Mongolia News Summary for July 23, 2024
The following news articles are the opinions of their authors and publications. They are presented here as translations for informational purposes and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Mongolia Strategy Center or its members.
Warning: Be Cautious of Flood, Hail, Strong Wind, and Lightning Hazards
Published: Tue, 23 Jul 2024
Be cautious of the dangers from floods, hail, strong winds, and lightning.
Translated from: https://gogo.mn/r/7lm3w
WARNING: 16 children drowned in the first seven months of this year
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
During the warm summer season, people's vacation time begins, and families and friends tend to visit rural areas to spend time in nature. Rural residents often camp along rivers and streams.
During this time, numerous cases of young children drowning due to carelessness are recorded, and this type of accident is increasing year by year.
In 2023, 30 children lost their lives due to water accidents, while in the first 6 months of this year, 9 children died. In just the first half of July, 8 more children have lost their lives.
For example, in June, 1-2 year old children drowned in rivers near their homes in Zavkhan and Khovd provinces. On July 8th, a 12-year-old girl drowned after slipping while playing on a riverbank in Sukhbaatar province. On the same day, a 7-year-old boy drowned in Uvs Lake. In Khuvsgul province, a 16-year-old boy drowned while herding livestock across a river. Such tragic incidents continue to be reported.
Most of the children who lost their lives were between 2-15 years old. Some were with their parents, some young children drowned in rivers near their homes, and some were children who knew how to swim in pools. The police are warning that since minors cannot assess the risks of swimming in rivers and lakes or crossing flowing water, adults and parents/guardians should explain water safety to children, improve their supervision, and be vigilant.
A sad statistic shows that 11% of all citizens who drowned were children who had accidents due to lack of parental or guardian supervision.
The police state that "Water accidents are preventable accidents. If adults are careful and warn and explain to children, these accidents can be completely avoided."
Therefore, the police advise citizens to:
- Not let children play near rivers, streams, or standing water without supervision, not leave them alone, and explain the risks of water accidents to them in simple, understandable words
- Not rest or relax along riverbanks
- Regularly check weather reports, choose the right time for trips, and avoid swimming in windy weather or fast-flowing rivers
- For herders and vehicle drivers, use marked crossings and bridges when water levels rise or during rainy periods
- Get information from the General Police Department's Media Center Facebook page (for reliable information sources)
The police remind everyone to be cautious and vigilant to prevent such tragic accidents.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372j
Flood Damages Parts of Road Between Sainshand and Zamyn-Uud
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Parts of the road between Sainshand and Zamyn-Uud at kilometers 577-579, 597-598, 589-590, and 634-635 were damaged yesterday due to flooding. The flood caused erosion of road shoulders and side slopes, and filled ditches with sand.
The road maintenance company "Borkhoin Zam" LLC is working quickly to ensure the road's readiness. Citizens and transporters are advised to travel with caution.
The Uuriin River in Tsagaan-Uur soum of Khuvsgul aimag and the Bayangol that runs through the center have also flooded. The Khuvsgul aimag Emergency Department has warned citizens traveling in this direction, where many small rivers need to be crossed, to wait until the water levels recede.
The Meteorological Organization warns of the danger of floods, gusty winds, and lightning as thunderstorms with heavy rain are expected on July 22-23 in Ulaanbaatar, Terelj, Baganuur, and some areas of western, central, and eastern provinces.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/371z
KHUVSGUL: Uuriin River Flooding 160 cm Above Dangerous Level
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
The Uuriin River is flooding 160 cm above the dangerous level, according to information from the Hydrology Station of the Khuvsgul Province Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring Agency as of 12:00 noon.
Translated from: https://www.montsame.mn/mn/read/348177
300-meter dam built with 540 sandbags, 20 people trapped in water evacuated to safe zone
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
According to D. Oyunbat, Secretary of the Capital Emergency Commission of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), due to the continuous rain that started at 22:00 on July 20 in Ulaanbaatar, NEMA received 20 calls and reports of water accumulation, and responded to 28 locations.
He said, "Due to the continuous rain that started at 22:00 on July 20 in Ulaanbaatar, a total of 220 employees and officers from relevant professional organizations of the capital worked with 71 vehicles at 28 locations based on 20 calls and reports of water accumulation, and pumped out 14,403 tons of water. Also, a 300-meter dam was built with 540 sandbags, 300 meters of trenches and ditches were dug, 20 people trapped in stagnant water were evacuated to a safe zone, and instructions and recommendations were given on four calls and reports. The Weather and Environmental Analysis Agency (WEAA) has reported that there will be intermittent rain in the coming days.
Therefore, we urge citizens, businesses, and organizations to receive timely warning information from professional organizations and be careful to prevent possible flood hazards."
In addition, in May, the National Emergency Management Agency conducted training for the Supreme Council of Mongolian Housing Associations (SCMHA) and Housing Associations on ways to prevent flood disasters and primary measures. According to these instructions and recommendations, if citizens, businesses, and housing associations are responsible for their property, it is fully possible to prevent flood risks. Also, during the Naadam festival days in Ulaanbaatar, three adults and two children, a total of five citizens, died in unfortunate water accidents. It is predicted that precipitation will be above the multi-year average in July and August, and as the travel season continues, it is emphasized that precautions against river hazards are necessary.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/3728
Fighting Forest and Steppe Fire in Selenge for 8 Days
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Efforts to extinguish the forest and steppe fire that broke out in Selenge have been ongoing for 8 days.
Translated from: https://eguur.mn/518484/
Foreign Trade Balance Shows $2.5 Billion Profit in First Six Months but Decreases by $772 Million Compared to Same Period Last Year
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Mongolia conducted trade with a total of 148 countries in the first six months of 2024, with total foreign trade turnover reaching $13.3 billion.
Of this, exports amounted to $7.9 billion and imports to $5.4 billion, resulting in a foreign trade balance profit of $2.5 billion.
The total trade turnover increased by $1.4 billion (12.2%) compared to the same period last year, with exports increasing by $332.7 million (4.4%) and imports by $1.1 billion (25.9%). However, the balance decreased by $772.4 million (23.5%).
The increase in exports by $332.7 million in the first six months of 2024 compared to the same period last year was mainly due to increases in coal by $331.6 million, copper concentrate by $124.6 million, and iron ore and concentrate by $63.3 million.
On the other hand, zinc ore and concentrate decreased by $78.8 million, and canned meat products by $50.1 million.
The $1.1 billion increase in imports compared to the same period last year was mainly due to increases in passenger cars by $137.3 million, diesel fuel by $126.4 million, trucks by $114.2 million, bulldozers, auto scrapers, graders, excavators by $88.0 million, electrical postal and telecommunications apparatus by $60.8 million, and gasoline by $58.3 million, according to the National Statistics Office.
Foreign trade total turnover: Defined as the sum of exports and imports.
Foreign trade balance: Determined by the difference between total exports and imports. If the balance is marked with (-), it is considered a deficit, and if marked with (+), it is considered a profit.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372k
Apartment Prices in Ulaanbaatar Increased by 11% Compared to the Same Period Last Year
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
The National Statistical Office (NSO) reported that as of June this year, apartment prices in Ulaanbaatar have increased by 11% compared to the same period last year, while remaining unchanged from the previous month.
