are cutting 160 young people who manage city traffic. Are we going to stop 50% of them, or stop 80 leaving 80? If we are trying to save money, let’s cut from elsewhere. Cut from those flashy, populist expenses. Stop cutting from organizations struggling to perform their duties due to a lack of personnel. There is plenty of money to save. Tell us which tasks of the police authority and the Court Decision Execution agency, which are increasing, can be done with 50% less effort, or cancel this law. If you're going to cut the barely increasing budget of law enforcers, then let's all stop taking salaries."

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URGENT: Supreme Court Maintains 6-Year Sentence for Yo.Baatarbileg, Transfer to Detention Facility Imminent

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Supreme Court upheld the six-year prison sentence for Parliament member Yo.Baatarbileg, which was previously decided by both the primary and appellate courts. This decision comes in relation to a case involving the Development Bank, where 80 individuals and four legal entities were involved, and which includes 540 case files. The prosecutor's appeal and complaints from 41 defendants and their attorneys were reviewed by the Supreme Court. Yo.Baatarbileg is now about to be transferred to Detention Facility No. 461. The initial court sentenced him to this penalty, but at the time, he was a sitting member of parliament, which is why he was not detained. Besides, they had not yet begun enforcing his detention penalty as the Supreme Court ruling was pending.

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O.Altangerel: Reducing internal appointment and clerical expenses of the police department by 50%, and addressing personnel issues

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The draft law on next year's budget has been discussed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice. During this time, the Minister of Justice explained how the police department's budget, which is under the ministry, has been reduced. The budget specifies a 50% reduction in internal business trip expenses, clerical costs, and expenses for purchasing technical equipment at all levels of budgetary organizations. Regarding this, Minister of Justice O. Altangerel said, "The police and forensic service have the most internal appointments and a lot of paperwork. However, internal appointment and clerical expenses are being mechanically cut by 50%. Personnel issues are also being addressed. The government has issued a resolution to protect water supply sources. To implement this resolution, human resources and budget are insufficient. We have requested to increase the number of positions necessary for essential needs such as 19 positions for addressing pickpocketing, 8 psychologists in districts, and increasing the medical staff positions in detention centers to 9. Although these necessary positions were included, they are being cut. A court executer is now required to resolve 270 execution orders in a month, or 20-21 working days, which necessitates an increase in positions. One executer currently oversees 350 people serving non-custodial sentences, which is an unsustainable workload. This situation can lead to fundamental violations of human rights. Therefore, based on all these needs, we are requesting an increase in human resources. By cutting the budget for law enforcement agencies, which predominantly participate in ensuring human rights, there is a risk of operational disruption," he said. Warning: When media organizations (TV, Radio, Social and Web pages) use our information fully or partially in any form, they must cite the original source (ikon.mn).

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Remaining 2024 Budget Cannot Be Used in 2025, Would Violate Law

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The plenary session of the State Great Khural (Parliament of Mongolia) is ongoing. During the session, the following are being discussed: - The draft laws and resolutions submitted along with the draft law on Mongolia's 2025 state budget; - The draft amendments to the law on Mongolia's 2025 state budget, the law on amending the 2025 budget of the Social Insurance Fund, and the law on amending the 2025 budget of the Health Insurance Fund; - The draft amendment to the law regarding the statement of the 2025 budget framework of Mongolia's unified budget and the budget forecast for 2026-2027. The first reading for these discussions is ongoing.

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J. Enkhbayar: The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry does not support joining the Eurasian Economic Union

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

Mongolia is scheduled to sign an agreement to temporarily join the Eurasian Economic Union in Moscow on the 21st of this month. This agreement is being strongly opposed by domestic businesses and companies. Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, J. Enkhbayar, has stated that the agreement will not be established. He said, "Negotiations are underway to make a temporary experimental contract with the Eurasian Economic Union. The Ministry of Economic Development is responsible for this matter. As for our ministry, we have supported the production of 54 sets of 19 types of food products to ensure food security, investing a significant amount of money and implementing policies. We will protect these industries. We oppose including these 300-400 types of products in their list. We have expressed this position to Russia as well. For example, while we used to import 95% of eggs, today we produce 80% domestically to meet consumer demand."

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G.Temuulen: We reduced expenses by about 80 billion MNT by cutting inefficient budget expenditures

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The Budget Standing Committee of the Parliament completed the second reading of the budget law re-submitted by the government, and then the Budget Working Group of the Parliament held a briefing. The leader of the working group, Member of Parliament G. Temuulen, and members of the working group participated in the press conference and provided information. On the working group, 3,145 proposed positions were reduced to 1,248, resulting in a saving of 40 billion MNT. Additionally, 25 billion MNT was allocated to purchase the building of the Fourth Hospital. Leader of the Budget Working Group of the Parliament, G. Temuulen, said: The government revised the 2025 budget proposal, reducing current expenditure by 2.3 trillion MNT compared to before, and submitted a deficit-free budget, which is commendable. The working group established by the Parliament worked on the 2025 budget, cutting inefficient expenditures, limiting potential future risks, and curtailing budget expansion. Across Mongolia, state intervention in the economy is increasing, and the number of civil servants has reached 230,000, while outsourced work has increased by about 70%. In response, the group worked to improve fiscal discipline, reduce the budget burden, and align the budget and monetary policies to support the livelihood and income of citizens. The government initially submitted a proposal to increase the number of civil servants by 3,000, which was restricted entirely in some organizations on 12 organizations and increased by 50% in others that work under high pressure. It was stipulated that the government should move towards a lean but competent civil service in the coming years. In the framework of cost-saving, 80 billion MNT was cut from inefficient current expenses. Some social expenditures were increased. Cancer remains a significant issue among the population, prompting financial support for facilities dedicated to cancer treatment at the Ministry of Health. Equipment costs were provided, and a total of 25 billion MNT was allocated. To address issues of access in kindergartens and schools operating in three shifts, 10 billion MNT was added to rental costs in the Education Minister's package. Funding for dormitory student meals increased to 31.4 billion MNT due to pressing needs. The government decided to build two new cancer hospitals from next year, and funds were allocated for these. Necessary financing was provided to increase bed availability and healthcare services during the 4-5 year construction period. In this year's budget, funds for significant repairs needed by the current National Cancer Center were only partially allocated, but it was fully funded for the next year. The working group reduced inefficient expenditures and allocated the savings to much-needed education and health sectors, responding to societal expectations.

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Economy

World Bank: Mongolia's Dependence on Raw Materials Creates Economic Vulnerability

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: itoim.mn

In its 2024 "Mongolia Climate and Development Report," the World Bank emphasized the importance of addressing the economic consequences arising from Mongolia's growing climate risks and reliance on coal. Challenges of Climate Risk and Development Mongolia's dependence on coal has supported economic growth but has exacerbated the country's vulnerability to climatic hazards. Increased frequency of severe winters, worsening droughts, and rising flood risks due to climate change affect not only rural areas but also Ulaanbaatar's infrastructure. The report stresses the urgent need for sustainable urban planning and strong infrastructure investment to overcome these environmental pressures. Extreme seasonal conditions and climate risks make Mongolia vulnerable, and the frequent natural disasters pose threats to public health, food security, and economic stability. The World Bank advises immediate investment in climate-adaptive infrastructure to protect both urban and rural populations, emphasizing that these measures are economically essential for sustainable development. Economic Vulnerability and Diversification The report highlights the economic risks stemming from Mongolia's dependence on mining, particularly coal and copper, which constitute a significant portion of GDP and state revenue. The heavy reliance on raw material revenues creates economic vulnerabilities. The World Bank recommends that Mongolia diversifies its economy by focusing on renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and critical minerals like copper and rare earth elements. This diversification would shield Mongolia from market shocks and contribute to a more stable economic future. Transforming Mongolia's Energy Sector Mongolia's energy system is heavily reliant on coal, especially for heat and electricity, impacting air pollution and health, with high mortality rates from pollution-related diseases. Decarbonizing Mongolia's energy sector is crucial but challenging. Utilizing renewable energy sources is vital for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving public health. The report underscores the need to upgrade outdated infrastructure, expand access to cleaner energy alternatives, and phase out inefficient coal-based heating systems. This transition aligns with Mongolia's climate goals and addresses air quality and health issues. Policies for Sustainable Growth and Investment Framework Effective governance, targeted subsidies, and leveraging private sector investment are critical for Mongolia to achieve its vision by 2050. The report recommends implementing supportive policies and regulatory frameworks to attract green investments, as well as fostering international partnerships to facilitate Mongolia's transition to a low-carbon economy. Financing Mongolia's Green Future The World Bank estimates that substantial financial resources are needed for Mongolia to achieve sustainable development. Investing in renewable energy infrastructure, climate-resilient agriculture, and sustainable water management is crucial. To finance this green transition, the report advises Mongolia to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and utilize public-private partnerships, international aid, and innovative financing mechanisms to develop a sustainable and resilient economy. By prioritizing climate resilience and investing in the green energy sector while supporting inclusive policies, Mongolia could set a global example in sustainable development. Source: World Bank's guide to effective energy subsidy reforms: Key insights & actions

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Ministry of Economic Development: Goods exempted from tariffs and quotas under the EAEU Free Trade Agreement

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The Ministry of Economic Development has provided the following information regarding which products could be exported and imported if a trade agreement is reached with the Eurasian Economic Union. The Ministry of Economic Development states that a total of 375 types of goods will be exchanged mutually without tariffs or quotas under the free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. Three main types of goods from Mongolia that can be exported to the five countries of the Eurasian Economic Union have been identified. Mongolia will have the opportunity to export 29 types of meat and meat products to the Eurasian Economic Union's market, valued at approximately a billion dollars, without customs duties. Mongolia can also supply 60 types of leather products to a market valued at about seven billion dollars tax-free. In addition, 204 types of wool and cashmere products can be supplied to the markets of the five countries without customs duties. This opens up a $7.5 billion annual demand market for wool and cashmere products for domestic agriculture and livestock businesses. Furthermore, a total of 633 types of products, including dairy, animal offal, fats, sea buckthorn, and potatoes, involved in the "Food Revolution" and "White Gold" programs, can be exported without 15-50% customs duties. Meanwhile, 511 types of goods will come from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. Of these, 89 are food products, which are already being imported in varying amounts by Mongolia. Additionally, 47 mineral chemical products, 181 industrial goods, and other types of products are included. These goods will be exempt from Mongolia's 5% customs duty.

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136.5 Million USD Supplied to Commercial Banks

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

On December 10, the Bank of Mongolia supplied 45.0 million USD to commercial banks at different exchange rates through its foreign exchange auction. On December 5, 26.0 million USD and on December 3, 65.5 million USD were supplied respectively. In total, the Central Bank supplied 91.5 million USD last week through its regular foreign exchange auction. Commercial banks did not submit bids to purchase foreign currency through swap and forward trades. Clarification: Trading at different exchange rates refers to fulfilling the proposals of successful banks at the specific rates of those proposals.

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TODAY: Discussing "The Economic Contribution of Erdenet Factory"

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Here is a summary of events scheduled for Wednesday, December 11: 09:00 AM: A plenary session of the State Great Hural and a working group meeting will take place. The government will also convene. 11:00 AM: At the General Archives Authority, on the occasion of "Science Employee Day," a ceremony will be held at the National Central Archive to receive the personal collection of the late Mongolian Distinguished Scientist, Academician G. Chuluunbaatar. Contact: 9902-7211. 11:00 AM: At the Ministry of Health, a press conference will be held on the state of influenza and similar illnesses, and the impact of air pollution and carbon monoxide. Contact: 9110-8333, 8911-9482, 9612-1060. 12:00 PM: At the State Palace, a hearing will be held for the appointment of a non-judge member of the Judicial General Council. 1:00 - 4:30 PM: The "Go Recycle" campaign, aimed at educating and guiding on environmental protection and waste sorting, will take place at the "Novotel" hotel. 2:00 PM: At the "Khaan" Theatre of Khaan Bank, a discussion titled "Financial Regulatory Commission - 30 Years" will be held. Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Mongolia, the Stock Exchange, IFC, the UN, and other relevant organizations will discuss the current state of the financial market. Contact: 9119-7636. 2:00 PM: At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an academic conference on "The Contribution and Impact of Erdenet Factory on Mongolian Society and Economy" will be held, where the factory's management will present on sustainable development. Culture and Arts: The artists of the State Academic Drama Theatre will perform "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy on stage.

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Will a budget without a deficit slow economic growth?

