Mar 20, 2025 65 min read Daily News Summaries

Mongolia News Summary for March 20, 2025

The following news articles are the opinions of their authors and publications. They are presented here as translations for informational purposes and do not necessarily represent the opinion of MongolBeat or its members.

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Politics

Noorog Site's Editorial Office Searched, Employees Interrogated

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

During the night of October 17-18, the police conducted a search of the Noorog.mn site's editorial office, confiscated technical equipment, and interrogated employees. The news spread online that this urgent action was taken under Article 19.9.1 of the Criminal Code for "attempting to undermine national unity." Regarding this issue, O. Ulamsaikhan, the executive director of Noorog Media, and his lawyers gave a statement in front of the General Police Department's Cybercrime Unit. Also, the police provided information, and organizations such as the Press Institute and the "Globe International" Center issued statements. O. Ulamsaikhan stated, "We did not spread false information or harm anyone's reputation. We were arrested by the police while playing at a PC game center. The Cybercrime Unit received a complaint via chat that someone might commit suicide because of a video made by Noorog. In other words, based on a complaint from a person with an alias on Facebook, people whose location was unknown were urgently detained at night. Our phones were confiscated, and we were forbidden from speaking to each other, so we were unable to contact our lawyer. I see the reference to an article about undermining national unity as an intimidation tactic. We know what we are doing. We have not spread false information or harmed anyone's reputation. As for the film, it was kept secret and recently released. After that, this event happened. Specifically, our "18 Days" documentary about the 2024 Mongolian parliamentary elections is not yet complete. It's a film that adequately shows the unfairness of elections in Mongolia. We filmed the 18 days of the election with six different "characters" in six regions. We depicted what happens when voting, what promises are made, and what the candidates' education levels are through six citizens. A total of 14 data images are with the Cybercrime Unit. They never approached us as people who work in the media, publish, and create. They also claim we are a troll group of MCS. All media operations in Mongolia have likely collaborated with this company. By collaborating, I mean business cooperation." P. Erkhembayar mentioned, "We gave statements as suspects, not witnesses." Lawyer B. Narantsetseg said, "Based on a citizen's complaint, we gave statements as suspects. No criminal case has been registered yet, so it is not possible to discuss legal provisions. Furthermore, on December 31st, O. Ulamsaikhan and I were summoned to the police department for allegedly posting memes on social media pages related to high-ranking political officials. The youths were detained informally from 10 P.M. to 6 A.M without any permission, which is a violation of human rights. Eight employees were interrogated at night and released at 6:30 A.M." Lawyer P. Erkhembayar also mentioned, "The procedure should be conducted according to the Criminal Procedure Code. Yet, they were suddenly arrested at a PC game center, according to the youths. They were not at their workplace, but at another location, raising questions of whether investigators were conducting operational procedures according to the investigation. How did they learn to go there? Not doing it with a prosecutor's permission is a procedural violation. The Noorog site's employees should have given statements as witnesses, but they gave statements as suspects, which is a reason that they might soon be charged. Following that, measures that limit human rights, such as home searches, arrests, and preventive measures, could be applied. Such circumstances lead to a legal situation. Equipment, including phones and technical devices, were seized before obtaining the prosecutor's permission or after familiarizing with a decision to charge someone, leading to the wrong process." S. Taivan noted that there were certain clues of organizing cyber gambling crimes. Afterward, the police department provided information. G. Purevdelger, head of the Media and Public Relations Department of the General Police Department, stated, "The police have not carried out any investigative or operational procedures in relation to Noorog's online page's publishing activities or any of its posts, articles, or content production. It has been preliminarily established that the Noorog site's youth illegally collected information and violated personal information." S. Taivan, the head of the Cybercrime Department, stated, "We did not investigate the youth content creators of the Noorog page in relation to freedom of the press or with media organizations. Certain clues of invading personal privacy, disclosure, and organizing cyber gambling crimes existed; therefore, the police are investigating under the supervision of the prosecutor's office. Eight citizens were summoned yesterday for urgent operations, yet seven requested to testify with a lawyer present. We accommodated the request and brought them in at 10:30 P.M. and released them at 4:30 A.M. This was within the scope of legal rights. The meeting took place in a fully monitored room in the Cybercrime Division. There was nothing illegal. Any citizen can raise complaints and information in any way." Following the immediate dissemination of this information, the National Human Rights Commission began investigation procedures. They have sent official letters to obtain reasonable statements from the UEP and the General Police Department. Additionally, Justice and Home Affairs Minister O. Altangerel wrote in an X network, "I received preliminary information that it was unrelated to the freedom of the press and the editorial site's operations. It will be verified."

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O.Altangerel: We will first clarify the reasons for the decline in the Democracy Index

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: isee.mn

Mongolia received a score of 0.43 on the Democracy Index in 2023, ranking 77th, having dropped 16 places from the previous year. In 2024, it dropped an additional four positions to rank 81st. Although the position remains the same as last year, many indicators have decreased, placing the country among the six with autocratic regimes. We inquired about this from the Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, O. Altangerel. He stated, "The government has submitted the relevant draft laws to increase power and protect the freedoms of the press and assembly. We are discussing approximately 30 draft laws, including additions and amendments to existing laws. We believe that once these laws are adopted, there will be significant progress in the sector we are responsible for. There are many other sectors to consider. For example, economic transparency is related to this issue. As for me, I won’t say last year’s international index was incorrect. International indices are not incorrect. The main thing is to determine what the issues were and what should be focused on now. Attention must be given to the transparency of the electoral system and the protection of the right to know. Yesterday’s issue was not related to the freedom of the press," he said.

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Economy

"Erdenes Mongol" Group Assigned to Increase Mongolia's Foreign Currency Reserves

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: ikon.mn

A working group tasked with increasing foreign currency reserves through additional export revenue by boosting the production of mining products was established last week. At the time of the group's formation, Mongolia's official foreign currency reserves were approximately $4.5 billion. The goal is to increase this to $5.5 billion by April or May, as stated by Finance Minister B. Javkhlan today. He noted that "at our southern border ports Bulgan, Shiveekhuren, Khangi, and Gashuunsukhait, there is a stockpile of 9.5 million tons of coal. Essentially, it is stuck, meaning there are no trades happening on the exchange until it moves. The reason for the stockpile is due to around 50 agreements made in the second half of last year and early this year, which are obligations to deliver to the border. Since autumn, prices have fallen by almost 40%. As buyers have already incurred losses, they are not taking further action. This is not due to a decrease in Chinese demand. The drop in prices and halted shipments caused the stockpile, which then stopped trading. There are several ways to resolve this issue. For example, we recently approved a regulation to manage the risks associated with price volatility on the exchange in a flexible manner, and we will amend the Exchange Law." Additionally, to reduce pressure on the balance of payments, a regulation has been established to prioritize state-owned companies' investment projects slated for 2025, delaying some expenses except for mega projects. Finance Minister B. Javkhlan remarked, "Erdenet Mining Corporation SOE has postponed a $100 million investment planned for this year and the subsequent $70 million payment to 2026. Meanwhile, they expressed their ability to assist with $100 million to increase foreign currency reserves independently of sales. While 'Erdenes Mongol' group, including its more than ten subsidiaries like Erdenet Mining, Erdenes Critical Minerals, and Darkhan Metallurgical Plant, had projected $3.8 billion in sales, they now have the task of generating an additional $557 million in sales. During today's session, the Prime Minister firmly instructed 'Erdenes Mongol' to increase Mongolia's foreign currency reserves by $1 billion in the near future." Additionally, members of the government have been directed to undertake measures such as executing the construction work for the "Khange-Mandal" railway connection to increase port traffic capacity, implementing the "Gold-3" program to boost gold production and exports, and optimizing coal transportation, as well as expanding export cooperation with China. Note: Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social and Web pages) must always cite their source as ikon.mn when using our information in any form, fully or partially.

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B.Javkhlan: A total of 9.5 million tons of coal are piled up at Bulgan, Shiveekhuren, Gashuunsukhait, and Khankh ports

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: isee.mn

Decisions from the government meeting were reported by Finance Minister B. Javkhlan. He stated, "At last week's government meeting, a working group was established to 'increase exports in the short term and support the increase of foreign currency reserves.' The working group has begun to release its initial decisions. When the working group was established, Mongolia's foreign currency reserves were 4.5 billion dollars. In the near term, within four to five months, we aim to increase the reserves to 5.5 billion dollars. To achieve this, issues that need to be resolved in the short term include the fact that a total of 9.5 million tons of coal have accumulated at the Bulgan, Shiveekhuren, Gashuunsukhait, and Khankh ports. The foremost issue is how to move the coal located at the ports. There are about 50 contracts that have been made since the last half of last year and this year to deliver the coal to the border. Prices have fallen by about 40% since autumn. Buyers are not proceeding with procurement due to the risks involved; it is not due to a decrease in demand from China. There is demand for four billion tons of coal. We are attempting to export less than 100 million tons. The exchange trading is not proceeding as expected. The regulation for price adjustments on the exchange has been renewed and approved. A new format will be available on the exchange. We aim to revive exchange trading.

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Proposal to Prevent Price Increase of Basic Food Items to be Presented to the Government

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The regular meeting of the Financial Stability Council (FSC) for the first quarter of 2025 was held on the 18th of this month. The meeting was chaired by the President of the Bank of Mongolia, Mr. B. Lkhagvasuren, and attended by the Minister of Finance, Mr. B. Javkhlan, Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Commission, Mr. T. Jambajamts, Acting Executive Director of the Deposit Insurance Corporation, Mr. S. Baatarsuren, and other relevant officials. During the meeting, they discussed topics such as the macroeconomic situation, budget performance, the current state of the economy, regulations on calculating interest on bank checking accounts, the Mining Exchange 2025 solutions, changes and updates to regulations, and measures to be implemented in the non-bank financial sector. It was decided to present to the government proposals for measures to prevent price increases of key food items, to urgently discuss specific temporary rules related to the mining exchange's trading at the FSC's meeting, and to maintain the maximum interest rate cap of 3% on bank checking accounts.

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Attention directed to increasing the export of mining products

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The Prime Minister has instructed the implementation of certain measures to increase the export of mining products. Specifically, in order to reduce the pressure on the balance of payments, state-owned companies are to prioritize and defer some expenses of projects other than mega-projects planned for implementation in 2025, address the coal pile issues at the border, complete the construction of the "Khangi-Mandal" railway connection, increase the capacity of ports, implement the "Gold-3" program to boost gold production and exports, optimize coal transportation, and expand cooperation with China in exports. Government members have been tasked with these measures. Additionally, the government has decided to issue a resolution to ensure the stable growth of supply and to prevent price increases of key food products such as meat, flour, and vegetables. To support the increase of foreign currency reserves by generating additional export revenue through increased mining production, a working group led by the Minister of Finance has been established following last week's meeting. This group will make presentations and discuss necessary issues at each government meeting.