The average price per square meter for new apartments has reached four million tugriks, with the highest price of 4.12 million tugriks in Khan-Uul district.
For older apartments, the average price per square meter is 3.88 million tugriks, with the highest price of 4.50 million tugriks in Sukhbaatar district.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/3722
Kh.Nyambaatar: The capital city will not lack electricity and heat this winter
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
The Mayor of the Capital City, Kh.Nyambaatar, has announced that there will be no electricity restrictions in the capital this winter, and the city will not lack electricity and heat.
This is because the first block of the Booroljuut power plant, with a capacity of 150 MW, will be put into operation at the beginning of October. An open tender has also been announced for a 50 MW battery power plant. This plant will also be put into operation in October. According to the First Deputy Mayor of the Capital City, N.Manduul, this will compensate for the 200 MW of energy that the capital is currently lacking.
For the first time, Ulaanbaatar city has traded 500 billion tugriks worth of bonds in the domestic capital market, of which 300 billion tugriks will be invested in the Booroljuut power plant to solve the financing. When asked about this at the signing ceremony of the consultancy service agreement for the first phase of the "Ulaanbaatar Metro" project, the Mayor of the Capital City, Kh.Nyambaatar, said, "We have solved the financing of 600 billion tugriks. This funding will be used only for Ulaanbaatar's energy consumption." In other words, they are investing in ensuring the reliability of the capital's energy.
He also announced that within the legal framework approved by the Parliament last spring, the capital city has made changes to the law to own energy and heat supply sources itself.
"From 2024 to 2028, Ulaanbaatar city will carry out construction work on the Metro lines I and II, the ring expressway, the Tuul expressway, the 'New Zuunmod' city infrastructure, and six sub-centers. Energy is essential for these works. That's why Ulaanbaatar city has traded 500 billion tugriks worth of bonds in the domestic capital market for the first time," the city leadership said.
Regarding the Booroljuut power plant, the next Block II will be put into operation in 2025. They emphasize that this will ensure there are no energy issues when carrying out the construction works in Ulaanbaatar city.
Translated from: https://www.montsame.mn/mn/read/348176
About 20% of State-Owned University Courses Will Be Taught in English
Published: Tue, 23 Jul 2024
The Ministry of Education has discussed the policy outline to be implemented in its sector and has prepared the following issues to be presented at the Cabinet meeting. Specifically:
- Gradually increase the threshold score for admission to universities and colleges based on the results of the Entrance Examination
- Increase the quota for certain professions in state-owned universities and colleges based on labor market demand
- Aim to deliver about 20% of the curriculum in English at state-owned universities
- Support the policy of making state-owned universities and colleges academically independent and improving them
- Fully digitize the selection process of the Education Loan Fund (ELF) and update the procedure to operate independently of people
- Develop specialized high schools
- Provide opportunities for active professionals in the field to work on textbook content and curriculum renewal critiques and recommendations
- Support children's growth and development by increasing kindergarten children's daily meal allowance (currently 3,000₮ per day), and implement the legal provision for parents to share the increased amount
- Rotate teachers and training staff within the catchment area
- Introduce a system where teachers participate in their own salary and performance evaluations
"We will focus on responding to letters received by the Ministry of Education and those signed by the minister in a very short time, significantly increasing the pace of work and improving collective results," they said.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372w
NSO: Number of foreigners working in Mongolia increased by 39.2% compared to the same period last year
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
The National Statistical Office (NSO) has provided statistics on foreign citizens working under employment contracts.
Specifically, in the second quarter of this year, 15,609 foreign citizens from 102 countries are working in Mongolia.
Categorized by gender: - 1,199 women - 14,410 men
Foreign citizens are working under employment contracts to earn wages and income, as well as doing voluntary work without the purpose of earning wages or income.
Foreign citizens working under employment contracts are defined as workers who are working to earn wages and income, as well as those who are doing voluntary work without the purpose of earning wages or income in non-governmental organizations, international humanitarian organizations, and religious organizations.
The number of foreign citizens working has increased by over 4,000 people or 39.2% compared to the same period last year, and by over 7,000 people or 92.9% compared to the previous quarter.
Of the foreign citizens working under employment contracts: - 71.1% are Chinese - 7.6% are Indian - 3.9% are Vietnamese - 2.7% are Turkish - 2.1% are Russian - 1.9% are Filipino - 1.7% are Korean - 1.5% are American - 7.5% are from other countries
The NSO reported that most of the foreign citizens are working in the mining, extraction, construction, and manufacturing sectors.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/3727
19 calls received about flooding and vehicles stuck in mud during the past day
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Due to the continuous rain that started at 22:00 on July 20 in Ulaanbaatar city, a total of 220 employees and officers from relevant professional organizations of the capital worked at 28 locations based on 20 calls and reports of water accumulation. They pumped out 14,403 tons of water and evacuated 20 citizens to safe areas.
Over the past day, the Emergency Management Agency received a total of 19 calls and reports nationwide about flooding, water entering the B1 floor of buildings and households, public areas and underpasses being flooded.
Of these, 44 emergency service personnel worked to ensure the safety of citizens in response to 9 calls about flooded roads, basement floors of apartment buildings, and households, as well as vehicles getting stuck in mud in Govisumber, Darkhan-Uul, Selenge, Tuv, Khuvsgul, and Khentii provinces.
Source: Emergency Management Agency
Translated from: https://gogo.mn/r/69ydl
Five Citizens, Including Three Adults and Two Children, Drowned During Naadam Festival in Ulaanbaatar
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
During the Naadam festival days in Ulaanbaatar city, a total of five citizens, including three adults and two children, unfortunately drowned in water-related accidents.
Translated from: https://gogo.mn/r/8814j
Water is being pumped from seven locations in the capital, totaling 8000 tons
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Due to the rain that has continued since Saturday evening in the capital, some road sections have been flooded.
Specifically, in 7 locations including Yaarmag road in the 4th and 5th khoroos of Khan-Uul district, Takhilt underpass in the 32nd khoroo of Songinokhairkhan district, Narny Bridge in the 3rd khoroo of Bayangol district, and Enkhtaivan Bridge in the 1st khoroo of Sukhbaatar district, over 100 officials from the Emergency Management Agency, GUBBG, and relevant district departments have pumped 8000 tons of water and built 200 meters of embankments.
The water accumulated under the pedestrian overpass of the "Altai" complex was pumped by the Geodesy and Water Construction Agency using a pump with a capacity of 400-600 cubic meters. This road does not have a drainage system.
Out of 1250 km of paved roads in Ulaanbaatar city, about 70 percent do not have drainage wells or pipes. When heavy rain falls, water accumulates significantly in some locations without drainage systems.
Translated from: https://gogo.mn/r/d974x
Who are the "Trafigura" people who bought the Mongolian state with its Constitutional Court and Great Khural?
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
There are probably few people in Mongolia who have not heard the name E. Jononbayar of "Trafigura". This gentleman, very familiar to Mongolians, has been reported in the media numerous times about producing fake gasoline and diesel fuel by importing kerosene and naphtha duty-free through his affiliated companies and mixing them.
