Mongolia News Summary for July 25, 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.

Politics

Government Presents Decision from Regular Meeting: "Joint Government Agreement Incorporates Election Platforms of Three Parties to Respect Citizens' Votes"

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The regular meeting of the Government was held today.

During this time, the joint Government agreement was presented to the members of the Government. N. Uchral, the Head of the Government's Office, provided the following information about how the agreement incorporates specific objectives from the election platforms of the Mongolian People's Party, Democratic Party, and HUN Party.

In addition to the common objectives of the three participating parties, the agreement is guided by the goals outlined in the Mongolian People's Party's platform, including social policy reform, regional development policy, anti-corruption measures, strengthening the rule of law through e-governance, and advancing major ongoing projects.

The agreement is also guided by objectives from the Democratic Party's election platform, such as protecting private property rights, improving the business investment environment, and guaranteeing economic freedom.

The HUN Party's goals for liberalization of the energy sector and implementation of educational reforms are also incorporated as guiding principles in the five-section agreement.

The agreement includes the Government's priorities, such as infrastructure, energy, mega projects, traffic congestion, air pollution, and regional development objectives, under the challenges section.

Specifically, policies tailored to the needs of families and different population groups will be prioritized. This is followed by national resilience and international conditions, geopolitics, and delivering economic growth to every household. A separate section is dedicated to increasing employment and reducing poverty. The five sections also cover environmental and climate change issues, governance policies, and how to achieve the concept of a "20-minute city".

"We are incorporating the election platforms in the agreement to ensure that we don't lose sight of the citizens' votes that supported these party programs," he said.

"Whoever holds the bag well gets appointed to official positions"

Published: Thu, 25 Jul 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

The extraordinary 22nd session of the Citizens' Representative Khural of the Capital City (CRKC) was held yesterday, and First Deputy Mayor of Ulaanbaatar N. Manduul gave a presentation related to the agenda item without formally introducing himself, which was criticized by representative T. Battsogtt.

He said, "I've been sitting in the CRKC for eight years now. How many bosses have changed in the last year? Have the positions in the CRKC and the Mayor's Office of Ulaanbaatar become positions given out like candy? There are many pressing issues facing the city. The previous bosses made a lot of promises, saying they would do this and that and make life wonderful. Soon they got promoted and disappeared. Then unknown people come in as replacements. It's become a game of musical chairs. I don't even know which agencies and departments in the capital have changed their heads anymore. It's never been like this before. The result is today's situation in the capital. What kind of conditions exist throughout the city? Anyone who wants to comes in and holds a position. Whoever holds the bag well for the boss, whoever licks their butt well gets appointed to a position. Where is the merit principle? Anyone who wants to comes in, holds office, indulges on taxpayers' money and leaves.

Just now, who came out and presented the issue? I want to know about this."

J. Batbayasgalan, Chairman of the CRKC, said "The right to appoint the Deputy Mayor of the Capital City belongs to the Mayor. Previously, it used to be done in consultation, but now the law allows for direct appointment.

N. Manduul has been appointed as the First Deputy Mayor of the Capital City. He previously worked as an advisor to the Mayor of the Capital City. L. Khosbayar, who previously worked as the head of the Mayor's Office, has been appointed as the Deputy Mayor in charge of social and air pollution issues in the capital city.

Two Deputy Mayors of the Capital City ran for the State Great Khural elections and became members of parliament. The Mayor of the Capital City has appointed these people to positions within his authority. P. Khadbatar has been appointed as the head of the Mayor's Office of the Capital City. Previously, Mr. P. Khadbatar worked as the head of the Social Policy Department of the Capital City. As the regular meeting of the Government is being held today, the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar has officially taken leave from the CRKC. He is involving his two deputies, the head of the Mayor's Office, and the heads of relevant departments related to the issue being discussed. You have the full right to ask questions from the people who are substituting until the government meeting ends and he returns."

However, CRKC representative T. Battsogtt retorted, "The CRKC is a representative body of the people, discussing citizens' issues. If someone is coming in from a lower level, they should introduce themselves and proceed, I'm talking about principles. Appointment is within the Mayor's authority. If someone is coming into the meeting, they should maintain their principles. I don't want just anyone to come in and make presentations as they please. Please pay attention to this in the future. They must have been someone who has worked in the government before."

B.Mergen: MPs are not held accountable even when they misbehave

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

The issue of inability to hold MPs accountable due to limited possibilities to suspend their powers even when involved in criminal cases has been raised. Although the Constitutional Court invalidated this protection, the previous parliament amended the Law on Parliament to make it impossible to hold lawmakers accountable even when they misbehave.

Lawyer and attorney B.Mergen expressed the following position on his Facebook page regarding this matter.

He stated, "In 2017, by submitting information to the Constitutional Court, we invalidated the provision that an MP's powers could not be suspended unless caught with evidence while committing a crime. This made it possible to impose criminal liability on members. As a result, MPs involved in cases such as SME, Development Bank, and coal went through court, and some received sentences. It can be said that all of this would have been impossible if the information had not been submitted to the Constitutional Court.

However, the Law on Parliament passed before the election has made things even worse than before. Let's take an example on a hot topic.

Today, there are calls to hold accountable and punish the member who allegedly leaked classified state materials. In short, even if the police, prosecutor, and court are fair, if Parliament doesn't suspend their powers, no accountability can be imposed.

According to the newly approved Law on Parliament, if Parliament decides not to suspend a member's powers, the prosecutor will suspend the case against the member. In other words, the investigation will stop.

The case can be reopened and investigated after the member's term expires. During this time, the statute of limitations may expire. There is a provision stating that this regulation should be detailed in the Criminal Procedure Code and Criminal Code, but no changes have been made yet. However, even without changes to these laws, it has become impossible to hold them accountable.

G.Natsagdorj: Appealed to the Prosecutor General regarding the illegal indictment of Ts.Garamjav

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

G.Natsagdorj, the lawyer of "Monpolimet" company, provided information about the criminal case initiated against Ts.Garamjav, the founder of the company, and his indictment.

He said, "We have filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office regarding the criminal case initiated against citizen Ts.Garamjav and his indictment. We consider this resolution to be illegal on two grounds. First, initiating a criminal case in 2024 for events that occurred in 2014 violates the statute of limitations.

Second, citizen Ts.Garamjav is said to have participated as an instigator. It is unfounded to initiate a criminal case against an instigator when the person who committed the crime has not been found. When we asked the Ulaanbaatar prosecutor's office for clarification on this matter, they told us, "We are gathering the relevant evidence. Based on this, we will decide whether to close the case or not."