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

On the evening of the 5th of this month, a plenary session of the State Great Khural was held until 23:40. The new draft of next year's state budget was discussed. During this period, many members expressed dissatisfaction because some previously planned projects and programs were removed from the budget. Minister of Economic Development L. Gantomor stated, "There is no need to be upset with the President. The State Great Khural had approved a resolution to revise the budget together when adopting the previous draft. Approving a budget without a deficit will not slow economic growth. We heavily rely on mining, so we cannot approve a budget with a negative balance." Furthermore, Member of Parliament D. Enkhtuvshin emphasized, "We can boost our economy by attracting investments. Given that the state budget has been profitable since 2023, implementing a counter-cyclical policy is appropriate. By approving a new budget, we have not restricted our development. Instead, we have opened up opportunities for private sector expansion. In recent years, taxes have increased significantly. The total tax and social insurance debt has reached five trillion. This indicates that the private sector is struggling." Economic growth is crucial, and maintaining stable growth is equally important. Our country increased GDP by 5.7% in the first nine months of this year. The government estimates this figure to be 8% next year, while the Asian Development Bank projects a 6% growth, and the World Bank estimates a 6.5% increase. International organizations have evaluated that growth will be mainly influenced by mining sector extraction and domestic demand. There is good news regarding an increase in "Oyu Tolgoi" production in 2025. However, 2026 is not far away. Symptoms suggesting potential economic difficulties by the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027 have already started appearing. There is a saying, "A frightened person buys gold," which is an unspoken rule among investors. When uncertain economic conditions arise, they begin to purchase gold. In 2024, central banks around the world actively bought gold. In the first nine months of this year, central banks purchased a total of 694 tons of gold, with the largest amount purchased in the first quarter. It's necessary to be prepared for an upcoming crisis, and the first step in preparation is a budget without a deficit. The central banks of the Republic of Turkey (45 tons), India (43 tons), Uzbekistan (19 tons), and Poland (33 tons) bought gold. Additionally, as the Federal Reserve reduced interest rates in the USA, the spot price of gold increased by 25% this year. Analysts from major banks like "Goldman Sachs" and "UBS" predict that gold prices, the main metal, will rise in 2025. How much will China's economic growth be next year? Our growth directly depends on this. The Chinese economy, which enjoyed high growth for many years, has started facing challenges. Major state-owned construction companies in the country declared defaults and postponed debt payments. Researchers are cautiously observing this shock in the real estate sector. However, Zolboo, Director of the Finance and Budget Research Department of the Ministry of Finance, stated, "Although the downturn in China's real estate sector has not recovered, decisions made by the Communist Party's congress indicate that the country will pursue a development model based on science and technology." Focus will be given to research and development, and many factories will be built. According to predictions by international organizations such as the World Bank, China's economic growth will be 4.5% next year. The prices of raw materials we supply to the country remain stable. We constantly monitor the foreign market. From this, it's apparent that the views of the government and researchers differ. To conclude, it is emphasized that the authorities need to be ready for the upcoming crisis, and the preliminary preparation is a budget without a deficit.

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We have conducted transactions worth 240 trillion MNT electronically

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

In 2020, the number of active mobile banking users was 1.8 million, which increased to 2.5 million in the second quarter of this year. Furthermore, mobile banking transactions amounted to 67 billion MNT in 2020 and grew to 240 billion MNT by the second quarter of 2024. Electronic payments are a lever to support the growth of the digital economy. Our country adopted its policy on mobile banking and electronic money in 2012. Mobile banking is a banking service that allows customers to access their accounts, make payments, and receive banking services without having to physically go to the bank, using a mobile phone, computer, or other electronic devices.

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The European Union and UNDP Support Responsible Business Practices

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched an initiative aimed at increasing the participation of young people and the media in responsible business practices. The project, titled "Ambassadors of Change: Youth and Media for Responsible Business," was introduced during a forum held on International Human Rights Day. This project, being implemented in Mongolia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, seeks to promote human rights and environmental protection in business activities. The initiative aligns with the Asian regional program "Business and Human Rights: Advancing Sustainable Development through Protect, Respect, and Remedy mechanisms" and is celebrated under the motto "Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now." During the forum, various projects and programs to support responsible business practices, implemented by UNDP with financial backing from the European Union, were presented. Young professionals in the business sector and representatives from media organizations participated in the event, sharing their experiences and exchanging ideas on promoting responsible business practices. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the European Union to Mongolia, Ina Marčiulionytė, stated, "This year marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the European Union and Mongolia, as well as the 20th anniversary of cooperation between the European Union and UNDP. This initiative is a part of our collaborative efforts to protect human rights and promote sustainable development. By empowering youth and the media, we are preparing personnel to create real changes in business practices." The "Ambassadors of Change" initiative aims to enhance the knowledge and understanding of young professionals in the private sector, media workers, and students on business and human rights, and to improve their capacity to disseminate information on this topic. It seeks to align business practices with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Through this initiative, media representatives are supported in producing content on human rights and environmental issues in business. Training sessions and seminars are organized, and young professionals in the private sector are encouraged to implement positive changes and initiatives that are human- and environmentally-friendly within their companies. UNDP's Resident Representative Matilda Dimovska noted that responsible business practices are not only an ethical issue but also a major step towards sustainable development. She stated, "Through this project, we aim to enhance the capacity of youth and media organizations to monitor business practices and ensure they conform to international standards and norms on human rights and the environment." The "Ambassadors of Change" initiative, funded by the European Union, follows the successful implementation of the "Business and Human Rights" Asian regional program, and continues to work towards establishing a legal and policy framework for respecting human rights in collaboration with policymakers and the business sector. More than 60 representatives from the private sector and media participated in the event, joining the call to promote responsible business practices and achieve long-term outcomes. Participants emphasized that sustainable economic growth and social development are possible when the voices of citizens and communities are integrated into policy and strategy. About the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): UNDP is the leading United Nations organization working to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Through broad partnerships with experts and communities in over 170 countries, UNDP offers comprehensive, long-term development solutions for the planet and its people. For more information, please click here.

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Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

A working group established by the decree of the Speaker of the State Great Khural concerning Mongolia's 2025 budget held a briefing today at the State Palace. This group, consisting of 26 members, held four days of meetings to reassess and discuss the 2025 budget. Regarding savings made within the operating expenses of the 2025 budget, the leader of the working group, MP G. Temuulen stated, “The working group achieved savings of MNT 80 billion. With these funds, we have increased spending on socially and economically important projects. For instance, MNT 25 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Health for acquiring a specific facility to be used for cancer hospital purposes. Additionally, MNT 10 billion was designated for rental costs associated with quality issues of schools and kindergartens operating in three shifts, and MNT 31.4 billion was placed in the Education Minister's portfolio for boarding school children's meal expenses. Furthermore, necessary costs for major renovations of the Oncology Hospital have been addressed.” Regarding the expenditure of state funds and the efficiency of state-owned enterprises, MP Kh. Gankhuyag said, “Currently, there are 27 special government funds, of which 13 have their own legal regulations. The rest are merely named under special government funds or regulated by orders from ministry officials. In the proposal of the 2025 budget law, we put forth a suggestion to reduce the financing of special government funds, which was supported by the Budget standing committee. The Employment Promotion Fund, the Education Loan Fund, and the Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Fund currently have at least MNT 760 billion in receivables. Although receivables are not being recovered, these funds have been allocated annually through the budget law, and we have directed the government to reduce this. The amount of loans exchanged among state-owned companies is approaching MNT 3 trillion between them. Profitable companies are lending money to those operating at a loss. Therefore, we have instructed the government to reduce loan amounts by the first quarter of 2025.” On matters of foreign loans and aid, MP O. Nominchimeg mentioned, “In the revised 2025 budget, MNT 1.5 trillion in foreign loans and aid has been projected to implement 89 actions, projects, and programs. The sub-working group is issuing directions to the government on three issues to ensure the effective use of these loans. Foreign loans are being taken for projects that private sectors can implement and are commercial in nature. We have given directions to avoid taking foreign loans for such projects. Of the MNT 1.5 trillion in loans expected to be obtained in 2025, 10% is being used for current operating expenses. It is necessary to reduce training-related expenses that lead to civil servants traveling abroad.” Regarding the reduction of central operating expenses, MP D. Enkhtuvshin stated, “An increase of 3,145 positions was proposed in the budget project for 2025. We have proposed that 1,248 of these positions should not be increased, resulting in savings of MNT 40 billion. Mongolia is expected to have 230,000 civil servants next year. In addition, positions related to the police, internal troops, court decisions, and the Internal Affairs School under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs accounted for 40% of the total increase, so a proposal was made to reduce the number of positions by 50%.” Notice: Media organizations (TV, radio, social networks, and webpages) must cite the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in whole or in part.

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Consumer Goods and Services Prices Increased by 8.1 Percent from a Year Ago

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

The prices of consumer goods and services increased by 8.1 percent in November 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Specifically, the prices in the food, beverages, and water group increased by 7.4 percent, with non-alcoholic beverage subgroup prices rising by 8 percent. In the clothing, textiles, and footwear group, prices rose by 8.4 percent. The housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels group saw an increase of 22.1 percent. Household furniture and household items group prices increased by 7.0 percent. Prices in the hotel, public catering, and accommodation services group increased by 3 percent. The education services group saw a significant increase of 18.6 percent. Additionally, consumer goods and services prices increased by 1.7 percent in November 2024 compared to October 2024. This increase was influenced by a 0.9 percent rise in clothing, textiles, and footwear group prices and a 13.9 percent increase in the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels group. Moreover, the prices of consumer goods and services in November increased by 5.3 percent in Uvs and Bulgan provinces, the lowest rise, and by 15.2 percent in Khovd province, the highest increase, according to a report by the National Statistical Committee.

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Erdenet Corporation Made a Profit of 4 Trillion in 2023

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: news.mn

A meeting to present the report on "The Impact and Contribution of Erdenet Corporation SPC on Mongolia's Society and Economy" was held today. During the event, the General Director of Erdenet Corporation SPC, G. Yondon, stated that Erdenet Corporation is marking its 46th year of operation. Initially, in 1973, a feasibility study was conducted to establish a town with 15,000 people with the goal of utilizing 521 million tons of reserves over a period of 34 years. According to our feasibility study, the reserves can still be utilized until the year 2079, equivalent to another 55 years. Moreover, as a result of exploration work being conducted at the Oyut site, it is understood that Erdenet Corporation could potentially continue operations for an additional 10 years beyond 2079. Back in the challenging early 1990s, during the country's transition to a market economy, Erdenet Corporation historically accounted for more than 30 percent of government budget revenue, reflecting the economy’s compactness at the time. Today, however, the economy is expanding. Revenue from the mining sector, especially over the past year, has been increasing even more after policy decisions such as the implementation of exchange laws and container transport terminals. According to 2023 performance, Erdenet Corporation contributed about 10 percent of the government budget revenue and generated a sales profit exceeding 4 trillion. Additionally, more than 2 trillion in taxes and fees were accumulated into the budget. The company has continuously participated in addressing pressing issues facing the country within the scope of social responsibility.

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Introducing the Sustainable Development Report of Erdenet Mining Corporation

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The team at Gogo is working to deliver information directly. The discussion "Past-Present-Future," which explores the impact and contributions of Erdenet Mining Corporation to Mongolia's social and economic development, is taking place today. The General Director of Erdenet Mining Corporation, G. Yondon, is introducing the company's sustainable development report. The discussion "Past-Present-Future," which explores the impact and contributions of Erdenet Mining Corporation to Mongolia's social and economic development, is taking place today. The General Director of Erdenet Mining Corporation, G. Yondon, is introducing the company's sustainable development report.

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Golomt Bank: Apple Pay Launch Event Held

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Since its establishment, Golomt Bank has strived to provide world-class, innovative services ahead of others to its customers, not just within the banking sector of Mongolia. In this context, Golomt Bank successfully announced today in a press conference that it has implemented a new option for linking its card to the Apple Pay payment tool, used in about 90 countries worldwide. With this much-anticipated solution for iOS users in Mongolia, the previous issue of connecting foreign cards to Apple Pay and paying currency conversion fees has been resolved, allowing the use of the country's card with no additional fees and accessing the fastest payment tool. Golomt Bank CEO A. Odonbaatar stated: "Every payment made with Apple Pay is authenticated using facial recognition, fingerprint identification, or the device's password and a unique dynamic security code, making it very reliable in terms of security. Moreover, this means that the payment options for users with iOS systems like iPhone, iWatch, iPad, and Mac are increased, and the options for merchants and service providers to receive payments are also expanded." Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Communication, Ts. Baatarkhuu said: "We will support Apple Pay and services that meet this standard at the government level. As the number of Mongolian citizens working and traveling abroad increases every year, likewise, the number of foreign visitors coming to our country is also rising. In this situation, the introduction of Apple Pay greatly facilitates international payment transactions for Mongolia." Payment Department Director of the Bank of Mongolia, E. Anar mentioned: "The Bank of Mongolia supports the introduction of diverse payment solutions and collaborates with commercial banks. In particular, we are working to widely implement contactless payments, and the characteristics and infrastructure of Mongolia's payment system are fully capable of supporting contactless payments. Apple Pay is a prominent international example of high-level mobile-based remote payment. Apple Pay's advantage is that it allows users to make purchases more quickly and easily using the app or via a web browser without needing to create a new account or repeatedly enter shipping and payment information. It simplifies the payment process for all types of Apple apps besides payments for food delivery, online shopping, transportation, parking, and other charges." Golomt Bank, by linking its card to the Apple Pay payment tool, becomes one of the first Mongolian commercial banks to officially gain rights for Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. You can link your card to the Apple Pay wallet through the SocialPay app, and you can only connect Golomt Bank's Mastercard and T Cards for more information click HERE.