E. Jononbayar was appointed as the director of "Trafigura" in Mongolia in January 2012. Since then, it can be said that he has made his fake fuel business flourish. There are 22 companies registered under the names of E. Jononbayar's mother, uncle, aunt, and brother-in-law, all of which are involved in importing, transporting, selling, and blending raw materials for fake fuel, namely kerosene, naphtha, and alkylate. To be more specific, their family members have registered over 20 companies such as "Trafigura Mongolia", "Transguide Service", "Khors Oil", "Petro Oil Trade", "Diamond Oil", "Zuunnai Oil", "Argal Oil", Transguide Terminal", "East-Oil", "Tod Petroleum", and so on.
In November 2015, the excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel was increased. However, the import of other petroleum products without excise tax increased sharply from 2016. According to information provided by the government in 2019, kerosene imports increased 13.2 times and naphtha 2.3 times in 2016. In other words, the import of kerosene and other by-products, which are most commonly used in low-quality fuel called fake, "skyrocketed" from this time. The people who profit from this are E. Jononbayar and his family members. They are now among Mongolia's top wealthy people, and it is said that they even fueled the planes of MPP candidates who ran in the parliamentary elections. Because this election had large constituencies, candidates used helicopters to conduct their meetings quickly. E. Jononbayar provided free fuel for the candidates' helicopters. But what does he get from the honorable members in return for this?
Our country sells up to 66 percent more fuel than it imports annually, according to a conclusion from the Audit. Specifically, the audit report stated that sales exceeded imports by 48 percent in 2018, 19 percent in 2019, and 66 percent in 2020. This is one piece of evidence indicating that kerosene and naphtha are being imported duty-free and sold as low-quality fuel. MP B. Purevdorj and other members believed that some companies were making considerable money through the production of "fake" fuel by importing petroleum products such as kerosene duty-free, causing damage to public health and property, and initiated a law to impose excise tax, which was submitted to the Parliament in 2020. The draft law was "chewed" for over a year and was passed by the Parliament in 2021. In other words, by imposing an excise tax of 285,000 tugriks per ton on petroleum residual products such as kerosene and naphtha, imports began to be restricted. As a result, the issue of fake gasoline and diesel fuel began to be sorted out to some extent.
Unfortunately, just three years later, the Constitutional Court deemed the importation of kerosene and naphtha with tax as unconstitutional, and Mongolians again had to use low-quality gasoline and diesel fuel. Specifically, the Constitutional Court concluded that some provisions of the Law on Excise Tax violate the Constitution, and when the Parliament accepted this conclusion, kerosene and naphtha were again allowed to be imported duty-free across the border. Coinciding with the Constitutional Court's decision, MP B. Purevdorj announced from the parliamentary podium that 360 wagons of kerosene and naphtha were waiting to be brought in by gas. He said, "230,000 tons of kerosene and naphtha are imported and mixed in our country annually. They make a profit of 100 billion from tax and price differences. Even before the Parliament made a decision whether to accept the Constitutional Court's conclusion or not, 360 wagons of kerosene and naphtha have already arrived at our country's border waiting."
In fact, using good quality gasoline and diesel fuel is necessary for every citizen of Mongolia. That's why petroleum by-products were made subject to excise tax. Unfortunately, the Constitutional Court deemed the importation of intermediate products with excise tax as unconstitutional, again creating conditions for the use of mixed, low-quality gasoline and diesel fuel. Behind all this are the profits, income, and business interests of E. Jononbayar and his family. Both the Constitutional Court and the Parliament have been serving them, and to this day, kerosene and naphtha continue to be imported duty-free.
Translated from: https://itoim.mn/a/2024/07/22/news-break/ugg
Altanbulag-Ulaanbaatar-Zamyn-Uud Expressway Project
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
The "Belt and Road" initiative has not defined specific geographical boundaries and is an open international cooperation initiative for similar countries and regions. Countries that have expressed interest in joining the program (through their own companies that have won tenders) collaborate and jointly implement major infrastructure projects. In other words, "Belt and Road" is a program where companies cooperate and collaborate to implement projects such as expressways, railways, power plants, and other infrastructure projects by exporting technology, labor, and capital materials without giving any money or dollars to the government or state institutions of the country, but only completing development constructions. Moreover, China is a country that fights corruption fiercely and has established a new financial discipline regime in the world, so it has maintained the "Belt and Road" program free from corruption and official crimes.
152 countries have joined and supported the "Belt and Road" mega-project that covers the world, and projects have been fully implemented in 82 countries. In the case of our country, in 2012, the State Property Committee announced an international open tender to select the implementer of the "Altanbulag-Ulaanbaatar-Zamyn-Uud Expressway Project". Chingis Land Development Group, in consortium with advisory teams from England and Italy, was selected in this selection process. In 2014, they signed a "Concession Agreement" with the Government of Mongolia and then registered with the "Belt and Road" program that year. The project implementer, Chingis Land Development Group, proposed the concept of Russia-Mongolia-China economic corridor projects and registered them under the name "Steppe Road". This event was a concrete example of the state and government of Mongolia supporting the initiative of the private sector aiming to contribute valuable contributions to the country's development.
Now, let me briefly explain how this economic corridor's first project, the "Altanbulag – Ulaanbaatar – Zamyn-Uud Expressway Project", will be implemented.
Let's first discuss how to finance and build an international Class A highway that is 1000 km long, 49 meters wide, with a 1-meter thick concrete foundation, passing through 6 provinces and 24 soums.
Just to build 1 km of road requires 49,000m3 of concrete mix or 24,500 truck loads of mix, which shows how massive the work is.
Yet, completing this work in 2.5 years sounds like a fairy tale.
Over 100 major companies from around the world participate as Contracted Performers in the "Belt and Road" project, with some companies successfully completing project work in 5-6 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
One company signs a Contract to build 10-20 kilometers of road, brings in their equipment along with their workers, completes the soil stripping and leveling work worth about 10 million dollars with their own funds, hands it over to the investor side and receives payment for their first performance. Then they do the rebar work and receive payment for performance after completion... and so on, first incurring expenses from themselves and then receiving payment for performance.
For 1000 km of road, 60-70 construction companies will take the part relevant to them from the feasibility study and work with very precise calculations of cadastral coordinates and road heights. Large companies from China, Korea, Russia, Turkey, Germany, Italy, and other countries participate and start their work simultaneously, so the calculation of 2.5 years is based on the time it takes for one company to build 10-20 km of road.
Companies with good equipment and experienced professionals will participate in the project work. The selection of Contracted Performers is most important, so it is decided in the presence of professionals from Italy, England, Korea, Canada, and Japan who participated in the feasibility study work. In other words, they consider factors such as previous participation as a Contracted Performer in the "Belt and Road" project in how many countries, human resources, finance, and technical capacity.
While representatives from other countries participate in the annual international "Belt and Road" project financing meeting held in March with their Prime Minister, or Minister responsible for Road Construction, department heads, and project company leaders, not even a single specialist from our ministry, let alone the Prime Minister or relevant minister, has participated, and only the leadership of Chingis Land Development Group has participated from our country. In one meeting, the prime minister of a country similar to ours in population and economy participated and was excluded from the project on the grounds of not having done a qualifying feasibility study, and the prime minister left the meeting.
The project implementer in a country participating in the "Belt and Road" program must be a private company, and the concession-holding company of that country transfers the majority of its shares to the investor side and registers, after which the project begins to be implemented. They work with certain control through their own shareholding and exercise their rights to participate in the selection of Contracted Performers.