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B.Javkhlan: "Erdenes Mongol" was tasked to form a reserve of one billion dollars

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: itoim.mn

A working group has been established to increase exports and the foreign exchange reserves of Mongolia. At today's government meeting, this working group presented its first report. When the working group was established, Mongolia's foreign exchange reserves were about $4.5 billion. Therefore, this working group aims to increase the reserves to $5.5 billion in 4-5 months. Specifically, while Mongolia's foreign exchange reserves reached $5.4 billion before, the goal is to surpass that amount and reach a reserve that can cover 5-6 months of import demand. Moreover, it has been decided to provide brief information on decisions made, ongoing work, and results at every future government meeting. Finance Minister B. Javkhlan stated: As of today, there is a pile of 9.5 million tons of coal at the southern borders. Until this is moved, there is no way for trading on the exchange. The reason for the coal pile is related to the agreements made in the second half of 2024 and since the beginning of this year, totaling around 50 agreements. We are committed to delivering the coal to the border under these agreements. Since autumn, the price of coal has fallen by nearly 40%. As a result, buyers have suffered losses and are not continuing their purchases. However, China's demand for coal has not decreased. China needs over 4 billion tons of coal. Yet, we cannot even satisfy demand for 100 million tons of that. This year, there is a plan to export 85 million tons of coal to China. Even if China's demand decreases, it would not decrease by 30-40% but within 5%. However, our exchange trading has decreased five-fold, and the border transit has halted by 40-50%. Due to the price decrease, companies that already purchased the coal are not taking delivery. There are several ways to quickly resolve this. To flexibly resolve the price fluctuations on both sides, a temporary regulation for arranging exchange transactions within current legal frameworks has been approved. The establishment of the working group has created opportunities for the exchange to operate in a completely new format. Until clear changes are made to the exchange law, the current regulation provides opportunities to partially restore exchange trading. We will make changes to the exchange law to activate exchange trading. A total of more than 10 companies will economize on their outflow expenditures, with a sales revenue of $557 million. Additionally, the government will issue a resolution with about 10 provisions. Initially, the focus will be on both export and import. Attention will be given to outbound flows, some of which will be postponed and prioritized. Specifically, this year, it was decided to halt outbound investment flows for state-owned entities' new projects. In this regard, "Erdenet Factory" JSC led by example and completed its calculations. Companies such as Erdenet Factory, Critical Minerals, and Darkhan Metallurgical Plant received additional tasks. In total, more than 10 companies received additional obligations to economize and generate $557 million in sales revenue. The Prime Minister has strictly instructed the "Erdenes Mongol" group to form a foreign exchange reserve of one billion dollars. In addition to state-owned enterprises, there is an intention to work closely with domestic and foreign investment companies engaged in mining and export. Moreover, the "Gold 3" program has been introduced, with implementation issues to be discussed at the next meeting. Two important mandates were given to the Ministry of Roads and Transport. Specifically: 1. To quickly put the Khangi-Mandal road into use and start transportation. 2. The tariff of "Mongolian Railway" has become twice as high as that of road transport. Instructions have been given to match it with road transport or ideally to reduce it, and initial decisions have been made. Work has commenced to halve the tariff in the near future. Furthermore, instructions were given to accelerate the border connections of the Khangi-Mandal and Shiveekhuren-Sekhe border points. Additionally, the Bank of Mongolia decided to set the debt-to-income ratio for consumer loans at 50:50. Relatedly, the Financial Regulatory Commission set it to 60:40 for non-bank financial institutions and other lending organizations. The monetary policy of the Bank of Mongolia is shifting deeply into a tight stance. Consequently, the fiscal policy needs to be aligned. Within this scope, we will immediately enter into a mode of economization. A national committee has been established and is working to improve government productivity and make the economization mode effective.

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The Mid-Term Budget for 2026-2028 Requires a Risk-Averse Policy

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The Budget Stability Council has prepared macroeconomic forecasts and key economic indicators to be used in developing the Budget Framework Statement for Mongolia for the mid-term period of 2026-2028. The council announced this today. In projecting the financial and economic outlook for the next three years, the council members used international modeling as well as assessed the conditions of neighboring countries and international contexts. The council's members emphasized the need to adhere to a risk-averse policy in the medium term by limiting budget expenditures, avoiding the introduction of new types of expenses, and maintaining the 2025 budget approved without deficit. Additionally, international organizations have repeatedly suggested reducing the country's over-reliance on the mining sector and focusing on diversifying the economy. Moreover, given the high external and internal risks, it is crucial for the government to effectively implement its obligations related to budget laws and to avoid repeating past mistakes. The council submitted the above macroeconomic forecast for 2026-2028 to the Ministry of Economy and Development on March 14. The Budget Stability Council operates independently to ensure the transparency of Mongolia's budget and finances by conducting professional research and analysis, delivering conclusions and recommendations to the public and the State Great Khural (Parliament), and protecting public and legitimate interests.

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The State Great Khural Introduced Its Strategy for Supporting the Business Environment at the "Management Forum 2025"

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: isee.mn

The new parliament has promised to reduce the pressure faced by business owners and formed several working groups. A greeting from D. Amarbayasgalan, the Speaker of the State Great Khural of Mongolia, was conveyed at the "Management Forum 2025" conference by the Secretary General of the State Great Khural, B. Baasandorj. The forum was attended by members of the State Great Khural P. Sainzorig and N. Batsumberel, who presented the 2024-2028 strategy and plan of the new parliament to the business sector representatives. The event, with participation from top leaders of Mongolia's 150 leading companies, was evidently of great importance to Speaker D. Amarbayasgalan. Last year, as the Head of the Cabinet Secretariat, he personally attended the forum. This time, despite being on an official visit to the United Kingdom, he sent his greetings. The first parliament comprising 126 members of Mongolia has clearly committed to supporting the business community, which contributes to the majority of the state budget, by reforming the legal environment. The Secretary General of the State Great Khural explained the 2024-2028 strategic plan and the "Human-Centered" legal principles of the Three Excellence Policy in detail to business people. Representing the parliamentary working group, members N. Batsumberel and P. Sainzorig expressed their positions, emphasizing the importance of reducing tax rates and creating a stable business environment. They aim to prioritize national development policy and fundamental interests, strive to make state services free from bureaucracy and pressure, and create a favorable legal environment for investment and free competition. Thus, the parliament has for almost the first time introduced its policies and actions to the private sector and explained its decision to adopt business-friendly policies, indicating a new direction by listening to business owners. The "Management Forum 2025" meeting, held under the slogan "Building The Trust," is distinguished by evaluating business and economic environments and providing solutions on pressing issues such as artificial intelligence and human resources. It remains to be seen how the public-private partnership will develop.

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Nine Percent of Total Loans Classified as Non-performing or Attention Needed

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The debt of loans requiring attention increased by 20.1 percent compared to the same period last year, while the non-performing loans decreased by 1.5 percent, according to a report from the National Statistics Office. Specifically, the outstanding loans requiring attention reached 1.5 trillion MNT, an increase of 245 billion MNT compared to the same period in 2024. Non-performing loans amounted to 2 trillion MNT, having decreased by 30.6 billion MNT. As a result, the total debt from non-performing and attention-needed loans now comprises nine percent of the total loans. Meanwhile, the remaining balance on mortgage loans provided by commercial banks and the "Mongolian Mortgage Corporation" to individuals stood at 9.5 trillion MNT during this period, reflecting a 23.4 percent increase over the same period last year and a one percent increase over the previous month. Of the outstanding mortgage loans, 97.8 percent, equivalent to 9.3 trillion MNT, are classified as normal, while 0.9 percent, or 82.1 billion MNT, are classified as non-performing.

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The Prime Minister Instructed to Deposit $1 Billion into Erdenes Mongol Group Soon

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: isee.mn

Finance Minister B. Javkhlan provided information on the decisions made at the government meeting. A government working group was established to "shortly increase exports and support the increase of foreign exchange reserves." This working group has started to make its first decisions. When the group was established, Mongolia's foreign exchange reserves were $4.5 billion. We aim to increase the reserves to $5.5 billion in the near future, that is, within four to five months. To achieve this, instructions were given to four companies, including the Erdenet Mining Corporation and Darkhan Metallurgical Plant. Additionally, the Prime Minister issued a strict order to accumulate $1 billion into the "Erdenes Mongol" group soon to enhance the foreign exchange of Mongolia.

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Approved Regulations for Trading Coal, Copper Concentrate, and Iron Ore

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Based on Article 6.1.1 and 6.2.10 of the Law on the Legal Status of the Financial Regulatory Commission and Article 9.2 of the Law on the Mining Products Exchange, the Financial Regulatory Commission issued Resolution No. 76. The commission approved the "Mining Products Exchange Trading Regulations" and the "Mining Products Exchange Trading Settlement Regulations" to be followed in operations until April 1, 2026. Additionally, by the attachment of Resolution No. 16 of the Board of Directors of the "Mongolian Stock Exchange" JSC, the following standards were established and authorized to be enforced: - "Standards for Spot and Forward Contracts for Coal" - "Standards for Copper Concentrate Trading Contracts" - "Standards for Iron Ore and Concentrate Trading Contracts" - "Standards for Fluorspar Ore and Concentrate Trading Contracts" Following the approval of this resolution, the Financial Regulatory Commission annulled its 2023 Resolutions No. 458, 465 and 2024 Resolutions No. 134, 448 entirely, and invalidated Resolution No. 387 of 2023's provisions regarding the regulations on trading and settlement of mining products as approved by Annex 4, and the standards for coal trading contracts as approved by Annex 5, as reported by the Mongolian Stock Exchange.

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Decision on Implementing 'Gold 3' Program to be Made Next Week

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: isee.mn

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Ts. Tuvaan reported on the decisions made at today's government meeting and the information presented. He stated, "I gave a presentation on issues related to the Oyu Tolgoi company at today's government meeting. The management of 'Oyu Tolgoi' will arrive in Ulaanbaatar soon. In this regard, we introduced that issues regarding tax disputes and licenses within the group deposit need to be resolved at the government level. We also introduced the establishment of a working group to amend the relevant law of the Stock Exchange. Furthermore, we have presented the implementation of the 'Gold 3' program and will make specific decisions next week. The price of gold is rising in the global market. Therefore, decisions need to be made to support the increase of Mongolia's gold and foreign currency reserves."