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Golomt Bank Named "Best Bank in Mongolia" for 2024

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Golomt Bank was named the Best Bank in Mongolia for 2024 by The Banker magazine, a publication of the Financial Times, which is a leading indicator of trends in the international banking and finance sector. This marks the ninth time Golomt Bank has received the Bank of The Year Award. The Banker magazine, a branch of the Financial Times, has a rich history of around 100 years and annually hosts the "Bank of The Year Awards," where top performers are selected from amongst international banks worldwide. Golomt Bank, which holds a significant position in Mongolia's social and economic sectors, has been contributing to the country's economy since its establishment in 1995. In 2024, it was recognized as the "Outstanding Sustainable Bank" for its leadership in sustainable finance. Furthermore, international media organization Capital Finance International (CFI) awarded it as the "Best Bank in Mongolia" for 2024, and Global Finance magazine named it the "Best Digital Bank in Mongolia" for 2024. In addition, the bank has reactivated the efforts to attract international financing for Mongolian commercial banks, a process that had stalled since 2012, and it issued a $300 million bond without a government guarantee. This not only helped to improve Mongolia's credit rating but also served as a crucial step in creating a positive view of Mongolia's economic and business environment internationally. In addition to these efforts, we offer our clients six types of loan products, including discounted, sustainable, and green loan products. We have also invested a total of 42 billion MNT, or 12.3 million USD, in green loans for energy-efficient projects, and aim to make green and sustainable loans account for 10% of our total loan portfolio by 2030. We express our gratitude to our valued customers, partner organizations, investors, and everyone who has trusted us and continued to be part of our success. We finance goodness.

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Euromoney Names Trade and Development Bank as "Best Bank for Corporates" for 2024

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Euromoney magazine conducts the "Awards for Excellence" program each year, recognizing the achievements of banks and financial institutions worldwide and selecting the best of the best. This year, the magazine has selected the Trade and Development Bank as the "Best Bank for Corporates" for 2024. This confirms once again that the bank is a leading institution representing Mongolia internationally. Over the past period, the Trade and Development Bank offered its shares to the public and received orders exceeding 126.4% of the amount initially offered on the primary market. About 50% of the total funds raised were allocated to corporate loans, with a certain portion dedicated to green financing. Additionally, this year, the Trade and Development Bank entered into a long-term financing agreement with the United States government's agency, the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). This financing is intended to support micro, small, and medium enterprises, women entrepreneurs, and efforts to combat climate change in Mongolia. Furthermore, the bank issued Green and Social Bonds worth $50 million in the international market, contributing innovative ideas and new steps towards sustainable financing and development in Mongolia. Based on such products, services, policies, and new initiatives of the Trade and Development Bank, Euromoney magazine awarded it as "Mongolia's Best Bank for Corporates in 2024." The bank aims to continue increasing foreign investment and contribute to Mongolia's sustainable development. Notice
Media organizations (television, radio, social and web pages) must cite their source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, either fully or partially.

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Diplomacy

Signed Agreement on Transfer of Defense Equipment from Japan

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

Today, Mongolia's Minister of Defense S. Byambatsogt and Japan's Ambassador to Mongolia, His Excellency Igawahara Masaru, signed the "Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of Japan on the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology." Specifically, during the state visit of Mongolia's President U. Khurelsukh to Japan in 2022, the two sides announced that they had reached a "Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity between Mongolia and Japan," and agreed to develop cooperation on the transfer of defense equipment and technology between the two countries at this level. Following this, working groups from both sides were appointed to work on establishing the "Government-to-Government Agreement on the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology." This issue was discussed and supported by the Government of Mongolia at its meeting on September 18, 2024.

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Mongolia-China Highway Border Crossing to Temporarily Close

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: news.mn

The Ministry of Road and Transport Development has announced the working hours for border crossings in December. The Chinggis Khaan airport checkpoint will operate according to the international flight schedule during December. However, the Mongolian-Russian border checkpoint at Ulkhan will temporarily close on December 30th and 31st. Additionally, the Zamiin-Uud and Khavirga checkpoints will be temporarily closed on December 29th in observance of the National Day of Freedom and Independence Restoration.

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The "Uranium Project" is a Major Bridge to Expand Cooperation between Mongolia and the European Union

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

B. Purevdorj, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Mongolia and Chairman of the Mongolia-France Parliamentary Group, received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France, Ms. Corinne Pereira da Silva, and Ina Marčiulionytė, who are stationed in Mongolia from the European Union. At the beginning of the meeting, Deputy Speaker B. Purevdorj introduced the 2024 elections of the State Great Khural, its results, and the coalition government, emphasizing that political stability has been established to guarantee democracy, justice, and a free market, positioning Mongolia on the threshold of development progress. He noted that one of the 14 mega projects included in the coalition government's operational program is the uranium project, which was discussed and strengthened during mutual visits between President U. Khurelsukh of Mongolia and President Emmanuel Macron of the Republic of France, and informed that the State Great Khural has made relevant amendments to the Law on Nuclear Energy to accelerate the implementation of the project. The Deputy Speaker emphasized that the joint Mongolia-France uranium project is not only significant for the economies of both countries but also for the energy sector of the European Union countries, expressing confidence that the Ambassadors of these countries will assist in its support. Furthermore, he mentioned that neighboring countries, namely Russia and China, hold a positive attitude towards this project, and informed that the State Great Khural is working to discuss and ratify the project agreement in the autumn session. Ambassador Corinne Pereira da Silva highlighted the importance of the joint uranium project between the two countries in advancing Mongolia's economic and energy development, as well as strengthening its independence, and expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation will continue to expand vigorously. She also mentioned that although the State Great Khural has decided to postpone the budget for the national satellite project during the discussion of Mongolia's 2025 budget, she has no doubt that this important project will be implemented. Ambassador Ina Marčiulionytė remarked that European Union investors are closely observing how the Mongolia-France joint uranium project will be implemented and stated that this project will become a major bridge to expand cooperation between Mongolia and the European Union. She also introduced preparations for organizing the Mongolia-Europe business forum in 2025 and noted the possibility of cooperating in the field of cybersecurity.

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Infrastructure

"Electricity Restrictions to Continue Throughout Winter," Reports UBCTC

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

The UBCTC JSC has reported that electricity restrictions are being implemented in most areas of the capital city. Due to a shortage of power capacity, the National Dispatch Center imposed electricity restrictions through 18 substations of the 110 kV Electric Power Transmission Network JSC from 16:30 to 22:10 yesterday, affecting 125 feeders of UBCTC JSC. As a result, the consumption for a total of 219,592 customers, including 13,244 businesses and 206,348 households, which are supplied with electricity through these feeders, was restricted for 1-2 hours. Regarding the restriction, the National Dispatch Center stated, "Since the restriction is directly implemented to ensure the safety of the system when actual load arises, there are conditions where we cannot notify users in advance. We apologize for this." It is further noted that electricity restrictions are expected to continue in varying degrees throughout the winter depending on renewable energy production.

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Urgent Upgrades Requested for Regional Airports

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Tourism businesses and tour operator companies have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Authority urging the urgent renovation and improvement of regional airports before the upcoming travel season next year. The government has included the improvement and modernization of regional airports in its action program. Specifically, the "Vision-2050" long-term development policy has designated the transformation of four provincial airports into international gateways to boost tourism and foreign trade. These are the “Choibalsan” airport in Dornod province, “Khovd” airport in Khovd province, “Murun” airport in Khuvsgul province, and “Gurvansaihan” airport in Umnugovi province. The plan includes expanding the capacity of these airports to meet international standards, such as accommodating 4C category aircraft on upgraded aerodromes and developing passenger service complexes through a project designed as build-improve-operate-transfer concessions. Expanding “Khovd” airport aims to facilitate international trade between Central and Middle Asia and develop meat exports in the western region. Enhancing “Murun” airport could develop tourism routes linking the world's purest lakes, Khuvsgul and Baikal. According to the Civil Aviation Authority's research, “Choibalsan” airport can become an air cargo hub in Southeast Asia. The tourism sector suggests that these airports be urgently renovated, allowing small aircraft to operate short-haul passenger flights. This is particularly important as some domestic routes, specifically Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad, have already received international and domestic tourist flight bookings for 2025. In 2023, local airline services transported 400,000 passengers. Among them, 340,000 were on flights chartered by Oyu Tolgoi, and the remaining 60,000 were on regular local routes. With flights initially operating on three regional routes, by July 2023, this increased to nine routes.

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UBCTS: Risk of Power Cuts Throughout Winter Arises

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Yesterday, the electricity usage of 13,244 businesses and 206,348 households, totaling 219,592 consumers, was restricted for 1-2 hours. The restrictions are being directly implemented by the National Dispatch Center at the moment of actual load occurrence to ensure system safety. This creates a condition where UBCTS JSC cannot notify consumers in advance, for which they apologize. Future power cuts are expected to vary in size throughout the winter depending on renewable energy production. Therefore, it is advised for each consumer to plan their household electricity usage carefully and adopt the habit of using electricity efficiently during peak hours from 17:00 to 22:00. This means setting usage to 1.5 kW for 220V networks and 2 kW for 380V networks.

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Operating hours and temporary closures of border checkpoints this month

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Ministry of Road and Transport has announced the operating hours and temporary closure days for the border checkpoints this month. According to the announcement, the Chinggis Khaan International Airport border checkpoint will operate according to the international flight schedule. Meanwhile, the Ulikhan border checkpoint on the Mongolia-Russia road will be temporarily closed on the 30th and 31st of this month. Furthermore, the Zamyn-Uud and Khavirga checkpoints on the Mongolia-China road will be temporarily closed on the 29th of this month for the National Independence and Freedom Restoration Day. Notice: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social and Web pages) must mention their source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, whether entirely or in parts.

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MIAT Successfully Conducts Its First Scheduled Flight to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

MIAT, the state-owned enterprise of Mongolia, successfully conducted its first scheduled flight to Ho Chi Minh City in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, thus inaugurating the Ulaanbaatar–Ho Chi Minh flight route. The opening ceremony was attended by S. Batbold, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Road and Transport Development, Nguyen Duan Thanh, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Mongolia, along with other officials, who saw off the guests on the inaugural flight. By initiating this scheduled flight, significant contributions are anticipated towards enhancing trade, economic, transport logistics, and tourism cooperation between Mongolia and Vietnam, with expectations for increased passenger flow between the two countries. MIAT's flight will operate regularly on Tuesdays and Fridays, with today’s inaugural flight carrying a total of 292 passengers. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment and development of the tourism sector in Mongolia. Under the Year of Visiting Mongolia announced by the government, the number of tourists visiting Mongolia has been steadily increasing in recent years. Consequently, the number of air travelers is also rapidly growing. Stabilizing the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, which is a leading city in Southeast Asia and globally known for its economy, industry, and tourism, is projected to further boost passenger and cargo traffic.

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B. Choijilsuren: Power cuts cannot be ruled out until the end of the year

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Most areas of the capital experienced power cuts yesterday. Today, restrictions were also implemented in some parts of the city. Journalists inquired today with the Minister of Energy, B. Choijilsuren, regarding the unannounced power cuts without a specific schedule. - How long will the electricity restrictions for consumers continue?
- We are approaching a certain level of shortage for the remaining period of 2024. The first block of Booroljuut's 150 MW power plant has been connected to the central grid and testing is ongoing. The tests are expected to be completed by January 1st, after which we hope to operate at full capacity and see an improvement. - What is the current status of the construction of the Erdeneburen hydropower plant?
- During the Prime Minister's visit to Shanghai, I signed the special loan agreement. Preparations will be completed this winter, and active work will commence next year. The plant is expected to be operational by July-August 2028. - What about the Egiin Gol hydropower plant project?
- A working group comprising the relevant ministries of the Government of Russia and Mongolia has been established. They will provide a joint assessment of the project's impact on Lake Baikal. - Is there any research on how long power restrictions will be implemented daily?
- Today between 10:00-11:00, during the morning peak load period, restrictions were implemented. Currently, three 150 MW wind power plants are connected to the central region, but none are producing, resulting in zero contribution. There are also six solar plants with a capacity of 90 MW, but they were unable to supply energy to the central region between 11:00-12:00. - Why?
- Due to the absence of sunlight and insufficient wind, it was not possible to contribute. Thus, there is a capacity shortage. - In which areas and for approximately how long will electricity be restricted?
- Before December 15th, while planning to connect the first block of Booroljuut's power plant to the central grid, an unforeseen issue arose, causing a fire. This has delayed the process by 14 days, and I cannot rule out the possibility of some restrictions until the end of 2024. The energy sector is striving to avoid restrictions as much as possible. Due to the power capacity shortage, the National Dispatch Center cut electricity for 1-2 hours to 13,244 businesses, 206,348 households, and a total of 219,592 consumers yesterday, between 16:30-22:10. Warning: Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social, and Web pages) must reference the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, whether fully or partially.

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Transport of Enriched Coal Begins

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

"Erdenes Tavantolgoi” company has commenced the transport of enriched coal. Specifically, the company has begun the shipment of the first products of its coal enrichment plant. The first products of the coal enrichment plant consist of 12.8 thousand tons of enriched coking coal, and this amount of coal was sold through the open electronic trading of the Mongolian Stock Exchange on October 25 of this year. The coal enrichment plant has the capacity to receive and enrich 10.0 million tons of coal annually and is producing two types of concentrate that meet international standards.