While the governments of participating countries are responsible for clearing the land to be included in the project, and the concession-holding project implementer is responsible for developing a qualifying feasibility study, our company has prepared its feasibility study and design with its own effort and funds and is ready to implement it after passing the investor side's inspection, meaning the study has been properly and fully done and accepted. However, the government has attempted to cancel its Concession Agreement, land allocation has not been fully done, and so on, meaning the Government of Mongolia is not fulfilling its obligations, while the concession holder Chingis Land Development Group has fully fulfilled its main obligation, which is why Mongolia has not been excluded from the "Belt and Road" program (a project stalled for 9 years) and it continues to this day.
The "Steppe Road" project covers the comprehensive issues of expressway, high-speed train, gas pipeline, high-voltage line, oil pipeline, clean water pipeline as a complete transit corridor, of which the feasibility study for the expressway, which is the very first, has fully met the investor's requirements and been approved, while other projects are only at the level of research and negotiations.
In other words, with the implementation of the "Altanbulag-Ulaanbaatar-Zamyn-Uud" expressway project, which is the 1st corridor of the "Steppe Road", the possibility for other economic corridor projects to be implemented will be created, and we will fully overcome the dependence on imported electricity, fuel shortages, railway freight transport will increase several times, thermal power plants will switch to gas fuel and get rid of smoke, and the Gobi provinces will be supplied with constant clean water.
We Mongolians have only one destined homeland.
Translated from: https://itoim.mn/a/2024/07/19/society/saz
28,635 mothers gave birth to 28,846 children in the first half of this year
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Nationwide, 28,635 mothers gave birth to 28,846 children in the first half of 2024.
This is a decrease of 4,170 (12.7%) in the number of mothers giving birth and 4,158 (12.6%) in the number of children born compared to the same period last year.
The National Statistical Office (NSO) reported that the birth rate per 1,000 people decreased by 1.1 compared to the previous year, while the death rate remained at the same level as the same period last year.
The birth rate per 1,000 people is 0.3-2.9 higher than the national average in Ulaanbaatar city and Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs, Orkhon, Khovd, Govisumber, and Darkhan-Uul provinces, and 0.3-4.5 lower in other provinces.
In addition, as of the first half of this year, the number of deaths reached 8,643, an increase of 30 (0.3%) compared to the same period last year. The birth rate per 1,000 people is 8.4, the death rate is 2.5, and the natural growth rate is 5.9.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372b
B.Javkhlan: With credit scores, people will no longer have the notion of "getting off the blacklist"
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
iKon.mn
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/3705
ACA: Investigated the Case of an Official at Chinggis Khaan Airport
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
The Anti-Corruption Agency has transferred the case of an executive official "L" at the customs office of Chinggis Khaan International Airport to the prosecutor's office for allegedly abusing his official position and accepting bribes. In addition,
- The case of an executive official "T" of "Ulaanbaatar Sports Management" JSC for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for providing advantages to others,
- The case of an executive official "D" of "Erdenet Mining Corporation" LLC for allegedly abusing his official position against the interests of the company, causing serious damage to the company's interests,
These criminal cases have been completed and submitted to the prosecutor with a recommendation to transfer to court.
Criminal investigations were conducted on 916 cases. The Investigation Department of the Anti-Corruption Agency examined 118 complaints and reports of suspected crimes from July 8-21, 2024. Of these, criminal proceedings were initiated on eight complaints and reports, while 33 complaints and reports were transferred to the prosecutor with a recommendation not to initiate criminal proceedings. Currently, 77 complaints and reports are being reviewed.
Furthermore, out of the 916 criminal cases under investigation, three cases were transferred to court in the past week, 12 cases were closed, and one case is being investigated jointly. Currently, 900 cases are under investigation, according to the report.
Translated from: https://news.mn/r/2740206/
Let's stop giving 50 million to MPs as housing support!
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Although it's unclear where it originated, over the past weekend, news that "48 MPs have requested housing from the state" spread on social media, causing public uproar.
The Parliament Secretariat denied this information, stating, "No such petition has been received by Parliament. MPs have no possibility to receive housing support from the state or make such requests."
While new parliament members may not have requested housing support, in the previous parliament, MPs elected from rural areas were given 50 million tugriks in support to obtain housing, with a total of 300 million tugriks allocated from the budget. Specifically, when MP N. Naranbaatar was implicated in a coal case and the issue of suspending his parliamentary powers came up, he stated, "I bought a four-room apartment in Marshal Town. I sold my old apartment for 250 million tugriks, added the 50 million support given by Parliament to rural MPs, took a loan from Khan Bank, and got help from my siblings to pay for it."
In his 2020 Asset and Income Declaration to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), MP N. Naranbaatar reported owning immovable property valued at 542 million tugriks.
This is one of six MPs who received housing support during the previous parliament. There's no doubt that among the newly elected MPs, there are those interested in resolving their housing issues and who have specific information about this support. The main issue for taxpayers is how many of them will resolve their housing issues without taking this support.
According to information provided by the Parliament Secretariat, while 300 million tugriks were spent on housing support for six MPs in the 2020-2024 parliament, eight MPs from the 2016-2020 parliament received this support, with 400 million tugriks spent from the budget.
The regulation to provide housing for MPs dates back to the 1992-1996 parliament. Initially, MPs without housing were given a one-room apartment, but since 2012, they've been given 50 million tugriks in support. At that time, compared to current prices, housing was cheaper, so this support was almost equivalent to the price of a one-room apartment. However, MPs who received this support have used it to buy three to four-room apartments instead of one-room apartments.
Over the past period, many MPs elected from rural areas have resolved their housing issues without taking this support. However, some who reported owning three public apartments in their province, with total valuations of 500 million and 800 million in their Asset and Income Declarations to the ACA, have still taken this 50 million tugrik support.
The regulation to provide 50 million tugriks from the budget as support for MPs elected from rural areas, under the guise of ensuring the economic independence of MPs, has been criticized as "Were they elected to Parliament to get housing rather than make laws?"
Therefore, why not cancel this regulation that provides 50 million tugriks from the budget as support for MPs without housing?
A person who can't resolve their own housing issues shouldn't be elected to Parliament, as it doesn't guarantee they won't be economically dependent.
In this day and age when housing prices have skyrocketed, 50 million tugriks in support might sound small to some, like an amount to spend on a single show, but for taxpayers, it's money accumulated by scraping their fingernails. Stopping such subsidies is the only way to open up possibilities for effective budget spending.
Translated from: https://news.mn/r/2740183/
Minister of Education P. Naranbaiar Announces Policy to Be Presented at Government Meeting
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Minister of Education P. Naranbaiar convened his first urgent meeting.
The meeting discussed an outline of policies to be implemented in the education sector, and tasked relevant department heads with preparing them to be presented at the meeting of the Government of Mongolia.