Therefore, we have filed another complaint with the higher-level prosecutor regarding this issue. A criminal case should be initiated based on the evidence collected. However, now they are initiating a criminal case without any evidence. That's why we have filed a complaint with the Prosecutor General.

Also, when initiating the criminal case and indicting, they have seized assets. The concept of asset seizure is in the Criminal Procedure Law. We don't dispute that. However, there are two main conditions for seizing assets. One is to compensate for damages. However, neither the prosecutor's resolution to initiate a criminal case nor the resolution to seize assets specifies the amount of damage. It is unfounded to seize assets for damages when the amount of damage is not specified.

"Monpolimet" company borrowed 65 million US dollars, equivalent to 126 billion tugriks, from the bank. They paid back more than 260 billion tugriks. After fully repaying the borrowed money and ending the civil legal relationship, they are still considering it as having damages and seizing assets. We view this as an attempt to force a confession by closing down the Tosongiin mine and putting pressure on a person named Ts.Garamjav who has nothing to do with it.

Due to the closure of the Tosongiin mine, more than 1,300 people have become unemployed. The Tosongiin mine is idle due to the closure. The company is paying the salaries for this idle time. Due to these issues, the company has incurred losses of over one billion tugriks so far.

Economy

J.Batbayasgalan: Tariffs for public transport, energy, housing, and public utilities sectors will be gradually liberalized

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

An extraordinary session of the Citizens' Representative Khural of the Capital City (CRKC) was held today.

During the discussion on determining the distribution of profits and income, J.Batbayasgalan, Chairman of the CRKC, expressed the following position:

"Some things should have limits. The profit earned should not be narrowly understood as only for rewarding and incentivizing people. It's necessary to explain to society the activities of both self-financing and budgetary organizations operating in the capital. Some activities are not for profit. For example, public transport. If it were only for profit, it wouldn't be in its current state today.

Water and sewage are also there. They are operating in many sectors such as engineering networks, engineering facilities, engineering and housing, public utilities, and providing public services. Looking at the two organizations, Water and Sewage, and Housing and Public Utilities Management, they employ nearly 2,500 people combined. The state has strictly controlled all their service tariffs.

The energy sector has been talking about this for years, worrying about how to get through this winter. When asked why it has come to this, all the scientists, researchers, and economists in this sector say it's because the state has strictly controlled the tariffs.

These are sectors that are operating nationwide until the livelihood and wages of citizens stabilize. Now it's time to gradually liberalize, to gradually free up the tariffs of energy, housing and public utilities, public transport, and other services provided by the state, and to give our citizens the choice to save on their daily expenses," he said.

Summary Number 4: Mineral Resources and Foreign Investment

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

Mongolia provides over 90 percent of its exports through three types of mining industry products. Although it is estimated that 34 percent of budget revenue will come from the mining sector this year, the validity of this calculation is questionable.

This is because global market demand for coal is expected to steadily decline in the coming years, reaching its lowest level in 2026, according to forecasts from international research organizations.

In previous years, when coal revenues decreased, we were able to offset budget performance and reduce losses through copper revenues. However, this option will not be available this year. Global copper prices are expected to decrease by 0.7 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. Therefore, we are warning that we cannot rely on coal and copper revenues.

However, as the world shifts towards environmentally friendly and clean energy production, the demand for uranium is increasing, and investment is expected to focus on uranium rather than coal in the near future. We have a ready uranium project, and investors have expressed interest in collaborating on its implementation. What should we focus on when directing investments into this market? The latest episode of the "Summary Number" program addresses the demand and needs of key mineral products in the global market, as well as our country's policies, regulations, opportunities, and solutions.

Sources: Executive summary – Coal 2023 – Analysis - IEA The future of Copper in the Energy Transition | S&P Global (spglobal.com) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) - Uranium 2022: Resources, Production and Demand (oecd-nea.org)

Millennium Challenge Account - Mongolia: Announcement for Consulting Services

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The United States of America, acting through the Millennium Challenge Corporation ("MCC") and the Government of Mongolia (the "Government") have entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact for Millennium Challenge Account assistance to help facilitate poverty reduction through economic growth in Mongolia (the "Compact") in the amount of 350 million USD ("MCC Funding"). The Government, acting through Millennium Challenge Account-Mongolia (the "MCA Entity"), intends to apply a portion of the MCC Funding to eligible payments under a contract for which this SPN is issued. Any payments made by the MCA Entity under the proposed contract will be subject, in all respects, to the terms and conditions of the Compact and related documents, including restrictions on the use and distribution of MCC Funding. No party other than the Government and the MCA Entity shall derive any rights from the Compact or have any claim to the proceeds of MCC Funding. The Compact and its related documents can be found on the MCC website (www.mcc.gov) and MCA-Mongolia website (mca-mongolia.gov.mn).

The Compact will assist the Government in meeting the projected demand for water in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar for residential consumers and commercial and industrial users through a Water Supply Project, consisting of three closely related investment activities:

• A Downstream Wells Activity, to construct new groundwater wells with attendant transmission lines, reservoirs, and an advanced water purification plant ("AWPP");
• A Wastewater Recycling Activity, to construct a new wastewater recycling plant and pipelines to provide high-quality treated wastewater that can be used instead of fresh water by water-intensive industries, thereby increasing the amount of fresh water available for household consumption; and
• A Water Sector Sustainability Activity, to support policy reforms, capacity building, and technical assistance to improve the long-term sustainability of Ulaanbaatar's water supply.

Millennium Challenge Account-Mongolia now invites Offers from legally constituted eligible entities to provide consulting services for Asset Management Technical Assistance for Water Supply and Sewerage Authority of Ulaanbaatar City. More details on these consulting services are provided in the Terms of Reference.

The selection will be conducted through the Quality and Cost-Based Selection ("QCBS") procedures as specified in the "Accountable Entity Procurement Policy & Guidelines" effective from January 1, 2024 ("PPG") and is open to all eligible consultant firms as defined in the RFO. The "Accountable Entity Procurement Policy & Guidelines" is provided on the MCC website: (www.mcc.gov).

To register and request the RFO, interested parties should send an e-mail with the subject line "Request for RFO for Consulting Services for Asset Management Technical Assistance for Water Supply and Sewerage Authority of Ulaanbaatar City" to the Procurement Agent at PA-Mongolia@charleskendall.com with copy to procurement@mca-mongolia.gov.mn. Interested parties should provide their full contact information in the email message. This will also ensure that interested parties receive updates regarding this procurement.