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Opened New Air Route

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

MIAT LLP has successfully conducted its first scheduled flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and has opened the Ulaanbaatar–Ho Chi Minh flight route. The start of these scheduled flights will greatly contribute to the expansion of trade, economic, transport logistics, and tourism cooperation between Mongolia and Vietnam and is crucial for increasing the flow of passengers between the two countries. MIAT LLP will operate this flight regularly on Tuesdays and Fridays, with 292 passengers on the inaugural flight. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the development of the tourism sector in Mongolia. With the Year of Visiting Mongolia announced by the government, the number of tourists visiting our country and passengers traveling by air has been increasing in recent years. Therefore, the stabilization of flights to Ho Chi Minh City, which leads in the economy, industry, and tourism not only in Southeast Asia but also globally, is expected to boost passenger transport and cargo turnover further, according to the Ministry of Road and Transport Development (MRTD). The opening of the inaugural flight was attended by the State Secretary of MRTD, S. Batbold, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Mongolia, Nguyen Duan Thanh, and other officials, who saw off the guests of the first flight.

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Restrictions Implemented During Power System Deficit

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Restrictions are being implemented when the power system is in a capacity deficit. Decisions are made instantaneously, so schedules are not provided. The preparation for winter to supply the capital's citizens with electricity was reported to be 100% complete, but in reality, power outages continue. For example, last night electricity was cut in 13 locations in the capital, causing frustration among citizens. When asked about the ongoing power outages, the chief engineer of "Ulaanbaatar Electricity Network" JSC explained: "The power system is in a capacity deficit, leading to restrictions. Based on the decision from the National Dispatching Center to reduce the load, restrictions are being implemented. However, there is no damage to the power lines. The power system, including producers such as wind farms, are unable to supply energy as there is no wind, resulting in a capacity deficit. This issue is being discussed at the system level, not just at 'Ulaanbaatar Electricity Network' JSC. The schedule published on Tog.mn website is for planned maintenance and temporary fault repair on that day." They further clarified a few issues: - Can the schedule for electricity restrictions be made public?
"The schedule for electricity restrictions is not made public. The capacity deficit arises due to weather conditions and other reasons, so we, like the citizens, do not know when restrictions will be implemented. When the National Dispatching Center reports a capacity deficit in the evening, we implement electricity restrictions. The decision to restrict electricity is made instantaneously." - Will electricity restrictions continue this winter?
"If the Booroljuut power plant were in operation, the extent of restrictions would be lesser. Since the plant is not operational, electricity restrictions are likely to continue considerably. The state of electricity restrictions last year is expected to continue in the capital." - How will the battery storage stations in the west and east affect the power system?
"I expect that if the 50MW battery storage station becomes operational, around 20,000-30,000 households' electricity usage can be supported. The 80MW battery storage station built last year in Songinokhairkhan district is supplying about 40,000-50,000 households with electricity in the evenings. However, the electricity system is still unable to handle the load." The company recommended simple ways to conserve energy, such as reducing shower time, opting for stairs instead of elevators, and unplugging unused electrical appliances. The temporary electricity restriction schedule is as follows: Affected areas:
- Bayanzurkh District - 14th Khoroo, 15th Khoroo, 2nd Khoroo, 28th Khoroo, 4th Khoroo, 5th Khoroo, 7th Khoroo
- Sukhbaatar District - 10th Khoroo, 11th Khoroo, 8th Khoroo
- Unplanned outage from 11:09:47 to 13:09:50
Affected areas:
- Bayanzurkh District - 1st Khoroo, 21st Khoroo, 29th Khoroo, 3rd Khoroo
- Sukhbaatar District - 1st Khoroo, 10th Khoroo, 11th Khoroo, 12th Khoroo, etc.
- Unplanned outage from 10:33:37 to 12:33:41
From November 15, the price of electricity consumed by households has been increased by 30%, yet over a million citizens of the capital continue to face electricity restrictions. While Ulaanbaatar struggles to meet its energy demands, the Deputy Prime Minister announced yesterday, "Good news: the export of Mongolia's energy has started." Warning: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) must mention the original source (ikon.mn) when using our information fully or partially in any form.

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Power Outages in Several Areas of the Capital

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Power has been cut off starting at 08:57 in the following locations due to faults. The Ulaanbaatar Electricity Distribution Network Company has announced that electricity will be restricted in many neighborhoods across six central districts of Ulaanbaatar from 08:57 to 10:30. Power has been cut off starting at 08:57 in the following locations due to faults: - Bayangol District: 3rd, 4th, 11th, 12th, 16th khoroos - Sukhbaatar District: 1st, 6th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 14th khoroos - Songinokhairkhan District: 32nd khoroo - Chingeltei District: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th khoroos In these areas, electricity has been temporarily cut off due to necessary reasons.

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A Working Group Established to Focus on the Production and Ingredients of Briquette Fuel

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

A working group has been established to focus on the production and ingredients of briquette fuel. Regarding this, the Chairman of the City Council, A. Bayar, stated, "55.6% of the smoke that causes air pollution in Ulaanbaatar originates from the chimneys of ger districts, while 27.8% comes from vehicles. Thus, 80-85% of the smoke sources are the chimneys of ger districts and vehicle exhausts. We have developed a master plan for short, medium, and long-term efforts to eliminate this smoke. We have calculated how many years it will take to get rid of this smoke. We are researching various sources. First, we will resettle citizens into apartments. From 2024 to 2028, through six sub-centers, we will settle 50,000 families into apartments. At the beginning of the year, we studied scattered sources and established a unit. What will this unit do? It will transition 20,000 households to gas. In 2026, another 40,000 households will be transitioned to gas. Through these efforts, 110,000 households will dismantle their chimneys and convert to gas. This will significantly reduce smoke. This is the first step in short to medium-term efforts. Furthermore, the team under the City's Mayor is working on reducing production by Tavantolgoi Fuel by 40%. We are seeking opportunities for citizens of the ger districts to live well. How can we actively use solar energy for households? We are implementing this not with state budget investments but in cooperation with the UN and the Asian Development Bank. We are implementing practical initiatives based on the research and calculations of our scientists to break free from the smoke. Therefore, the City Council has initiated the establishment of a working group to familiarize themselves with the operations of "Tavantolgoi Fuel" company. The working group will analyze what the standard, quality, and ingredients of the final product that citizens are burning are, whether there are any technological errors or not. We request that the media and journalists work together to inform the public correctly about this work. The City Mayor's Office aims to reduce "Tavantolgoi Fuel" production every year. Ulaanbaatar will be free of smoke when there are no chimneys left.

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B. Choijilsuren: Electricity Restrictions Until the End of the Year

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: itoim.mn

Electricity was restricted in most parts of the city yesterday. Today, restrictions were also imposed in some areas of the city. The Ulaanbaatar City Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (UBCTDS) announced that power restrictions will be frequent during the winter season. Minister B. Choijilsuren provided information to journalists regarding the electricity restrictions. He stated, "In the remaining time of 2024, a certain level of deficit is expected. The first block of the Booroljuut power plant, with a capacity of 150 MW, has been connected to the central grid, and tests are being conducted. The tests are expected to be completed by January 1st, and the plant is anticipated to operate at full capacity. We hope the situation will improve relatively." Today, between 10:00 and 11:00, peak morning load coincided, and restrictions were imposed. Currently, three 150 MW wind farms connected to the central region had no production and were completely inactive. Although there are six solar power plants with a capacity of 90 MW, they were unable to supply electricity to the central region between 11:00 and 12:00. They could not participate due to the absence of sufficient sunlight and wind. As a result, we are experiencing a capacity deficit. Before December 15th, an attempt was made to connect the first block of the Booroljuut power plant to the central grid, but a fire occurred. This has caused a two-week delay, and certain levels of restrictions until the end of 2024 cannot be ruled out. The energy sector is working as much as possible to avoid restrictions.

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Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The National Committee for Energy Reform has budgeted eight billion tugriks to be spent on media next year, as reported by Member of Parliament S.Tsenguun. He expressed concerns that such a large allocation for media expenses, and the fact that this was not communicated to him or other members of the committee, might suggest ulterior motives. As a precaution against possible future risks, he announced his decision to resign from the committee. There have also been calls from citizens to disband this committee. In response to these developments, the National Committee for Energy Reform held a briefing. T.Dorjhand, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia and Chairman of the National Committee for Energy Reform, stated, "Our goal is not only to meet our domestic energy needs but to become an exporting country. The reform initiatives have been launched very successfully. About 20 days ago at the Shanghai Expo, the Prime Ministers of Mongolia and China held discussions and reached an understanding to collaborate on energy projects. The Prime Minister's visit to the Arab countries was also very successful, resulting in agreements to attract investment in green energy production and to collaborate with 'Aqua Power', a company that ranks among the top 10 in that region. Essentially, Mongolia has laid the groundwork to advance major projects. Thanks to an increase in credit ratings and political and economic stabilization, investors are interested in our country. Leveraging this interest, we are working with a collaborative government to develop our energy sector to a level competitive with mining. We aim to resolve foundational issues that have been unresolved for 34 years within 3 to 5 years. In any case, in the next four years, we will ensure 100% of our energy is sourced domestically." "If we want to reform this sector and attract investors, it is crucial to provide accurate and truthful information to the public through the media. There has been a lot of conflicting and misleading information about the National Committee. This poses a risk to our future work. We plan to spend 500 million to 1.5 billion tugriks on disseminating information through the media. It is true that we initially proposed an allocation of eight billion tugriks when the budget discussions began. Afterward, we undertook many tasks, revised electricity tariffs, and changed our policies. Some Members of Parliament did not receive this information, leading to misunderstandings," he said.

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T.Dorjhand: Minister B.Choijilsuren is doing a good job in implementing energy reforms

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The State Great Khural is currently in session. During the session, the 2025 budget is being discussed for the first time. Deputy Prime Minister T. Dorjhand said, "Foreign stakeholders want to invest in the green energy transition. They are asking for standards. For instance, we recently visited Arab countries with the Prime Minister. People there are interested in investing in our green energy and hydrogen projects. In order to do so, they asked us to come up with a policy. The National Committee on Energy is working on this. There is no situation of bypassing the Ministry of Energy or taking over its tasks. Today, we are experiencing power outages and are under restrictions. Minister B. Choijilsuren speaks the truth; this is the reality. There is no foreign investment, no budget funding. Yet, foreign stakeholders are willing to invest in the green transition. However, we lack the transition framework and policy documents. We do not have the necessary structures or experts for this. The sector is fundamentally stuck, necessitating reforms as a basic goal. Minister Choijilsuren is doing tangible and good work. For the energy transition, we need consultancy services from both domestic and international sources. The Ministry of Energy lacks such resources for task execution," he explained.

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Report: Traffic Congestion in the Capital Has Increased by 2 Hours

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: news.mn

The traffic on the main roads of the capital city during morning and evening rush hours is severely congested from east to west, causing frustration among residents. Notably, at the Eastern Four Roads intersection, the intersection near Mongolia National University of Education, and the Central Post intersection, it can take 30-40 minutes at each site, turning these areas into harrowing pressure points filled with honking car horns. TO ADDRESS CONGESTION, FLEXIBLE OFFICE HOURS ARE NECESSARY At the Zhukov bus stop, buses line up in the first lane in a queue of four, while passengers struggle to fit, resulting in pushing and shoving. A passenger on route 50, E. Erdenechimeg, expressed, “I live near the film studio, but I work next to 'Tavanbogd' in Khan-Uul district. My work starts at 08:00 and finishes at 17:00. I wake up at 06:00 and leave my house at 06:30. Upon boarding the bus, I'm stuck at the Eastern Four Roads intersection for 20 to 30 minutes. Further ahead, near the Central Post intersection, there's another hour of congestion. By the time I cross the Peace Bridge and reach the 120 Mankh intersection, it's stopped again. Consequently, I've been late to work four times a month by 30-40 minutes, resulting in disciplinary action and a deduction in my salary. Our city is polluted, uncomfortable, and this congestion causes immense stress. On top of that, the prices of essential goods have increased, and electricity and heating costs have gone up. Who would be pleased with getting pay deducted due to traffic?” To corroborate the citizen’s account, upon arrival at the Eastern Five Roads intersection, we were completely jammed. The traffic officer at this junction was directing vehicles from district 13 to the Sansar service center and then east to west. Meanwhile, the same buses remained stationary. We proceeded to the bus stop at the Mongolian State University of Education. “I've just returned from a personal trip to Dornod province. It took three hours from Officer Circle to here. It’s too much. Last year, there was an attempt to limit vehicle numbers. What will happen this year, who knows. It's manageable right now because the winter isn't severe yet. Once midwinter hits, it’ll be a full stop. Everyone feels frustrated, but what can we do aside from keeping our peace and carrying on through this congestion?” explained citizen B. Boldnyam. According to Decree 988 from the Mayor of the Capital, short-term measures include flexible school and nursery schedules and changing the opening and closing hours of shopping centers, among 48 types of measures planned. SUPPORT FOR SATELLITE CITY DEVELOPMENT Next, we reached the "Mungun Zaviyaa” bus stop. Here, there was a multitude of citizens waiting for the buses, and according to citizen Lhamaa, who was discussing with others, “I've been waiting for about 30 minutes. I run a business and arrived at my shop at 09:00. I had urgent business that required me to return home. I live in Tavanshar. Waiting for the bus for 30-40 minutes is frustrating. If new city planning isn't feasible, then developing satellite cities to reduce this massive concentration should be a focus. Living crammed and stressed in such vast terrain is taxing. Government officials talk and talk, but when will it result in real action, we don’t know. There was talk about relocating universities to rural areas. It hasn't happened yet. Moving large markets out of the city was also discussed, but it hasn't happened. This congestion is primarily due to population concentration.” In the evening, the rush hour congestion previously starting at 17:00 now begins at 16:00, while the morning rush hour that ended at 09:00 now ends at 10:00. To ascertain the cause of the congestion from east to west in the city center, we headed to the Traffic Management Center (ZKUT). ZKUT operates four shifts while the Traffic Police Department operates two shifts around the clock. ZKUT manages 75 online or centrally controlled traffic lights while the Traffic Police Department supplements with officers at 75 locations as needed, employing over 100 personnel. “Ulaanbaatar is split by a railway into two sections: the central area and the residential area. However, lately, the southern parts of Khan-Uul and Bayanzurkh districts have merged into the central area. There are only five crossings linking these areas: the Narantuul Railway Crossing, the Olympic Bridge, the Peace Bridge, the Narangiin Bridge, and the Triangle Bridge. These five crossings manage north-south traffic flow. Citizens say that the traffic stands still from east to west. They describe the bus lines as becoming like trains. Consider this: the traffic flow from the east reaches the Central Post intersection and all vehicles aim to turn south onto the Peace Bridge, where it stalls. The bridge cannot handle the load, causing three to four lanes of traffic to form, blocking the straight path. Essentially, it's a congestion issue due to too many cars and insufficient roads and bridges,” explained N. Namuu, head of the Traffic Control and Supervision Department.

