Mar 29, 2025 68 min read Daily News Summaries

Mongolia News Summary for March 29, 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

Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene Presents the Five-Year Development Guideline for Mongolia (2021-2025)

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: isee.mn

The session of the State Great Khural's meeting has begun. During this session, the five-year development guideline for Mongolia from 2021 to 2025 is being discussed, along with the 2024 performance report of the Government of Mongolia’s Action Plan for 2024-2028 and the performance report of Mongolia's 2024 development plan. Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene is providing information to the members of the State Great Khural. LIVE:

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The Time to Evaluate Mongolia's Development over the Last 5 Years is Approaching

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: news.mn

The regular meeting of the State Great Khural's session started today. During this meeting, the implementation report of Mongolia's 2024 development plan will be discussed. The Speaker of the State Great Khural, D. Amarbayasgalan, stated that the Prime Minister of Mongolia, L. Oyun-Erdene, will present the implementation report of the five-year main directions for Mongolia's development from 2021 to 2025, along with the Government's 2024-2028 action program and Mongolia's 2024 development plan. Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene noted: "According to the Law on Supervision and Inspection of the State Great Khural, I will briefly introduce the implementation of the five-year main directions for Mongolia's development from 2021 to 2025, the government's 2024-2028 action program, and the process of the 2024 development plan. Detailed reports will be distributed to the members of the State Great Khural, and government members will answer questions. Therefore, it is appropriate to discuss the logical connections during the reporting period. Since Mongolia adopted its new Constitution and transitioned to a democratic system, we have summarized successes and failures over the past 30 years and developed a new development policy for the next 30 years beyond the election cycle based on common international practices, with participation from political parties, relevant ministries, agency specialists, and representatives from scientific and professional organizations over 1.5 years. The document, "Vision 2050," was approved during this time. Since the State Great Khural's resolution No. 52 of May 13, 2025, formally adopted the long-term "Vision 2050" development policy document, five years have passed. The time to comprehensively evaluate the main directions for Mongolia's development from 2021 to 2025, which were approved by resolution No. 23 of 2020, is nearing. In other words, the five-year report and conclusion will be heard on May 13. Despite the past five years being marked by instability due to the pandemic and international geopolitical situations such as the Russo-Ukrainian war, foundational issues outlined in the development policy have been addressed. It is concluded that the implementation and monitoring of the main directions for Mongolia's development from 2021 to 2025 is at 67%.

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Discussion on the 2024 Performance Report of the Government's 2024-2028 Operational Program

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The regular spring session of the Parliament plenary meeting has started at the State Palace. Today's session will discuss the following issues: - The draft law on amending the Law on Animals (submitted by Member of Parliament O. Amgalanbaatar, whether to discuss it or not, continuing); - The 2024 performance report of the main directions of Mongolia's development for 2021-2025 and the 2024-2028 government's operational program, as well as the 2024 development plan of Mongolia; - The Prime Minister of Mongolia's information on the current situation and future measures regarding climate change, desertification, and land degradation. At the start of the session, a vote was conducted on whether to continue the discussion of the draft law on adding amendments to the Law on Animals. The majority of the members decided it was appropriate to discuss this issue further, so it was transferred to the relevant standing committee. Following that, Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene is presenting the 2024 performance report of the main directions of Mongolia's development for 2021-2025, the government's 2024-2028 operational program, and Mongolia's 2024 development plan. Warning: Media outlets (TV, radio, social, and websites) must cite their source (ikon.mn) if using our information in any form, whether fully or partially.

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Discussing the Improvement of Productivity, Transparency, and Governance of State-Owned Enterprises

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: isee.mn

In connection with the consideration of the primary bill on improving the productivity, transparency, and governance of state and local government-owned companies in the spring session of the State Great Hural (Parliament), Erdenes Mongol's Manager of Quality and Productivity, D. Yadamjav, and Manager of Control Affairs, N. Javzanpagma, received guests led by Ana Kresic, Deputy Director for Central Asia and Mongolia at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and exchanged views on the bill. During the meeting, D. Yadamjav, representing the mining sector, presented the proposals of Erdenes Mongol for this bill, which holds significant importance for Mongolia's social, economic, and legal development, and expressed interest in cooperating within the recommendations provided by the EBRD. Ana Kresic, Deputy Director for Central Asia and Mongolia at the EBRD, expressed readiness to cooperate in aligning the bill with OECD guidelines, and more specifically, in addressing legal voids, redundancies, and discrepancies. It was agreed to discuss more detailed technical provisions at the next stage of meetings.

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Discussion on the Revised Draft Law on Freedom of the Press

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The Government has appealed to UNESCO for assistance in drafting the revised law on freedom of the press, particularly the provisions related to freedom of expression, in compliance with international standards. UNESCO has suggested several amendments to improve this law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a two-day discussion on this issue. The main goal of the discussion was to conduct a comprehensive policy review of the Law on Freedom of the Press and develop policy recommendations that align with international human rights standards, focusing on ensuring freedom of opinion, speech, and press, and improving the media environment. Various perspectives, critiques, and recommendations were discussed and consolidated. Specifically, the discussion featured presentations from international experts, including Toby Mendel, the Executive Director of the Canadian "Centre for Law and Democracy," who shared his recommendations and exchanged views with ambassadors and representatives of international and civil society organizations in Mongolia. Additionally, B. Purevsuren, a lawyer from the "Globe International," delivered a presentation on "The Draft Law on Freedom of the Press and the Current State of Press Freedom."

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Economy

Recommendations for Decision Makers to Study the Impact of the "Oyu Tolgoi Project" on Mongolia by Spending 95 Million Tugriks

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: isee.mn

The National Development Institute, a state-funded enterprise, has decided to study the impact of the "Oyu Tolgoi Project" on Mongolia's socio-economic environment as a means to correct and improve its successes and deficiencies. Specifically, the National Development Institute announced a tender to study the impact of the "Oyu Tolgoi Project" on Mongolia's socio-economic environment. The tender, announced for a period of one week, has a budget cost of 95 million tugriks. This research endeavor aims to provide recommendations in the form of policy solutions to decision makers, based on the study's findings to improve the project's outcomes by diversifying the economy. Furthermore, it is highlighted that the research work is expected to be completed by May 16. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the National Development Institute, under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Development L. Gantumer, is led by G. Denzen, who is known to the public as the "son-in-law" of N. Altankhuyag. G. Denzen serves as the Deputy Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat and was also the Chairman of the Board at the Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi JSC. He was appointed to this position following the 2024 Parliamentary elections.

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B.Javkhlan: The Law on the Mining Exchange Will Be Updated

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: montsame.mn

A meeting and discussion aimed at informing clients about the changes in exchange trading regulations took place recently. A working group tasked with accelerating the export of mining products in the short term and increasing foreign currency reserves determined the reasons for the decrease in exchange trading and initially made changes to the regulations. During this meeting, information related to the updated regulations was provided to the clients. In his opening remarks at the discussion, Finance Minister B. Javkhlan stated, "The decline in the price of mining products and the risky situation should be considered a challenge rather than a difficulty, and we must face it together. Our coal is of good quality, relatively competitive on the world market due to its proximity, and I am trying to see this as a temporary downturn. Recently, the exchange operations in the mining industry have been developing rapidly. The operation of the exchange should not be disrupted due to coal prices. Although the exchange has become a joint-stock company, obtaining high profits in a short time is not the ultimate goal. We need to discuss the successes and failures of exchange trading and what to do next. We are working on changing and updating the law on the Mining Exchange, which will soon be submitted to the State Great Khural (Parliament). Until the law is discussed and approved, we will operate with this updated regulation. This regulation stipulates that coal prices will be indexed and the final point of transportation will be determined by the government. The updated regulation must be legally enacted. In the future, coal exports will not withdraw from exchange trading, so we will work to further refine the legal framework." Participants in the meeting expressed their commitment to focusing on the implementation of the newly approved regulations to activate the trading of mining products and to collaboratively face the temporary difficult situation with understanding. More than 70 companies that sell and buy mining products, member brokers, accredited transportation companies of the exchange, and laboratory representatives participated in the meeting.

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APU Dairy LLC Initiates New Partnership to Increase Income of Dairy Farmers and Optimize Management