A Pre-Offer Conference will be held in the form of webinar on August 21, 2024 at 10:00 am local time in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (GMT+8). Consultants can register for and attend the webinar using this link: us02web.zoom.us/j/82719775940. Attendance to the Pre-Offer Conference is strongly advised but is not mandatory.

Any clarifications needed shall be submitted in writing to the Procurement Agent at PA-Mongolia@charleskendall.com, cc to procurement@mca-mongolia.gov.mn not later than August 28, 2024 by 5:00 pm local time in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (GMT+8). MCA-Mongolia will consolidate all submitted requests for clarifications and will issue a Q&A document not later than September 4, 2024, by 5:00 pm local time in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (GMT+8).

Offers must be uploaded to the submission link (provided in the RFO) no later than September 20, 2024 by 5:00 pm local time in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (GMT+8). Only electronic submissions will be permitted (hard copies will not be accepted). Late offers will be rejected.

Give 10% and we'll provide an SME loan

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

After the scandal of high-ranking state officials receiving and using billions of tugriks in loans from the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund (SMEDF), officials have been clarifying that the requirements and conditions for these loans have become transparent and fraud has been prevented. However, manufacturers are giving a different explanation.

S. Khangal, a member of the Board of Directors of "Sanjain Khishig" LLC, who participated in the "New Economy-Business Environment" meeting organized by the Democratic Party group in the Parliament, raised this issue.

He stated, "There was fraud again in the SMEDF loan that happened last spring. They called people who were excluded from the loan and said, 'If you give 10%, we'll provide the loan.'"

Therefore, it is necessary to re-examine how people received loans from this fund, whether they really met the requirements and conditions, and whether they are using the loans for their intended purpose. Loans that reach genuine manufacturers have become very rare.

This year, the fund has approved 36 billion tugriks in loans to small and medium enterprises. The purpose of these loans has been specified for manufacturers engaged in food industry, agriculture, animal husbandry, and light industry. The interest rate on loans provided by SMEDF to manufacturers is 3-5%. The annual interest rate on business loans is over 30%. Therefore, if small and medium business owners can get a loan from this fund, it's a huge opportunity. However, whether it's due to limited resources or other reasons, the "corruption" of taking 10% as a "reward" from companies that won the tender has infected SMEDF.

This is just one example. It wouldn't be far from reality to say that this is one of the challenges faced by manufacturers who are struggling to expand their production and increase their workforce by even five people.

In Mongolia today, at the very least, interest rates are high for manufacturing. When chasing low-interest loans, it becomes necessary to give bribes to some officials, always putting money in their hands. If you don't "whiten their hands," nothing gets done.

This problem doesn't just occur when trying to get concessional loans. Business owners keep reminding that this issue arises from seeking permits to importing goods through customs. On top of that, there are big burdens like taxes and social insurance premiums.

Business owners don't hide the fact that tenders announced by the state are also problematic. There are now only a few companies that win all state-announced tenders.

They can construct buildings, expand buildings, supply computers, do electrical installations. It's as if they're supermen who can do everything. But if you investigate well, there's a high probability that they win all tenders through the power of corruption.

In order to combat corruption and bribery entrenched in public service, in 2021, the government developed and submitted a draft law on amendments to the Criminal Code to the Parliament, which removed fines for corruption and official misconduct crimes and imposed prison sentences, making punishments more severe. However, even with stricter sentencing policies, it didn't make much difference.

A coalition government was formed as a result of the 2024 parliamentary elections. Before the formation of the coalition government, Lu. Gantomor, the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development, announced at the Economic Forum that "We will stop corruption through tenders within a year." Therefore, in addition to corruption related to tenders, the coalition government needs to pay attention to SMEDF loans and stop the practice of giving and taking 10%.

If the corruption faced by business owners is not addressed, it will remain difficult to attract investment in Mongolia, and the manufacturing industry will continue to be constrained and unable to develop.

Business owners want tax rates reduced

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

The Democratic Party group in the Parliament organized a meeting called "New Economy - Business Environment" yesterday. During this time, they surveyed business owners on "What needs to be addressed first to improve the business investment environment?" and received the following responses:

Specifically, 49% of survey participants said taxes should be reduced, 43% said the business legal environment should be improved, and 6% said the implementation of current laws should be improved.

Representatives who participated in the "New Economy - Business Environment" meeting also said the following points need attention. For example, the social media manager of "Redoc Green" LLC emphasized, "Businesses have to compete with the state to participate in tenders. It's important that the business environment in Mongolia is fair and equally accessible." Sh. Khangal, a board member of "Sanjain Khishig" LLC, criticized, "Neither small and medium enterprise fund loans nor tenders are reaching their real owners. Companies with 'X' reports related to those in power are winning tenders to construct buildings, supply computers, install lighting and electricity, and do all kinds of work."

D. Todkhuu, CEO of "Tudu Distribution" LLC, said, "If we reduce the tax rate, the number of businesses will increase. We need to get rid of the welfare system. Young workers are suffering due to many state pressures." Ch. Naranbaatar, Vice President of the Mongolian Builders Association, reminded that "The issue of holding business accounts needs to be stopped as a top priority."

Members of the Democratic Party group in the Parliament who attended the meeting also noted, "Out of 193,000 registered companies in Mongolia, only 77,000 are paying taxes. It's easy to establish a company but difficult to close it, so we can't clean up our business environment. We need to include a clear, simple solution for closing companies in the Bankruptcy Law.

VAT and social insurance contributions are a huge burden on businesses. VAT doesn't apply equally to everyone, so it becomes 2-3 times more burdensome for businesses that pay it. Therefore, this issue needs to be resolved in a way that is citizen-friendly and not burdensome for business owners."

The group plans to organize a series of meetings involving representatives from each sector to gather opinions on making the business environment more favorable.

Russia May Ban Diesel Fuel Exports

Published: Thu, 25 Jul 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The Russian government is considering banning diesel fuel exports due to domestic price increases, according to the daily newspaper "Kommersant," which cited several anonymous sources in a report on Wednesday.

Russia is the world's largest exporter of diesel fuel. It exports about 35 million tons of petroleum products annually, with the majority being diesel fuel. Nearly three-quarters of this is transported via pipeline. Since the EU imposed a complete ban on imports of Russian petroleum products in February 2023, diesel fuel has been exported to Brazil, Turkey, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as being loaded onto ships (STS).