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URGENT: Accident at the Bööljüüt Power Plant inaugurated by the Mayor two months ago, undergoing repairs

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

For the first time, Ulaanbaatar city has traded bonds worth 500 billion MNT in the domestic financial market, investing 300 billion MNT into the Bööröljööt Power Plant. Two months ago, the first block of the Bööröljööt Power Plant, with a capacity of 150 MW, was commissioned and inaugurated. During the event, the Mayor, H. Nyambaatar, remarked, "As part of the Government of Mongolia’s 2020-2024 Action Program and 'New Revival Policy', it was planned to establish a power plant in the Bayan Jargalan district of Töv province, based on the Bööröljööt coal mine. Today, we are witnessing the launch of the first phase of this project, which opens up opportunities to establish a 300 MW power plant and a 71 km-long 220 kV power transmission line." However, the Bööröljööt Power Plant, which was inaugurated with much fanfare, has experienced an explosion during testing and has been put under repair. Specifically, an accident occurred on the technological line of the power plant during load-bearing tests as it was in the middle of staged boiler firing. Efforts are being made to urgently repair the incident.

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Society

What is an A-Class Office?

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

In the business sector, for entrepreneurs competing hard and for anyone striving to build their career, working in an environment that is well-located, comfortable, and close to all necessities is the most crucial factor. Therefore, choosing the right location might be the most important decision you make. A pleasant office to work in involves more than just furniture, desks, chairs, and atmosphere; it also involves considering many aspects such as office environment, ventilation, and building design. This is why we recommend the MN Tower office to you. You don't need to conduct business meetings and negotiations elsewhere. The high-class, European-standard office will represent your business and reflect the success of your organization. Enhancing employee satisfaction and comfort will increase work productivity. For business partners, being punctual is a sign of respect and focus on the work being done. There is also a saying that both success and failure depend solely on time management. As it's in the city's A-grade, you can handle your work in Ulaanbaatar's traffic by simply walking there. The first through sixth floors have service shops, restaurants, and children's play centers to save your time and effort. Of course, flexible payment options are available. We invite distinguished businessmen like you to choose from the high-grade MN TOWER office located in the city's A district, just to the west of Freedom Square, fully operational and ready. You can purchase with a special loan at a 1.5% interest rate. Address: Chingeltei District, 5th Khoroo, MN TOWER, 20th floor, Ulaanbaatar Properties LLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ubpropertiesll/ Phone: 77009919-2 Website: https://mntower.mn/

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Grandson of Former President Connected to Kidnapping and Murder of Chinese Nationals

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Two citizens of our country, in collaboration with two Chinese citizens, kidnapped two Chinese nationals who recently arrived from China. One was killed during the incident that occurred last Thursday. At the time, there were reports that one of the Mongolian citizens involved was the child of a well-known person. During the investigation, it was determined that a 23-year-old named A. Dayantumur, who had previously studied in China, is the son of Ts. Arslandorj, the brother of former President Ts. Elbegdorj. A. Dayantumur and his accomplices, along with two Chinese nationals residing temporarily in our country, met the two victims who arrived on a flight from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar. They then demanded money from their compatriots, assaulted them, and killed one with a firearm. Attention: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social Media, and Websites) must credit (ikon.mn) as the source when using our information in any form, completely or partially.

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The First Four Job Centers in the Capital Open Their Doors

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The Government of Mongolia has set the goal in its 2024-2028 activity program to "introduce a national platform for employment exchange and social services meeting international standards, and increase employment through public-private partnerships." In line with this initiative, the first 4 "Job Centers" in Ulaanbaatar opened their doors yesterday. Located in the Khan-Uul, Bayangol, and Sukhbaatar districts, these centers provide citizens with opportunities to have their skills assessed, receive career advice, find job placements, obtain information about the labor market, and access unified information on laws and regulations implemented in the sector, all in one place. These "Job Centers" will offer specialized services for mothers caring for children and people with disabilities, tailoring their operations to meet their unique needs. In the future, a total of 19 "Job Centers" are planned to operate nationwide. The Minister of Labor and Social Protection L. Enkh-Amgalan, the Head of the General Office of Labor and Welfare Services Z. Enkhbold, and the Executive Director of the "National Association of Mongolian Employment Exchanges" NGO A. Amarjargal attended the opening of the first 4 "Job Centers."

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Proposal to Remove 35,000 Citizens from Food Stamps was Repealed and Confused

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: news.mn

The Standing Committee on Budget of the Parliament held a meeting today and is conducting the second reading of the bill to amend the 2025 State Budget Law of Mongolia, voting on proposals with fundamental differences submitted by the standing committees. MP P. Sanzorig proposed reducing the variable costs of private general education schools in Ulaanbaatar by 38.5 billion MNT to improve dormitory facilities in rural areas and increase the number of schools and kindergartens in the capital by 38.5 billion MNT. When this proposal was put to a vote, none of the committee members present supported it. The Innovation Electronic Policy Committee introduced a proposal to reduce the expenditures of outsourced services for the Broadcasting Development Fund by 1.5 billion MNT and to increase the expenditures for pre-school education by 1.5 billion MNT, based on performance results. Before the vote, Minister of Electronic Development, Innovation and Communications Ts. Baatarkhuu explained, "We have included a proposal to add money to the performance incentives for kindergarten teachers. In 2020, we passed the Broadcasting Law and established a fund for producing radio and television children's educational and cultural works. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, due to lobbying, this fund is finally receiving a budget this year. You should not support this proposal." The members did not support the proposal, leaving the expenses for outsourced services of the Broadcasting Development Fund unchanged. MP S. Zulpkhar's proposal to transition 35,000 citizens from food stamps to employment in 2025 was not supported and was defeated by the committee members. Afterwards, Minister of Family, Labor and Social Protection L. Enkh-Amgalan explained, "How can we defeat the proposal to remove 35,000 citizens from food stamps? This proposal is not related to the budget, but rather to the government's planned levels. A correction related to the budget submission is necessary." Following this explanation, a procedural suggestion to nullify the previous vote was made and a re-vote gained 63.9% support for removing the 35,000 citizens from food stamps. The proposal to rename the project budgeted at 56.3 billion MNT for the construction of a new thermal source in Nalaikh district, planned to receive 16.9 billion MNT funding in 2025, to the Integrated Hospital Building of Nalaikh District, was not supported by the Standing Committee on Social Policy. Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan stated, "The 2025 funding amount for the construction of the new heat source in Nalaikh district is 16 billion MNT. The name change is to implement a project for the Health Center of Nalaikh district as the hospital does not meet the standards. No changes will be made to the cost or funding amount in the budget. The Social Policy Standing Committee received incorrect information that the design is incomplete. A letter and design plans have been received from the Ministry of Health. Since we're just changing the name." However, the members did not support this proposal either, and it was defeated. Subsequently, MP D. Tsogtbaatar proposed to nullify the previous vote, and with a re-vote, the proposal to change the name was supported.

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G. Saranzayaa: 74% of Mongolian Men Experienced Violence in Childhood

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

We spoke with G. Saranzayaa, the Gender Senior Specialist of the Asian Development Bank's Mongolia Resident Mission, about the main drivers affecting gender-based violence and how to prevent it. Their team researched what types of violence Mongolian men predominantly experience. - Can you explain what gender-based violence is from a professional standpoint? Does it include domestic violence? - Gender-based violence is a very broad concept. Depending on your gender, you may be more susceptible to violence. This includes domestic violence. It also encompasses human trafficking, sexual exploitation, workplace sexual harassment, and many other forms such as violence against children. Research shows that 1 in 3 women globally has experienced violence in some form, not only in Mongolia but worldwide. - What is the main cause of this type of violence? - It is the imbalance of power. Whoever has more power, privilege, and higher status in society is more likely to commit violence. Violence is not just physical; it can manifest in sexual, economic, emotional forms, and others. The root cause of this violence is based on patriarchy, which creates more advantages for men over women. About 90% of those affected by gender-based violence are women. In a patriarchal society, obligatory roles are imposed, such as women should look after the children and cook. As a result, children become victims of violence, enduring it without realizing it. A child who grows up witnessing their mother being abused is very likely to become an abuser as an adult. This is why violence repeats generation after generation. - Can you provide information about the main goals of the study on gender-based violence and what organizations started it? - The key to achieving gender equality is to create a society without violence. In the past 10 years, many international organizations have implemented projects and programs aimed at this goal. This effort is aligned with enforcing the Law on Combating Domestic Violence. The Asian Development Bank saw the need to conduct research involving men as a target group. The United Nations Population Fund conducted a study in 2017 called "Naked Truth" based on women's experiences. It found that 1 in 3 women has suffered violence, and 1 in 2 women has experienced sexual harassment. Therefore, they investigated why 90% of men commit violence, what the underlying causes and motivating factors are. This is distinctive because, to my knowledge, this type of research focused solely on men had never been done before in Mongolia. We selected nine locations across four directions, encompassing eight zones of Mongolia, and involved 400 men. Considering Mongolia has 3.5 million citizens, obtaining samples from 400 and 4000 men is not much different according to research methodologies. The study included participants from aimags, soums, and cities aged 18-60, based on household data. This research addressed many sensitive topics never done before in Mongolia. Each participant spent about one hour and thirty minutes answering many questions, including some sensitive topics, using methods such as showing pictures and stickers. We collaborated with the "IRIM" research organization. Emma Fulere worked as an international consultant. The project lasted over a year and we are still working on it. The final results will be presented to the public in March next year. - The research findings where 74% of Mongolian men experienced violence in childhood caught attention? - The study found that most men suffer mental stress from a young age, linked with patriarchal norms. From a young age, boys are subjected to detailed gender norms emphasizing that a man should be strong, financially independent, support a family, have a solid footing for everything, and should not cry. While women are expected to be pure, take care of their husbands, and manage domestic affairs. This creates tremendous pressure on men. Men suffer immensely, unable to express their struggles, but they are always troubled inside. Young men, for instance, face severe mental health issues. Internationally, 5% of men are found to suffer from depression. However, this figure is three times higher for Mongolian men, at 17.2%, with depression starting between ages 15-20, according to the findings. Additionally, 74% of participants experienced some form of violence in childhood. Notably, a child who witnesses his mother being abused is three times more likely to become an abuser. Also, 19% were victims of sexual abuse in childhood. A child subjected to such violence is five times more likely to commit violence as an adult, confirmed by qualitative research. - The study suggested that cases of domestic violence against women vary by season. What explains this? - This study was conducted after last year’s dzud (severe winter conditions). It showed that 41% of men experience stress due to the dzud or climate change-related issues, which is relatively high. Qualitative research revealed that after a dzud, the mental health of local male herders enters a state of shock. Unable to process their stress, they express anger towards their partners, leading to increased intimate partner violence. Although not a root cause, it is a contributing factor. - It is often said that violence stems from skewed social relations and lack of gender equality. If so, won’t solving this issue require more than legal measures? - In the last 20-30 years, our country has made significant progress towards gender equality. A law was passed in 2011 specifically explaining the term ‘gender’. In 2016 and 2017, laws related to domestic violence were updated. Human trafficking and domestic violence were categorized under criminal offenses. Efforts to combat gender-based violence continue in an orderly manner. We have also established the National Committee on Gender. However, fighting only domestic violence and improving the legal framework alone cannot achieve elimination. Multi-sector participation is crucial. For example, strengthening economic capabilities, considering how to empower individuals economically, and involving education, tourism, and cultural sectors in policy development are necessary. Sectoral gender policies are incorporated among 16 ministries and 14 agencies. Yet, individual and international organization involvement is vital in stopping gender-based violence. - International and national strategies and programs for combating gender-based violence do not seem very effective. Is it due to a lack of response measures, or do we need a more comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach? - It's cost-effective to focus more on prevention than response. It shows that without implementing and practicing strategies to prevent violence from passing down generations, the strategies are ineffective. Although we’ve established temporary shelters for family crime victims, the shortage of long-term and stable social workers and psychologists is evident. This leads to understaffed services, thus reducing the quality of temporary shelter services. Consequently, victims lose trust in services provided in their districts. Therefore, change must involve not only the Mongolian government but also individuals and various sectors. Then, we can implement preventive measures. - What measures should be taken to stop violence? - It is crucial to seek preventive measures first. Our country has established laws that hold perpetrators accountable and provides temporary shelters for victims. The capacity to respond has improved nationally. Yet if we don’t focus on prevention, it brings many economic losses. Starting from knowing how many temporary shelters operate nationally for family violence victims results in high costs, including operational and food expenses. A one-time service does not lead to significant outcomes. Services must be provided throughout the victims' lives. Given national capacity and workload levels, it is indeed necessary to focus on working with men. - How can we prevent it, specifically? - Our international consulting expert has identified effective measures against gender-based violence prevention. For instance, strengthening women's economic capabilities can prevent gender-based violence. Training vulnerable groups and potential victims to enhance their economic capabilities has been deemed highly effective. Instead of just providing cash, it involves showing how to engage in activities to support household income. Economically empowered women can support their household income as they wish and prevent violence. Essentially, this prevents children from becoming victims of neglect. This is the largest preventative measure. Secondly, it's necessary to implement prevention programs for young children through pre-school education and schools. Instead of just discussing violence, it’s about understanding what healthy relationships are. Additionally, through health education, creating a clear understanding of partner and safe sexual relationships is essential. These are known as comprehensive sexuality education programs. Our country developed it back in 2018. Unfortunately, it is not being delivered efficiently and effectively. Nationally, to prevent these issues, there need to be defined budgets for what each sector should do. Without a budget, it's impossible to implement the programs. Therefore, allocating some funding from the state budget is crucial.