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Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: isee.mn

According to the Social Insurance General Office's report on social insurance contribution payments, a total of 787,000 employees from 52,000 enterprises and organizations (EBOs) were included as of the fourth quarter of 2024. The number of EBOs that paid social insurance contributions (SIC) increased by 1,600 compared to the same period last year, and by 707 compared to the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the number of employees increased by 16,300 compared to the same period last year, but decreased by 169 from the previous quarter. Additionally, the average nominal monthly salary per employee nationwide as of the fourth quarter of 2024 is 2,672,000 tugriks, and the median salary is 2,229,000 tugriks. Compared to the same period last year, the average nominal monthly salary increased by 436,000 tugriks, and the median salary increased by 448,000 tugriks.

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S. Odontuya: If we do not reduce the interest on green loans, development will not proceed

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: gogo.mn

During the presentation of the decisions made at the government meeting, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, S. Odontuya, provided the following information. She said, "The insulation of homes switching to gas fuel according to standards will be resolved. Additionally, we will support green building and housing projects." The issue of concessional loans by commercial banks has been assigned to Minister S. Javkhlan. The interest on green loans tends to be high. Therefore, unless we resolve how to lower the interest, development will not proceed and efforts will not succeed. The National Air Pollution Committee has a council of scientists working. Options will be offered to families planning to insulate their homes. An official letter has been sent to enterprises using solid fuels, instructing them not to burn coal. It has been decided that 1% of enterprises' taxes will be allocated to air pollution. Since the insulation standard has been issued, activities will be carried out according to this standard.

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The Unavoidable Risk and Unmanageable Danger Has Become a Budgetary Challenge

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The risks to the budget demonstrate the urgent need for immediate action and addressing the mistakes. The government is facing falling coal prices while dealing with issues related to one of its domestic companies over a certain mine. Cabinet Secretary N. Uchral mentioned that due to factors beyond their control, issues stemming from the international situation have caused coal prices to decline. However, he stated there is no condition to amend the budget. There are established structures and institutions continuously researching the political situation and international relations. They foresee risks and provide information to decision-making bodies, but the government should develop and implement policies based on this information to prevent unexpected natural disasters such as exchange rate instability. Applause for "approving a budget without a deficit for the first time" is something that could be learned from now. Instead of seeking acknowledgement, it is crucial to realistically assess and measure risks. Ignoring issues when time is tight is detrimental. Due to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, China's demand for steel has diminished, which in turn has limited coal purchases and threatened Mongolia's coal price, thereby jeopardizing its budget revenue. Having such a vulnerable budget and inadequate risk management is evident; thus, discussing economic security seems unnecessary. This is not the first occasion our country has depended on coal exports for budget revenue. Wasteful spending affects budget revenue losses. The current issue is whether the budget hardship is the problem or if the true focus should be on becoming a major player in the coal market in the future. According to statistical data, the budget balance for the first two months of this year indicated a deficit of 565.8 billion tögrög. However, during the spring session's opening remarks, the Speaker of parliament stated that "the budget balance ended with a deficit of 493 billion tögrögs." Why is there such a discrepancy in information? The Finance Minister explained that "the budget will be revised when the budget deficit exceeds 3% of GDP and reaches 11% of the annual plan." The reality now shows a deficit exceeding half a trillion. Isn't it nearing a deficit of 3 trillion? This is a risk that cannot be overlooked. There have been no substantial actions taken to save the budget or significantly increase revenue, although society is closely observing what must be done. Moreover, tax revenue has decreased by more than a trillion compared to the previous year. The payment for mineral resource utilization has fallen significantly by 65.5%. Measures to address this decline remain unclear. Additionally, income tax has decreased by 30%, and VAT has decreased by 13.9%. Subsidies for projects and programs received through state grants and their covered expenses account for more than 10% of the total budget expenditure. In summary, it is regrettable that while there is concern over revenue, expenditures are not being managed efficiently. The obvious solution to this predicament is not a budget revision. Therefore, the only alternative is to increase export revenue. This requires maneuvering in coal exports, which are the main component of budget revenue. The opening day of the parliamentary session made it clear they are seeking ways to move away from the "market price." External circumstances have caused coal prices to fall, leading to a shift towards selling coal at the “mine price” rather than the market exchange rate. Though there is criticism regarding the policy of trading coal solely between two countries being flawed, it is undoubtedly essential for the Mongolian state to remain firm and not capitulate to the interests of Bayanuur coal companies. However, coal export volumes may still face "boycotts." Selling coal at the "market price" through open bidding has significantly reduced corruption in coal trading, ensuring that buyers purchase at the market's actual price rather than inflated prices imposed by a few Chinese companies. Nevertheless, it is the parliament's responsibility to make prompt and appropriate decisions that adapt to the situation. Therefore, by making specific "movements" in the mining product exchange law, there could be a boost in export revenue. On the other hand, on the opening day of the spring session, the government presented the enhanced capacity of the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod border port to parliament for ratification. If this agreement is approved by parliament, it could increase previously sold coal volume by five million tons and has the potential to raise revenue by approximately 400 million dollars, according to Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Ts. Tuvaan. What results will the ratification of this agreement yield? For coal trading, the plan involves selling five million tons of coal from our extraction over the first three years until 2025-2027. In 2028-2029, Erdenes Tavantolgoi JSC will enter into a sales contract with China Energy to introduce six million tons each by rail. There is already a contract for selling 20 million tons of coal with the large Chinese energy corporation China Energy. However, selling such significant amounts of coal presents challenges as our mine's capacity is currently insufficient. Therefore, we are cooperating to improve the capacity of our mine, increase coal yield, and reach the extraction capacity, all while adhering to the tender framework under Mongolian law. China Energy has also proposed participating in the extraction of large amounts of coal. In terms of profit, enhancing our mine's capacity will allow stable coal sales without concerns about prices and demand, alongside strengthening our railway connections with other ports. What changes might occur in the coal selling price? The price range mutually agreed upon by both parties pertains to exporting an additional billion tons of coal from the Tavantolgoi deposit. If this is set too harshly or high, only high-quality coal may be utilized, leaving the rest unsold. Our side has proposed preventing that possibility. Additionally, the Chinese side has backed away from their initial request regarding unreasonable stock exchange practices between our countries and accepted the proposed price range. Our side believes that the contract negotiated through this agreement has adhered to established frameworks without deviating from parliamentary instructions and approvals. As the spring session opens, it is rumored that the National Security Council has discussed this matter in a closed meeting, considering changes to laws that would support national interests and economic security linked to the aforementioned contract. However, it remains uncertain whether this will fully compensate for the unexpected loss of coal export revenue.

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Ts.Tuvaan: Implementing the "Gold-III" Program

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: montsame.mn

During the presentation of the decision made at today's government meeting, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ts. Tuvaan, announced, "We will implement the 'Gold-III' program." He stated that "At a time when the price of one ounce of gold has exceeded 3000 USD on the global market, it is appropriate to increase gold production. Therefore, a decision has been made to implement the 'Gold-III' program. In relation to this, it has been decided to make specific decisions in next week's government meeting. In other words, increasing gold production will be an important support in forming the national reserves of gold and currency."

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Inflation in Ulaanbaatar Reaches 10.3%

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: isee.mn

In February, the inflation rate in Ulaanbaatar reached 10.3%, entering into double digits. The Central Bank of Mongolia had reported last Friday that inflation, which has been tightening for the past seven months, was expected to enter double digits. The main contributing factors to inflation, which is determined by the consumer goods and services index, include increases in the prices of meat, electricity, and education fees, according to the central bank.

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The production volume of key product categories has increased

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: montsame.mn

According to preliminary results for the first two months of 2025, the total industrial production reached 5.1 trillion MNT. This represents an increase of 747.1 billion MNT compared to the same period in 2024. The mining and extraction sector contributed 492.9 billion MNT, while the manufacturing sector contributed 129.5 billion MNT to this increase, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO). The preliminary output of the mining and extraction sector is 3.5 trillion MNT, reflecting an increase of 492.9 billion MNT from the same period in 2024. Metal ore extraction contributed 280.4 billion MNT, and brown coal extraction contributed 204.1 billion MNT to this increase. In this sector, the physical volume of iron ore, brown coal, zinc concentrates, copper concentrates by metal content, fluorspar, and fluorspar concentrates rose by 4.1-92.3% compared to the same period in 2024. Conversely, the volumes of iron ore concentrate, unrefined gold, enriched coal, hard coal, crude oil, and silver concentrate decreased by 0.1-13.6%. In the manufacturing sector, the physical volume of key products such as water, beverages and juices, cashmere knitted goods, combed cashmere, coal briquettes, traditional baked goods, liquid milk, and cigarettes increased by 2.8-87.3%. Overall, the industrial sector's sold products reached 7.1 trillion MNT, which is a decrease of 971.8 billion MNT from the same period in 2024. The mining and extraction sector had a significant impact on this decrease, contributing 1.3 trillion MNT. Sales in the mining and extraction sector decreased by 1.3 trillion MNT from the same period in 2024, with coal sales accounting for a decline of 1.7 trillion MNT and crude oil extraction contributing 26.8 billion MNT to this downturn. During the first two months of 2025, sales on the foreign market amounted to 4.8 trillion MNT, of which 4.7 trillion MNT came from the mining and extraction sector. Overseas sales of mining products comprised 42.4% coal, 52.7% metal ore, 3.4% crude oil, and 1.5% other mineral extractions.

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Trial Begins to Produce Briquettes from "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" Enriched Coal

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: gogo.mn

In the context of changing the primary raw materials for briquettes, improving quality, and developing new standards, Tavantolgoi Fuel LLC is collaborating with scientists from the Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of the Academy of Sciences, the Council of Scientists under the National Committee for Air Pollution Reduction, and foreign research organizations. The first 15 wagons of enriched coal sent from Erdenes Tavantolgoi JSC's mine were delivered to Tavantolgoi Fuel LLC's factory site today. The remaining coal will be brought in according to schedule. It was reported by Tavantolgoi Fuel that briquettes will be produced on a trial scale using the enriched coal from Tavantolgoi JSC, and based on the conclusions, recommendations, and decisions of the Council of Scientists, the products will be introduced into use.