The newspaper reported that the commodity exchange price for diesel fuel has reached 62,000 rubles or $716.35 per ton. Wholesale prices tend to rise due to high demand from farmers during harvest time and maintenance at oil refineries. Russia suspended its diesel fuel exports for about two weeks last autumn. One of the sources cited by Kommersant said that if prices rise sharply, diesel fuel exports might be banned, but no decision has been made yet. The Russian Ministry of Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Diplomacy

Mongolia and China Interested in Cooperating with Russia

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

"Mongolia and China are interested in cooperating with Russia," said a Chinese representative at the "New Horizons" economic forum held in Chita, Russia. The "New Horizons" forum is a prelude to the Eastern Economic Forum to be held in Vladivostok in September.

More than 1,500 officials, business representatives, and experts from Russia, China, Mongolia, and Iran participated in the "New Horizons" forum. The forum delegates repeatedly expressed that in the current geopolitical situation, deepening relations and cooperation between countries is inevitable and necessary. According to Davoud Mirzakhani, Iran's Consul General in Kazan, Russia, all attempts by the US and Western countries to isolate Russia have failed. "No matter what, the world continues to enjoy the great works of Russian culture. This great cultural heritage of Russia is needed in the modern world, and it's not so easy to give up on this heritage," said Davoud Mirzakhani.

According to Ch. Batbileg, Mongolia's Deputy Consul in Ulan-Ude, cooperation between Mongolia, Russia, and China is strategically important for the development of these countries. Ch. Azzaya, Director of the Medical Tourism Center, participated online from Ulaanbaatar. Azzaya emphasized that many types of medical services available in Russia are also needed by Mongolians.

"However, Mongolians' lack of knowledge of the Russian language is a barrier. Russian is hardly taught in Mongolia anymore. Attention should be paid to strengthening cooperation between Russian and Mongolian hospitals," said Ch. Azzaya.

Li Hai, Consul General of China in Irkutsk, emphasized that developing relations and cooperation in all directions and studying each other's experiences is of particular importance for the development of partner countries. "China, Russia, and Mongolia are not only neighbors but also partner countries. We are connected by one destiny. The mutually beneficial cooperation of the three countries is based not only on geographical advantages but also has a long tradition. These relations and cooperation meet the basic needs and interests of the people of the three countries," said Li Hai.

The representatives participating in the Chita forum expressed the view that countries that are stopping their relations with Russia are primarily harming themselves.

The "New Horizons" forum participants believe that the policy of "canceling Russia" is aimed at stopping people from communicating with each other, forgetting traditions and history, and being unable to learn from past history. "Such a policy should not exist." Friendly countries should not break off relations and cooperation and politicize them to suit the interests of a third country. Such a situation is not only extremely harmful to the economy but will also destroy strategic autonomy, as is now happening in the European Union countries, the forum delegates expressed.

Infrastructure

B. Davaadalai: The "New Kharkhorin" City Project Will Be Implemented with Public and Private Sector Funding

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

B. Davaadalai, Economic Policy Advisor to the President, provided information about the funding for the project to develop the conceptual design of the "New Kharkhorin" city planning.

Five international teams have been selected to develop the conceptual design for the "New Kharkhorin" city planning, and they will collaborate with the Mongolian team. The conceptual design for the new city's master plan will be completed by August 31.

Detailed feasibility studies, calculations, and evaluations are planned to be completed within this year.

Construction of the "New Kharkhorin" city will begin in the first quarter of 2025. The design for the city's central square is being studied, and budget and funding discussions are ongoing with the government. Work will be accelerated to start construction projects such as the Presidential Palace.

International experience shows that projects should be implemented through a combination of government, private sector, and public involvement. The "New Kharkhorin" city project will be implemented with public and private sector funding. Financing everything from the state budget is not optimal for the city's financial stability.

Therefore, investors are invited to come and explore the exhibition. While the government will provide basic infrastructure and necessary construction, it is optimal for the private sector to participate in urban planning based on economic, location, and market efficiency.

The location of the "New Kharkhorin" city is Mongolia's transportation and logistics hub and the largest tourism zone, so it should be a project of interest to the private sector.

According to the initial concept, 30% of the city will be green space, historical monuments will be restored, there will be health and education services, and there are plans to locate administrative units, international companies, and some embassies in the city.

KHUVSGUL: Work on flood protection earthen dam has begun

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Due to heavy rainfall during the Naadam festival, the flood dam in the 7th and 13th bags of Muren soum was breached, and over 60 households were flooded.

The mud covering about 7,000 square meters of the flooded households' yards has been completely cleaned and disinfected.

To build a concrete dam in the 7th and 13th bags of Muren soum, it would require 19 billion tugriks for the design and estimate. Initially, 250 million tugriks have been approved from the aimag budget, and work has begun on building a 1.9 km earthen dam.

The "Khuslen Buteemj" company has started the work, which is expected to be completed in 2-3 weeks.

P. Lkhagvajav, the Governor of Khuvsgul aimag, said that it is necessary to include funding for building a standard dam in the state budget in the future.

Exchanged views on expanding cooperation in energy and urban development

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg held an official meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken yesterday as part of her visit to the United States.

U.S. Secretary of State A. Blinken expressed that the United States is proud to be Mongolia's "third neighbor" and was pleased to meet again in Washington with Mongolia's Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg, an "oasis of democracy," since Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene's official visit in August 2023.

During the meeting, both sides noted with satisfaction the introduction of a Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue mechanism to further strengthen the strategic third neighbor partnership between Mongolia and the United States. They exchanged views on improving Mongolia's economic resilience and investment environment, training Mongolian English language teachers, supporting tourism and people-to-people exchanges, and expanding cooperation in critical minerals, energy, and urban development.

It should be noted that at the invitation of Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg, United States Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken will pay an official visit to Mongolia on August 1.

36 international teams qualified for the New Kharkhorin City master plan selection will present their works and gather public opinion

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Office of the President and the administration in charge of the "New Kharkhorin" city construction project held a press conference today to discuss the progress and results of the international open selection process for developing the concept of the "New Kharkhorin" city master plan.

B. Davaadalai, Economic Policy Advisor to the President, said, "The decree to rebuild Kharkhorin city was issued in December 2022. According to the decree, a professional administration was established under the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development, which has been working for over a year and has developed the general concept for the new Kharkhorin city.