These include:
- Gradually increasing the "threshold score" for admission to universities and colleges based on the results of the general entrance examination
- Increasing quotas for certain professions in state-owned universities and colleges based on labor market demand
- Aiming to deliver about 20% of courses in English at state-owned universities
- Supporting the policy of making state-owned universities and colleges academically independent and improving them
- Fully digitizing the selection process of the Education Loan Fund and updating the regulations to operate independently of individuals
- Developing specialized high schools
- Providing opportunities for actively critical and advisory professionals to work on textbook content and curriculum renewal
- Supporting children's growth and development by increasing kindergarten children's daily meal allowance (currently 3000₮ per day), implementing a legal provision for parents to share the increased amount
- Rotating teachers and educational staff to different school districts
- Introducing a system where teachers participate in their own salary and performance evaluations
The Minister emphasized the need to respond very quickly to incoming letters and those marked by the Minister, and to generally increase work speed and improve collective results.
Translated from: https://itoim.mn/a/2024/07/22/education/yrj
STATISTICS: 85% of over 99,000 organizations operating in Mongolia have 1-9 employees
Published: Tue, 23 Jul 2024
According to the Statistical Business Register (SBR) database, as of the first half of 2024, there were 245.8 thousand legal entities/businesses and organizations registered. In the second quarter of this year, 5.2 thousand new legal entities were added, while 0.2 thousand legal entities were dissolved.
The Statistical Business Register is a database that includes basic indicators such as the name, address, registration number, assets, production and service volume (income and fixed assets of businesses and organizations), number of employees, wages, and areas of activity of businesses and organizations.
Of the legal entities, 193.9 thousand or 78.9% are companies, 32 thousand or 13% are Non-Governmental Organizations, 7 thousand or 2.9% are cooperatives, 5.4 thousand or 2.2% are partnerships, 5 thousand or 2% are budgetary organizations, and 2.5 thousand or 1% are state-owned enterprises, locally-owned enterprises, or others.
Of the total legal entities, 182.3 thousand or 74.2% are registered in Ulaanbaatar, 22.3 thousand or 9.1% in the central region, 18.8 thousand or 7.6% in the Khangai region, 14.6 thousand or 5.9% in the western region, and 7.8 thousand or 3.2% in the eastern region.
Orkhon, Darkhan-Uul, Selenge, and Umnugovi provinces have 4.5-5.4 thousand registered legal entities, while Govisumber, Dundgovi, and Sukhbaatar provinces have 0.7-1.6 thousand registered legal entities.
Of the 245.8 thousand legal entities, 40.3% are operating, while 59.7% are inactive.
When examining operating legal entities by the number of employees, 85.1% have 1-9 employees, 7.2% have 10-19 employees, 4.9% have 20-49 employees, and 2.8% have 50 or more employees.
The percentage of legal entities with 1-9 employees has increased by 0.4 percentage points compared to the same period last year.
In the first half of 2024, 78.4 thousand or 79.1% of all operating legal entities were in the trade and services sector.
Source: National Statistics Office
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372y
1.8 million textbooks of 115 types for grades I, III-XI delivered to all schools
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
According to the General Education Agency (GEA), 1.8 million textbooks of 115 types for grades I, III-XI have been printed and delivered to all public and private general education schools operating nationwide from June 10-28, 2024 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
The textbook distribution was carried out by "Mongol Post" JSC, which won the contract.
The supply of primary school textbooks is 95-100%, while the supplementary and rental textbooks for middle and high schools are at 62%.
If you want to buy textbooks for children in grades 6-12, you can order them through the website shop.aplus.mn.
The rental textbook fees have been set, and general education schools are advised to form a Working Group to decide on discarding textbooks printed before 2021 that no longer meet hygiene requirements and determine if they can be reused.
Note: Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social and Web pages) must always cite the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in full or in part in any form!
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372p
Citizen accused of organizing prostitution by posting "Easy job for girls looking for work" ad has been charged
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
A citizen has been charged as a suspect for allegedly organizing prostitution by posting an ad saying "Easy job for girls looking for work".
Last week, the police investigated 44,828 violations involving 44,430 people and fined 43,969 citizens.
Specifically, 61 citizens were fined 18,300,000 tugriks for violating children's rights, and 97 citizens were detained by court order for 7-30 days for repeated domestic violence.
Of the violations, 1,544 were for improper public conduct and hooliganism (81), physical assault (295), violating the law on combating domestic violence (399), violating the law on road traffic safety (41,029), and other violations (1,480).
In addition, investigations were conducted into 2,585 cases, and 65 cases were submitted to the prosecutor's office with a recommendation to transfer to court.
In particular, a male citizen, O.N., has been charged and sent to the prosecutor's office with a recommendation to transfer to court for allegedly organizing prostitution. He is accused of renting an apartment in the 44th building in the 1st khoroo of Khan-Uul district from July 24, 2023 to January 25, 2024, posting an online ad saying "Girls looking for work, contact us, there's an easy job", and then organizing prostitution for girls who came in response to the ad by providing accommodation. The General Police Department reported that he has been charged under Article 12.6, Section 2 of the Criminal Code.
From the Criminal Code provision:
Article 12.6. Organizing prostitution
- Establishing, financing, or organizing a place for prostitution, organizing prostitution, or providing transportation, accommodation, or other means for prostitution shall be punishable by restriction of freedom for one to five years or imprisonment for one to five years.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372l
30.7% of foreign visitors to our country are Chinese, 29.4% are Russian citizens
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
The National Statistical Office (NSO) has openly published tourism statistics for the first half of 2024.
Since the beginning of the year, 1,547,281 passengers have entered our country through the border.
Classifying foreign passengers entering Mongolia by region:
- East Asia, Pacific region 196,007
- Europe 114,898
- America 8,931
- Middle East 4,732
- South Asia 2,695
- Africa 897
Of the passengers entering the country:
- 78.8 percent are citizens of Mongolia
- 21.2 percent are foreign citizens.
In particular, the number of foreign citizens entering the country increased by 80,000 or 32.7 percent compared to the same period last year. Of the foreign passengers entering the border:
- 30.7 percent are Chinese
- 29.4 percent are Russian
- 19 percent are Korean
- 3 percent are Kazakh
- 2.4 percent are Japanese
- 2.2 percent are American
- 13.3 percent are citizens of other countries
The number of tourists crossing the border in the first half of this year reached 245,000, which is an increase of 8.3 percent compared to the same period last year.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372h
Hot water will be restricted for 14 days in eight locations including Railway, 3rd and 4th districts
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
iKon.mn
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/3723
PHOTO: Mongolia Through the Lens of Korean Photographers
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
As you enter the 33-year-old Mongolian Theatre Museum, you're immediately surrounded by a wealth of creations from artists of various eras.
This time, about 40 professional photographers from South Korea have put together a special photo exhibition called "Special Ulaanbaatar City". It's notable for including over 150 photographs showcasing many aspects of Mongolian life, including culture, nature, beauty, and children's world.
Most of the visitors in the hall were tourists. We listened to their impressions.
Japanese traveler Kanagawa Mei said, "I work at the National Theatre of Japan. So when I came to Mongolia for travel, I thought it would be interesting to visit this country's theatre museum.
It turns out that many unique art pieces are preserved here. The special exhibition by Korean photographers also left a strong impression. Because many Korean products are sold in Mongolian stores, I thought the two countries must have a good relationship.
Through the lens of Korean photographers, Mongolian life and culture are captured from a tourist's perspective. It seemed to represent both nomadic and settled lifestyles.