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Environment

The SPRIM Project Aimed at Strengthening Mongolia’s Plastic Recycling System Presents Its Outcomes

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The "Sustainable Plastic Waste Management in Mongolia (SPRIM)" project, which aims to address issues related to plastic waste management in Mongolia, particularly recycling, to develop solutions, and ensure sustainable plastic waste management, held its closing ceremony today. This project, supported by the SWITCH-Asia program of the European Union, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the Australian Volunteer Program, and the Khishig-Öndör district governor's office, has been implemented for 4 years in three locations: Ulaanbaatar city, Bulgan province, and Khishig-Öndör district, and is now entering its final month. The SPRIM project, implemented by Caritas Czech Republic, the Mongolian Environmental Safety Center, Ecosoum, and the Bridge for Sustainable Development of Mongolia, focused on developing an effective waste management system, supporting plastic waste-recycling SMEs, strengthening the legal framework, and implementing pilot solutions in rural areas. The notable results of the SPRIM project, which aims to create a healthy and safe environment for future generations of Mongolia, include organizing around 260 training sessions for 230,000 people and training 272 trainers in Ulaanbaatar and Bulgan province on plastic waste management. Mongolia developed and approved national standards from international standards related to plastic waste recycling, such as MNS ISO 15270:2024, a general guide for recycling plastic waste, and MNS ISO 16869:2024, an efficiency assessment of compounds that inhibit mold growth in plastics. A policy recommendation was developed to create a favorable legal environment for plastic waste recycling and an impact assessment of the Waste Law's implementation was conducted, along with draft amendments including the extended producer responsibility mechanism. A Re+ online platform for collecting plastic waste was developed. Over 30 civil society organizations were empowered to operate in the field of plastic waste management and initiatives like "Do Not Litter," "Re-do," and "Let's Recycle" were supported. Two visits to the Czech Republic and Germany were arranged to study experiences and include over 30 engineers, technical staff, and managers of plastic recycling plants. Manufacturers had the opportunity to present their products at international plastic expos during these visits, which allowed them to learn from European experiences and expand international relations. To prepare specialized human resources for plastic recycling plants and ensure sustainable development, a curriculum for the "Plastic Recycling Technology" course was developed to offer to students studying engineering. The results of the project, including a market survey of recycled plastic products in Mongolia, an evaluation report on current plastic recycling technology, and a guide on establishing an appropriate waste management system at the district level, were shared with the public in over 30 studies, reports, and guides. During the closing ceremony, SPRIM project beneficiaries, implementers, and organizers gathered to reflect on the past 4 years and discuss the outcomes that are still beneficial today. Distinguished guests congratulated the project team and stakeholders, highlighting their valuable contribution to developing Mongolia's plastic waste management. Advisor N. Urtnasan from the Ministry of Environment said: "I am pleased that such a comprehensive project has been implemented, from changing the behavior and attitude of ordinary citizens in Ulaanbaatar towards plastic waste to introducing international standards at the industry level. The ministry takes a special interest in waste issues. I am confident that the household and district-level model scenarios developed as a result of the project will continue to spread nationwide." Meanwhile, Project Manager Arno Pierre Aprieu from the Delegation of the European Union to Mongolia shared: "As urbanization and accompanying consumption are increasing, plastic waste is becoming a pressing environmental issue. The SPRIM project has developed innovative solutions that can be implemented not only in Mongolia but also in other countries worldwide, contributing significantly to shaping the future of plastic recycling." The event featured highlights from the project team and stories from beneficiaries on how they developed with the SPRIM project, leaving a deep impression on all guests. Schools like the Uudam Mongol School, which started separating waste after participating in project training, have now become role models where every student separates waste at school and home, taking pride in this cultural change. A notable moment of the closing ceremony was the introduction of the RE+ application, which plays a key role in the system for sorting, collecting, and delivering plastic waste as raw material to factories. During this event, the Ministry of Environment awarded the SPRIM project team with recognition for their contribution to developing Mongolia’s plastic waste recycling system. Caritas Czech Republic's representative Jana Zilkova was awarded the "Leading Environmental Worker" title, and Project Manager B. S. Garav received a letter of commendation from the Ministry of Environment. Although the 4-year project is coming to an end, SPRIM has laid a solid foundation for future work at every system level, and its achievements will continue to contribute to developing Mongolia's plastic waste recycling management nationwide.

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D. Önörbat: Yesterday, sulfur dioxide and particulate pollution were highest around the District 1 area

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The air quality of Ulaanbaatar city has been assessed. According to D. Önörbat, a specialist responsible for air quality issues at the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring, "On the past day, the concentration of air pollution decreased to a certain extent compared to the previous day. The concentration of sulfur dioxide pollutants ranged from 2 to 240 micrograms per cubic meter, with the highest levels in District 1, Nalaikh, and Tolgoit. Around District 1, it was the highest, being 4.8 times over the air quality standard. In terms of nitrogen dioxide, the concentration of pollutants varied between 13 and 108 micrograms per cubic meter, with high concentrations in District 1 and Tolgoit, and the highest concentration around 100 Ail, being 2.1 times over the standard. PM10 particulate matter varied between 28 and 233 micrograms per cubic meter, with the concentration around District 1 being 2.3 times higher than the air quality standard. High concentrations were also observed in 100 Ail and Khailaast. However, PM2.5 particulate pollution had concentrations of 24 to 180 micrograms per cubic meter, with the highest levels found in the ger districts of District 1, Khailaast, Nalaikh, and Tolgoit. Especially around District 1, PM2.5 particulate matter was 3.6 times over the air quality standard." Warning Please note that media organizations (Television, Radio, Social, and Web platforms) must fully or partially use our information by citing the source (ikon.mn) when utilizing it in any form.

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Let's Recycle Campaign Sets Sustainable Goals for Mongolia

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Within the framework of the "Let's Recycle" campaign, Mongolia aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 22.7 tons by 2030. With special permission from MPA Agency, the "Let's Recycle-Go Recycle" event was organized today with the aim of providing information and guidance to companies interested in sorting and recycling waste to protect the environment. This event was organized by the "Add Color" NGO in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, supported by the EU-funded "Sustainable Plastic Waste Recycling in Mongolia" project. The event shared methodologies for producing corporate sustainability reports and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports and discussed practical experiences in waste management implementation. Waste transporters, recycling plants, and representatives of the legal sector convened to explore future collaboration opportunities. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and various companies, sharing their findings and recommendations on linking waste impact research to daily business operations, decision-making, and long-term visions. Since 2014, the United Nations has observed December 5 as World Soil Day. In this context, business entities were informed about pollution factors affecting soil, including waste, and emphasized necessary legal frameworks and future measures. Mongolia has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22.7 tons by 2030, in line with the 1992 Rio Declaration and the 2019 Paris Agreement. Through the "Let's Recycle" campaign, waste reduction management, sorting, collection, transportation, recycling, and disposal are being implemented in an environmentally and socially responsible manner to contribute to climate change mitigation. The project is planned for the period 2024-2030. It includes conducting surveys with 400-1,000 participants and collecting 190 data sets, currently at 48% completion. The survey will run until January 2025. Additionally, in collaboration with "Nepko Kids," four series of books are planned. The first book, "Spy Odko," has been sent to print, as highlighted by M. Munkhzuya, head of the "Add Color" NGO. "We aim to launch a comprehensive waste information website," says M. Munkhzuya. Phase-to-phase implementation includes creating character-based educational content, specially designed waste sorting bags and bins, and waste collection points. "Recently, there is a tendency for consumers to prefer environmentally-friendly brands, with a 72% increase in such buyers compared to five years ago. Providing children with proper waste information from a young age is crucial, particularly with the efforts focused on 5-8 year-olds through comic books, instilling good habits of waste sorting. We will also develop a mascot to deliver waste information and conduct a campaign for public awareness through it. Furthermore, we plan to produce five types of waste bags—distinctively Mongolian and reusable, including decomposable bags for food waste," stated M. Munkhzuya.

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An Earthquake of 3.7 Magnitude Occurs in Khairkhan Soum, Arkhangai Province

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7 occurred in Khairkhan Soum, Arkhangai Province. The epicenter of the earthquake was located 19 km west of the center of Khairkhan Soum, 25 km northeast of the center of Erdenemandal Soum, and 41 km southeast of the center of Tsetserleg Soum, according to the Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics of the Academy of Sciences. Geographical location (Latitude, Longitude): 48.64, 101.67 Earthquake magnitude is measured on an 8 magnitude, 12-point intensity scale. The magnitude measures the force at the central region below the surface where the earthquake occurs, while the intensity is measured in points based on what is felt and observed on the ground or on buildings. Magnitudes of 2.5 are only recorded by instruments. Magnitudes of 2.5-5.4 can be felt by people, with slight damage possible. A magnitude of 5.5-6.0 may cause minor damage. A magnitude of 6.1-6.9 can cause damage in urban areas. A magnitude of 7.0-7.9 causes severe damage, and earthquakes above 8 magnitude are considered very strong, potentially causing complete destruction near the epicenter. Warning Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social and Web pages) should note that when using our information in any form, whether complete or part, it is mandatory to mention the source (ikon.mn).

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Whose Fault is the Smog?