Over the past 400 years, 52 countries around the world have implemented projects to relocate their capitals. For example, South Korea and six other countries will relocate their capitals and build new cities by 2032.

Based on the lessons learned from the past, we announced an international selection process to ensure that urban planning is done at a professional level.

Between March 18 and July 16, 2024, 36 teams from 18 countries passed the two-stage selection process for the "New Kharkhorin" city master plan and feasibility study, and they will present their works and proposals in Mongolia from the 25th of this month.

Between July 25-31, the 36 international top teams will present their works through the website https://www.facebook.com/Kharkhorumcity and gather public opinion.

We encourage citizens to provide their opinions on the construction and master plan of "New Kharkhorin" city by the international top teams.

An open exhibition will be held from July 28-31. During this time, it will be possible to give opinions and recommendations. The President, members of the Parliament and Government will participate in the exhibition.

On July 31, the top five teams will be selected to work with the Mongolian team on the "New Kharkhorin" city master plan and feasibility study.

Over 100 top architects from 36 teams from 18 countries around the world will provide information and share experiences not only on the "New Kharkhorin" city planning but also on modern urban planning.

EVENT: Presentation of the progress of the tender for developing the concept of the master plan for the "New Kharkhorin" city

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

At the Government Palace

At 08:00 The regular meeting of the Government is ongoing.

In the "A" Ceremonial Hall of the Government Palace

At 10:00 The Presidential Office and the administration in charge of the "New Kharkhorin" city construction will provide information on the progress and results of the international open selection process for developing the concept of the master plan for the "New Kharkhorin" city.

At Khangardi Palace

At 10:00 The extraordinary XXII session of the Capital City Council will be held.

At the outdoor area of Steppe Arena

At 11:00 A 3x3 basketball tournament involving children from welfare centers and care homes will begin.

Feasibility Study and Partial Master Plan for "Emeelt Eco-Industrial Park" Approved

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The Ulaanbaatar City Council's extraordinary XXII session discussed and approved the updated feasibility study and partial master plan for "Emeelt Eco-Industrial Park" JSC. Within the framework of the "Emeelt Eco-Industrial Park", more than 5,600 sustainable jobs will be created, and it will develop in line with the economic special zone function of the Argalant-Emeelt satellite city. It will also support the promotion of small and medium-sized industries and work to create connections between local businesses and industries. Most importantly, the quality of leather and hides will improve, and raw material waste will be reduced. It is also a beneficial project that will increase the export volume of leather and hides.

By relocating the leather, hide, and wool processing factories currently operating in the 20th khoroo of Khan-Uul district to the Emeelt Eco-Industrial Park, the contaminated soil in the Tuul River basin will be rehabilitated. Furthermore, in alignment with Ulaanbaatar city's 2040 master plan, it will be redesigned to create a comfortable environment with green spaces and comprehensive social services that are friendly to residents and businesses.

The City Council approved the feasibility study for this park in 2023. Regarding the current update under discussion, 500 households have been allocated land in front of the project area, and a partial master plan will be developed for this section. Additionally, plans include waste sorting and separation, and the installation of solar batteries to solve 24 percent of the park's energy consumption from renewable sources.

While the project was initially approved with a total investment of 1.4 trillion tugriks, calculations have been made for the increased funding required for these additional works. 63 percent of the required investment for the project will be funded by private sector investment, and 27 percent will come from foreign loans and aid. Project implementers presented that if the industrial park becomes operational and works at full capacity according to the plan, it will recover all costs after 6.7 years. The majority of the Ulaanbaatar City Council representatives supported and approved this issue.

In brief:

• The Ulaanbaatar Election Committee was established with 9 members. The committee will be headed by P. Khadbaatar, the head of the Mayor's Office.
• 1 billion 340 million 522 thousand tugriks from the net profit of the 2023 financial statements of Ulaanbaatar-owned enterprises will be transferred to the city budget. Out of 15 Ulaanbaatar-owned entities, 10 operated profitably in 2023.
• In connection with the demolition of the old building of the 30th General Education School and the construction of a new school, the building, which was commissioned in 1966, was removed from the city property register.

WARNING: Road damaged at 449-450 km on Choir-Sainshand route due to heavy rain

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Due to heavy rain that fell between 11:00-12:30 on July 24 in the territory of Sainshand soum, Dornogovi aimag, the shoulder of the entrance section of the Sainshand bridge located at 449-450 km of the A0102 Choir-Sainshand highway has been severely eroded, and potholes have formed on the travel lane.

On the A39 Sainshand-Khangi port highway, cracks have formed on the side of the shoulder at 10 points, and flood water has flowed over the travel lane. As of 14:57, flood water is still flowing over the travel lane at three locations between 11-14 kilometers.

The road maintenance company "Dornogovi AZZA" JSC is working urgently to ensure the readiness of the highway, so citizens and transporters are advised to travel with caution, according to the Road Transport Development Center.

18 countries' teams, including Italy, Mexico, Russia, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Turkey, have been selected for the planning of "New Kharkhorum" city

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

G. Darkhanchulun, Head of the Investment and Cooperation Department of the administration in charge of the construction of "New Kharkhorum" city, stated that 428 teams from 54 countries registered for the international open selection to develop the concept for the planning of "New Kharkhorum" city. At the start of the planning process, 76 teams submitted their works, and the works of 36 teams from 18 countries that qualified for the second stage will be presented to the public.

Teams that qualified for the second stage:

1. Mongolia 6
2. China 5
3. Russia 5
4. Turkey 4
5. Kazakhstan 2
6. Serbia
7. Singapore
8. Indonesia
9. Australia
10. United Kingdom
11. Mexico
12. Bangladesh
13. Japan
14. Poland
15. Bulgaria
16. Italy
17. Brunei
18. Croatia

These teams participated with a total of 775 members.

The international selection process will be judged by a doctor and professor from Cornell University in the USA, as well as judges from Poland, Germany, and South Korea. The judging panel consists of 11 people. The names of the judges will not be announced.

"The planning process for 'New Kharkhorum' city has been developed with the participation of the world's best urban planners, and their works have arrived. Citizens can visit https://www.facebook.com/Kharkhorumcity from the 25th of this month to give their opinions on these works," he said.

The concept for the planning of "New Kharkhorum" city will be finalized by selecting the top five teams from the 36 teams from 18 countries.

He mentioned that the urban planning solutions for "New Kharkhorum" city made by international teams include models.

The budget for developing the city's master plan and for design and construction will be announced to the public.