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: ikon.mn

As part of the goal to triple the consumption of milk, which supports the health of Mongolian people, APU Dairy Mongolia has launched a comprehensive partnership with the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, Khan Bank, the Mongolian Sustainable Financing Association, and the National Council for Milk Sector Development. This partnership aims to create professional-level mutually beneficial policies, investments, and standards for dairy farmers, herders, and agricultural producers. According to the food law of Mongolia, milk and dairy products are considered strategic food and are essential for Mongolian health. However, domestic milk consumption is five times less than the FAO's recommended level, which is one of the lowest in the world and poses significant health risks to the population. To address this, the partnership seeks to establish an advanced ecosystem with mutual benefits for the milk sector, creating opportunities for herders and farmers to develop a steady, income-generating business. This collaborative strategy aims to elevate the sector to a new level. J. Enkhbayar, Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, noted: "As urban population growth increases, ensuring a stable milk supply has become a top priority. Traditional livestock husbandry is no longer adequate to meet this need, hence the necessity to develop intensive farming based on agricultural and feed supply bases. Mongolia currently imports around 60% of its milk consumption, increasing foreign exchange flow and highlighting the need to develop domestic production. Particularly, children's daily milk consumption is 5-8 times below international standards, leading to specific health issues such as vitamin deficiencies and dental problems. Therefore, the government is pursuing policies to intensify and diversify agriculture and livestock in the context of the 'Atrain IV' campaign, aiming to increase milk production. The goal is to fully meet domestic demand through sustainable growth in supply and production by developing clusters." The partnership is expected to improve management of dairy farms, aligning the preparation of cattle feed, and creating a mutually beneficial, optimal combination of policies for livestock, agriculture, and farming that will elevate the agricultural sector to a new level. Financially favorable conditions and the transfer of technology and know-how from producers to herders, farmers, and agricultural producers, aligned with government policy, are expected to establish the conditions for a high-income, sustainable dairy sector, enabling consumers access to high-quality dairy products consistently. APU Dairy Co. will supply Holstein highly productive cattle at preferential terms to its dairy supplier herders and farmers, along with feed recipes, equipment solutions, and best management practices in cow health and breeding tailored to Mongolia's conditions, developed with an international professional team. This initiative brings global best practices, management, and standards for intensive livestock farming, promising high economic value. Bayarmagnai, Executive Director of APU Dairy Mongolia, emphasized the importance of the partnership by stating: "By distributing high-yielding dairy cattle domestically, herders and farmers can increase their income by 25-30%, creating economic significance by establishing new jobs in rural areas. With the initiation of this high-level international partnership with Ilim Group, over 1500 Holstein cattle will initially be adapted in Mongolia. Supplier farmers will receive support on herd structure policy improvement, effective feed solutions, training materials, insurance, and veterinary professional guidance to foster high productivity. This partnership is expected to establish a modern, efficient dairy farming system in Mongolia, adhering to world-class standards, revolutionizing the milk farm system, and ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality products to consumers. Ilim Group, ranked fifth globally and leading in Asia's dairy sector for a decade, is a top company with 15 research and innovation centers worldwide and 81 production bases, providing an expansive milk collection network. They own over two million head of cattle and 600 milk farms, with annual production capabilities of nine million tons of milk. With a transnational focus on feed operations, herd genetics innovation, and leading in the agricultural sector's innovative introductions, Ilim Group offers numerous advantages. Holstein dairy cows from Ilim produce 25-49 liters of milk per day and 11-14 tons annually, considered the highest among breeds. They have a high capacity to process feed and produce milk, reducing unit milk costs. Their high yield and quality production meet modern dairy product standards and encompass a robust adaptability to diverse climates. In the partnership's framework, the goal is to develop an exemplary, highly productive, and profitable dairy farm system shortly, intending to establish a large-scale cooperative with a 'Milk Central Station.' The long-term strategy is to create prosperous, high-income herders and farmers in rural areas, focusing on inclusive participation. Thus, a partnership involving state, private sector, and major international players forms to promote sustainable development of Mongolia's dairy sector, ensuring the stable income of herders and farmers, and enhancing the value chain of dairy production through the introduction of new technologies and innovations. This will take the sector's growth to a new level.

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Export Revenues Doubled in the Last 4 Years, GDP Reaches 80 Trillion

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene of Mongolia spoke at the session of the State Great Khural to present the 2024 performance report of the 2021-2025 National Development Direction and the 2024-2028 Government Action Program. He also presented the execution report of Mongolia's 2024 development plan. Ladies and gentlemen of the State Great Khural, In accordance with Article 17 of the Law on Parliamentary Control, let us overview the implementation of the 2021-2025 National Development Direction, the progress of the 2024-2028 Government Action Program, and the execution report of the 2024 development plan. Detailed printed reports will be distributed, and questions will be answered by Government members, so I will explain the logical linkages during the reporting period. Since approving the new Constitution and transitioning to a democratic system, we Mongolians have summarized 30 years of achievements and mistakes. To plan for the next 30 years of development, beyond the election cycles and based on international norms, “Vision-2050” was developed with over 1,500 experts and scholars from political parties, relevant ministries, and agencies. The State Great Khural approved and started implementing it with Resolution No. 52 on May 13, 2020. Despite the unstable geopolitical conditions due to the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war during the reporting five-year period, foundational issues highlighted in the development policy were addressed. Monitoring and evaluation of the 2021-2024 implementation of the 2021-2025 five-year plan have concluded that the implementation stands at 67%. Cultural events that promoted nomadic culture have significantly enhanced understanding about Mongolia, increasing by 57%, and the soft power policy index moved up by 14 places. The long-term development policy document was drafted with indicators for the first time, producing a five-year evaluation that might have discrepancies in numerical data and methodologies of government institutions. Nonetheless, this is seen as building the groundwork for a proper future evaluation system. To enhance effective policy implementation and move monitoring and evaluation systems up to international standards, a government member was appointed for Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation (DME). I emphasize the importance of introducing a comprehensive international evaluation system to align the implementation of “Vision-2050,” Mongolia's long-term development policy, with medium- and short-term policy documents. Under the nine main goals of “Vision-2050” development policy set by the 2020 Resolution No. 23, Mongolia promotes unity of national values, human development, quality of life and middle-class growth, economy, governance, green development, peaceful and safe society, regional and local development, and development of Ulaanbaatar and its satellite cities through 47 targets and 243 initiatives. In terms of national unity and values, we shall conduct campaigns to promote the tangible and intangible Mongol Empire history and the deeds of the Great Chinggis Khan, making Mongolia known worldwide through the Chinggis Khan Museum and “Go Mongolia” national branding. As a result, understanding of Mongolia increased by 57%, and the soft power policy index improved by 14 places. In human development, during the pandemic, 90% of the population was vaccinated, saving 20,000 to 40,000 lives, allowing the country to lift strict lockdowns 1.3 years ago, making it one of the countries that successfully managed the pandemic with minimal risk. Nationwide screenings and diagnostics reached 1.5 million people, 44% of the population. Educational achievements include establishing 197 schools and 285 kindergartens from 2020-2024. In Ulaanbaatar, 26,800 children from 27 districts were accommodated in kindergartens, removing the lottery system and providing every applicant with access. Under quality of life and middle-class goals, the "National Wealth Fund" law was enacted, distributing dividends to citizens' savings accounts from 34% of strategic mining assets. Since the law's enactment, MNT 495.6 billion has been deposited into the Savings Fund, financing mortgages for around 5,000 citizens. Economically, efforts are underway to expand, boost border capacity, diversify, and enhance tourism, road, and transport sectors. 2023-2025 was declared as "Years to Visit Mongolia," achieving a record of 0.6 million visitors in 2023 and 0.8 million in 2024, pushing industry revenues to USD 1.5 billion. GDP per capita rose from USD 4,128 in 2020 to USD 6,008 in 2023, and projected to reach USD 6,890 in 2024. The "Millennium Road" project successfully completed after 21 years, now connecting every province to Ulaanbaatar with over 7,000 km of paved roads. Power projects like Choibalsan, Baganuur, Erdenet, Murun, and Toson increased sources and capacity by 358 MW. During COVID, economic growth dropped to -4.6% but has recovered to 7.4% in 2023 and 4.9% in 2024. Export revenues doubled over four years, increasing GDP from MNT 37.4 trillion to MNT 80.0 trillion. GDP per capita rose consistently, projected at USD 6,890 for 2024. Credit rating agencies like Fitch, S&P, and Moody's upgraded Mongolia to "B+, stable." In governance, political consensus led to constitutional amendments shifting to a mixed electoral system. The 2024 elections resulted in five political parties and coalitions in parliament, with women's representation at 25.4%, exceeding Asia's average. With the E-Mongolia platform, offering 1,263 digital services to 1.95 million users, average processing time for certificates and confirmations reduced to five seconds. In the "E-Government Development Index" by the UN, Mongolia ranked 46th in 2024, moving up 28 places, and ranked 37th for citizens' e-participation, advancing 20 places among 193 economies. In green development, supporting the "Billion Trees" national movement initiated by the President to combat climate change and desertification. Efforts include environmental legal reform, expanding protected areas, and increasing renewable energy investments to reduce carbon emissions. Enterprises investing in green development and human enhancement receive tax discounts up to 1% of sales. Increasing greenery, new waste management practices, and improving environmental sustainability are encouraged. Under goals for peaceful and safe society, efforts are made to improve defense, fortify legal justice systems, enhance human rights, and improve quality of life indicators to mitigate societal risks. To prevent crime and enhance urban living, public lighting and surveillance systems are being implemented. In regional development, 2024 was declared "Year for Promoting Regional Development," with new proposals approved by the State Great Khural. In industry contribution stages, building materials and equipment import duties are exempt; VAT deferred four years; and 90% offset on future five-year corporate taxes for compatible regional projects. In Ulaanbaatar and its suburbs, investments increased since 2020, solving pressing issues with MNT 12.5 trillion invested. For 2025 as "Year to Resolve Capital's Infrastructure," a task force under the PM's leadership is operational. Twenty-four projects are outlined for Ulaanbaatar's growth, including Tuul Expressway, Bagahangai- Khushig Valley Rail, metros, trams, cable cars, and ongoing resolution of urban setbacks. The "20-Minute City" concept and "Ulaanbaatar Development General Plan to 2040" are proposed to the State Great Khural. About the Implementation of Mongolia's Government Program 2024-2028 Approved by the State Great Khural's Resolution No. 21 on August 27, 2024, the "2024-2028 Government Action Program" consists of 620 goals across 16 directions under four main policies, achieving on average 34% of tasks by mid-2024. Since the joint "Courage for Rapid Development" government was established half a year ago, - The delayed Gashuunsukhait-Ganmod border post project and roads advanced after 21 years; - Mongolia-France uranium project concluded the investment agreement started in 1997; - Erdeneburen Hydroelectric's loan contract finalized after research started in 1964; - Power projects in Booroljuut, Choibalsan, Baganuur were unfrozen, starting a 300MW expansion at Power Plant #3. Mega projects are being unfrozen and international project branches are moving forward in parliament, with future focus on Tavan Tolgoi Power, Egiin Gol Hydropower, trilateral gas pipeline with Russia, China, and rail corridor projects. Ladies and gentlemen of the State Great Khural, We now discuss the implementation progress of the 2021-2025 five-year National Development Direction, the 2024-2028 Government Action Program, and the 2024 development execution plan.