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The ratio of debt to income for lending by NBFIs and licensed organizations was increased to 60/40

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: ikon.mn

At the government meeting today, the Governor of the Bank of Mongolia and executives from the Financial Regulatory Commission (FRC) participated. The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Mongolia decided this month to increase the policy interest rate by 2 basis points to 12%, and to adjust the debt-to-income ratio to 50/50 for consumer loans. In line with this, the FRC has announced that the debt-to-income ratio for Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) and other licensed lenders, which was previously 70/30, has been set at 60/40, aligning more closely with the central bank's decision. The Minister of Finance, B. Javkhlan, noted that this was considered a policy measure to limit imports. He also emphasized, "Monetary policy is moving deeper into a tight stance. Therefore, fiscal policy will align by entering a mode of austerity. A National Committee has been established to improve the productivity of the government and make austerity more effective, and thus, the decision of this committee should soon be issued and presented at the next government meeting, as assigned to N. Uchral, the head of the Cabinet Secretariat. The main platform for implementing the austerity regime should be this. The government's own share in saving resources will be accompanied by private sector participation, working on the principle of discussing mistakes and successes."

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B.Javkhlan: We are working to increase the foreign exchange reserves to 4.5 trillion tugriks

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Finance Minister B. Javkhlan reported that the first report of the task force established to increase the export of mining products, monitor, and promptly resolve the issues under the framework of ensuring stable macroeconomic growth was presented at today's government meeting. He further stated, "This task force was established last week. At that time, the national foreign exchange reserves were 4.5 trillion tugriks, and we are working to increase this reserve to 5.4 trillion tugriks by April and May. The foreign exchange reserves had once reached as high as 5.4 trillion tugriks. Our goal is to surpass even that." Currently, the main issue to be addressed is the accumulation of 9.5 million tons of coal at the border crossing points of Mongolia. During the pandemic, the pile-up reached up to 20 million tons. Compared to that, this is relatively better, but unless this accumulation is cleared, trading of mining products on the exchange will not commence. The main cause of this accumulation is the previously signed contracts. Since the fall, coal prices have decreased by 30-40%. Due to the price drop, companies on the other side are not receiving the coal. Therefore, regarding the establishment of flexible pricing policies on the exchange, the Ministry of Finance, the Financial Regulatory Commission, the Mongolian Stock Exchange, and other organizations have discussed and approved a revised regulation at today's government meeting. This allows the exchange trade to be carried out according to this regulation," he said. The task force will report to the government meeting every week.

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E. Odbayar: To implement state economy savings, the activities of the Council for State Economy and Accessibility have been revived

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: isee.mn

We are presenting the decision made by the Government meeting. Chairman of the National Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation, E. Odbayar, stated, "At today's Government meeting, a decision was made to intensify the activities of the State Economy and Accessibility Council, which has been operating since 2013. This council is composed of 70% from the private sector, while members like myself, the head of the Cabinet Secretariat N. Uchral, Minister of Communism Policy, Information, and Coordination Ts. Baatarkhuu, and Minister of Food and Agriculture L. Enkh-Amgalan are included. The main purpose of reviving this council is to implement state economy savings across all sectors, to organize significant work regarding increasing accessibility, and to report weekly to the Government. Specifically, we will collaborate through the council to work with the private sector on savings and accessibility. The Government's Monitoring Agency will conduct process re-engineering according to its legal mandate. Simply put, it is necessary to create workplace snapshots and identify redundant positions. This work will be conducted. Additionally, there is a decision to digitalize certain services which are cumbersome for citizens to receive from the state, and to implement operations that can save resources. Next week, steps for implementation will be determined."

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Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The Social Insurance Authority involves 1,161.3 thousand mandatory insured persons and 171.3 thousand voluntary insured persons in social insurance and organizes the provision of pensions, benefits, and payments to citizens and insured persons nationwide. There have been complaints and suggestions from citizens who work independently and participate in voluntary insurance regarding the inability of contributions paid by voluntary insured individuals to serve as financial and income proof for obtaining loans from banks in the same way as mandatory insured persons. Thus, the General Department of Social Insurance has conveyed a request to all commercial banks to make the payment of social insurance contributions by voluntary insured individuals one of the criteria for loan issuance, as a supportive measure for citizens.

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Diplomacy

It is important for Mongolia to continue its balanced foreign policy

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: news.mn

We spoke with internationally acclaimed scholar, Professor D. Ulambayar, Doctor of Science, about contemporary issues related to the rapidly changing new geopolitical situation. In international politics, a situation that can be predicted is emerging. Does this pose a risk to Mongolia's neutral stance? Uncertainty in the world is increasing, and the space, time, and gravitational environment of geopolitics are becoming increasingly unpredictable. The danger of risks caused by miscalculations continues to be a new issue. At the same time, it is important to strengthen predictive capabilities. We see that Mongolia always prioritizes national rights in the new situation, leads by internationally accepted legal principles and norms, and pursues a peace-loving, open, multi-pillared, independent, and balanced foreign policy. During a time when extreme tendencies are deepening in international relations, developing foreign relations prudently has become very important. The tool to implement this is a "balanced" foreign policy. Donald Trump is returning to world politics, openly declaring his foreign policy. Some are saying his conflict with Mongolia's two neighboring countries might potentially affect us. What is your take on this? International analysts all agree that the newly elected president of the USA, Donald Trump, has begun creating new circumstances with his foreign policy parameters. In other words, adopting a one-sided, biased position with America first is criticized at all levels as it neglects the legitimate interests of partners and allies. This will not lead to positive outcomes, and initial negative consequences are already evident with the sharp drop in the stock prices of American top companies on the New York Stock Exchange. Trump's tariff war negatively impacted China's trade and economic development, which is Mongolia's main export market, and this is beginning to show a significant effect on our export revenues. Therefore, strengthening the resilience of the national economy and a multi-pillared economic security system is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. The "Economic Resilience" process has five stages: surviving, overcoming, adapting, responding, and exiting severe conditions with dignity. The New Revival Policy of the government and the "Billion Trees," "Food Revolution," "White Gold," and "Healthy Mongolian Citizen" national programs proposed by President Khurelsukh are precisely directed towards these issues. Additionally, digitizing all sectors and deepening the transition to AI, or artificial intelligence, is clear. There is no conflict between Mongolia and its two neighboring countries. Both sides always note that the relationship has reached its historical peak. However, it's worth noting that Russia is gradually becoming more dependent on China in terms of trade, economy, technology, and debt. "The biggest conflict between the US and China is the Taiwan issue." We previously discussed the two-party meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. At that time, you mentioned there seemed to be a trend towards improving relations between the world's first and second largest economies. How do you foresee the relationship between these two countries in the years to come given the current situation? The developments are proceeding at a rapid pace without the possibility of preliminary analysis, and the positions of the parties are also changing rapidly. We see that the confrontation between China and America is not only a tariff war but involves leading strategic sectors such as digital technology, AI, rare earth elements, and defense. The recently concluded 14th session of the All-China People's Congress set the defense budget at 1.784 trillion yuan or $245.2 billion for 2025, up from 1.69 trillion yuan or $235 billion in 2024. Just after expressing readiness to oppose any initiated confrontations or struggles by the US, on March 6, in an interview for "Fox News," Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that the US is "prepared" to fight with China. Some analysts do not dismiss the suggestion that Trump's rapprochement with Russia aims to reduce the momentum of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia. The biggest conflict between these two powers remains the Taiwan issue. Will there be any changes in US-Mongolia relations in 2025? During Trump's first term, the US and Mongolia signed a Joint Declaration of Strategic Partnership, followed by a Joint Declaration of the Strategic Third Neighbor Partnership, and a Joint Declaration on the Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue was signed in Washington. The US's political position to steadfastly support democracy and market systems of Mongolia, situated between two authoritarian neighbors, remains clear. However, Trump’s new administration has temporarily suspended foreign aid for three months to monitor its utility and usage. Reports began to emerge about hundreds of billions of dollars of aid being spent inefficiently. The compact agreement between the government of Mongolia and the Millennium Challenge Corporation of the US became effective in March 2021 and is actively implemented to enhance Ulaanbaatar's total water supply over five years with a $350 million grant. The remaining funding has currently been suspended. Mongolia has maintained a neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine war. Is it right to continue this position? The latest example during the United Nations General Assembly vote on the Draft Resolution A/ES-11/L.10 condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine, Mongolia abstained as the US, for the first time, voted on the side of Russia, North Korea, Belarus, Nicaragua, and other countries. The proposed resolution was supported by 93 countries, opposed by 18, while 65 abstained, and 14 did not participate. On the same day, on the Draft Resolution A/ES-11/L.11 of the UN General Assembly asking for the end of the Ukraine war without specifically mentioning Russian aggression, the US abstained while Mongolia supported it. This resolution was supported by 87 countries, opposed by 6, with 65 abstaining and 35 not participating. In other words, Mongolia maintains a fair stance by not taking sides in disputes that do not touch upon its core national interests. How long will the US-China trade war last? The US-China trade war, which occurred during Trump's first term, is likely to continue into his second term and might even extend to American alliances and its closest allies. Does the US’s rapprochement with Russia negatively affect Mongolia? In my opinion, it is too early to conclude that Trump's administration is getting too close to Russia. Improved US-Russia relations should not adversely affect Mongolia. "Claims that countries are preparing for World War III are exaggerated." Major powers are becoming more domineering towards smaller nations. What should Mongolia do to maintain its security? Trump's administration is exhibiting arrogant and overbearing behavior towards small and medium-sized countries. It is crucial for Mongolia to continue pursuing a consistent, peace-loving, open, multi-pillar, balanced, and independent foreign policy ensuring coherence and succession. How should Mongolia protect its national security against the backdrop of countries supposedly preparing for World War III? The claim that countries are preparing for World War III is an exaggerated evaluation. However, the threat of nuclear war remains. Current nuclear arsenals are not intended for winning wars to establish superiority but rather as tools for deterrence and intimidation. If Russia used nuclear weapons first, the Russian people would become the target of nuclear retaliatory strikes. The consequences of nuclear war are unpredictable, leading to mutual ruin. According to experts, an ecological disaster would follow a nuclear war. Trump has proposed to Russia a discussion involving China to reduce strategic weapons and military expenditure. However, to realize this, mutual military trust is crucial. Meanwhile, Trump has required NATO countries to increase their military expenditure. For Mongolia, it remains important to maintain national security through political and diplomatic means by steadily continuing a balanced foreign policy.