In connection with the establishment of "New Kharkhorum" city, 189,000 hectares of land in the Orkhon Valley in Uvurkhangai and Arkhangai provinces have been taken for special state use.

Road damage occurred on the Choir-Sainshand route due to rain

Published: Thu, 25 Jul 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Situation report as of 15:00 on July 24, 2024, provided by the "Road and Transport Development Center" state-owned enterprise:

Due to heavy rain that fell between 11:00-12:30 on July 24, 2024, in Sainshand soum of Dornogovi province, the shoulder of the entrance section of the Sainshand bridge located at 449-450 km on the A0102 Choir-Sainshand highway has been greatly eroded, and potholes have formed on the driving surface.

On the A39 Sainshand-Khangi port route, erosion has occurred on the side of the shoulder at 10 points, and flood water has flowed over the driving surface of the highway. As of 14:57, flood water is still flowing over the driving surface at 3 locations between 11-14 km.

The road maintenance company Dornogovi AZZA SOE is working promptly to ensure the readiness of the highway, so citizens and transporters are advised to travel with caution.

Source: "Road and Transport Development Center" state-owned enterprise

ROADS CLOSED Due to Pipeline Repairs

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Some roads in the capital city have been closed due to repairs and upgrades to the heating pipeline network.

Currently, the following roads in Bayangol, Songinokhairkhan, and Sukhbaatar districts have been closed for a specific period:

Source: UBZAA

The old building of Secondary School No. 30 will be demolished and rebuilt

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Deputy Mayor of the Capital City N. Manduul presented the issue of removing the property from the capital city's property registry.

Specifically, based on the conclusion of a professional organization, it has been decided to demolish the old building of Secondary School No. 30 in the capital city and build a new school building. Therefore, the issue of deregistering the buildings registered to this school and removing them from the capital city's property registry was presented.

The school building was put into operation in 1996 and has three floors with an area of 3693 square meters. Professional organizations have concluded that the building has begun to collapse, with damage to load-bearing structures, high heat loss, and deterioration of utility networks due to lack of regular maintenance. The old building will be demolished, and a new school building with an area of 11,665 square meters and a capacity of 960 children will be built. The City Council discussed and approved the above issue.

OPA: "New Kharkhorin" City Exhibition to be Displayed, Seeking Public Opinion

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

The Office of the President and the administration responsible for the construction of "New Kharkhorin" city held a press conference today.

An international open selection process was announced to develop the conceptual design for New Kharkhorin city, with 428 teams from 54 countries registering. When the planning process began, 76 teams submitted their works, and now the works of 36 teams from 18 countries will be displayed and presented to the public. Six teams from Mongolia have advanced to the second stage, along with five from China, five from Russia, four from Turkey, two from Kazakhstan, and one each from Serbia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Great Britain, Mexico, Bangladesh, Japan, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, and Croatia. These teams, comprising a total of 775 people, have participated in developing the concept for New Kharkhorin city. The judges for evaluating the international selection process were also chosen through a public selection process.

News Guide: Information on the New Kharkhorin City

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

At 09:00: - An international scientific conference "World of Altargana-2024" will be held at the "Ondo" company building.

At 10:00: - At the Government Palace: The President's Office and the New Kharkhorin City Development Administration will provide information and present to the public the works of 38 teams from 18 countries that have qualified for the second stage of the international open selection for developing the concept of the general plan for the "New Kharkhorin" city. - The 22nd extraordinary session of the Citizens' Representative Khural of the Capital City will be held.

At 11:00: - A 3x3 basketball tournament with the participation of children from welfare centers and care homes will begin at the "Steppe Arena". Phone: 9911-7603, 9999-0391, 8869-4040.

Partial Master Plan for "Emeelt Eco Industrial Park" Approved

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Ulaanbaatar City Council (UCC) discussed and approved the revised feasibility study and partial master plan for "Emeelt Eco Industrial Park" JSC at its extraordinary XXII session.

Within the framework of "Emeelt Eco Industrial Park", more than 5,600 sustainable jobs will be created, and it will develop in line with the economic special zone function of the Argalant-Emeelt satellite city.

It will also support the promotion of small and medium enterprises and create connections between local businesses and industries. Most importantly, the quality of leather will improve, and raw material waste will be reduced. It is a project that will also increase leather exports.

By relocating leather, wool, and cashmere processing factories currently operating in the 20th khoroo of Khan-Uul district to the Emeelt Eco Industrial Park, the contaminated soil in the Tuul River basin will be rehabilitated. Also, in alignment with the Ulaanbaatar City 2040 Master Plan, it will be redesigned to create a comfortable environment with green spaces and comprehensive social services that are friendly to residents and businesses.

The UCC approved the feasibility study for this park last year. The current revision includes a partial master plan for the area where 500 households have been allocated land in front of the project area. It also plans to install solar batteries to sort and separate waste and to solve 24 percent of the park's energy consumption from renewable sources.

While the project was initially approved with a total investment of 1.4 trillion tugriks, calculations show that the required funding will increase due to these additional works. 63 percent of the required investment for the project will be funded by private sector investment, and 27 percent from foreign loans and assistance. The project implementers explained that once the industrial park starts operating at full capacity according to the plan, it will recover all costs after 6-7 years. The majority of the Ulaanbaatar City Council representatives supported and approved this issue.

Road from Urgoo Cinema intersection to NCMCH intersection to be closed for renovation

Published: Thu, 25 Jul 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The road from the northern intersection of Urgoo Cinema to the National Center for Maternal and Child Health (NCMCH) intersection in Bayangol district of the capital city, Khasbaatar Street, will be closed and renovated from 23:00 on July 26 to 06:00 on July 29.

The road will be paved with asphalt concrete, and the work will include adjusting manhole covers to the level of the asphalt concrete pavement, installing new drainage systems, replacing barriers, and adding road signs and markings.

Therefore, citizens and drivers are advised to choose alternative routes for travel during this period.

Society

More than 4,200 teachers are needed in general education schools

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

There is just over a month left before the start of the new school year. The main issue facing general education schools is the availability and quality of teachers. This year, there is a shortage of more than 4,200 teaching positions nationwide. We asked G. Munkhbileg, Head of the General Education Policy Management and Regulation Department of the Ministry of Education, about what measures are being taken to address this.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, about 37,000 teachers worked in 871 general education schools (GES). For the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year, it is expected that 40,000 teachers will work in about 890 schools. According to a numerical survey conducted in July, there is a shortage of 4,200 teachers in GES. Preliminary studies show that about 2,400 of these are needed in Ulaanbaatar.