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Back in the day, Ulaanbaatar used to be smog-free. It was a time when, amidst much fanfare and excitement, we unanimously elected our country's president. We even clapped for our leaders who were at the top levels of government. But then, suddenly, the smog reappeared, a dense fog hung in the air. Everyone, young and old, was plagued by headaches and endless colds. Sore throats and unexplained headaches became a daily struggle. WHAT HAS THE GOVERNMENT DONE TO ELIMINATE THE SMOG? An audit report reviewing the expenditure and efficiency of funds used by the government to reduce air and environmental pollution states that 456 billion MNT was spent from 2017-2020 to tackle the smog. Approximately 1.3 billion MNT was spent just last year. In 2019, burning raw coal was prohibited and the switch to improved briquettes was made. In 2020, the country's leaders declared victory over the smog, and we, the citizens, applauded. However, soon after, the number of people dying from carbon monoxide poisoning increased, and our frustration with breathing smog-filled air reached its peak. At a recent meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industrial Policy, A. Batzorig, Head of Finance and Economic Department of Tavantolgoi Fuel LLC, announced that air pollution has been reduced by 50% due to a decrease in PM2.5 by 56% and PM10 by 43%. DID THE SMOG DECREASE IN 2020? Research from the National Statistics Office states that the average particulate matter level in the first three months of 2020 decreased by 53% compared to the previous year. However, the average concentration of other air pollutants rose, with sulfur dioxide increasing by over 50% and nitrogen dioxide by about 20% compared to the previous year. Interestingly, respiratory illnesses related to air pollution fell by 22% from the previous year in 2020. This could be attributed to the habitual wearing of masks due to the pandemic. After 2021, the smog increased again, reaching a disaster level by 2024. While the authorities claim that the improved fuel has reduced the smog, many public opinions suggest issues with the composition of the improved fuel. In response to the criticism, Tavantolgoi Fuel LLC clarified that they produce and deliver 2200-2500 tons of improved briquettes daily to Ulaanbaatar households. There is currently no threat of raw material shortages for briquette production. Since Tavantolgoi Fuel was established in 2019, energy coal or Middling sorted and separated by Energy Resource Company has been used. This Middling accounts for 95% of the briquette's composition and meets the MNS6226:2011 standard. The briquettes are produced to standards using this Middling. Since 2019, there has been no change in the composition of the briquettes, which are made with 95% Middling and 5% binder. The binder is made from starch derived from vegetable-based corn. Additionally, binders produced by local companies that include cellulose and natural limestone are used. Essentially, vegetable and natural-based binders are used. The company conducts regular inspections through third-party organizations and internal laboratories. A. Amartuvshin, Deputy Governor of Ulaanbaatar for Social Sector, Green Development and Air, and Environmental Pollution, provided information on solutions for reducing air pollution and the city's budget. He noted that sulfur levels have increased, as confirmed by laboratory tests, but air pollution has decreased by 50-60% compared to when raw coal was being used. Year by year, air pollution known as smog is increasing. Its toxicity is severe and contributes to the rise in respiratory illnesses. The dissolution of the "National Committee to Reduce Air and Environmental Pollution" and the transfer of its responsibilities and budget to the Ulaanbaatar city administration and the Ministry of Environment and Climate had a negative impact on the continuity of this policy, experts say. The smog remains an ongoing issue. Our children's health pays the price for the dangers of smog. Winters are challenging. While some citizens urge others to choose wisely during elections, everything often stays the same. Should we, the voters, blame ourselves for these choices? Or should we hold the officials who cannot tackle simple issues accountable? According to the Constitution, every citizen of Mongolia has the right to live in a healthy and safe environment. Back in the day, Ulaanbaatar used to be smog-free. It was a time when, amidst much fanfare and excitement, we unanimously elected our country's president. We even clapped for our leaders who were at the top levels of government. But then, suddenly, the smog reappeared, a dense fog hung in the air. Everyone, young and old, was plagued by headaches and endless colds. Sore throats and unexplained headaches became a daily struggle.

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Innovation

Highlighting the eSchool Integrated Education Platform

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Today's article highlights the eSchool integrated education platform. eSchool is bringing innovation to the education sector with its technological solutions, automating the daily activities of schools and kindergartens. Currently, over 200 schools, 180,000 students, and more than 250,000 parents and guardians are using eSchool. If you work in the education sector, or are a parent or guardian, be sure to read the article to the end. Who is the eSchool integrated education platform intended for? eSchool is a unified platform that not only makes the school environment and the teaching and learning process smarter but also serves as a bridge of communication for all parties involved in this process, such as teachers, parents and guardians, students, and school administrators. It is a platform that can be used by all educational institutions, including schools and kindergartens. What does the eSchool integrated education platform offer? The eSchool integrated education platform offers systems such as LXP - School Management System, LMS - Learning Management System, ERP, and systems for school administrators, digitizing the daily operations of schools, saving time for all school staff, and enabling more productive and transparent operations. Furthermore, eSchool connects teachers, parents, and children through applications like eTeacher, eParent, and eStudent, significantly enhancing the learning process. These three apps contain over 100 modules crucial for parents, teachers, and children. Highlights of eSchool: If you are a parent: You can instantly receive information related to your child's learning and behavior, as well as safety-related information such as school meals and buses. You also have the opportunity to connect with school administrators and teachers, providing feedback and working together. If you are a teacher: You can easily complete routine mechanical tasks and manual work. It also allows you to quickly prepare reports and analyses automatically, letting you dedicate more of your time to your primary work. If your child is school-aged: Students have immediate access to all information related to their educational activities through the system. They can also create their own learning plans and analyze the outcomes to foster development. Contact us: Phone: 77737000 Email: info@eschool.mn Facebook page: www.facebook.com/eschooldotmn Notice: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social and Web pages) should ensure that the source (ikon.mn) is mentioned when taking and using our information in any form, either wholly or partially.

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Ts. Munkhbaatar: The World Intellectual Property Organization Recognized That a Mongolian Engineer Invented a Smokeless Stove

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

Air pollution has become a pressing issue that poses a threat to national security. A Mongolian engineer has created a smokeless stove that is gaining recognition worldwide. - We have heard that you invented a smokeless stove, and it seems everyone is intrigued and interested in it. Since smoke is the most urgent danger for Mongolians today, we wanted to interview you about your technology. - Mongolians were initially unfamiliar with the concept of a smokeless stove. It seems they are only now understanding that there is a stove that burns smoke itself. I have been striving for more than ten years to introduce this technology in my homeland. Our "Nomadic Eco" stove is a double-combustion stove that burns the smoke again. To put it simply, instead of letting the smoke go straight up the chimney, it passes through a second chamber where it gets additional air and burns again. This has been proven through many trials. This method is used with the government's improved fuels and ER's washed coal, resulting in a smokeless process. Our stove has been registered with all official professional organizations, including the Mongolian Intellectual Property Office, the Standardization and Metrology Agency, and the Chemistry and Chemical Technology Institute of the Academy of Sciences, passing all their requirements and obtaining certifications. These institutions have found that while government agencies allow up to 9800 mg/nm3 for nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulates, our stove only emits 3169 mg/nm3. - We heard that the World Intellectual Property Organization registered your invention? - Yes, this technology is registered and recognized by the World Intellectual Property Organization. We have obtained intellectual property patents from over 60 countries, including Russia and China. While various countries we have received patents from are very interested in our technology and discuss collaboration, I want to introduce it in my homeland first because I was born a Mongolian. - Do you have any studies regarding the economic benefits for households? - Yes, of course. Using our "Nomadic Eco" stove, the main benefit is that people do not have to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning and can save on fuel, resulting in economic savings. In a regular stove, 50% of improved fuel turns into smoke that disperses into the air, but our stove burns it again to produce more heat. With our stove, a household can use a 25 kg bag of fuel for two and a half days. Therefore, there is economic efficiency. We have been developing our stove for over ten years. In 2023, it was upgraded to include a pot stand for cooking. This allows people to cook using very little fuel while also generating heat. Most importantly, it eliminates the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Currently, there are approximately 4.8 billion household stoves in use globally. In Mongolia, including rural areas and Ulaanbaatar, there are over 500 thousand stoves in use domestically. We have been researching and developing our stove for more than a decade and traveled to many places, including abroad. Various institutions, including the World Intellectual Property Organization, have tested and acknowledged that a Mongolian engineer has created a smokeless stove. As a result, we are now advancing beyond household heating stoves to produce many types, including portable and institutional stoves. Another significant issue globally, besides smoke, is waste. The entire world is searching for solutions on how to manage waste. Therefore, we have developed and finalized a smokeless waste-burning stove and are beginning to introduce it. Discussions have been made about using the ash produced in construction materials and energy production, forecasting many positive outcomes from this.

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Registration for "UB Robot Challenge - 2024" has started

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Registration for the “UB Robot Challenge - 2024” has begun. This competition is organized for secondary school students, university and college students, and youth interested in technology. The competition aims to provide a foundation of technological knowledge to teenagers, spread innovation culture, support the development of technical thinking in youth, familiarize them with technological advancements, and enhance teamwork skills. This is the second year the competition is being held. It will be organized in 12 categories and registrations will be accepted online until the 17th of this month. The competition will be held at the 'Mongolian Aspiration' school, according to the Capital Business and Innovation Agency.

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Portable Devices with AI Technology Delivered to Hospitals

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The Ministry of Health has announced that portable X-ray machines based on artificial intelligence have been delivered to medical centers in 11 provinces and four districts. These machines were supplied with funding from the World Bank's project, "COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness for Mongolia." Manufactured in South Korea, these devices are notable for their capability to diagnose a wide range of conditions detectable by X-ray, including bone fractures and injuries, with high accuracy. Furthermore, operating the machines and diagnosing patients do not require a specialist doctor, as the device itself processes all the information and establishes the diagnosis.

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Students' Ability to Learn in the Digital Environment to be Evaluated Internationally

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

In 2022, our country participated for the first time in the international PISA assessment of academic achievement. When evaluating students' creative thinking, their ability to read, comprehend, and express themselves was found to be poor. Now, the Education Assessment Center has announced plans to have students' learning capabilities in the digital environment assessed in the coming year. During the "Covid-19" pandemic, students were taught online instead of in classrooms. The education sector accelerated its digital transition during that time, according to observers in the field. However, there are still households without even smartphones or televisions. Researchers have noted that digitalization of educational activities risks excluding many children from educational services. Thus, Mongolia intends to have the international community evaluate whether it is truly capable of educating children in the digital environment. Additionally, the center reported that the initial version of a project to transform the International School of Engineering under the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) into a research and innovation university, incorporating advanced techniques and technologies, and creating learning, working, and living environments for teachers, students, and staff, has been drafted.

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Health

UGTE: Free Heart Surgery for Children with Congenital Heart Defects

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: news.mn

A team of guest professors led by cardiac surgeon Professor Kim Woon Han from Seoul National University Children's Hospital, South Korea, has arrived at the Third State Central Hospital to perform free heart surgeries for children with congenital heart defects. Since 2013, a collaboration has been established with Seoul National University School of Medicine Hospital and the "JW LEE" Center for Global Medicine to improve the quality and accessibility of pediatric congenital heart defect surgical services in Mongolia. The aim is also to train and enhance the capacity of local medical professionals on-site. Over the course of 11 years, this collaboration has proven to be highly effective. As part of the collaboration, the hospital has organized on-site surgery training in partnership with the pediatric cardiac surgery team. Free surgical assistance is provided to young children diagnosed with complex congenital heart defects by the joint team. During this visit, the team of guest professors will perform advanced surgeries to perfectly correct serious congenital heart defects in young children. They will also train local medical experts on surgical techniques that ensure the heart valve functions normally for a long time, even as the children grow into adulthood, making this initiative very significant.

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Smoking in a smoke-filled city and inhaling car exhaust along the road is risky, authorities warn

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

A press conference was held today by the Ministry of Health (MoH) regarding current issues. During this event, medical doctor L. Battor provided information related to air pollution and carbon monoxide issues. He stated, "We often consider only visible environmental pollution as air pollution. However, in Mongolia, we have both external and internal environmental air pollution today. Globally, around 60% of deaths related to air pollution are due to external factors, while around 40% are due to internal factors. According to statistics, within one year, 4.2 million people worldwide die due to outdoor air pollution, while 3.2 million die due to indoor air pollution. Air pollution negatively impacts public health, the environment, the economy, and society in many ways. When a child falls ill, parents or guardians take leave from work. When workers themselves fall ill, productivity decreases, and they take leave, which causes economic and social losses. Air pollution also affects mental health." "Vehicle emissions, air pollution, and smoking carry many health risks," L. Battor continued, presenting research on the negative impacts of air pollution. In 2021, researcher Enkhjargal and colleagues studied the impact of outdoor air pollution on respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, mortality, and disease burden. Study results: - 31.4% of heart attacks - 31% of cerebrovascular diseases - 18% of pneumonia - 13.3% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases are influenced by air pollution. When talking about air pollution, the smoke from stoves and chimneys in ger districts is often the focus. Are these the leading causes? Yes. Additionally, emissions from vehicles, especially those with diesel engines, cause serious harm to human health. We can hardly walk freely along the streets without being exposed. About 75% of all vehicles on the road are over 10 years old, leading to higher emissions. It is impossible not to mention smoking. Fifty percent of Mongolian men smoke, increasing the exposure of bystanders to secondhand smoke. Smoking in public spaces harms passersby. People aged 65 and older are at higher risk from air pollution. These individuals are often affected by cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as various non-communicable diseases, making prevention crucial. Children aged 0-5 are also a high-risk group, needing essential preventive measures. As the cold intensifies, the air pollution issue becomes more acute. Numerous studies have been conducted regarding pressed fuel. Although there are both positive and negative indicators, the use of pressed fuel has decreased PM 2.5 particulate matter, a major air pollutant that damages the respiratory system. However, the levels of other gases have increased beyond normal levels. People with weak immune systems or various health conditions frequently seek medical services and must become accustomed to wearing masks in such environments. It is advised to organize fewer large gatherings and to wear masks and wash hands when gatherings occur. Warning: Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social media, and websites) must credit the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, both completely and partially.

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DORNOGOV: Medical Services Provided to Border Post Residents

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The Khatanbulag sum Hangii border post in Dornogov aimag is the second largest gateway for coal transport exports in Mongolia. In 2023, a new hospital building with five beds was constructed at this post with funding from the local government budget, and it started operations in 2024. This development provides an opportunity to promptly offer medical services to more than 1,000 people, including border post officials, enterprise workers, regional herder residents, and transient populations. Currently, 916 transport vehicles with "C" permits operate as short-distance transport, while 1,500 vehicles transport coal from mines in long-distance haulage. Under the government's Port Revival Policy, the settlement area of Hangii post has been planned since 2023 for a 20-year development period.