However, it appears that Mongolians don't visit photo exhibitions very often."
By viewing this special exhibition, one can see what aspects of our country's life and culture Korean photographers chose to capture, and how their impressions were formed. The exhibition will continue at the Mongolian Theatre Museum from the 20th to the 25th of this month.
Translated from: https://gogo.mn/r/d97ex
T.Nyam-Ochir: Kindergarten registration will be conducted online in one stage starting from the 1st of next month
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year will begin on August 1st. We asked T.Nyam-Ochir, Head of the Capital City Education Department, about the preparations.
-How many children will be enrolled in how many kindergartens this year, including both public and private?
-In the 2023-2024 school year, 1410 kindergartens operated nationwide, educating over 274,000 children. For the 2024-2025 school year, over 290,000 children will need pre-school education. However, since it's based on parents' wishes whether to send their child to kindergarten or not, the percentage of children enrolled will be clear after registration. Starting from the 2022-2023 school year, the government decided to enroll every child who applied to kindergarten, focusing on the capital city at that time. By implementing policy measures to enroll over 35,000 children in the capital who couldn't get into kindergarten, we increased enrollment to 92.9%. Only about 8000 children remained outside kindergartens. In other words, the parents of those 8000 children didn't request to enroll their children in kindergarten.
This school year, we are preparing based on our previous projections.
-What about the enrollment districts?
-The newly approved education law states that the General Education Agency will approve the methodology. The General Education Agency has approved its methodology. Within this methodology, the Capital City Education Department and provincial education and science departments have set their enrollment districts. Registration will be conducted accordingly.
-Is there sufficient workforce in terms of kindergarten teachers?
-Last school year, the provision of professional pre-school teachers was at 92%. In recent years, as we implemented the policy of enrolling every child in kindergarten, the number of classes increased significantly. We employed third and fourth-year students as assistant teachers. Due to over 700 students and high school graduates working in kindergartens, the demand for professional teachers decreased slightly. As we've focused on stabilizing the pre-school education workforce for the last two years, we expect the shortage of teachers to be minimal this year.
-How many stages will the kindergarten registration be conducted in this year?
-In the 2022-2023 school year, it was conducted in three stages, and in the 2023-2024 school year, in two stages. Previously, we used to enroll those who managed to get in the queue and leave out those who didn't, but now we're implementing a policy to enroll every child who applies. We used to register children with temporary residence addresses in stages. Now, as it has stabilized relatively over two years and the registration has become digital, we believe such issues won't arise, so this year we will register and allocate in one stage.
-Will there be a shortage of facilities due to enrolling every child in kindergarten?
-In the past school year, we rented 100 buildings and used them as kindergartens. Nine of these have been cancelled. This year, we are studying to rent over 10 additional locations.
The need to rent buildings for kindergarten purposes has arisen in the following 12 locations:
-26th khoroo of Bayangol district -17th, 26th, 36th, 31st, 38th, 39th, 42nd khoroos of Bayanzurkh district -8th, 18th, 21st, 23rd khoroos of Khan-Uul district
We will rent 10 buildings to accommodate a total of 2913 children. The working group will start working at these locations from July 18, 2024.
Translated from: https://itoim.mn/a/2024/07/22/society/siv
Our athletes won 22 medals at the World Championships in the 2020-2024 Olympic cycle
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Over the past four-year cycle, Mongolia has ranked 53rd with a total of 22 medals, including two gold, seven silver, and 13 bronze medals, from the World Championships in Olympic events.
This medal ranking was compiled based solely on the registration with the National Olympic Committee (NOC). For example, if Scotland wins a medal in the Boxing World Championships, it would be counted under Great Britain, while if the Faroe Islands win a medal in swimming, it would be added to Denmark's count.
A total of 104 countries won medals at the World Championships during the past Olympic cycle. Specifically, 81 countries won gold medals, while Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kuwait, Mozambique, and San Marino each won one bronze medal.
As for the Mongolian team, they won two gold medals in judo during the past cycle, while six of their seven silver medals were in freestyle wrestling. The remaining one was in boxing, and of the 13 bronze medals, six were in wrestling events, six in judo, and one in boxing.
Warning
Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social and Web pages) must always cite the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in whole or in part in any form!
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372u
B.Boldbaatar: We will conduct comprehensive washing of all livestock and complete disinfection of pens and enclosures
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
The General Authority for Veterinary Services (GAVS) held a press conference on current issues.
B.Boldbaatar, Head of the Veterinary Control and Risk Assessment Department of the Authority, said, "The General Authority for Veterinary Services is organizing the 'Responsible Herder, Healthy Livestock' campaign in two phases.
The main goal of this campaign is to include all livestock in washing and to carry out comprehensive disinfection of pens and enclosures. This work will be carried out in two phases. The first phase will be from July 1 to August 15, and the second phase from September 15 to October 15.
Livestock washing, cleaning, and disinfection work is in full swing across the provinces. The chain of parasitic diseases is not breaking due to herders not fully disinfecting their pens and enclosures. Due to the high number of unusual livestock deaths this year, livestock pens and enclosures have become quite contaminated, so we are working to take comprehensive measures.
We also conduct surveillance of highly contagious animal diseases every year. We have just completed serological surveillance for foot-and-mouth disease and small ruminant plague, and the results are being consolidated at the central laboratory. This is important because we organize our vaccination tactics based on the conditions of infection spread.
We are also building up the vaccine stock purchased with state budget funds. In other words, for the first time, we have openly invited international vaccine manufacturers to tender in accordance with the Law on Procurement of Goods, Works and Services by State and Local Property. Twelve companies from six countries participated, creating an opportunity to purchase vaccines directly from manufacturers. We have purchased:
- Foot-and-mouth disease vaccine – 10.5 million doses,
- Small ruminant plague vaccine – 18.2 million doses,
- Bovine nodular dermatitis vaccine – 2.2 million doses.
Since the beginning of 2024, the occurrence of diseases has been calm except for sheep pox. Although the risk of sheep pox was high, it did not negatively affect exports. Currently, three soums in Dundgovi province are under quarantine for sheep pox. It has also been reported in one soum in Arkhangai province and one soum in Dornogovi province.
We were able to receive four million doses of vaccine against this disease with the help of foreign organizations and take measures during the outbreak. Now we have 9.5 million doses of vaccine produced by our Bio-Kombinat and 3.3 million doses from aid. With this vaccine, we can completely break the chain of sheep pox disease."
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372i
Urgent order given to develop drainage facility plans for Takhilt underpass, 22nd intersection, and Yarmag roads
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
The emergency meeting of Ulaanbaatar city officials is being held today.
During this time, N. Manduul, First Deputy Governor of the Capital City for Economic Development and Infrastructure, instructed the Department of Geodesy and Water Construction to urgently develop and present to the Governor's Council the drainage facility plans for the 22nd intersection road, Takhilt underpass, Yarmag road, and Zuslan roads.
District governors reported on the measures taken in their districts regarding flood conditions:
Chingeltei district: No flood calls received. Preparing for possible flood conditions at 2-3 locations.
Baganuur district: No flood calls received. Road damage increasing due to heavy rain; new road paving work to be done at two locations.