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Ch. Sumya: The Consecutive Visits of the Three High State Leaders to China Indicate a High Level of Political Trust Between the Two Countries

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Researcher and economist Ch. Sumyaa had a discussion with Ogloo Journal journalist E. Munkh on current affairs. - Internationally, events are occurring daily with great impact. Could you provide some insights into the current global situation from your perspective as a researcher? - Nationalist populists have taken power in various countries, affecting the world's climate and established international order since the end of the 20th century's Second World War, Cold War, and the post-Covid-19 pandemic era. Recently, for example, Donald Trump's re-election as President of the United States has emphasized protecting American interests in regions such as Canada, Mexico, Greenland, the Middle East Gaza Strip, and the Black Sea areas around Ukraine. He is perceived to be destabilizing the global trade and investment system through tariff and non-tariff restrictions. Also, the Bundestag election in Germany took place unexpectedly on February 23 of this year. It was an extraordinary election that the CDU, CSU-led government crisis brought about ahead of the originally planned fall of 2025. - What do you believe is the main cause of the crisis? - I understand the main cause as the resignation of Finance Minister Christian Lindner on November 6 last year. Germany's political situation has radically shifted, with conservative and far-right forces gaining influence, weakening traditional 'people's parties' (CDU, CSU). It's anticipated that the new German government will focus on addressing issues such as economy, immigration, and European Union policy. In East Asia, countries on the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, are facing significant political and economic challenges. The annual sessions of China's National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference are about to conclude, marking one of China's most significant political events. Consequently, as a neighboring country, Mongolia needs to keep an eye on these developments. - How do you foresee changes in Mongolia's foreign environment in 2025? - This year is historically significant as it marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Various events aimed at raising awareness about the war's consequences and military parades are planned in the coming months. President U. Khurelsukh visited Turkey in mid-January. Several cooperation documents in military strategy, history, culture, social, and economic sectors were signed during the visit. The decision to develop bullet and drone factories with Turkish support was announced at that time. The President is also expected to visit countries such as Poland, Russia, and India this year. He has already visited Poland officially. Moreover, high-level delegations are set to visit Mongolia from countries like China, Turkmenistan, and Japan. The planning of international visits around the Naadam festival seems to be successfully executing what might be referred to as our own 'Naadam diplomacy'. - What about the Prime Minister's visit? Could you discuss its significance and outcomes? Also, the Speaker of the Parliament has already visited the southern neighbor, hasn't he? - Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene made a working visit to Harbin from February 13 to 15. Parliament Speaker D. Amarbaysgalan also conducted an official visit. In other words, two of Mongolia's three high state leaders have visited the southern neighbor within ten days, indicating a high level of political trust and relationship between the two countries. During the Speaker's visit to Beijing, discussions were held with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, on widely commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Liberation War and the Victory over Global Fascism. - The SCO summit will take place in China this autumn. President Khurelsukh will most likely attend, won't he? - The SCO Heads of State Summit will be held in Tianjin. China is set to chair the SCO from 2024 to 2025. Plans are underway to organize the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of SCO member countries in China. The Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Nurlan Yermekbayev, announced preparations for an expanded meeting of the heads of state of SCO member countries in late August and early September in China. The meeting coincides with the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Liberation War and the Victory over Global Fascism in China. Consequently, leaders from many countries, including Russian President V. Putin, are expected to visit Beijing. Overall, Mongolia receives significant grants and concessional loans from many countries. However, whether these funds have yielded tangible results is questionable. Authorities need to focus on using these resources effectively and realistically. - Japan has provided a grant to Mongolia. What is the amount of this aid? - Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg visited countries including Oman, Germany, and Japan in early 2025. During this visit, Japan pledged a grant of 545 million yen, equivalent to 3.7 million USD, to improve Mongolia's infrastructure. This amount is not insignificant. Mongolia regularly receives various grants and concessional loans from countries, though tangible benefits from these are rare. Therefore, going forward, the authorities must focus on utilizing these funds efficiently and practically. Furthermore, this visit paved the way for preparing for Emperor Naruhito's first historic high-level visit to Mongolia this summer. The main goal of this visit to Japan was to deepen the strategic mutual trust between Mongolia and Japan through security cooperation and high-level meetings. Additionally, it aimed to align Mongolia's "Third Neighbor Policy" with Japan's "Indo-Pacific Vision," using economic cooperation as a "bridge". Mongolia, a landlocked country between the two great powers of China and Russia, has always been heavily dependent on these nations in sectors such as trade and transportation. To mitigate risks associated with this dependence, Mongolia has been pursuing its "Third Neighbor Policy" since the 1990s, actively working to expand diplomatic relations beyond these two nations, particularly with Japan as a key partner country. Accordingly, Mongolia aims to utilize Japan's official development assistance (ODA) to actively develop domestic infrastructure projects, such as the expansion of Chinggis Khaan International Airport. This project, implemented with Japanese funding, not only aims to improve airport operations but also enhances Mongolia's connectivity with the external world as a whole. Through such infrastructure cooperation, Mongolia aims to reduce its economic dependency on China and Russia, create a more diversified economic development model, and enhance its economic self-reliance and resilience. Warning: Media outlets (TV, radio, social and web pages) must mention the source (ikon.mn) when using our information fully or partially in any form!

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Embassy: Visa holders' compliance with all US laws and immigration rules is continuously monitored

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Embassy of the United States of America in Mongolia has provided information related to visas. The Embassy states, "The US visa monitoring process does not end once a visa is issued. We continuously monitor whether visa holders comply with all US laws and immigration regulations, and if they are not followed, the visa will be revoked and the individual will be deported." Therefore, citizens who are temporarily traveling to, studying, or working in the United States should strictly adhere to the country's laws. Source: US Embassy in Mongolia Warning: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social Media, and Websites) are reminded to always cite the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, either fully or partially.

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Vice Speaker of the State Great Khural K. Bulgantuya Meets with Ambassador Farhod Arziev

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Vice Speaker of the State Great Khural of Mongolia K. Bulgantuya met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Mongolia, Farhod Arziev. During the meeting, they exchanged views on further expanding and strengthening cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, education, culture, and legislative bodies between the two countries. Ambassador Farhod Arziev expressed his commitment to supporting the agreements made during the state visit of President U. Khurelsukh of Mongolia to the Republic of Uzbekistan, according to a report from the Press Department of the State Great Khural.

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Infrastructure

Government Approves Subsidy for Households Switching to Gas Fuel

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The government has approved a subsidy of 100,000 MNT for households switching to gas fuel. In a meeting held today, Ulaanbaatar city mayor Kh. Nyambaatar announced the approval of a resolution to reduce air pollution in the city. Currently, over 200,000 households in the capital use solid fuels. Additionally, there are 804,000 vehicles on the roads, and power plants contribute to air pollution. As part of preparations for the winter of 2025-2026, a resolution was approved to convert 32,000 to 50,000 households to gas fuel. In this initiative, households that voluntarily give up solid fuels will have gas stoves installed and their heating needs addressed. Households that switch to gas fuel will receive a subsidy of 100,000 MNT from September 15 to May 15. Ministries are tasked with focusing on insulation work for these households, and members of the Border Patrol and Internal Troops will participate in the insulation activities. The city mayor emphasized the urgent need to address the capital's air pollution, considering the significant number of households using solid fuels and vehicles contributing to pollution, alongside other sources like power plants. The government's meeting today also discussed over 20 issues, including measures to reduce air pollution, results from the city's urgent response headquarters' 7th meeting, efforts to improve productivity and efficiency in government organizations, a resolution concerning "Erchist Mongol" SOE, and a project for acquiring land for special purposes.

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Kh. Nyambaatar: This Year, 32,000 to 50,000 Households Will Transition to Gas Fuel

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The regular meeting of the Government of Mongolia ended today. At today's meeting, a resolution was approved regarding measures to be taken to reduce air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city. The Mayor of the Capital City and Governor of Ulaanbaatar, Kh. Nyambaatar, stated: In the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, about 200,000 households are using solid fuels or coal. There are approximately 2,500 low-pressure boilers and about 170 medium-sized steam boilers contributing to air pollution. In addition, from the 804,000 vehicles registered at the State Registration Center of Road Transport, more than 500,000 to 600,000 vehicles participate in daily traffic, while large sources such as the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Combined Heat and Power Plants, and the Amgalan Thermal Power Station, are contributing to air pollution according to a study by the international organization JICA. The usage of solid fuels by more than 200,000 households accounts for 56% of the air pollution. Therefore, at today's Government meeting, a draft resolution was approved to shift 32,000 to 50,000 households to gas transition as part of preparations for winter 2025-2026. If the insulation issues of households are addressed according to the standards, reducing heat loss, and if households voluntarily abandon the use of solid fuels, gas stoves will be installed for households in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, and safety instructions will be provided. Additionally, a subsidy of 100,000 MNT per month for gas fuel will be provided from September 15 to May 15 during the heating season. The transition to gas stoves is planned only for households that meet the insulation standards and reduce heat loss. In accordance with the law regarding the functions of all ministries of the Government of Mongolia, efforts to maintain insulation standards and provide support will be undertaken. The responsibility to work in a zonal manner to transition households to gas fuel in ger areas has been reflected in the resolution. The Armed Forces, Border Troops, and National Military Organizations will be involved in assisting with the transition to insulation standards for households. The resolution also emphasizes providing support by state-owned companies. Moreover, the current annual gas consumption of Mongolia is 46,000 tons. Therefore, transitioning 32,000 to 50,000 households will increase this consumption to at least 100,000 tons. Hence, meetings will be organized and project agreements made with gas business operators and importers. Citizens are expecting more from the housing policy. We have not built a single Combined Heat and Power Plant since 1984 in the 41-year period. However, due to the successful increase in power supply production last year, the energy demand has increased. In some zonal areas, households will not use gas fuel. Instead, if households decide to use electric heating devices, they will also receive a subsidy of 100,000 MNT for electric heating. In June, about 2,000 housing projects will be evaluated by the state commission in Ulaanbaatar and become operational. Minister of Environment and Climate Change S. Odontuya stated that all governmental administrative bodies will participate in this issue. The campaign to reduce air pollution will be initiated as a public movement. Organizations will take responsibility by division and district to set standards, and the 'Home Insulation' standard will be established. Efforts will be made to guide and support the public towards passive housing. Commercial banks and the State Bank have been instructed to provide concessional loans, as directed to Minister B. Javkhlan.

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Did the Financial Regulatory Commission tighten its policy to restrict imported cars?