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Trading on Mining Exchange Stalled, Law to be Amended

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Speaker of the State Great Hural D. Amarbaysgalan, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Ts. Tuvdendorj, and Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs O. Altangerel submitted a draft amendment to the Law on Mining Product Exchange. Currently, coal and iron ore are being traded through the exchange under spot and forward contracts. Until the 14th of this month, 43 million tons of mining products have been traded with a total value of 17 trillion tugriks. The mining exchange was a public request. However, due to the lack of coordination between legal regulations, trading mining products through the exchange has come to a standstill. This has created risks such as limiting the income of participating economic entities in the exchange and challenges in increasing the national wealth fund. Therefore, a draft bill to amend the law has been prepared. In the Government's 2024-2028 Action Program, amendments will be made to the Law on Mining Product Exchange to carry out the development of mega projects such as "Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod, Hangi-Mandal, Shiveekhuren-Sekhee border crossing railway connections, coal-chemical, coke chemical complexes, steel complexes." This will ensure the use and sale of mineral resources according to international standards, providing economic independence for the national economy, as stated by the State Great Hural’s Press and Public Relations Office.

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Trade Finance Forum Being Held Under the Theme 'Together for Sustainable Development'

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Trade and Development Bank is organizing its regular trade finance forum on March 28, 2025, under the theme 'Together for Sustainable Development'. The aim is to promote a more sustainable and greener ecosystem for project finance, foreign trade, and supply chains. This year's forum includes a variety of presentations and discussions on fruitful topics such as challenges and solutions in project finance, diversification of energy sources, green trade finance, and financing sustainable supply chains, alongside events for participants to share experiences and knowledge. In previous years, the event was held under the theme 'Accelerator of Development' in 2023, with over 300 business owners and representatives from more than 10 government organizations participating to discuss pressing issues in foreign trade, industry development, challenges, and possible solutions. In 2024, the event coincided with Mongolia rejoining the global US dollar payment system and demonstrating efforts to comply with international standards, opening up new possibilities for businesses and citizens engaging in foreign trade and services, such as quick and cost-effective US dollar transfers. Warning: Media outlets (TV, Radio, Social media, and Web pages) must cite our source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, fully or partially.

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If Coal Falls, Mongolia's Economy Hopes for Gold and Copper

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The forecast for Mongolia's economic growth in 2025 has not changed significantly compared to previous predictions, according to the government and the Mongolbank, and is expected to remain at 7.4 percent. However, growth is expected to slightly decrease to 6 percent next year. The economic growth in 2025 is likely to primarily depend on two main sectors. 1. Mining Sector
Mongolia's main export of raw materials relies on coal. However, starting this year, copper concentrate exports are expected to increase as the construction of the underground mine at Oyu Tolgoi has been completed. Extraction is expected to increase in the second half of the year, and the gold content is likely to improve. 2. Agricultural Sector
It is forecasted to have a significant impact on economic growth. Copper Prices and Trump's Tariffs
The trade policies implemented by the United States are expected to negatively affect economic growth. For the first quarter of 2025, the economic growth of the USA came in at 2.8 percent, slightly higher than expected. U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed import tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico, which has led to a decrease in the prices of metals such as copper, aluminum, and iron ore. Economists have warned that this could slow down global economic growth. The Mongolbank’s Director of Reserve Management and Financial Market Division, A. Enkhjin, provided an update on this issue. He stated, "Since the beginning of this year, copper prices have increased by 10 percent. Although copper prices are trending downwards due to the U.S. tariff policy, consumers have been making bulk purchases before the tariffs are implemented, influencing the rise in prices. China, as a key copper consumer, is expected to have a stable and growing economy, leading to a relatively high price for copper." Status of Coal Exports
According to monthly statistics, coal exports have decreased by about 23 percent, whereas imports have increased by 4-5 percent compared to the same period last year. The main reason for the decrease in total exports is related to the falling coal prices. Mongolbank and the government expect coal prices to stabilize and recover in the second half of 2025. On the other hand, experts expect coal prices not to fall further. Based on the internal trends of China's coal market, the economic growth for this year has been set at the same 5 percent as last year. Therefore, there is a need to focus significantly on economic growth to achieve this 5 percent target. It is expected that the government will take substantial measures to increase domestic consumption and investment. Meanwhile, the price of gold has reached 3,000 USD. Although Mongolia's main export is coal, increasing the export of gold and other raw materials can provide favorable economic conditions. The supply of gold is decreasing, and mining in placer deposits has reduced. Last year, the Mongolbank purchased 16.5 tons of precious metals, but the export volume in the first months of this year has decreased. Therefore, experts emphasize the need to activate policies to support domestic production, investment, and consumption to maintain stable economic growth.

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N. Uuganbayar: Need for Foreign Expert Consultants and Sector Specialists

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The Immigration Agency of Mongolia participated in a joint meeting today with the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Welfare, and the General Agency for Labor and Welfare Services. During the meeting, they exchanged views on issues encountered when bringing in foreign labor, simplifying the process of issuing work permits, and improving inter-agency coordination. N. Uuganbayar, the Head of the Immigration Agency, stated in his remarks that within the framework of the 14 mega projects aimed at expanding Mongolia's economy, there is a need for foreign expert consultants and sector specialists to work in Mongolia. Furthermore, the peak season for labor demand in various sectors related to the construction season is beginning. Therefore, it is crucial to establish flexible and close collaboration between organizations. He also noted that since 2021, electronic visas have been issued to increase foreign investment and support tourism. As the issuance of e-tourist visas increases, there have been cases of businesses employing foreign nationals without the required government permissions to avoid job position fees, which have increased in recent years. This is partly because the process of obtaining a visa and residence permit for employment purposes involves many steps, high job position fees, and long processing times, leading some to misuse the tourist visa for this purpose. Thus, addressing the legal environment related to bringing in foreign labor and considering differentiation in job position fees based on tiers, it was decided to link the preliminary work permits issued by the General Agency for Labor and Welfare Services to the "Visa, Registration, and Information Unified System."

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Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: ikon.mn

From April 1, 2025, the minimum wage will be updated to 792,000 MNT. Consequently, the amount of voluntary social insurance contributions is also increasing. Specifically, as an individual, you will have to pay a minimum of 106,920 MNT per month for social insurance contributions. In our country, more than 171,300 people voluntarily pay social insurance. Source: General Department of Social Insurance Warning: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social and Web pages) must mention the source (ikon.mn) when fully or partially using our information in any form.

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The Single Truth of Gashuunsukhait: No Revenue Without Opening the Gate!

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: news.mn

PRIME MINISTER L. OYUN-ERDENE: After significant discussions, Mongolia's parliament has reached a joint understanding with our neighboring country. Going forward, the government will do everything it can to accelerate the projects that have become the economic railway corridor of the three countries. The Gashuunsukhait border connection is the most important economic project that ranks first among the 14 mega projects announced by the Joint Government. With the approval of the agreement on the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod border crossing, the legal environment for starting cooperation with the third port, Shivee Khuren, is opening up. Connecting the Shivee Khuren port to the south will increase export capacity by 10 million tons. MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND MINERAL RESOURCES C. TUVAAN: After the approval of the intergovernmental agreement between Parliament and the Cabinet, companies will sign contracts. This will improve coal sales. The railway border connection is not being solved only at Gashuunsukhait. Connecting the Khanga Mandal and Shivee Khuren ports and further establishing the west-east corridor between the three countries will lead to many positive solutions. In addition, it lays the foundation to start the next major project, which had been stalled with our southern neighbor. Due to the lack of a border connection, Mongolia lost 4.5-5 billion USD in revenue alone over the past period. If the Gashuunsukhait border connection is not expedited, Mongolia will incur even more losses, say the authorities, explaining the importance of the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod border railway project. Therefore, in the spring session, the agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod border crossing, coal trade, and increasing the capacity of the Tavantolgoi coal mine was ratified, which is a major event in the history of railways and the economy. It is certain to be noted in history during the tenure of L. Oyun-Erdene's government and C. Tuvaan as sector minister. By opening the railway border connection, Mongolia's port capacity will double, coal exports will reach an average of 165 million tons per year, and annual coal sales revenue will increase by 1.5 billion USD, according to figures from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. Mongolia adopted its Railway Transport Policy in 2010. However, due to domestic political divergence and strife, 15 years were wasted. Calculating lost opportunities in monetary terms yields large numbers. The inability to connect the railway by 2015 resulted in at least 18 trillion in lost export revenue, Minister Tuvaan openly stated. The Gashuunsukhait port is the main export port. Mongolia's economy relies on Gashuunsukhait port for exports and Zamyn-Uud port for imports. Specifically, 55% of coal exports and 60% of copper concentrate exports are shipped via Gashuunsukhait. The railway border connection at Gashuunsukhait will bring new momentum to the economy. Simply put, the exit door for expenses is closed, and the entry door for income is opened. A major challenge for Mongolia's coal exports has been transportation costs. Despite lying next to China, Mongolia remains poor and beggarly because it has been unable to open its revenue door for many years. External factors include geopolitical interests to keep Mongolia impoverished and backward, while short-sightedness from some domestic politicians also played a part. The construction of the Gantsmod-Gashuunsukhait railway connection requires an investment of 976 billion MNT. Previously, it was claimed that this amount would be repaid through coal barter. However, "Erdenes Tavantolgoi" decided to finance the project with cash. Whether it was out of caution to not mortgage the future or out of confidence due to available finances is unclear, but reversing the decision to sell coal to Chinese companies at 15-30% discount from the global market for the next 20 years was the right choice. Initially, had a narrow gauge railway been built, Mongolia would have benefited. The propaganda that narrow gauge railways would let Chinese troops and tanks in was a political maneuver directed from the northern neighbor, as people now realize. Without establishing the railway border connection and enhancing port capacity, foreign investment will not flow in, and coal export revenue will not increase! To build the inter-state railway border connection, terminals for loading and unloading coal must be constructed on both sides of the border. Thus, China will build its facilities at its own cost, and Mongolia will do the same. According to the sector minister, at the Gashuunsukhait port, a 1.4 km long bridge with double-track railway is to be constructed. The bridge is planned to be 28 meters high with an underground foundation of 50-60 meters. The construction of the border connection is planned to be completed in three years and put into operation in 2028. After 15 years of debate on whether the railway project was about money or geopolitics, and being a hot topic of political-economic discourse, the construction of the Gashuunsukhait border connection has finally commenced. The bitter truth is that you can't make money without opening the gate.