Khan-Uul district: 10 flood calls received. Pumped water from buildings in the 10th and 2nd khoroos yesterday. In the 14th khoroo, a dam breach caused flooding in a household yard. The dam was reinforced and water pumped out. Flooding on Naadamchid road due to water from Artsat Nukht valley; fully drained by 21:40. Caused by overloaded road cleaning facilities. Two water pumps and 12 small pumps operating in the district.
Bayangol district: Calls for water accumulation at five locations. Pumping work done at railway, 10th khoroolol, and Narny Bridge areas. Five vehicles and three pumps on standby. 20 pumps to be distributed to some apartment HOAs.
Sukhbaatar district: Three calls received. Worked at buildings in 3rd and 1st khoroos. Pumped water from old S'Outlets site.
Songinokhairkhan district: Seven calls received. Water accumulated on 1st khoroolol road, Barilgachdyn Street, and Takhilt underpass in 22nd khoroo. Fully drained by 01:30. One car submerged.
Takhilt underpass flooding due to residents dumping garbage in flood channels. Sandbags and gravel to be placed in some necessary areas today.
Bagakhangai district: No households flooded. Flood facility damaged; reinforcement work to be done. Water leaking from roofs of eight apartments. Basement of health center flooded and pumped out.
Warning: Media outlets (TV, Radio, Social and Web pages) must cite the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in full or in part in any form!
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372d
VIDEO: Travel has become difficult on the road from Khatgal village to Jankhai Pass in Khuvsgul
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Floodwater has entered the "Olkhon ravine" on the road from Khatgal village, located at the eastern tip of Lake Khuvsgul, to Jankhai Pass, making it difficult for vehicles to travel.
Therefore, the Khuvsgul Province Emergency Department advised citizens traveling in this direction to wait temporarily until the floodwater recedes and conditions improve.
The Uuriin River in Tsagaan-Uur soum of the same province and the Bayangol River, which flows through the center, have also flooded.
In the past few days, the highest rainfall was recorded in Tsotsengel, Khuvsgul with 74 mm, Alag-Erdene with 69 mm, Chandmani-Erdene with 59 mm, Tunel with 53 mm, and Tsagaan-Uur soum with 51 mm of rain.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/3726
PARIS 2024: Who Will Play and When?
Published: Tue, 23 Jul 2024
The 33rd Summer Olympic Games "Paris-2024" will be held for about a month from July 24 to August 11. We are introducing the schedule of 32 athletes of the Mongolian national team participating in the competition.
(As the boxing and archery draws have not been made yet, all possible schedules have been included)
July 25.
- 20:15. Archery. Men's individual ranking round. Baatarkhuyag Otgonbold.
July 27.
- 15:00. Shooting. Mixed team 10m air rifle qualification. Nyantai Bayaraa, Oyunbat Yesugen.
- 16:00. Judo. Men's -60 kg. Enkhtaivan Ariunbold
- 16:00. Judo. Women's -48 kg. Bavuudorj Baasankhuu
- 16:30. Shooting. Men's 10m air pistol qualification. Enkhtaivan Davaakhuu
- 16:30. Shooting. Mixed team 10m air rifle final. Nyantai Bayaraa, Oyunbat Yesugen.
- 21:30. Boxing. Women's -54 kg Round of 32. Munguntsetseg Enkhzargal.
- 22:00. Judo. Women's -48 kg, Men's -60 kg medal matches.
- 22:32. Cycling. Men's individual time trial.
July 28.
- 02:00. Boxing. Women's -54 kg Round of 32. Munguntsetseg Enkhzargal.
- 15:15. Shooting. Women's 10m air rifle qualification. Oyunbat Yesugen
- 15:30. Shooting. Men's 10m air pistol final. Enkhtaivan Davaakhuu
- 16:00. Judo. Men's -66 kg. Yondonperenlei Baskhuu.
- 16:00. Judo. Women's -52 kg. Lkhagvasuren Sosorbaram.
- 17:00. Swimming. Women's 200m freestyle. Batbayar Enkhkhuslen.
- 17:15. Shooting. Men's 10m air rifle qualification. Nyantai Bayaraa.
- 18:36. Boxing. Women's -50 kg Round of 32. Oyuntsetseg Yesugen.
- 22:00. Judo. Men's -66 kg, Women's -52 kg medal matches.
- 22:50. Boxing. Women's -50 kg Round of 32. Oyuntsetseg Yesugen.
[The schedule continues in a similar format for the remaining days of the Olympics, detailing the events, times, and participating Mongolian athletes.]
Translated from: https://gogo.mn/r/9nye1
Requests for paying taxes from VAT refunds will be accepted until the 23rd of this month
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
If you wish to pay taxes from your VAT refund for the second quarter, you can register your request by clicking the "YES" button on the tax invoice questionnaire in the ebarimt system until July 23, 2024. Your request will be recorded and the tax will be paid.
Types of taxes that can be paid:
- Motor vehicle tax
- Firearms tax
- Real estate tax
- Land fee (for land possessors)
- Real estate tax on land (for land owners)
- Livestock head tax
- Road facility usage fee
After this, the VAT refund money will be transferred to citizens' accounts.
Warning
Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social and Web pages) must always cite the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in whole or in part in any form!
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372q
You can pay your road usage fee with VAT refund
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
You can pay your property tax and road usage fee with the VAT incentive refund for the 2nd quarter of 2024.
Requests to pay taxes with refunds will be accepted between July 20-23, 2024, and by pressing the "yes" button in your ebarimt survey, your tax will be paid easily and without fees.
Translated from: https://gogo.mn/r/00keo
B.Javkhlan: With the introduction of credit scores, the concept of "getting off the blacklist" will disappear
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
We interviewed B.Javkhlan, Executive Director of "Buren Score ZMS" LLC, in connection with the launch of Mongolia's first credit score.
The credit score, or BurenONOO, is calculated using advanced artificial intelligence methods and is based on about 40 indicators such as citizens' income, payment history, debt amount, loan history duration, new loans, and loan types. This score predicts the probability of citizens paying their loans and debts on time and determines how responsible a borrower is.
Credit scores play an important role in the financial market by improving risk assessment, increasing access to credit, supporting market efficiency, reducing financial fraud, increasing economic stability, and supporting industry innovation.
To give a simple example, today everyone needs to get a report from the Credit Information Database to get a loan. This information comes from the Bank of Mongolia in the form of a list, categorizing whether the citizen "has a loan or not, is it overdue or not". However, issuing reports in list form leads to categorizing people as good or bad based solely on their loan information. It's no secret that people view this database negatively, referring to it as a "blacklist". But with the introduction of scores, we can evaluate people's credit history more objectively by dividing it into risk intervals, without categorizing it as black or white.
Generic Credit Scores are used in over 30 countries worldwide, with its origins dating back to the 1950s in the USA.
The credit scoring system in each country varies depending on the consumption and behavioral characteristics of its citizens. For example, countries like Australia, USA, Canada, Germany, and the UK use credit scores. In Japan, however, there is no unified credit score assessment, and each bank calculates it using its own methodology.
Therefore, our company decided it would be more appropriate to develop it domestically, tailored to the behavior and characteristics of our citizens, rather than directly importing and adapting a foreign scoring system.
Recently, we made an adjustment not to include the loan information of over 127,000 borrowers in the credit information database. Actually, there's no such thing as a "blacklist". It's just that our people have named the "overdue, non-performing" categories in the Credit Information Database this way themselves.