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: news.mn

The Financial Regulatory Commission (FRC) has tightened consumer loans by adjusting the debt-to-loan ratio to 40:60. The central bank recently announced that it would tighten the debt-to-loan ratio on consumer loans to 50:50 as part of its monetary policy decision. In line with this decision, the FRC has made adjustments to enforce the 40:60 ratio for non-bank financial institutions and other organizations requiring licenses to offer loans. This measure is related to limiting the number of cars imported and preventing foreign currency outflow. Officials have reported that 120,000 passenger cars were imported into Mongolia last year, which resulted in a significant outflow of foreign currency. The ongoing global tariff war has begun to trigger an economic shock that may lead to a long-term economic crisis. For instance, the drop in coal prices has started to affect Mongolia's export revenue. In such circumstances, the outflow of foreign currency poses the risk of weakening the tugrik. Therefore, the government considers the above measure as one of the policy actions to limit imports. People also mention that the newly imposed regulation by non-bank financial institutions is heavily impacting car dealerships. This is because, as of January 1st this year, under the regulation issued by the FRC, non-bank financial institutions began offering car loans at a 30:70 ratio. Consequently, the purchase of cars decreased by 30% compared to the same period last year. Specifically, citizens had to pay a 30% down payment to purchase a car. Now, with the implementation of the 40:60 ratio, there is a requirement to pay 40% of the car price upfront.

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Resolution Project to Transition 32,000 Households to Gas Fuel Approved

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: news.mn

The Mongolian government held a meeting today where decisions were made and information was shared. Mayor Kh. Nyambaatar stated: "At today's meeting, we formalized and approved a resolution regarding measures to reduce air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city. In the capital, 200,000 households currently use solid fuel or coal. Additionally, about 2,500 low-pressure boilers and around 170 steam boilers contribute to air pollution. Moreover, out of the 804 registered vehicles, over 500-600 participate in road traffic, creating sources of air pollution alongside thermal power plants TEC-2, TEC-3, TEC-4, and Amgalan. The primary source of air pollution is the 200,000 households using solid fuel. Therefore, we have approved a resolution to transition 32,000 households to gas fuel by 2025-2026. Households will voluntarily give up solid fuel, and if they have insulation meeting standards, the city will install gas stoves, provide safety instructions, and distribute 100,000 MNT monthly throughout the heating season—September 15 to May 15—to households transitioning to gas fuel. According to the Law on the Government of Mongolia, reducing air pollution is included in the responsibilities of all ministries; hence each ministry will ensure insulation standards are adhered to, support the move to gas fuel within specified zones, and carry out operations as per the mandates set in the resolution. Additionally, state-owned enterprises and military personnel will assist in organizing the transition of households to gas fuel. We haven't built a single thermal plant in 41 years. However, certain efforts to increase energy capacity were made last year, resulting in increased energy consumption. Therefore, to meet requirements in the 2025-2026 winter, investment projects are underway to increase energy production by at least 200 MW. Thus, should some zones choose electric heaters over gas, the resolution includes provisions for connecting to electric heating and providing 100,000 MNT support in electricity usage during August of the heating season. In June, approximately 2,000 housing projects will be implemented in the capital. For example, 1,008 apartments will be commissioned, along with 414 apartments under implementation at Shar Khad and 414 apartments in Bayankhoshuu. Also, an international tender will be announced for the Selbe sub-center's 10,000-apartment housing project. Minister of Environment and Climate Change S. Odontuya added to Mayor Kh. Nyambaatar's information: in the effort to transition households to gas fuel, all government and administrative entities will participate, turning the reduction of air pollution into a public campaign. Organizations will assume responsibilities by section and district. Commercial banks, especially the State Bank, will work on developing concessional loans. Moreover, the Council of Scientists is collaborating to reduce air pollution. Ideas from the Council of Scientists will offer choices to households planning to insulate their spaces. Additionally, a formal note prohibiting burning raw coal from October was given to businesses. Revenue from the one percent corporate income tax will be used to reduce air pollution as stated before. Many businesses have agreed to collaborate on this initiative, with joint meetings planned soon. Furthermore, all organizations and businesses will discuss how to address their employees' issues regarding their residences in peri-urban areas. Primarily, the issue is insulation, and the insulation standards, now published, will guide the work ahead. Minister of Finance B. Javkhlan reported: In today's meeting, we reviewed the results of the task force established in a previous meeting to support the increase of Mongolia's foreign exchange reserves by enhancing exports. This task force worked quickly and made some decisions, which were presented at the government meeting. When the task force was formed, Mongolia's foreign exchange reserves were approximately 4.5 billion USD. This will be increased to 5.5 billion USD by May. Currently, for various reasons, 9.5 million tonnes of coal have piled up at Mongolia's southern borders. During the pandemic, there was a 20 million tonne pile-up. We must focus on resolving these pile-ups because the exchange cannot operate until they are addressed. It was determined that agreements from the last two years caused this, as Mongolia was obliged to transport under these contracts, but around a 40% drop in coal prices has led to a situation where buyers are not making purchases. The demand for coal hasn't decreased; China itself needs four billion tonnes of coal. However, our exports barely reach 100 million tonnes, so the idea of decreased demand doesn't apply. Our exchange market has decreased fivefold and sales have stalled by 40%, meaning companies that made purchases aren't proceeding, causing blockages. The pile-up prevents next transactions. The exchange regulation adopted for a short time will reignite the exchange market soon, and further improvements to the Exchange Law are necessary to invigorate exchange trades.

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If the Railway Border Connection is Not Made, No Changes Will Occur in the Coal Market, Says TTBC

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: news.mn

The Parliamentary Budgetary Stability Council introduced the "Basic Macroeconomic Indicators and Forecasts." Economist and researcher N. Enkhbayar stated: "Everyone is focusing on what will happen to the coal market in the coming years. In the past few years, we have made investments and progress in terms of infrastructure for coal export. Under the new revitalization policy, we built 276 km of railway from 2018 to 2021. However, since we couldn't complete the border connection, we are still unloading coal from trains and reloading it onto trucks for border crossing. Meanwhile, what has Russia done during this time? Between 2021 and 2024, in three years, they built a 530 km railway from the Elga coal mine toward the Pacific Ocean and developed a new port visible on the map in the Pacific. They completed it in just three years, while Mongolia is just starting to talk about railway border connections. Russian railway developments carry nothing else, so the Elga coal mine intends to increase its production and export by 10 million tons between 2025 and 2026 thanks to this railway. The reason we're talking about Elga is that, in terms of coal content, that mine has a reserve of 2.6 billion tonnes of coal, exactly like the Tavan Tolgoi coal mine. The quality is also similar. Mongolia is discussing the third railway border connection 60 years later. The decision for the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod border connection will be approved by the parliamentary session. The construction work on the railway is expected to begin in the spring of 2025 and to be operational by the second quarter of 2028. Although infrastructure works are progressing, this project is not an easy task, as it includes many bridge structures and is complex. On the map, the section indicated has a station at 276 km, a border fence is visible, and a nature reserve and border post are on the opposite side. The area where we plan to build the railway is unsuitable for construction as it's squeezed between narrow passages or ravines. The section up to the White Spike border post is geographically a depression. Meanwhile, the Chinese border post's narrow railway is in an elevated area. Thus, the railway being built will primarily be a bridge over motorways. After that, the bridge will be built as an elevated crossing to the border post, which is quite complicated work. Secondly, as introduced by the Ministry of Road and Transport and other officials, we are attempting to build railways of two different gauges. Wide gauge railways will transport coal to our side, while China's side will receive narrow gauge locomotives. Therefore, although on paper building two railways seems like a short-term job, geographically it poses significant challenges as a construction project. If you've noticed, White Spike endured multiple floods over the past two years, excelling in geographical challenges. What I'm saying is Russia's coal export is set to increase in the next two years. Their growth is expected to be stable, while if Mongolia fails to make the railway connection (though this is speculative and not official statistics), coal exports may not increase. As the main use for coking coal is steel production, the Chinese market is also experiencing fluctuations. China's National Development and Reform Commission announced that, to avoid overproduction, they plan to reduce steel output. Finally, we will introduce the economic forecasts for 2025-2028. Our researchers have projected what results we can expect based on the current environment in 2025, and similarly for 2026, 2027, and 2028. The optimism of these forecasts depends on the basis they are built upon. Since the fundamental indicators for 2024 are quite optimistic, forecasts for the upcoming years generally seem optimistic. By utilizing a different model used by the Bank of Mongolia based on monthly data, we can create more detailed forecasts about 2025's results. However, we base our work on yearly data, so we make long-term projections. Minor discrepancies might arise as a result. These numbers mainly suggest what percentage of the gross domestic product this should represent. It means if we maintain it within these limits, Mongolia's economy will remain stable, without fluctuations and risks. On this foundation, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Finance will develop budget statements for the next three years.

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The Tuul Highway will be financed by the capital city

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Minister of Finance B. Javkhlan is presenting the decisions made by the government. In today's Cabinet meeting: - A draft resolution on measures to reduce air pollution - The report on the results of the VII meeting of the Capital City Emergency Headquarters - Improving the productivity and efficiency of government institutions - "Erchist Mongolia" state-owned company's planned measures draft resolution - Draft government resolution on acquiring land for special needs, etc. were discussed among more than 20 issues. The feasibility studies of 2 projects from mega projects are completed and ready to enter the project circuit. The rest will be financed by foreign loans and assistance. Thus, pressure will not occur on the balance of payments. You know that the feasibility study of the oil refinery is completed. The Gantsmod-Gashuunsukhait border connection railway project will be financed by "ETT" LLC with 96 billion MNT. The Tuul highway will be financed by capital Ulaanbaatar city from its own budget. We cannot be paralyzed by the fear of the impact of imports. Road projects have a short-term impact on imports. The metro's feasibility study is being conducted. Construction on the border connection railway at the Shiveekhuren border crossing has started. If major construction and road projects start simultaneously, our country will face limitations in human resources, finances, and raw materials. Regarding gold, there are examples where rehabilitation has caused issues. Therefore, when opening a new gold mine, a rehabilitation plan and its implementation cost must be verified before granting permission to start work. The government is working to issue a green bond next month. We have already used half of the one billion USD for refinancing. We will not face bond pressure until 2025-2026. If not paid off, it would have been necessary to repay a loan of 1.2 billion USD, which was paid in advance. We've improved our credit rating, returning to the level of ten years ago. We have been authorized by the Parliament to issue bonds domestically worth 300 billion MNT and provide a loan guarantee of 3.2 trillion MNT during the enactment of the 2025 state budget. Given the uncertainties this year, we are not rushing to use all opportunities in the first half. Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Ts. Tuvaan will implement the "Gold 3" program. In recent months, gold prices on the global market have risen significantly. We must take advantage of this favorable time. The leaders of "Oyu Tolgoi" company have arrived in Ulaanbaatar. We will discuss tax disputes and special license issues.