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Loans Issued to 579 Projects Under the Micro-Enterprise Support Program

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

A discussion was held on the role and importance of business incubation services in stabilizing and developing the activities of individuals, businesses, and organizations that received small loans and financial support from the Employment Support Fund. In 2024, 13.8 billion tugriks in loans are to be provided to 579 projects of individuals and businesses through financing from the International Development Association under the 'Micro-Enterprise Support Program'. Micro and small businesses are supported through business incubation services internationally. Participants in the discussion emphasized the need to update previously implemented programs in line with current circumstances and to focus on maintaining stable financing. They also expressed their readiness to share knowledge and experience in their respective fields and collaborate. Representatives from the Mongolian Employers' Federation, the Mongolian Trade Union Federation, the National Association of Business Incubators of Mongolia, the NGO 'Start Up Mongolia', the NGO 'Development Solutions', lecturers from universities, the National Technology Park of Mongolia, and the Academy of Sciences participated in the discussion. Participants agreed to discuss the revised draft of the Employment Service Act with professional organizations and to appropriately include provisions on business incubation services.

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300,000 Citizens Have Sold Their 1072 Shares Fully or Partially

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: gogo.mn

During a parliamentary session, 98 out of 110 attending members supported and passed a bill ratifying an agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of China on cross-border railway constructions, coal trade, and increasing the capacity of the Tavan Tolgoi coal mine. During the discussion of this issue, Member of Parliament Ts. Iderbat raised concerns related to Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi's 1072 shares. He mentioned that projects stalled for many years are now being successfully implemented. While meeting with constituents during the parliamentary break, citizens extensively discussed the 1072 shares. Discovering coal theft and seeing the dividend from the 1072 shares increase annually has sent a strong message to the public. In every district visited, particularly the elderly brought up this topic, stating that due to lack of information, they sold their 1072 shares to the government. Now they are demanding ownership of their shares and asking for opportunities. He requested a response to this. Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Ts. Tuvaan explained that in 2016, each citizen was allocated 1072 shares in Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi. At that time, the government issued a decision allowing citizens to sell 300 shares voluntarily at a nominal price. Thus, some citizens traded 300 of their 1072 shares for 300,000 MNT voluntarily decided to sell them back to the government, as he explained, just as the Speaker cut off his microphone. Speaker of Parliament D. Amarbayasgalan suggested that the issue regarding the 1072 shares should be discussed and a decision made by the government and then reported back to Parliament. There are 300,000 citizens, counted cumulatively, who have sold their shares either fully or partially. It was clarified that, at that time, students sold 500,000, civil servants sold 300,000, and some elderly sold their 1072 shares in full, among others. He requested the government discuss this matter and report back their decision to Parliament.

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G. Luvsanjamts: The Government Spent 21.7 Trillion MNT in Four Years, but the Impact on Society and Economy is Indeterminate

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: isee.mn

In today's session of the State Great Khural (Parliament), discussions began on Mongolia's five-year main development directions for 2021-2025, the execution report for 2024 on the Government of Mongolia's program for 2024-2028, as well as the implementation report for Mongolia's development plan for 2024. The reports were presented by Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene. In connection with the issues under discussion, Members of Parliament expressed their positions. For instance, MP G. Luvsanjamts stated, "Every MNT paid by citizens in taxes should be spent effectively. However, the government has spent 21.7 trillion MNT over the past four years, yet the impact on society and the economy remains indeterminate. The reason for this is that the criteria used to measure outcomes are incorrect, immeasurable, ineffective, and do not align with the objectives. I have mentioned this many times during the fall session. Yet, the reports have been brought in unchanged. They only show the implementation of measures, and incorrectly report that policy implementation is at 60-70%, with some even claiming 100% completion. If you can't measure, you can't manage. Simply put, we are trying to measure weight with a ruler here. What work is being done to optimize evaluation criteria and to establish a system that conducts correct assessments?"

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The Project to Increase the Value of Animal-Derived Raw Materials 'Emeelt' Eco-Industrial Park is Being Implemented

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Within the framework of 24 mega projects to develop Ulaanbaatar city, the 'Emeelt' eco-industrial park project is being established in an area spanning 539 hectares at the Shariin Khiviin Khuoloo of the 13th khoroo of Khan-Uul district, 30 km from the city center. The project includes a 24 MW thermal power plant, a treatment facility with a capacity of 6700 cubic meters per day, 12.5 km of roads, flood prevention structures, two reservoirs, and an engineering network. This is planned to be implemented with state, municipal budgets, and foreign aid. As of today, a four-story building of the Business Incubator and Training Production Center of the 'Emeelt' eco-industrial park is already in use. As part of the preparation for relocating leather tanning factories from Ulaanbaatar to 'Emeelt' park, agreements are being made with enterprises for land use rights. By constructing and relocating leather and wool processing factories to the 'Emeelt' eco-industrial park, they plan to rehabilitate the polluted soil of the Tuul River basin. Moreover, studies suggest that 5600 sustainable jobs will be created. Another significant importance of the project is to increase the value of animal-derived raw materials and introduce them into economic circulation. Additionally, it was highlighted that by developing the park as a special economic area of the Argalant-Emeelt satellite city, favorable conditions for living and working in the area will be created.

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Proposal to Reduce Personal Income Tax to 1% Supported by 69,000 Citizens

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: isee.mn

On the "D Petition" website, a citizen named R. Shinegerel submitted a petition to reduce the personal income tax rate from 10% to 1% and began collecting support from the public. This petition will be open for one month, until April 24, and so far, 69,816 people have supported it. If more than 50,000 people sign it, there is a possibility for it to be discussed in the Parliament. The petitioner, R. Shinegerel, states, "We propose to reduce the personal income tax stipulated in Article 6.3 of the Law on Personal Income Tax to 1%, including: 6.3.1. Salaries, wages, bonuses, and incentives as well as equivalent employment income, 6.3.2. Business income, 6.3.3. Property income, 6.3.4. Income from the sale or transfer of property, 6.3.5. Indirect income, 6.3.6. Other income.” If you wish to sign the petition, click HERE!

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Ch. Chimidsuren: The Mongolian Tax Authority Will Be the Advisor of Taxpayers

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar. The Mongolian Tax Authority has set a goal to become a "Consultative Tax Authority," focusing on being taxpayer-friendly and preventing risks. We spoke with Ch. Chimidsuren, Ph.D., Director General of the Tax Authority, regarding this initiative.
How would you evaluate the performance of the Mongolian Tax Authority’s operations in 2024?
The Ministry of Finance has assessed our achievement of the 2024 performance plan at 94.6%. In terms of fulfilling the function of generating budget income, the tax authority collected 12.2 trillion MNT for the national budget and 5.7 trillion MNT for local budgets, totaling 17.9 trillion MNT, surpassing the income plan by 110 billion MNT. This accounted for 58% of the total national budget income.
Additionally, the implementation of the 2021-2024 medium-term strategic plan of the tax authority was rated as very well achieved with a score of 93.09.
What are the notable activities for the Mongolian Tax Authority in 2025 as per your goals?
2025 will be a significant year for us with major projects underway. These include tax law reform, the 2025-2028 strategic plan of the Mongolian Tax Authority, fulfilling several international commitments, developing the e-tax authority, and implementing a large planned task to generate budget revenue. We have overhauled the tax laws three times in the past 30+ years: enacting the main tax laws and establishing the legal foundation in 1990-1992, forming a system of four tens in 2007, and reforming laws to support entrepreneurs in 2019.
In 2024, the Speaker of the Parliament and the Prime Minister reviewed the operations of the tax authority, directing the tax law reforms to be based on the feedback of citizens, the public, and taxpayers. Consequently, we are working jointly with the government and the Ministry of Finance. Starting January 20, 2025, nationwide, we conducted 187 consultations and discussions on tax laws, involving 12,900 taxpayers, and collected 176,059 opinions both electronically and in writing, compiling them for the draft revisions of the General Tax Law, Corporate Income Tax Law, Personal Income Tax Law, and Value Added Tax Law with the Ministry of Finance.
The goal of this reform is to:
- Protect citizen and household income, support employment, offer substantial tax reductions, and lessen taxpayers' burdens.
- Create conditions for stable operations, savings, and expansions of taxpayers, increase foreign investments, and reduce the tax burden on investors.
- Transition to a system where the tax authority advises and assists taxpayers, preventing tax risks.
- Implement regional tax policies, allowing taxpayers to independently decide on tax rates for income, thus increasing fiscal autonomy.
Secondly, 2025 will be the first year of implementing the strategic plan for 2025-2028. This plan was developed and approved based on taxpayer feedback on the tax authority’s activities, evaluations from international organizations, consultant recommendations, and the trend of tax law reforms. The Mongolian Tax Authority aims to implement activities focused on being taxpayer-friendly and risk-preventive, becoming a consultative tax authority.
Under its law-mandated key function of "informing, advising, and conducting training and promotion for taxpayers," activities will be organized to align with the general concept, sector classifications, and needs, targeting specific groups.
The Mongolian Tax Authority continues to be the advisor and assist taxpayers, preventing risks. Furthermore, as an implementing agency of the government, it will act as a bridge between tax policymakers, legislators, and taxpayers. It will conduct research on tax laws’ fairness, equity, and fit, considering taxpayer feedback, and promptly implement essential changes to tax laws.
The Tax Authority is focused on making taxpayer services high-quality, accessible, and easy, ensuring open, fair, and transparent operational activities. The strategic plan outlines research on policies, advice and training, quality control, electronic audits, pre-litigation discussions, and units dealing with digital and human development and citizen tax issues.
Thirdly, the Tax Authority will align its operations with international rules. This includes implementing multilateral agreements signed this year that Mongolia acceded to, along with existing international conventions and rules. Striving for global transparency, it joined multilateral agreements for sharing available information with other countries against tax evasion.
Mongolia signed the "Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information" (CRS MCAA) and the "Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the Exchange of Country-by-Country Reports" (CbCR MCAA) at the OECD headquarters in Paris, France, on March 6, 2025. This marks the beginning of significant work in implementing international tax standards, bolstering a fair tax system, ensuring system security, and protecting tax revenue.
The Tax Authority is not only introducing and localizing international best practices but is also actively seeking and incorporating methods that fit the mindset of Mongolian taxpayers.
Fourthly, in the development of the e-tax authority, the focus is on supporting taxpayers in voluntarily complying with tax laws by offering advice, using AI and technology to identify tax evaders, expand the tax base, and impose appropriate responsibilities to achieve fairness. Tax education, advice, and information will be conducted based on artificial intelligence. Work continues to expand on preparing main taxpayer declarations electronically for taxpayer approval and perform electronic tax audits.
Ensuring electronic systems and information security is also planned.
Fifthly, achieving the approved fiscal revenue is crucial.
In 2025, we have a significant task of collecting 21,406.6 billion MNT in budget revenue. Despite the tax law reforms reducing taxpayers' burdens, expanding the tax base and encouraging voluntary transparent, fair, electronic, easy, and consistent tax payment will enable us to meet income plans.