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72% of Acute Respiratory Infections Affecting Children Under Five

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

According to data from the last week, a total of 277,320 people received services at surveillance units based in ambulatory clinics. Of these, 21,367 or 7.7% were diagnosed with influenza or influenza-like illnesses, reported L. Battur, head of the Social Health Policy Department of the Ministry of Health. He stated in his report, "According to data from hospital-based surveillance units, 9,643 people are currently hospitalized, of which 3,087 or 32% are diagnosed with acute severe respiratory infections. This is a complication of influenza and influenza-like illnesses. The most significant indicator of this data shows a 10% increase compared to the same period last year. Furthermore, 47.1% of all patients and 72% of those with acute severe respiratory infections are children under the age of five. The group most affected by this complication is children under five. This means one in five patients is a child. Compared to last week's data, there is an 8.5% increase. We took early public health response measures and initiated vaccination. 90.4% of the target group in Ulaanbaatar City has been vaccinated against the influenza virus. Generally, this illness increases towards the end of December. Therefore, people in high-risk groups can receive vaccinations at their family clinics," he said. He further advised that air pollution exacerbates heart disease and influenza, contributing to increased illness severity. In our country, both outdoor and indoor air pollution is significant. Seniors over 65, pregnant women, and young children are at a higher risk of being affected by air pollution. Therefore, it is advised to keep large gatherings to a minimum, wear masks if in crowded places, and use air purifiers with HEPA filters in homes and offices.

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Air pollution exacerbates colds and flu

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

A press conference is currently being held at the Ministry of Health regarding the situation of influenza and influenza-like illnesses, including the effects of air pollution and smoke. L. Battur, head of the Public Health Policy Department of the Ministry of Health, provided the following information: In the past week, a total of 277,320 people received outpatient services. Among them, 21,000, or 7.7%, were diagnosed with influenza or influenza-like illnesses. According to data from hospital-based surveillance units, 9,633 people were hospitalized. Among these hospitalized patients, 3,000 or 32% had severe acute respiratory infections. Influenza and influenza-like illnesses can worsen to reveal acute respiratory infections and pneumonia. The approximately 3,000 cases represent an increase of about 10% compared to the same period last year. Up to 5% of these patients are children. They are the main at-risk group. Compared to the previous week, illness among children increased by 8%. Air pollution exacerbates heart, vascular issues, influenza, and other illnesses. Both external and internal air pollution levels are high in our country. It is advised to organize fewer events with large crowds, wear masks if in large groups, and use air purifiers with HEPA filters at home and work. On Fridays and Mondays, information is provided by the National Center for Communicable Diseases, the Health Department of the Capital City, and the National Center for Public Health. During these days of high illness, please receive accurate and reliable information. You can find information on the websites of these health organizations.

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Minister of Health T. Munkhsaikhan Appoints New Directors of Hospitals

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Minister of Health T. Munkhsaikhan has appointed new directors for the following third-level hospitals under the ministry's jurisdiction since taking office in July 2024. These include: - L. Battur, Head of the Public Health Policy Department of the Ministry of Health - L. Byambasuren, appointed as the director of the First State Central Hospital, who was the head and consultant doctor of the ENT department of the hospital - J. Otgonbaatar, appointed as the general director of the National Center for Maternal and Child Health (NCMCH), who is an obstetrician-gynecologist, doctor of medical sciences, and clinical professor - E. Ankhbayar, appointed as director of the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD), who previously worked as a surgical doctor and deputy director at the Second State Central Hospital - G. Ankbold, appointed as the director of the National Center for Mental Health. The appointments are as follows: - L. Battur - L. Byambasuren - G. Ankbold - J. Otgonbaatar - E. Ankhbayar This news is about the newly appointed directors of the hospitals affiliated with the ministry following Minister of Health T. Munkhsaikhan's assumption of office in July 2024. The appointments include: - L. Battur, Head of the Public Health Policy Department of the Ministry of Health - L. Byambasuren, as the director of the First State Central Hospital - J. Otgonbaatar, as the general director of the National Center for Maternal and Child Health (NCMCH) - E. Ankhbayar, as the director of the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) - G. Ankbold, as the director of the National Center for Mental Health.

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Sports

Central Stadium to be renovated into a 30-35 thousand seat arena

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The Governor, H. Nyambaatar, announced plans to renovate the Central Stadium, which was fully transferred to the city's ownership this year, into a modern arena with 30-35 thousand seats. As part of the renovation, the Central Stadium will have a retractable roof, allowing it to host international cultural, sports festivals, and events throughout the year. The preliminary technical and economic study of this project is planned to be completed by December 2024. The Central Stadium, which currently has 12,500 seats, was built with the assistance of China and opened in 1958.

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Kharkhorum Ice Festival -2024: International Athletes Participate

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

In Arvaikheer, the much-anticipated “Kharakhorum Ice Festival -2024” ice climbing competition took place for the 12th consecutive year. The competition aimed to determine the champions in the professional athletes' cup and speed climbing categories among amateurs. More than 50 participants, both professionals and amateurs, took part, including athletes from the USA, France, and China. Additionally, Yu Kai Yi, an international UIAA ice climbing judge, served as a judge, offering advice and sharing thoughts on how to elevate the event to an international level. Organizers noted that this event signifies the scale of the “Kharakhorum Ice Festival -2024” competition and marks the beginning of its establishment as an international festival. The champions of the competition were N. Selenge from the "Sutain Bor" club for women and Ch. Mandakhbayar from the Ulaanbaatar Travelers Club for men. In the amateur speed category, B. Byambadorj led among men, and N. Chimeddulam led among women. During the festival, competitions such as a short-distance obstacle race for amateurs, team ice ankle shooting, and ice archery were held. Teams from Arkhangai, Bulgan, Dundgovi provinces, and Ulaanbaatar city participated. The "Mongolia Expeditions" company, along with the aimag's government office and the Department of Environment, has organized this event continuously for 12 years. It stands at the forefront of Mongolia's winter tourism events, fostering the development of professional ice climbing athletes. Over the years, two athletes have won gold medals, one has become a "World Cup" champion, and others have won silver and bronze medals in world championships. This festival significantly contributes to the development and promotion of ice climbing sports in Mongolia and plays an essential role in advancing winter tourism in the country.

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Arts

From the Monuments of Hunnu Aristocrats Burial Complexes to be Registered as World Cultural Heritage

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The third discussion on registering the monuments from the burial complexes of Hunnu aristocrats in the World Cultural Heritage list was organized today by the working group in the conference hall of the Chinggis Khaan National Museum. During the meeting, the members evaluated and proposed improvements on the necessary amendments based on the recommendations provided by the World Heritage Center, watched a documentary film, and assessed the work accomplished by the nomination project team. According to the recommendations from the World Heritage Center, they plan to submit the amendments to the center by January next year, which will allow for a re-evaluation and potentially lead to registration in the World Cultural Heritage list by 2026. The working group had already submitted their materials to the secretaries of UNESCO on September 30, 2024, aiming to register the monuments from the burial complexes of Hunnu aristocrats by proving their unique and remarkable universal value from various perspectives. The Hunnu Empire, recognized as the first nomadic state and the ancestors of the Mongols, prospered on the steppes of Central Asia. More than 30 archaeological sites containing remains of palace and settlement structures of the Hunnu aristocracy, burial complex monuments, thousands of burial sites and monuments, around 20 petroglyph sites, and over 10 industrial heritage sites have been discovered and studied within our country's territory, according to the Chinggis Khaan National Museum.

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Mongolian Artists Participate in Opera Inspired by Princess Khutulun's Story at London's Conway Hall

Published: 2024-12-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

The opera "Turandot," based on the story of Princess Khutulun, who is famed in Mongolian history as the "Wrestling Princess," was performed twice at London's Conway Hall theater. The production, organized by the London Academy of Music, featured talented young singers from around the world, including Mongolia. The Embassy of Mongolia in the United Kingdom, Mongolia's Cultural Envoy, the Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture, and Great Diplomacy all supported and collaborated on this project. Mongolian Cultural Envoy J. Unurmaa co-produced the event, which aimed to promote Mongolian culture, arts, attire, and painting through the opera. Mongolian performers, including wrestlers and dancers, participated in the chorus sections of the opera. Additionally, the Conway Hall theater, which has a history of 95 years and seats 400 people, sold tickets for the opera at 20 euros each.

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Today's Stories

Politics

Economy

Diplomacy

Infrastructure

Society

Environment

Innovation

Health

Sports

Arts

Politics

J. Enkhbayar: Mongolia Will Not Join the Eurasian Economic Union

Political Issues Surrounding the Budget: What's Happening in Mongolia, France, and South Korea

Discussion on Mongolia's 2025 Budget and Other Legislative Proposals

E. Batshugar: "The implementation of the law that the government will not demand information from citizens and businesses is inadequate"

M.Chimeddoj: If We Make Agreements with the Eurasian Economic Union, We Will Have to Ask Them About Our Other Agreements /VIDEO/

I. Batkhuu: There Has Been No Discussion About Mongolia Joining the EAEU

The Supreme Court's Full Decision on the Case Related to the Development Bank

O.Altangerel: Instead of cutting the budget of law enforcers, let's all stop taking salaries

URGENT: Supreme Court Maintains 6-Year Sentence for Yo.Baatarbileg, Transfer to Detention Facility Imminent

O.Altangerel: Reducing internal appointment and clerical expenses of the police department by 50%, and addressing personnel issues

Remaining 2024 Budget Cannot Be Used in 2025, Would Violate Law

J. Enkhbayar: The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry does not support joining the Eurasian Economic Union

G.Temuulen: We reduced expenses by about 80 billion MNT by cutting inefficient budget expenditures

Economy

World Bank: Mongolia's Dependence on Raw Materials Creates Economic Vulnerability

Ministry of Economic Development: Goods exempted from tariffs and quotas under the EAEU Free Trade Agreement

136.5 Million USD Supplied to Commercial Banks

TODAY: Discussing "The Economic Contribution of Erdenet Factory"

Will a budget without a deficit slow economic growth?

We have conducted transactions worth 240 trillion MNT electronically

The European Union and UNDP Support Responsible Business Practices

MNĐ80 Billion Saved From 2025 Budget Reallocated to Projects With Social and Economic Importance

Consumer Goods and Services Prices Increased by 8.1 Percent from a Year Ago

Erdenet Corporation Made a Profit of 4 Trillion in 2023

Introducing the Sustainable Development Report of Erdenet Mining Corporation

Golomt Bank: Apple Pay Launch Event Held

Golomt Bank Named "Best Bank in Mongolia" for 2024

Euromoney Names Trade and Development Bank as "Best Bank for Corporates" for 2024

Diplomacy

Signed Agreement on Transfer of Defense Equipment from Japan

Mongolia-China Highway Border Crossing to Temporarily Close

The "Uranium Project" is a Major Bridge to Expand Cooperation between Mongolia and the European Union

Infrastructure

"Electricity Restrictions to Continue Throughout Winter," Reports UBCTC

Urgent Upgrades Requested for Regional Airports

UBCTS: Risk of Power Cuts Throughout Winter Arises

Operating hours and temporary closures of border checkpoints this month

MIAT Successfully Conducts Its First Scheduled Flight to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam

B. Choijilsuren: Power cuts cannot be ruled out until the end of the year

Transport of Enriched Coal Begins

Opened New Air Route

Restrictions Implemented During Power System Deficit

Power Outages in Several Areas of the Capital

A Working Group Established to Focus on the Production and Ingredients of Briquette Fuel

B. Choijilsuren: Electricity Restrictions Until the End of the Year

T.Dorjhand: Planned to Spend 500 Million to 1.5 Billion Tugriks on Disseminating Information Related to Energy

T.Dorjhand: Minister B.Choijilsuren is doing a good job in implementing energy reforms

Report: Traffic Congestion in the Capital Has Increased by 2 Hours

URGENT: Accident at the Bööljüüt Power Plant inaugurated by the Mayor two months ago, undergoing repairs

Society

What is an A-Class Office?

Grandson of Former President Connected to Kidnapping and Murder of Chinese Nationals

The First Four Job Centers in the Capital Open Their Doors

Proposal to Remove 35,000 Citizens from Food Stamps was Repealed and Confused

G. Saranzayaa: 74% of Mongolian Men Experienced Violence in Childhood

Environment

The SPRIM Project Aimed at Strengthening Mongolia’s Plastic Recycling System Presents Its Outcomes

D. Önörbat: Yesterday, sulfur dioxide and particulate pollution were highest around the District 1 area

Let's Recycle Campaign Sets Sustainable Goals for Mongolia

An Earthquake of 3.7 Magnitude Occurs in Khairkhan Soum, Arkhangai Province

Whose Fault is the Smog?

Innovation

Highlighting the eSchool Integrated Education Platform

Ts. Munkhbaatar: The World Intellectual Property Organization Recognized That a Mongolian Engineer Invented a Smokeless Stove

Registration for "UB Robot Challenge - 2024" has started

Portable Devices with AI Technology Delivered to Hospitals

Students' Ability to Learn in the Digital Environment to be Evaluated Internationally

Health