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H. Nyambaatar: A decision was formalized to switch households to gas heating and provide a 100,000 MNT subsidy each month from September to May

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Government has made a significant decision regarding air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city. During a recent regular meeting, City Mayor H. Nyambaatar stated, "We formalized and approved the resolution on measures to be taken to reduce air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city. As of today, more than 200,000 households in Ulaanbaatar are using solid fuel, mainly coal. In addition, approximately 2,500 low-pressure boilers and steam boilers are contributing to the current air pollution." A study by the international organization JICA has indicated that 804,000 vehicles participating in road traffic, along with power plants TPP 2, 3, and 4, are also significant sources of air pollution. The use of solid fuel by over 200,000 households is identified as the main source of today's air pollution. In preparation for the coming winter, the resolution project will transition 32,000 to 50,000 households to gas heating. To achieve this, the government aims to address insulation issues for these households and, where solid fuels are rejected, install gas boilers for them. The plan includes formalizing a subsidy of 100,000 MNT per household each month from September 15 to May 15. It is specified that only households that reduce heat loss and meet the required standards will be eligible for gas conversion. Additionally, military organizations and state-owned companies will support and participate in introducing insulation standards for households.

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Resolution Passed to Transition 32,000-50,000 Households to Gas Fuel to Reduce Air Pollution

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar. One of the issues discussed at the regular Government meeting was a resolution to reduce air pollution. The Mayor of the City, Kh.Nyambaatar, presented and provided information about this resolution. He stated, "The resolution to reduce air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city has been approved. Over 200,000 households in the capital use solid fuel. Additionally, 804,000 cars are contributing to the pollution, as well as power plants and other sources. Therefore, a resolution has been approved to transition 32,000-50,000 households to gas fuel by preparing for the winter of 2025-2026. Households will be supported to abandon solid fuel voluntarily, with plans to install gas boilers and address heating. If transitioned to gas fuel, a subsidy of 100,000 MNT will be provided from September 15, 2025, to May 15, 2026. All ministries have a duty to reduce air pollution. Therefore, the resolution provides for dividing ger areas into zones and assigning responsibilities to ministries to work on reducing heat loss in households. Furthermore, government military organizations will be involved in the work to reduce and standardize heat loss in households. State-owned enterprises will also support this effort," he explained. Currently, Mongolia's annual consumption of gas fuel is 46,000 tons. With the transition of 32,000-50,000 households to gas fuel, it is projected to increase to 100,000 tons. The mayor mentioned that a draft agreement is being prepared to collaborate with companies importing gas fuel.

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Kh. Nyambaatar: A Resolution was Passed to Transition Approximately 32,000 to 50,000 Households to Gas Usage

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The Governor of the capital, Kh. Nyambaatar, provided information regarding the decision made during the government meeting. He stated, "In today's government meeting, we discussed how to reduce air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city. During this meeting, we formalized and approved a resolution on measures to be taken to reduce the air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city. Currently, about 200,000 households in the capital Ulaanbaatar burn solid fuel, approximately 2,500 households use low-pressure boilers, and around 170 medium-sized steam boilers are in use. Additionally, out of the 804,000 vehicles registered with the national motor traffic center, 500,000 to 600,000 vehicles participate in road traffic daily. According to the international organization Jaiko, power sources such as the Thermal Power Plants 2, 3, and 4, and Amgalan Heating Plant are contributing to air pollution. One of the main sources of air pollution is the solid fuel usage by over 200,000 households, which accounts for no less than 56%. Therefore, in today's government meeting, a resolution was passed to transition approximately 32,000 to 50,000 households to gas usage as part of the preparations for the winter of 2025-2026. To achieve this, households will need to meet insulation standards, reduce heat loss, and voluntarily give up solid fuel usage, in which case the city will provide gas stoves to the households. Furthermore, safety operation instructions will be provided related to this transition. For households transitioned to gas usage, a monthly subsidy of 100,000 MNT will be provided during the heating season, from September 15 to May 15, according to today's resolution. However, the transition to gas stoves is planned only for cases where heat loss has been reduced and standards are met," he informed.

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100,000 Tugriks Subsidy for Households Switching to Gas Fuel

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: news.mn

The regular Cabinet meeting discussed and resolved the following issues: The Prime Minister instructed measures to be implemented to increase the export of mining products. Specifically, to reduce the balance of payments pressure, state-owned companies are to prioritize and defer some expenses from planned 2025 investments, excluding mega projects. They are also to resolve coal pile issues at the border, complete the "Hangi-Mandal" railway connection construction, increase border crossing capacity, implement the "Gold-3" program to increase gold production and export, optimize coal transportation, and expand export collaboration with China. The Cabinet resolved to take measures to ensure stable growth in the supply of major food items such as meat, flour, and vegetables, and to prevent price hikes. It also established a working group, led by the Minister of Finance, to create additional export revenue by increasing mining product extraction and bolster the national foreign currency reserves. This group will report and discuss required issues at each Cabinet meeting. Kh. Nyambaatar: 50,000 households will switch to gas fuel. The Cabinet approved a resolution regarding the transition of households in pollution-improving areas of the capital to electric and various gas heaters. Plans approved for implementation in specified locations will be overseen by S. Odontuya, Chair of the National Committee for Air Pollution Reduction, J. Batsuuri, Minister of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing, and the governor of the capital city and mayor of Ulaanbaatar, Kh. Nyambaatar. Measures include offering green loans for insulating homes and using advanced technology for heating to households under favorable conditions, in collaboration with banks and financial institutions. There will be tax incentives for companies investing in insulating homes and using advanced technology, and these proposals will be discussed at Cabinet meetings if necessary. The proposal for passive standards for energy-efficient housing to reduce heat loss will be included in the 2026 budget. "200,000 households in the capital burn coal. Initially, we plan to switch 50,000 households to gas fuel. A subsidy of 100,000 tugriks will be provided to these households during the heating season, which runs from September 15 to May 15," said the governor and mayor of Ulaanbaatar, Kh. Nyambaatar. Brief News: The Council for State Savings and Productivity will meet every 14 days to present its decisions and implemented measures at Cabinet meetings.

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Facing Challenges with Underground Infrastructure in the Special Road Project

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Preliminary design work is underway to introduce a new type of high-capacity public transportation, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, in Ulaanbaatar city. Public meetings and discussions regarding this project are being organized in stages, and efforts are underway to plan the project in a way that is friendly to citizens, as well as to secure funding from the Asian Development Bank. Once the research is completed and financing is fully secured, a feasibility study will be developed, detailed design will be conducted, and a construction contractor will be selected. These tasks are planned to be completed by 2025, with construction work starting in March 2026. Senior engineer J. Lkhagvadorj from the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project stated, "During the implementation of the project, issues related to underground engineering pipelines will arise. Especially, there are many engineering pipelines beneath the bus lanes around 3rd and 4th khoroolol and the Sansar tunnel. Therefore, we have requested the ADB to solve the pipeline issues from the start by planning to use a tunnel system. If this work can be implemented, the maintenance of underground pipelines at bus stations can be carried out without damaging the surrounding environment or disrupting traffic," he said. The preliminary plan is to build the Bus Rapid Transit project along a 12.7 km corridor with 20 stops from Ard Ayush Avenue to Ikh Khuree Street. Preliminary design work is underway to introduce this new type of high-capacity public transportation, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, in Ulaanbaatar city. Public meetings and discussions are being organized in stages regarding this project, aiming to plan it in a citizen-friendly manner and to secure funding from the Asian Development Bank. After completing the research and securing full funding, a feasibility study will be developed, a detailed design will be created, and a construction contractor will be selected. These tasks are planned for completion by 2025, with construction starting in March 2026. Senior engineer J. Lkhagvadorj from the project stated, "During the implementation of the project, issues related to underground engineering pipelines will arise. Especially, many engineering pipelines are located beneath the bus lanes in the 3rd and 4th khoroolol and around the Sansar tunnel. Therefore, we have requested ADB to address these pipeline issues from the beginning by planning to use a tunnel system. If this can be achieved, it will be fully possible to conduct maintenance on underground pipelines at bus stops without damaging the surroundings or disrupting traffic," he said. The preliminary plan includes building the Bus Rapid Transit project along a 12.7 km corridor with 20 stops from Ard Ayush Avenue to Ikh Khuree Street.

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Environment

Gender Equality and Climate Change International Conference to be Held

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The Government of Mongolia, in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank, will organize the "Gender Equality and Climate Change" international conference on May 22-23 to share international experiences in overcoming climate change. This is part of Mongolia's preparations for hosting the 17th session of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification next year. The Minister of Environment and Green Development, S. Odontuya, noted the importance of gender equality in international conventions and emphasized that our country needs to lead in integrating gender equality in issues related to desertification, pasture, and livestock. Mongolia has been successfully advancing gender equality in recent years, with progress in the health and education sectors, as reflected in the Global Gender Gap Index published by the World Economic Forum. Given the socio-economic risks associated with climate change, our country is actively participating in the Paris Agreement on climate change and is preparing to submit the third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) document this year, which will include considerations of society and gender, as informed by the relevant ministry.

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Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The forum on the draft action plan for adapting to and mitigating climate change is taking place in Zavkhan province. The forum is jointly organized by the Global Green Development Institute and the Climate Change Research Cooperation Center. Members of the working groups for drafting climate change mitigation and adaptation plans from the provinces of Arkhangai, Bayankhongor, Govi-Altai, Zavkhan, Khovd, and Uvs are participating in this event. During the event, participants are familiarizing themselves with the draft national action plan for climate change mitigation and adaptation, exchanging experiences, and discussing the opinions and conclusions of professional organizations. Additionally, the provinces are presenting their draft climate change mitigation plans and sharing best practices. Participants are discussing the issues that need attention in the draft plan and will make improvements accordingly, as reported by the Zavkhan Province Department of Environment. Zavkhan province is presenting its action plan for adapting to and mitigating climate change.