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Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: isee.mn

A public online petition to reduce social insurance tax rates has started collecting citizen signatures on the D-Petition platform. This petition, initiated by citizen B. Batbileg, asks, "Can the current rate of social insurance tax be reduced to 12%? We believe there is an alternative way to complete the Social Insurance Fund. If workers voluntarily transfer the 1072 shares dividend they receive annually to the social insurance fund, the next year's social insurance tax rate could be reduced to 12%. This would not affect inflation from price increases of goods and would help prevent the devaluation of the currency." Currently, 12,000 citizens have supported this petition with their signatures. If you want to give your opinion, please click HERE. A legislative proposal can be initiated if 100,000 people sign the petition.

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Economy and Development Minister L. Gantomor Proposes Three Initiatives at Boao Forum

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) began last Tuesday in Boao Town, Qionghai City, Hainan Province, southern China, and was officially opened yesterday. This year, the forum is being held under the theme "Asia in a Changing World: Towards a Shared Future," with around 2000 representatives from over 60 countries and regions gathering to discuss topics such as trust and cooperation, growth and participation, sustainable development, artificial intelligence, and innovation. Representing our country, the Minister of Economy and Development, L. Gantomor, is participating in this conference. During the meeting, he held an official meeting with Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the State Council of China. During the meeting, Minister Gantomor emphasized the importance of clear and well-defined bilateral relations and proposed the following specific proposals for cooperation in three areas: 1. Accelerating border connectivity, ensuring the stability of exports, and speeding up the implementation of the trilateral economic corridor projects. 2. Developing the energy sector and other industrial sectors. 3. Collaborating on the development of science, artificial intelligence, and scientific parks. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang fully supported these proposals and expressed his willingness to enhance practical cooperation on all initiatives beneficial to the peoples of the two countries. He also highlighted the commitment to harness economic advantages as neighboring countries for green development.

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Accountant of 'Shuteen-Erdene' LLC accused of tax evasion

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

In Umnugovi province, the accountant of 'Shuteen-Erdene' LLC, N.T., has been investigated and found guilty of concealing a large tax debt and avoiding payment. This company, which operates in various sectors such as construction decoration, plumbing, restaurants, and cargo transportation, was accused of fraudulent bookkeeping by reporting fictitious purchases of goods and services, thereby reducing the amount of VAT to be paid to the budget. The prosecutor's office charged the accountant under Article 18.3-1 of the Criminal Code for 'deliberately misrepresenting or concealing income, property, goods or services subject to significant tax liability to evade tax payment,' and the case was transferred to the Soum Court of First Instance in Umnugovi province. Additionally, the head of a department under the Office of the Governor of Orkhon province, N.B., has been charged with illicit enrichment as they failed to adequately explain the significant increase in income and assets, under Article 22.10-1 of the Criminal Code, and the case was transferred to the Soum Court of First Instance in Orkhon province.

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Diplomacy

Putin Proposes Temporary Governance for Ukraine

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: news.mn

Russian President Putin proposed putting Ukraine under a form of temporary governance to conduct new elections and sign key agreements to resolve the ongoing war. Speaking at a forum in Murmansk, Putin stated, "Trump, having improved relations with Russia, sincerely wants to stop the war that has lasted for three years. Russia, too, is consistently moving towards the goal of resolving the conflict. In principle, it is obvious that a temporary administration could be introduced in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN, the USA, European countries, and other partners. By holding democratic elections and bringing to power a competent government that has the trust of the people, it would facilitate the signing of a peace treaty with them." Ukraine's President Zelensky's term was set to end in May 2024, but no elections were held due to wartime laws. Therefore, Putin seemed to highlight Zelensky's position with his mention of temporary governance. However, Zelensky refuted this, stating that it is impossible to conduct elections during wartime. Furthermore, Putin commented that "considering Trump's willingness to engage in direct talks with Russia, he seems to desire peace more than former President Joe Biden." He also mentioned that Russia is ready to cooperate with other countries such as North Korea to end the war. There have been reports that North Korea sent over 11,000 troops to Ukraine last year. Additionally, this year, South Korea reported the possible deployment of another 3,000 troops in Ukraine.

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L. Oyun-Erdene: Russia's Abstention on Ukraine's Issue Affected Our Country's Classification as an Autocratic Regime

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The State Great Khural discussed the primary direction for developing Mongolia from 2021-2025, the 2024 performance report of the Government of Mongolia's 2024-2028 Action Program, and the performance report of Mongolia's 2024 development plan. Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene presented the report, after which members asked questions and received answers. Member of Parliament D. Bum-Ochir: The V-Dem journal measures and reports on democracy in countries around the world. Mongolia has been regressing since 2021. The red arrow pointing downwards indicates regression. It talks about Mongolia on pages 10, 14, 21, and 42. The global report mentions that democracy has been lost in two countries: India and Mongolia. From 1990, I consider democracy to be the most important value gained. I believe that the Mongolian people know and agree with this. However, international research reports indicate that we have transitioned into a country with an autocratic regime. We should establish a special working group to address this. We need to develop a plan in our next strategy to move up from our 84th position. Are we going to continue to fall behind? If we remain as we are, we will be classified as a country with an autocratic regime. Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene: There are indices that have advanced, and some have regressed. There are issues on which Parliament members need to make collective evaluations. When meeting with representatives of international organizations, it was noted that several of our indices were linked to geopolitical conditions. Our country abstained from voting on the Russia-Ukraine issue. At that time, it was discussed at the National Security Council and the Security Standing Committee that we should have this position. Mongolia upholds peace and has a multifaceted foreign policy. However, due to the unique geographical situation, our country is situated between two major powers. In the past 2-3 years, we have faced a complex situation similar to having to choose between a father and a mother. However, Mongolia must define its policy in its own way and discuss it in parliament, or else many issues related to our security and risks arise. Of course, there are errors and achievements dependent on us, and indices that have progressed. Deputy Speaker of the State Great Khural B. Purevdorj: Last year, Deputy Prime Minister T. Dorjkhand and Minister of Energy B. Choijilsuren visited our group to provide information on freeing energy prices. At that time, I advised, "As long as you do not change the officials who create bureaucracy, you cannot eliminate the major plunder in state-owned companies and cannot free the prices. Immediately change your internal audit head, and inspect the corrupt officials and state-owned company associates in the Ministry of Energy, and then implement the price changes." Unfortunately, it was not done. Today, the energy sector is extremely corrupt. For example, I heard that someone was offered 300 million to become the director of the western electricity distribution network of Ulaanbaatar. There exists an entire network within state-owned companies that forces the purchase of goods and equipment at inflated prices, and then they claim to have used items worth 200 million just to later steal and return them. After a significant struggle, I managed to allocate 9.5 billion to expand the Khovd County Thermal Power Plant as a state project, but during Minister N. Tavinbekh's time, officials gave it to three bag companies, leaving the people of Khovd harmed. Until we rid the energy sector of corrupt, thieving individuals, energy prices will not drop. The people of Mongolia are paying for the money of the corrupt. Citizens who used to pay 200 thousand have now started paying 800-900 thousand. Therefore, Minister B. Choijilsuren, change your internal audit promptly. The suspicions of various forms cannot be denied. However, if specific issues are mentioned, we are ready to address them. We conduct internal audits quarterly. With the energy price increase, we gained approximately 560 billion in revenue. We will publicly report how this money is spent. The State Great Khural session continues.

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Mongolia to Represent Its Region in East Asia-Latin America Cooperation Forum

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Mongolia will co-chair the East Asia-Latin America Cooperation Forum representing the East Asian region alongside the Dominican Republic from 2025 to 2027. The 23rd Senior Officials Meeting of this forum was held virtually today, where this decision was made. Traditionally, the forum is co-chaired by two member countries elected to represent East Asia and Latin America for a two-year term. The forum was established in 1999 to strengthen cooperation, mutual understanding, and political and economic dialogue between East Asia and Latin America. Currently, the multilateral forum includes 36 countries from two continents, of which 16 are East Asian and 20 are Latin American countries. The member countries represent about 40% of the world's population, account for 35% of global GDP, and cover 33% of international trade turnover. Mongolia joined this multilateral mechanism during the IV Meeting of FEALAC Foreign Ministers held in Tokyo in 2010, and since then, it has actively participated in the forum's activities, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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CENTRAL: A Memorandum of Cooperation was Signed

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Zuunmod. A memorandum of cooperation was signed between Tuv Province and the Science and Technology Ulaanbaatar Park of the National University of Mongolia (NUM). This agreement aims to implement government policies on science, technology, and innovation at the local level, develop social-cultural innovation, and create new products and services by supporting startups. Additionally, it aims to localize technologies for mitigating and adapting to climate change and to jointly implement the “Entrepreneurship” program directed at teachers and students. This program aims to develop leadership skills and creative thinking among general education school teachers and to cultivate self-confidence and teamwork skills among graduating students, thereby shaping them into independent, innovative, and socially responsible citizens. The Science and Technology Ulaanbaatar Park of NUM operates in the fields of innovation, technology, and production. It undertakes diverse activities to establish an innovation ecosystem, including the development of a technology transfer center, the operation of workshops producing innovative products, the development of laboratories and research centers, the establishment of a training and production base, and the creation of an open space for innovation.