The Government of Mongolia approved the comprehensive "Three Pillars of Teacher Policy" program in 2024. In connection with this, we are working on two main directions to increase and improve the quality of teacher availability through a set of measures. Also, as the new government has been formed, we are working on including objectives to improve teacher supply and availability and solve shortages in the government's action plan. In the near future, we are focusing on professionalizing people who can work as teachers. We will also establish a system of simplified training courses for teaching licenses across the education sector. This will allow people who have majored in university and scientific fields to attend teaching license training courses and have the opportunity to teach in GES. We are also studying and deciding on the possibility of continuing to employ retired teachers who have not yet received their pensions and are on honorary leave, taking into account their health condition and personal wishes.

The "Teacher" program has legally opened up opportunities for graduating students to work with salaries. Under this regulation, more than 3,000 third and fourth-year students are working this year.

We will also make arrangements for teachers on childcare leave to work for short periods. We believe that these measures will help to fill a certain amount of the shortage. There are also many people with teaching qualifications who have moved to other sectors. We will make arrangements to open up opportunities for these people to return to work full-time or part-time in the education sector. Therefore, we believe it is possible to solve the teacher shortage. The teacher shortage is about 10 percent annually. We are working towards the goal of reducing this to 4 percent by 2028.

Victim Allegedly Tortured During Interrogation

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

The family of a young man who allegedly died after being beaten by police officers held a press conference today.

Victim's sister:

Before making this statement, I want to clarify the following through the press and mass media. It's being talked about as if some criminal just died while being detained in Prison 461. However, he was being investigated in connection with a crime, meaning it had not yet been finalized by the court. I want to emphasize this. The crime he was connected to was a minor offense that could be investigated outside of detention. Accordingly, the case was investigated and the result came out yesterday. But my brother died one hour before the court's decision was announced. My brother was not guilty of that crime. He was suspected because the person he was with stole a phone. Certain police officers from the Bayangol District's First Division brought him to the station and tortured him under the guise of interrogation. There were eight people in total. He hid from his family that he had been beaten and tortured by police officers. We found out about this 3-4 days later.

We then filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Agency. Six out of the eight officers named in the complaint have been identified.

Because we filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Agency, my brother, who was a suspect, was detained for one month. During his detention, a police officer from the Bayangol District's First Division called and harassed him over the phone. After the one-month period ended and he was released, he was still harassed through his probation officer. This also needs to be investigated. Due to this pressure and intimidation, he was too afraid to go to the Anti-Corruption Agency.

Victim's Sister: My Brother Was Detained and Died for Reporting Police to the Anti-Corruption Agency

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: itoim.mn

Victim's Sister: They are talking and writing about my brother as if he were a criminal. However, he was being investigated for alleged involvement in a crime. It had not been finally decided by the court. The crime he was associated with was a minor offense that could have been investigated while he was out. Therefore, we made requests to the relevant authorities. However, my brother passed away just one hour before the court decision that would have allowed him to be investigated while out was issued.

He was not involved in the crime he was associated with on January 23rd. Because the person he was with stole a phone, certain representatives from the Bayangol District beat and tortured my brother under the pretext of taking a statement. There were eight criminal representatives from the First Division of Bayangol District. They hid this from us, and when we found out and filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), they detained my brother for a month. After he was released a month later, he was too scared to go to the ACA. The ACA had identified six out of eight officers and needed to identify the other two. When they called him to give a statement, as he was about to go, two police officers from Bayangol District arrested him at the entrance of the ACA and transferred him to Chingeltei, and then from Chingeltei to Prison 461.

They say that from July 11th, his health deteriorated and he was hospitalized in Prison 461's hospital. Although they claim that the prosecutor and investigators were notified of this, we were not informed. Therefore, we have complaints against Prison 461, the police organization, and all levels of legal institutions.

My brother ended up in this situation because we reported the Bayangol District criminal representatives to the ACA.

We last visited my brother on July 8th. Preliminary findings indicate that the cause of death was respiratory distress syndrome. The family was notified by the third hospital at around 17:00 on the 21st. There was no possibility of treatment. They brought a person in such a condition and now they're making statements defending themselves. We will continue to file complaints everywhere.

"Representatives of the Bayangol District Police Department's First Division tortured my brother during interrogation"

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The family of the deceased O, who was detained in Detention Center 461 and died on the 22nd of this month after being taken to Shastin Hospital III, provided information this morning.

The deceased's sister said, "The media and social networks are talking about my brother as if he died as a criminal while in Detention Center 461. My brother was being investigated for alleged involvement in a crime, not yet finalized by the court.

The crime he was associated with was minor, and it was possible to investigate him while he was out. My brother died one hour before the court decision was to be made.

The police made an announcement on January 23rd. He wasn't actually involved in that crime. Because the person he was with stole a phone, certain representatives of the Bayangol District Police Department's First Division tortured my brother during interrogation. There were eight police officers.

As soon as we reported those investigators to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), my brother was detained for one month in the prison located in Dari-Ekh. During this time, an investigator from Bayangol District harassed him over the phone.

Then, for over 20 days, he was harassed through the supervisor. If you ask why he couldn't give a statement to the ACA for over 20 days after getting out, it's because the 21-year-old child was scared.

After that, the ACA investigator identified six of the eight police officers and said they needed to identify the remaining two, so they called our brother.

From the entrance of the ACA compound, two Bayangol District police officers seized our brother, transferred him to Chingeltei District, and sent him to Detention Center 461 for a three-month detention.

They say that from July 11th, his condition deteriorated, and he was hospitalized after telling the doctors at Detention Center 461. The 461st unit claims they informed the prosecutor and investigators about this situation.

When we arrived at the hospital yesterday, the prosecutor and investigator knew nothing. Therefore, we have complaints against all levels of legal institutions.

My brother died because he reported the Bayangol District criminal representatives to the ACA."

Environment

Water levels of Selenge, Eg, and Zeltger rivers have increased by 60-90 cm compared to the previous day

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The water levels of the Selenge River, Eg River, and Zeltger River have increased by 60-90 cm compared to the previous day in the areas of Khyalgant bag, Khantai sum, and Tushig sum respectively.

The water level of the Selenge River near Khyalgant bag in Zuunburen sum is expected to increase by 40-55 cm tomorrow, while the Kherlen River near Baganuur district is expected to increase by 10 cm.