Of course, we can't deny that people have fallen into financial difficulties for a certain period due to the long-lasting effects of the pandemic, difficult economic conditions, natural disasters, and as a result, their loan classification has decreased. Even if 80-90 percent of them ended up in this category unintentionally, it's clear that there's a significant proportion of people who intentionally don't pay their loans, have consumption beyond their income, and lack financial discipline.
As someone who works with credit information database statistics every day, I can say that statistically, if someone has previously run away without paying their loan, the probability of them repeating that action is very high. However, for people who are waiting to repeat their next irresponsible action, thinking "If I endure for another 5 months, I'll clean my financial history through the amnesty law", I wonder if this system, where history is renewed every 6 years and cleaned by state amnesty, is sufficiently instilling financially responsible behavior.
With the introduction of credit scores, the concept of "getting off the blacklist" will disappear. The advantage is that we now have the opportunity to continuously improve our own scores through our daily financial decisions and actions. On the other hand, we're only looking at the negative side. But there are thousands of people who are financially disciplined, calculate their finances, are responsible, and always pay their loans on time. What's the advantage for them? People with high scores will have the opportunity to get longer-term loans with more favorable conditions. For lending institutions, by providing loans on terms suitable for these individuals, the loan risk will decrease, which we believe will have a high impact on reducing interest rates in Mongolia overall.
The reports we issue, including BurenONOO or credit score, should be understood as just a statement showing the person's financial history. Buren Score LLC doesn't make decisions about whether to grant a loan or not. Instead, we provide information to the lending institution like "Well, Bat is a person who has been paying his loans responsibly on time, but he has a history of being late on his loan a year ago". Based on this, the bank decides whether to grant a loan or not, based on its own loan policy and risk assessment.
Currently, our BurenONOO is calculated based on relatively few pieces of information such as income, debt amount, and loan history. However, as this improves, it will eventually contain broader information including individual purchasing behavior, payment transactions, savings habits, and be able to show a complete financial picture of the person. In the future, we aim to make BurenONOO a credible assessment of how responsible a person is, not only for lending institutions but also for getting a job, renting an apartment, making business deals, and in many other sectors.
Based on previous history, some people's scores are good, and some are bad. So, from today, we need to start trying and striving to increase and maintain this score. I hope that every individual will make an assessment for themselves to be employed, have income, plan their finances, and calculate their risks correctly.
Translated from: https://gogo.mn/r/omdlv
News Guide: Mongolian Felt Art Festival to be Held
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Vaccination against plague continues.
The 7th International Horse-head Fiddle Festival (competition) is being held in Umnugovi aimag.
The Asia-Pacific Free Flight Model Championship begins.
The "Mongolian Felt Art Festival" will be held in Teel Valley of Khujirt soum, Uvurkhangai aimag.
The 15th International Opera Singers Competition has begun in St. Petersburg, Russia. Mongolian singers Kh.Munkhtuvshin, B.Murun, and B.Nomin are participating in this prestigious classical music competition named after Elena Obraztsova. The competition will continue until the 27th of this month.
The "SPECIAL ULAANBAATAR" exhibition featuring about 40 professional photographers from South Korea has opened at the Mongolian Theater Museum.
Translated from: https://news.mn/r/2740085/
Ceremony Held to Worship the Heavens of Altai Khan's Five Sacred Peaks
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
The state ceremony to worship the heavens of Altai Khan's Five Sacred Peaks, the foremost of Mongolia's sacred mountains, was held on July 22, 2024, on the Pig day of the Sheep month in late summer of the Year of the Wooden Dragon, at the Sacred Ovoo of Altai Five Sacred Peaks mountain.
On the evening before the ceremony, monks chanted the sutras of Faith, Gandanlajaa, Ulziihutag, and the Seven Stars.
As the ovoo ceremony began, the Great Kanjur sutra and Eight Offerings were specially presented, and monks chanted the Lamchodov, Jigjid, Ochirvaani, and Yultii sutras.
The President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, representing the state, arrived at the specially prepared area guarded by four honorary guards.
The honorary guards placed the State Flag of Mongolia, the Northern Messenger standard of the Great Black Banner of All Troops, the flag of Bayan-Ulgii province, the portrait of Great Chinggis Khaan, and the Seven Treasures of State on the offering table.
In his speech, the President noted that the mountain ovoo worship ceremony is a sacred ritual embodying deep historical and cultural heritage and state traditions. He emphasized its special significance in maintaining proper relations with nature and preserving its original form. He mentioned that this cultural heritage was registered on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2017.
He announced that work is underway to register Altai Tavan Bogd and other high Altai mountains, which are monuments combining natural and cultural heritage, on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
He expressed confidence that this would contribute to global recognition of the Mongolian Altai mountain range as an important monument of natural and cultural heritage, passing on the Mongolian tradition of loving and protecting nature to future generations, and supporting regional development by intensifying tourism.
He extended his blessings for the people of Bayan-Ulgii, who live in the beautiful homeland supported by the majestic Altai Tavan Bogd, to receive the blessings of their great sacred mountain, strengthen their unity, set an example with their work, and prosper for generations.
After the President's speech, a bard recited the Praise of Altai.
Then, Member of Parliament D. Bum-Ochir read aloud the petition to the heavens of Altai Tavan Bogd Khairhan, and handed over the original written on silk to be kept in the provincial museum.
Monks read the Hundred Thousand White Sutras, the Offering to Altai Tavan Bogd Khairhan Mountain, Devjid Serjim, and Janlav Tsogzol sutras.
The President of Mongolia handed over the ceremonial arrow to be sent to heaven to M. Batgerel, a State Marksman of national archery, Uriankhai archery master marksman, and double marksman of Buryat archery, from Buyant soum of Bayan-Ulgii province. A horse selected from the herd of Ch. Khenzkhuu, a champion herder from Tsengel soum of the same province, was consecrated as the heavenly steed.
The state ceremony to worship the heavens of Altai Khan's Five Sacred Peaks concluded with the return of the State Flag of Mongolia, the Northern Messenger standard of the Great Black Banner of All Troops, the flag of Govi-Altai province, the portrait of Chinggis Khaan, and the Seven Treasures of State.
The highest point in Mongolia, or the "roof" of Mongolia, is the Khuiten Peak of the Altai Tavan Bogd mountains. Khuiten Peak rises to 4,374 meters above sea level. The Altai Tavan Bogd mountains consist of five peaks: Khuiten, Naran, Friendship, Malchin, and Burgd.
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372t
Hotel Industry Producer Prices Increased by 12.1% Compared to the Same Period Last Year
Published: Mon, 22 Jul 2024
The producer price index for the hotel industry reached 173.8 in June of this year, with producer prices increasing by 12.1% compared to the same period last year and by 0.3% compared to the previous month.
The 12.1% increase in the producer price index for this sector compared to the same period last year was mainly influenced by a 12.3% increase in producer prices in the short-term accommodation sub-sector.
Additionally, producer prices for hotel service providers increased by 12.5% in the capital city and 10.2% in the provinces.
The Producer Price Index reflects changes in the prices of products and services of a given producer.
Source: National Statistics Office
Translated from: https://ikon.mn/n/372r
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