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11 Members of Parliament are on Foreign Assignments

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Today, there is a joint session of the 2025 Spring Session of the State Great Hural. Today's attendance record has been posted on the parliament.mn website. A total of 11 members are on foreign assignments. Today, the following draft laws will be discussed: - The main direction for the development of Mongolia from 2021-2025, the 2024 implementation report of the Government of Mongolia's 2024-2028 Action Program, and the 2024 implementation report of Mongolia's development plan. - Resolution 01 of the Constitutional Court of Mongolia from 2025 regarding whether certain sections of the Law on Parliamentary Elections violate the Constitution of Mongolia. - Resolution 02 of the Constitutional Court of Mongolia from 2025 regarding whether the relevant provision of Article 47.6 of the Law on Courts violates the Constitution of Mongolia. - Resolution 03 of the Constitutional Court of Mongolia from 2025 regarding whether certain sections of the Law on Parliamentary Elections violate the Constitution of Mongolia. - Draft law to amend "The Law on Legislation" and related proposals jointly submitted by MP D. Tsogtbaatar and 9 other members on January 23, 2025, to be discussed. - Draft law to amend some laws related to ensuring human rights and freedoms, submitted by the Government on January 24, 2025, to be discussed. - Draft law to amend the Law on Criminal Procedure and its related draft law submitted by the Government on December 27, 2024, to be discussed. - Draft law to amend the Law on Animals submitted by MP O. Amgalanbaatar on March 17, 2025, to be discussed. - Information from the Prime Minister of Mongolia regarding the current situation and future measures on climate change, desertification, and land degradation.

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Infrastructure

Presenting: High-Cost Tenders Announced by the Capital

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: news.mn

We are compiling information on some notable tenders for projects announced by the city’s procurement agency, with submissions currently being accepted. The agency, tasked with enhancing the effectiveness of investments from state and local budgets and developing an efficient procurement system, has announced several high-cost tenders. The tender for the work with a budget of 1.9 trillion tögrögs will close next week. The work on the Tuul Highway is to be financed with a total of 1.9 trillion tögrögs from local budget investments. An allocation of 538 billion tögrögs is planned for this year. Tender submissions will be accepted until Tuesday of next week. According to the tender documentation for executing the work, the selection process will be conducted through the electronic system approved by the Finance Minister and organized according to the procedures ensuring the uninterrupted and secure operation of the procurement electronic system (www.tender.gov.mn). The Tuul Highway will be 33 km long with six lanes and will include structures where 12.8 km of the 18.6 km embankment will be on bridges. The construction is planned to begin at the end of next month and to be completed by April 2027. The call for the "Complete Residential Complex Package 1 and 2" has been announced. Social welfare and engineering infrastructure construction are underway on a total of 156 hectares in Sukhbaatar District’s 13th and 14th khoroos and Chingeltei District’s 14th and 18th khoroos in the Selbe sub-center. The comprehensive development of this sub-center includes: - Residential complexes - Sports complexes - Roads - Electrical and communication lines - Heating and water supply - A communications center - Substations and other infrastructure facilities. The packages 1 and 2 of the residential complex in the Selbe sub-center have a total financing of 827 billion tögrögs, sourced from local budget investments. The project’s concept is based on the Ulaanbaatar city master plan, aiming to develop six sub-centers for balanced urban development. Program’s foundational research and main policies have been developed since 2009, with the general financing agreement approved by the Parliament on December 9, 2013. The social and engineering infrastructure project is planned to be implemented in three phases over nine years, supporting investments for the development of "Ger" districts by building the foundational "Infrastructure" for sub-centers. The tender for the bridge connecting the highway will close on the 14th of next month. The feasibility study for the bridge to connect the Tuul Highway with the new airport expressway, ordered by the Ministry of Road Transport, was completed last June. This bridge, to be built over the Naadam Expressway, will be over 800 meters long. This structure will be Mongolia’s first suspension (cable-stayed) bridge. It will have two traffic streams, 4-6 lanes, and pedestrian paths on both sides, with the support towers expected to be 65 meters high. The bridge's total budget is 74 million USD, with a total length of 846.5 meters. The cable-stayed section is planned to be 270 meters long.

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Residents to Pay Up to 25% for Ulaanbaatar Housing Insulation Project

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Residents of Ulaanbaatar involved in the project to insulate the city's apartment buildings have agreed to pay up to 25% of the costs. This decision was approved by the Ulaanbaatar City Council today. Project Details According to Ulaanbaatar City General Manager G. Battsogt, the project to improve energy efficiency in Ulaanbaatar's apartment buildings will be implemented from 2022 to 2027. This project is supported by a grant of 18 million euros from an organization promoting greenhouse gas reduction, accompanied by 8 million euros from the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing, and 6.5 million euros from Ulaanbaatar's budget. The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving the heating and energy efficiency of buildings, supporting the establishment of a financially sustainable system, and introducing consumption-based pricing policies. The project will change the practice of providing free investment, reimbursement, repair, and renovation for residential building insulation and technical upgrade projects. In the first phase, options for repaying the insulation investment and affordable repayment rates for property owners have been studied, determining that property owners will repay 50% of the total investment over 10 years. It was decided that the exterior walls and roofs of buildings will be insulated, and the heating system will be modernized with new equipment including meters and automatic shutoff valves. This is expected to reduce each block's annual heat energy consumption by no less than 40%. By implementing these three measures in a total of 375 blocks, it could free up 26 MW of heating capacity. Residents of each block must unanimously approve for their buildings to be included in the insulation project. According to the decision, investments for residential insulation will amount to 10.3 million euros this year. The Ulaanbaatar city budget provides 40 billion MNT for free residential insulation. In the future, the repayment contribution from residents will be accumulated in a fund that supports ongoing efforts to reduce thermal loss of buildings. The project aims to engage residents in repaying up to 25% of the cost. When residents fully approve the insulation for their apartments, the project will continue. New, durable, heat-resistant materials are offered instead of foam materials from this year. Professional conclusions are required to determine whether buildings are suitable for insulation. In addition, 35 blocks have been chosen for insulation this year, with plans to design insulation projects for another 30 blocks moving forward. The appearance and color designs of facades will be light, non-bulky, and adapted to each district's characteristics. Inside the City Council meeting, representatives expressed the need for more communication of the project to residents and addressed concerns over recent construction renovations, which buildings less than 10 years old already require. The Ulaanbaatar residential insulation project's representatives mentioned that 95 housing cooperative groups have currently expressed willingness to participate in the project. Note: Media outlets (TV, Radio, Social Media, and Websites) should use this information only by agreement while crediting the source (ikon.mn).

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Preliminary Design of Dedicated Bus Lane Project Underway

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: montsame.mn

As part of the 24 mega projects for the development of Ulaanbaatar, a new type of high-capacity public transportation—the dedicated bus lane (BRT) project—will be implemented. The dedicated bus lane will be constructed along a 12.7 km corridor from Ard Ayush Avenue to Ikh Khuree Street. It will have the capacity to transport 25,000 to 35,000 passengers per day, include 17 stops, and have an average travel time of 15 to 20 minutes with an average speed of 20 to 25 km/h. The implementation of the project is expected to increase the average road traffic speed by 12.6%. Currently, the preliminary design work for the project is being carried out, and research is underway to secure financing from the Asian Development Bank. Once the research is complete and the funding is fully secured, the feasibility study, detailed design, and selection of the construction contractor will be conducted. These activities are planned to be completed this year, with construction starting in March 2026 and implementation planned until 2030, as reported by the Ulaanbaatar City Administration's Communications Department.

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Thermal Power Plant 5 to Produce 340 Gcal Heat and 300 MW Electricity

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: news.mn

As part of the 24 mega projects to develop Ulaanbaatar city, a thermal power plant, TPP-5, with an installed capacity to produce 340 Gcal heat and 300 MW electricity, will be built in the 20th district of Bayangol. The station will be built in an environmentally friendly manner, addressing land, coal, and water supply in one location. The general layout plan of TPP-5 preliminarily considers the main workshop, administration, electrical substation, coal unloading area, ash storage and loading facilities, as well as future expansion of the station. TPP-5 will supply heat to Tavanshar, 21st neighborhood, Hilchin town, Bayankhoshuu, and 3rd and 4th neighborhoods, as well as the 1st neighborhood. Advantages of the project: - It will produce a total of 340 Gcal heat and 300 MW electricity, not only meeting Ulaanbaatar city's consumption but also reducing the amount of electricity imported. - It will provide reliable and stable electric and thermal energy to residents, improving their living conditions. - It will reduce air pollution. - The power system's capacity regulation and stable operation will improve. - The harmful gases in smoke will be filtered by 99%. MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ULAANBAATAR.

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Request to Ensure Regular Flights to Dalanzadgad

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

Discussions about expanding and upgrading the "Gobi Gurvansaikhan" airport in Dalanzadgad, a district of Ömnögovi aimag, have been ongoing since 2022 to meet international standards. Last year, renovation work began, leading to a partial shutdown of the airport's operations and a reduction in flights between Ulaanbaatar and Dalanzadgad. As a result, tour operator companies that organize trips to the Gobi region faced challenges with pre-booked tours, leading to canceled contracts with clients or the need to arrange costly charter flights, causing significant losses. This situation seems likely to recur this year, potentially causing further damage to tour companies. The start and completion dates for the expansion and renovation of the "Gobi Gurvansaikhan" airport remain uncertain, and it is unclear how many flights will be made to Dalanzadgad during the summer and autumn. Therefore, the Mongolian Tourism Association, representing travel agencies and tour operators, has approached the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth for a consolidated and definitive response regarding this issue. Until the airport expansion and renovation are complete and full operational capacity is restored, tourism business operators have requested that the ministry ensure regular flights with small aircraft on this route and create conditions for landing on dirt strips.