The water levels of the Yeroo, Tuul (Altanbulag), Khurkh, Barkh, Eg, Onon, and Kherlen (Mungunmorit-Baganuur) rivers on the western and eastern slopes of the Khentii mountains have increased by 10-45 cm. The Tuul River basin, Kherlen River (in its upper and lower reaches), Khurkh River, and Uur River are flooding, exceeding the flood level by 10-50 cm. Additionally, the Buyant, Khovd, and Kharkhiraa rivers originating from the Altai mountains continue to exceed the flood level by 10-15 cm.

As rain is expected in the Khentii mountains in the coming days, the situation may worsen with additional rainfall on top of the current flooding conditions. Therefore, the National Emergency Management Agency advises citizens and relevant professional organizations to constantly receive and pay attention to the daily information and warnings issued by the Water and Weather Organization.

Jon Se-jin: From a Professional's Perspective, There's No Other Way But to Remove the Bushes in the Selbe and Dund Rivers

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

25 companies are jointly implementing the relocation of trees and willows along the Selbe and Dund rivers, as well as cleaning up silt deposits, within the framework of a public-private partnership.

Within this framework, the process of cleaning 370,000 cubic meters of silt is currently 80% complete.

After removing and cleaning the silt, there are plans to raise, widen, and strengthen the embankments, and in some locations, to carry out improvements within the framework of the Selbe Renewal project. Jon Se-jin, Deputy Director of Water Facilities at South Korea's "Du Hwa Engineering" JSC, and Bae Young-san, Head of the Water Resources Department at "Suson Engineering" JSC, familiarized themselves with the progress of the above work.

Jon Se-jin, Deputy Director of Water Facilities at South Korea's "Du Hwa Engineering" JSC, said, "The Mongolian people have an amazing culture of preserving and protecting the natural, pristine appearance and character. In this sense, they are critical of the fact that the willows of the Selbe and Dund rivers are being transported and the silt is being cleaned, viewing it as destroying nature. However, from a professional's perspective, looking at the current situation, there is no other way but to remove the bushes in the Selbe and Dund rivers.

There are trees that are not suitable for planting in the river channel. These willows located in the Selbe and Dund rivers have become silted, reducing water permeability. Therefore, transporting these trees and cleaning the silt is the right thing to do.

People need to think about whether preventing floods is the most important issue or whether preserving the trees as they are is important. In the short term, the current work and measures are correct. However, in the long run, it is necessary to work based on detailed research and calculations."

Bae Young-san, Head of the Water Resources Department at "Suson Engineering" JSC, said, "In South Korea, technology is used to clean river silt. As mud flows into the river during the cleaning process, a protection system is installed for cleaning.

We familiarized ourselves with the process of cleaning silt and transporting willows in the Selbe and Dund rivers. Actually, extending the embankments of these two rivers in both directions is the most optimal solution for flood prevention.

In South Korea, when it's not possible to extend the embankments, they raise the roads to increase the width of the water flow. Unfortunately, it seems impossible to extend the embankments of the Selbe and Dund rivers. Therefore, it appears necessary to clean the river silt and develop a master plan for future work."

B. Byambasaikhan, Head of the Repair and Exploitation Department of the "Geodesy, Water Construction, and Facilities Agency" state-owned enterprise, said, "Two water facility experts from South Korea came and familiarized themselves with our work and measures.

They are saying that the right side of the Selbe River, Buyangi Road, is lower than the river level, making it most vulnerable to flooding. We have already prepared a design project to build a supporting wall there with a road above it."

G.Indaryaa: Methane gas is being neutralized in the rehabilitation area of the Narangiin Enger landfill

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Narangiin Enger centralized landfill, located in the 26th khoroo of Songinokhairkhan district, was established in 2009. About 60 percent of the total waste generated in Ulaanbaatar city is concentrated in this landfill, which is then buried using landfill technology.

Since 2020, the landfill area has been partially closed and rehabilitation work has begun, with 27 hectares of land now rehabilitated.

Regarding this, G.Indaryaa, a specialist in charge of waste sorting and recycling at UBZAA, said, "We started rehabilitation work in 2020 to improve the operation of the landfill. We are working on neutralizing methane gas in the rehabilitation area.

In the future, we will put recycling plants into operation and move towards processing waste that has been sorted at the source. This will reduce the amount of waste that needs to be buried and processed."

Innovation

Minister of Education meets with representatives of private secondary schools association

Published: Thu, 25 Jul 2024 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Minister of Education P. Naranbayar met with representatives of the Association of Private Primary and Secondary Schools on July 23, 2024.

The minister emphasized that private schools play a significant role in providing educational choices in Mongolia, introducing advanced international methods and technologies, improving the quality of education and teacher evaluation, and sharing the burden of the state. He expressed his willingness to collaborate within the framework of current laws.

The Association mentioned the need for some changes to the General Education Law and emphasized the importance of having a mechanism to contribute to the development of the education sector and to voice their opinions on necessary issues.

Health

Shortage of Medicine Supply for Children with Cancer

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: news.mn

Globally, cancer medications are mostly designed for adult patients, leading to a shortage in the supply and availability of medicines for children. In Mongolia, an average of 100-120 children are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. The survival rate of children with brain cancer is 46.7%, and for those with blood cancer, it's 70% for five years or more after initial diagnosis, which is below the global average.

Moreover, about 30% of children undergoing treatment often discontinue their full course of treatment due to side effects of medications or other reasons.

Therefore, there is a need to focus on improving the accessibility of cancer care services for children, especially in terms of quality and supply of medications.

Sports

President of Mongolia to Attend the Opening Ceremony of the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games "Paris 2024"

Published: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The President of Mongolia, U. Khurelsukh, along with his wife L. Bolorceceg, will attend the opening ceremony of the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games "Paris 2024" on July 26, 2024, at the invitation of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach.

More than 60 heads of state, government, and international organizations will participate in the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics.

33 Mongolian athletes will compete in nine sports at the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games, which has become a symbol of human harmony. Our team's competition will begin with archery.

Mongolia has been participating in the Olympic Games since 1964, and the Mongolian team and athletes have won 30 medals from the Summer Olympics and four medals from the Paralympic Games, according to the President's Office.

The iKon.mn website has launched a special page "Paris 2024" that includes information about Mongolian athletes participating in the Olympics and their schedules. Readers can click on the schedule to see which of our country's athletes will compete on which day and at what time.