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Discussion on Reducing Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Risks

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: montsame.mn

A discussion was held on the draft national action plan to reduce chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risks. Mongolia is working by joining international conventions related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear areas and is establishing a national legal framework, yet the sector lacks unified policy planning and faces the need to strengthen technical and human resource capacities. The P101 project, through the Office of the National Counter-Terrorism Council, is working to improve the protection and security of critical infrastructures at risk of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards, in comparison to the previous year. Also, with the European Union's funding, three projects have been implemented in cooperation with the Center for First Responder Initiative to Reduce Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Risks and the International Science and Technology Center. Specifically, under the projects P53, P65, and P87, necessary equipment was supplied, regional cooperation was expanded, experiences were exchanged, classroom and online practical training were organized, involving more than 2000 staff members. The two-day discussion involves representatives from 24 organizations.

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Health

The Number of Children Infected with Measles Increases to 55

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The number of children infected with measles has increased to 55. Besides the capital, the disease has spread to Dundgovi and Omnogovi provinces. Additionally, suspected cases have been registered in Bulgan, Dornogovi, and Tuv provinces, according to the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID). There is a high risk of the infection spreading to localities, so a team of doctors and specialists led by the general director of NCID, E. Ankhbayar, is working in the provinces, providing professional advice and guidance. In recent days, confirmed cases have been mostly registered in schools and kindergartens. Therefore, NCID has advised school and kindergarten management, teachers, and doctors to closely monitor children's health and disease symptoms and pay special attention to the early detection of measles. It is worth mentioning that the transition of schools and kindergartens to electronic mode in response to the measles outbreak in Dundgovi and Omnogovi provinces was previously stated by Minister of Education P. Naranbayar to be illegal. However, the Emergency Commission of Dundgovi province held a meeting and decided to continue the electronic mode of operation for schools and kindergartens. Currently, 12 children are reported to be infected in this province. Meanwhile, the Emergency Commission of Omnogovi province decided to revert to normal operations for schools and kindergartens as of yesterday.

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Event: Information on Early Transplantation Treatment from Brain Dead Donors

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: ikon.mn

At the State Palace, a regular government meeting is taking place today from 10:00 to 15:00. Meetings of working groups will also be held. At 10:00, in the large meeting room on the 4th floor of Ulaanbaatar National Central Hospital (UNTE), the liver transplant team led by S. Sergelen will provide information about the conditions for early transplantation treatment using donors who are brain dead. Additionally, lawyer P. Batchuluun will attend and provide information. At 11:00, outside the UB Palace, Khurd Standard LLC (related to Minister of Energy B. Choijilsuren) will give information about the issue of constructing a building on the land of UB Palace. In meeting room 102 of the General Council of Courts at 11:00, there will be an open court press conference. At the "National Information Center" of the "Century News" newspaper at 11:30, citizens are gathering against the oppressive government, and it has become clear that the Democratic Party is dividing, according to a report by the "Freedom" NGO. The event will be broadcast live on the Education Channel TV. At 13:00, there will be a drawing for the VAT lottery. Warning: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social and Web pages) must cite the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in whole or in part.

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NCZD: New Confirmed Measles Cases Detected in Children's Organizations

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: gogo.mn

A total of 59 confirmed measles cases have been registered at the laboratory level. There are 35 suspected cases under monitoring. Both newly confirmed and suspected cases are being registered in children's organizations, which requires the management and staff, including teachers and doctors, in these organizations to pay special attention to attendance and symptom monitoring to ensure the early detection of measles. Additionally, parents and guardians are urged to be responsible for their children's health by confirming whether they have completed the scheduled measles vaccinations. If the child has not received both doses of the measles vaccine according to the schedule, they should consult their district or sum health center to complete the vaccination process. For further clarification and inquiries, please contact 89016199 or 75 103 100.

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News Guide: Information on Organ Transplantation Treatment

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: news.mn

The "News" agency brings you a brief summary of today's events. 09:00 AM: The seminar "Understanding People with Hearing Impairments" will take place in the Suld Hall of the Tuushin Hotel. 10:00 AM: The liver transplant team led by O. Sergelen will provide information on the conditions of organ transplantation treatment from brain-dead donors at the First State Central Hospital. 10:30 AM: The Fiscal Stability Council under the State Great Hural will hold a conference on the forecast of macroeconomic indicators at the Law Institute. 11:00 AM: The "Open Court" event will be held at the General Judicial Council's building.

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National Team of Liver Transplantation Doctors to Give a Briefing

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The National Team for Liver Transplantation, led by O. Sergelen, based at the First State Central Hospital, will give a briefing today at 10:00 AM at the First State Central Hospital (UNTE) regarding the conditions of organ transplantation treatments from brain-dead donors. P. Batchuluun, a meritorious doctor who worked as the director of the Organ Transplantation Coordination Office at the Health Development Center, was found guilty of unauthorized removal of human organs and was sentenced to 2.6 years in prison by the first-instance court. As the court decision has already been made, the ordinary doctor who worked for the sake of human health was sent to Correctional Facility No. 461. After the briefing by the National Team for Liver Transplantation, the attorney for the meritorious doctor P. Batchuluun will also provide information.

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Arts

Pietrajelo Buttafuoco: Implementing a Project Focused on Eurasian Artists

Published: 2025-03-19 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar, March 19, 2025 /MONTSAME/. Pietrajelo Buttafuoco, President of the International Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art, met with painters and artists and gave a lecture. During the meeting, he introduced the goals of the Venice Biennale, the development of contemporary art, and his new program aimed at Eurasian artists. Pietrajelo Buttafuoco stated in his speech, "Our organization aims to spread our creations to new regions of Eurasia. We have met, advised, and discussed with young artists from India, China, and Turkey. This time, we come to the heart of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, to meet with artists." He further mentioned a meeting with Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth Ch. Nomin to exchange ideas about cooperation in the field of visual arts. He emphasized that developing a new project based on the route of Marco Polo's travels is very important for artists of both countries. Luigia Lonardelli, the project's coordinator and curator, stated, "The 'Wind Descending from the Heavenly' project is meaningful, just as its name suggests. We not only aim to follow the wind coming from Eurasia to learn but also to garner multifaceted knowledge and disseminate it among the public. This project will include Marco Polo's travel experiences and impressions." Western art researchers have already begun noticing and studying the intriguing aspects found in the works of Mongolian artists. "My project is currently in the research phase or the initial stage. Our president spoke about new territories in Asia in his speech. We must open a new path suited to our age. During our brief stay here, we plan to carefully observe and incorporate everything into our project." The International Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art has been held every two years since 1895. Each country introduces its national culture and artistic characteristics to the world through their artists' works. Artists from Mongolia first exhibited their works in 2015, with artist J. Munkhtsetseg successfully participating in 2022 with the exhibition "From Depth to Depth," and A. Ochirbold exhibiting "Re-discovering Today from the Future" as a spatial creation in 2024. Follow @montsame.mn

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Today's Stories

Politics

Economy

Diplomacy

Infrastructure

Environment

Health

Arts

Politics

Noorog Site's Editorial Office Searched, Employees Interrogated

O.Altangerel: We will first clarify the reasons for the decline in the Democracy Index

Economy

"Erdenes Mongol" Group Assigned to Increase Mongolia's Foreign Currency Reserves

B.Javkhlan: A total of 9.5 million tons of coal are piled up at Bulgan, Shiveekhuren, Gashuunsukhait, and Khankh ports

Proposal to Prevent Price Increase of Basic Food Items to be Presented to the Government

Attention directed to increasing the export of mining products

B.Javkhlan: "Erdenes Mongol" was tasked to form a reserve of one billion dollars

The Mid-Term Budget for 2026-2028 Requires a Risk-Averse Policy

The State Great Khural Introduced Its Strategy for Supporting the Business Environment at the "Management Forum 2025"

Nine Percent of Total Loans Classified as Non-performing or Attention Needed

The Prime Minister Instructed to Deposit $1 Billion into Erdenes Mongol Group Soon

Approved Regulations for Trading Coal, Copper Concentrate, and Iron Ore

Decision on Implementing 'Gold 3' Program to be Made Next Week

Half of 787,000 Employees Who Paid Social Insurance Contributions Earn Less Than 2 Million Tugriks

S. Odontuya: If we do not reduce the interest on green loans, development will not proceed

The Unavoidable Risk and Unmanageable Danger Has Become a Budgetary Challenge

Ts.Tuvaan: Implementing the "Gold-III" Program

Inflation in Ulaanbaatar Reaches 10.3%

The production volume of key product categories has increased

Trial Begins to Produce Briquettes from "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" Enriched Coal

The ratio of debt to income for lending by NBFIs and licensed organizations was increased to 60/40

B.Javkhlan: We are working to increase the foreign exchange reserves to 4.5 trillion tugriks

E. Odbayar: To implement state economy savings, the activities of the Council for State Economy and Accessibility have been revived

Requested Support for Loan Access for Voluntary Social Insurance Payees from Commercial Banks

Diplomacy

It is important for Mongolia to continue its balanced foreign policy

Ch. Sumya: The Consecutive Visits of the Three High State Leaders to China Indicate a High Level of Political Trust Between the Two Countries

Embassy: Visa holders' compliance with all US laws and immigration rules is continuously monitored

Vice Speaker of the State Great Khural K. Bulgantuya Meets with Ambassador Farhod Arziev

Infrastructure

Government Approves Subsidy for Households Switching to Gas Fuel

Kh. Nyambaatar: This Year, 32,000 to 50,000 Households Will Transition to Gas Fuel

Did the Financial Regulatory Commission tighten its policy to restrict imported cars?

Resolution Project to Transition 32,000 Households to Gas Fuel Approved

If the Railway Border Connection is Not Made, No Changes Will Occur in the Coal Market, Says TTBC

The Tuul Highway will be financed by the capital city

H. Nyambaatar: A decision was formalized to switch households to gas heating and provide a 100,000 MNT subsidy each month from September to May

Resolution Passed to Transition 32,000-50,000 Households to Gas Fuel to Reduce Air Pollution

Kh. Nyambaatar: A Resolution was Passed to Transition Approximately 32,000 to 50,000 Households to Gas Usage

100,000 Tugriks Subsidy for Households Switching to Gas Fuel

Facing Challenges with Underground Infrastructure in the Special Road Project

Environment

Gender Equality and Climate Change International Conference to be Held

ZAVKHAN: Provinces are sharing good practices to mitigate climate change

Discussion on Reducing Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Risks

Health

The Number of Children Infected with Measles Increases to 55

Event: Information on Early Transplantation Treatment from Brain Dead Donors

NCZD: New Confirmed Measles Cases Detected in Children's Organizations

News Guide: Information on Organ Transplantation Treatment

National Team of Liver Transplantation Doctors to Give a Briefing

Arts

Pietrajelo Buttafuoco: Implementing a Project Focused on Eurasian Artists

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