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The New Ring Road Will Connect with the Tuul Highway to the West and a Tunnel to Bayanzurkh Bridge and Tuv Province to the East

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Officials have reported that as part of the 24 mega projects planned for Ulaanbaatar city between 2025-2028, a preliminary feasibility study for the New Ring Road is being developed. According to the project's introduction, the New Ring Road, which will be over 50 km long and consist of four to six lanes, will connect with the first and second ring roads. The first ring road is expected to be over 20 km long, and the second ring road will be 24.4 km according to the preliminary route selection. A tender for selecting a contractor to develop the feasibility study (FS), design, and provide consultancy services was announced, and "CSI AECOM Consultants" LLC was awarded the contract. Currently, basic research, foundation design, engineering geological studies, and analyses of the current state of the road, the city's general development plan, environmental impact assessments, and investigations into engineering utilities for the New Ring Road are ongoing. The road will connect with the Tuul highway to the west and with the Bayanzurkh Bridge and Tuv province via a tunnel to the east. It is planned to finalize the FS for the New Ring Road by June 2025 and present it to the relevant professional councils for discussion. A tender for constructing the road will be announced next year, and it is expected to be operational by 2032, as outlined in the FS. Estimates suggest that the average speed of Ulaanbaatar's road traffic will increase by 23.3%. Warning: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social media, and Websites) must credit our source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, either in full or in part.

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City Council: A Proposal to Increase Housing and Infrastructure Budget by 15 Billion Tugrik

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: news.mn

An extraordinary session of the City Council continues today. A proposal has been made by the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) group on the city budget. Council member and MPP group leader D. Ikhbayar proposed the following: To implement the Law on the State Budget of Mongolia, the Vision-2050 program, and the main direction of the city's Development Plan 2025, it was declared that 2025 would be a year for infrastructure development. Objectives include reducing air pollution and supporting comprehensive public transportation solutions to decrease congestion, elevating the city's development to a new level, and increasing or amending essential project initiatives. Secondly, the budget for the major public transportation vehicle and metro construction projects listed in item 41 of Annex 3 of the 2025 budget amendment resolution is proposed to be changed to work on upgrading and replacing sewage lines. The proposal also suggests changes in Annex 2 of the 2025 budget amendment resolution for replacing external network lines at apartments 28, 29, 30, and 31, now including apartment 27 as well. Additionally, a proposal was made to reduce the 15 billion tugrik allocated for the housing program for officials of the City Mayor's Office and local administration bodies, and instead increase the funding for developing city housing and infrastructure by 15 billion tugrik. City Council Chair A. Bayar stated that the Democratic Party group does not have a specific proposal, and the proposal from the MPP group was accepted by the majority. The draft resolution will now be read and introduced. The total city budget revenue for 2025 is 1,688,611,923,700 MNT, with tax revenue at 1,080,723,164,000 MNT, non-tax revenue at 583,770,539,400 MNT, and local development fund transfers at 24,118,220,300 MNT. 1. City Mayor's Revenue: 1,724,493,734,000 MNT
2. Revenue for Affiliated Agencies: 1,386,704,164,000 MNT
3. Revenue from Subordinate Organizations: 49,172,656,700 MNT
4. Interest Revenue: 265,616,882,700 MNT
5. Other Revenue: 23 billion MNT
The total expenditure for 2025 was approved at 5.7 billion MNT. It includes 65 billion MNT for the City Council, 5 trillion MNT for the Mayor, 1.2 trillion MNT for current expenses, 4.4 trillion MNT for capital expenses, 1.7 trillion MNT for city investment projects funded by the city budget, 156 billion MNT for road fund investments, 1.9 trillion MNT for investment projects funded by securities, 29 billion MNT for the Public Transport Development Fund, and 543 billion MNT for projects financed across 2024-2025. Representative T. Batzogt of the Democratic Party noted that the budget proposal had been reviewed by their group and changes have been made without the group's input, questioning the complete absence of detailed breakdowns and requesting further documentation on these changes. MPP group leader D. Ikhbayar expressed that the draft resolution should not undergo further editorial changes as the group’s proposal was already included without major alterations. City Council Representative Ch. Batzorig expressed concerns regarding the legislative requirements for budget adjustments, pointing out that all three conditions necessary for budget revisions – reduction in project revenue, increase in expenditure, or local budget deficits – were not fully met. He emphasized changes such as a purported revenue decrease but noted increases of 101 billion in regular income and 66.6 billion in interest revenue, which do not align with requirements as the overall deficit conditions were not achieved.

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Amendments Made to the Capital's 2025 Land Management Plan

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The issue of making amendments to the capital's 2025 land management plan was discussed today by the City Council. During the approval process of the plan, proposals that had arrived late from the relevant agencies, as well as requests from local government organizations to resolve land issues related to budget and design plans for construction projects carried out with state and capital funds that were not initially included, were submitted. Therefore, the preparation of a resolution to amend the plan according to the land law became necessary and was discussed by the City Council. A total proposal to increase the area by 194.1 hectares in 71 locations was submitted, and the resolution included amendments to projects and measures in 70 locations, totaling 193.9 hectares. The resolution project, under land management guidance, planned 33.3 hectares across 29 locations. Out of this, 11.68 hectares across 11 locations are earmarked for urgent state and budgetary organization needs; 4 hectares across two locations are for partial or complete annulment of land rights in expired locations; aiming to fulfill the land law implementation, increase land lease income, and organize new public biddings for usage totaling 17.44 hectares across 15 locations; defining the placement of public pedestrian spaces in one area accounting for 0.18 hectares. In the 12th khoroo of Khan-Uul District, 50 hectares have been designated for soil rehabilitation and 10.68 hectares across 40 locations for compensating land release. Plans to clear land for new building constructions cover 95.95 hectares across 10 locations, and road and road structure clearing accounts for 14.73 hectares across 30 locations. These amendments were supported by the party caucuses in the City Council. These changes to the capital's 2025 land management plan were approved. Additionally, the City Council discussed the issue of making amendments to the next year's capital budget. Warning: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social media, and Websites) must cite their source (ikon.mn) when using our information in full or in part.

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Society

Charges to Be Brought Against Those Who Committed Crimes Against Chinese Citizen at the Airport

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

In December 2024, at the "Chingis Khaan" International Airport, a crime occurred where Chinese citizens were taken hostage, and one was shot and killed. This crime was perpetrated by Liu Bowan and Xu Hanmin, who are fellow nationals from China temporarily residing in our country, together with some Mongolian youths. They demanded one million yuan from one of the Chinese they intercepted and insisted on transferring it to an account. The case was investigated by the Serious Crime Investigation Department of the Criminal Police and then sent to the Prosecutor's Office with a proposal to bring charges. According to our information, the two Chinese citizens temporarily residing in Mongolia committed the crime after acquiring unregistered firearms from one of our citizens. A. Dayandorj and A. Tengis have been accused along with the two mentioned individuals for the murder of their fellow national. They are considered suspects under Article 10.1-2.11 of the Criminal Code, which involves group-assault leading to death.

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Environment

Prime Minister's Report on Climate Change, Desertification, and Land Degradation

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: isee.mn

According to the schedule, there is a session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia. During the session, the "Law on Amendments to the Law on Animals," proposed by Member of Parliament O. Amgalbaatar, will continue to be discussed. Additionally, reports on the implementation plan for the Five-Year Development Guideline of Mongolia for 2021-2025, the Government of Mongolia's Action Program for 2024-2028, the 2024 performance report, and the development plan report for 2024 will be discussed. Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law will also be considered. Furthermore, the Prime Minister's report on the current state of climate change, desertification, and land degradation, and future measures to be taken, will be heard.

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L.Oyun-Erdene: The negative impact of the Egiin River Hydropower Plant is relatively less than previously estimated

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene presented the 2024 performance report of the Government's Action Program for 2024-2028 and the performance report of Mongolia's Development Plan for 2024 during today's parliamentary session. During this session, he provided information about the joint study report on the Egiin River hydropower plant. He stated, "The government is focused on the Egiin River hydropower plant project. The main reason for the project suspension was the negative environmental impact related to climatic conditions and Lake Baikal, as stated by Russian scientists and 3-4 non-governmental organizations. In relation to this, a joint working group was established, and the initial conclusions showed that the negative impact previously estimated is relatively less. The government will work in collaboration with the State Great Khural on the Egiin River hydropower plant project. Several major projects discussed with China have achieved their goals. Thus, there is a gas pipeline project to be implemented jointly with Russia and China. This project, once implemented, will serve as a major solution for supplying gas fuel to Ulaanbaatar city. Additionally, it is seen as the time to implement the railway western and eastern corridor projects," he explained. Warning: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) must mention the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, fully or partially.

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The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification to be held in Mongolia in 2026

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene delivered a report to the unified session of the State Great Khural on the current state of climate change, desertification, and land degradation and future measures to address these issues. Here is the full text of the report. "Speaker of the State Great Khural, esteemed members, The issue of prolonging the life of our planet has become a pressing issue for humanity. Until today, the international community has not been able to unite on a common stance and reach a unified effective solution. For Mongolia, maintaining the balance of ecology is one of the social challenges while fostering an economy based on mining. Climate change, which used to sound distant, has in recent years disrupted the traditional perceptions of winter cold and has had a significant impact on the lives of pastoral nomads. The problem of floods has also increased during the warm season, leading to the necessity of updating urban and construction standards. Due to climate change, three major challenges are posed worldwide: Firstly, the increase in climate extremes and the frequency of natural disasters like storms, typhoons, heavy rains, extreme heat, and droughts are increasingly affecting people’s living environments and livelihoods across many regions, leading to shortages in drinking water. International organizations are warning that due to the melting of eternal snow and glaciers, 70% of the world’s freshwater reserves are at risk. Secondly, climate change is causing conditions in some regions that necessitate the relocation of populations. Rising sea levels threaten islands and coastal cities with submersion, and declining soil fertility due to droughts disrupt agricultural production, leading to food shortages, causing people to migrate in search of safe and peaceful living spaces. Thirdly, there is a decline in biodiversity, resulting in the loss of ecological balance. Due to wildfires, droughts, and climate change, many wildlife species are at risk of extinction, and the habitats of many plant and animal species are being altered and their distribution limited. These issues do not only impact the environment but also have a strong influence on the world economy, society, and politics, hindering sustainable development and necessitating the development of international cooperation and scientific and technological solutions as top priorities. For Mongolia, with an economy based on mining, diversifying the economy and maintaining ecological balance remain persistent social issues. The frequency of floods, droughts, and zuds due to climate change is increasing, disrupting traditional weather understandings and posing significant challenges to the lives of nomadic pastoralists. Due to the impact of climate change, the average annual air temperature in our country has increased by 2.4 degrees Celsius over the past 80 years, with 76.8% of the territory affected by desertification and land degradation. Total greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 82.1% since 1990, linked to population concentration, production consumption, and livestock growth. Of the total greenhouse gas emissions, 51.1% are from agriculture, 44.7% from the energy sector, and the remainder from industrial, construction, transport, and waste sectors. Mongolia intends to work with development partners on developing responsible mining, improving energy, and water supply, especially addressing the urgent energy and water issues in the desertification-affected Gobi region. Therefore, after the 2024 State Great Khural elections, the coordinated government established has elevated the issue of mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change, part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, as a top priority. Recently, the Gashuunsukhait-Ganqmod port border connection agreement, approved by the State Great Khural, opens up possibilities for implementing renewable energy projects in our country. Agriculture and livestock programs also play crucial roles in climate change and green development efforts, with the government implementing the "Fourth Adventurous Campaign." The Government of Mongolia approved the "Nationally Determined Contribution" target under the Paris Agreement in 2019, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22.7%, equivalent to 16.8 million tons of carbon, by 2030. Under this target, the government has implemented desertification and land degradation reduction and restoration measures on approximately 200 hectares with the support of national budgets and international projects and programs. The national "Billion Trees" movement initiated by the President of Mongolia is a tangible step towards reducing desertification and land degradation, adapting to climate change, having planted 84 million trees by 2024, at a preparatory phase completion rate of 42.4%. To mitigate the impacts of glacial, permafrost melt due to climate change in Mongolia’s western regions, the government, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, is launching the "One Soum-One Lake" or "333 Lakes" program. Additionally, 35.1 million hectares including forests, peat bogs, river basins are taken under state protection for weather hazard protection, early warning systems, and risk reduction, planning a comprehensive meteorological radar network covering the country’s entire territory. Moreover, our state secured the UN's approval of the "International Year of Rangeland and Pastoralists - 2026," aligning this with the 17th Conference of the Parties activities, launching initiatives like the "Global Rangelands Alliance for the Future." In 2024, at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, representatives of the Mongolian government participated and organized the event "Striving for Sustainable Development: Nomadic Heritage and Climate-Adapted Rangelands," showcasing Mongolia’s policies, multi-stakeholder initiatives in climate change, desertification, land degradation reduction, and green development advocacy to the world. Esteemed members of the State Great Khural, issues of climate change and desertification directly affect every country and humanity’s daily life. An active international campaign is one way Mongolia combats climate change, with Mongolia assuming the responsibility of hosting the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD in 2026. By hosting this conference: - Mongolia will have greater opportunities for active cooperation with the world on green energy, water security, green development management. - International attention will be directed towards Mongolia's desertification and water issues, preserving pristine nature. - It opens opportunities to attract decision-makers, financing, investments, and implementing significant green development projects. Hosting COP 17 allows for a comprehensive view of the issues, and Mongolia will assume the right to chair this conference, contributing significantly to determining the UNCCD’s policy directions. Protecting the future land of humanity, Mongolia plans for the 17th conference under the concept of "One for All, All for One." It is time to elevate issues of climate change, desertification, and land degradation to a new level, achieving a unified understanding, and taking decisive steps. With this purpose, the government presented today’s report to capture political and legislative attention."

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The "Atryn IV Campaign" Agricultural Production National Conference Begins

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: isee.mn

The official opening of the "Atryn IV Campaign" for sustainable agricultural development has begun, along with the national conference for agricultural producers in Darkhan-Uul province. More than 600 representatives from the food, agriculture, and light industry sectors of 21 provinces and the capital city are participating in this conference. During the event, the Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, J. Enkhbayar, stated, "The government has declared the 'Atryn IV Campaign' with the aim of perfectly combining and intensifying agriculture with livestock, diversifying and elevating them, and subsequently bringing our light and food industries to a new level. By implementing the program until 2028, an additional 200,000 hectares of agricultural land will be newly utilized. In tandem with this, we will increase the scale of food, agriculture, and light industry. To meet the increasing demand for food, it is absolutely necessary to increase the area under cultivation and enhance production. On the other hand, we will elevate our soil protection policy to a new level, safeguard soil fertility in collaboration with the President's 'Billion Trees' program, and establish forest strips. Appropriate crop rotation and zero tillage technologies will be gradually introduced. An integrated plant protection approach will be developed. Seed production complexes will be developed in a comprehensive manner. By embedding advanced irrigation technologies, the yield per unit area will be increased, thus the demands for grain, potatoes, and key food crops will be fully met, and 70% of the required feed crops will be supplied domestically. In the intensified livestock sector, the herd will be enriched with a thousand high-yield cattle, establishing meat and dairy clusters. Another major task of this campaign is to increase the base feed crop cultivation for intensified livestock. Essentially, there will be a revolution in feed crop cultivation and production. A unified network will be established to directly link herder farmers with producers, initiating a comprehensive movement for mutual development among all participants in the food, agriculture, and light industry sectors. Ultimately, Mongolia will aim to supply its population with healthy and safe food and realize the goal of creating a 21st-century agriculture sector geared towards export. If the food, agriculture, and light industry sector of Mongolia is currently exporting one billion USD, these interconnected programs, 'Food Revolution,' 'White Gold,' 'New Cooperative,' and 'Atryn IV Campaign,' will achieve an export of two billion," he informed journalists. During the conference, the goals, implementation measures, and outcomes of the "Atryn IV Campaign" were presented. Additionally, exhibitions of agricultural technology and food and light manufacturers are being held.

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Innovation

Training of Internationally Competitive Personnel for Underground Mining Begins

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The Rio Tinto Group, in collaboration with the University of Queensland in Australia, has established the Southern Gobi Underground Mining Institute based at the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine to train leading engineers and specialists in the mining sector. President U. Khurelsukh visited the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine and highlighted the significance of this institute by saying, "I am pleased to see that the 'Southern Gobi Underground Mining Institute' has been established at Oyu Tolgoi to train world-class domestic and international personnel in the mining sector." For the 2025 intake, in addition to Oyu Tolgoi employees, workers from mines in other countries of Erdenes Mongol and Rio Tinto will undergo two-week training at the underground mine. Lectures will also be delivered online by professors from prestigious universities around the world. The training has started with 28 participants, including miners from the United States. T. Otgonbayar, General Manager for Technical and Integrated Planning at Oyu Tolgoi Company, stated, "Our main goal is to disseminate knowledge and information about underground mining to the mining sector by leveraging the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine. Miners will attend the training while working. One session concludes with four trainings conducted per year." The future of mining development is becoming increasingly reliant on ore bodies located deep underground and their exploitation. This requires complex technical knowledge, solutions, and skills. However, over the past 20 years, the number of students in mining engineering has declined worldwide. Major international universities have reduced or closed their programs in this field, contributing to a shortage of high-skilled professionals. By establishing the Southern Gobi Underground Mining Institute, our country will address this skill gap in the sector and make a significant contribution to training personnel competitive at the international level. For the first three years, Oyu Tolgoi company will conduct hands-on training at the mine complex, where experts working in the mine will support and advise participants in the program. The initial participants are undergoing international-level courses and practical training in specialized fields such as underground mining, geotechnics, hydrology, mining modeling, engineering, extraction, and operations management. They will practice in the mining environment under the guidance of professional instructors. From 2026 onwards, other domestic and international mining companies can send their employees to train at this institute. The institute's curriculum includes: - Underground mining, geotechnics - Hydrology - Mining modeling, engineering - Extraction, operations management The institute's medium-term goal is to localize a program for independently training specialized, international-level underground mining experts domestically.

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Health

Monos Group to Implement Health Project with UNICEF

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Monos Group and UNICEF to Implement Health Project Joining efforts for the growth and development of young children in Mongolia and for the cause of public health, Monos Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UNICEF. The memorandum aims to implement projects and campaigns based on quantitative data on societal issues. By signing the memorandum, Monos Group and UNICEF will implement activities in areas such as addressing child malnutrition, early detection of common illnesses, promoting hygiene practices, and strengthening immunity. This aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of "Promoting Health," "Supporting Quality Education," "Developing Innovation and Infrastructure," and "Encouraging Responsible Consumption." As a leading company in its sector, Monos Group is committed to integrating environmental, health, social, and governance principles in its operations, focusing on making a positive impact on society and creating long-term sustainable value for its customers, partners, and investors. In the area of health goals, they provide health services to over 8 million citizens annually across the country. Additionally, Monos Group is successfully implementing health projects in Mongolia by adopting the healthcare practices from highly developed countries to reduce the incidence of major diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and tuberculosis, as well as reducing mortality causes. The company prioritizes environment-friendly practices by implementing waste management in its manufacturing operations, reusing greywater, using energy-efficient equipment, and cultivating rare and endangered plants to improve the sustainable use of natural resources, thereby contributing to reducing greenhouse gases. Producer companies are creating responsible consumption by reducing the use of plastic in "Ecos" water bottles by 30% and introducing refillable packaging for BioMon cosmetic products, preventing the generation of 129 tons of plastic waste annually and contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As a result of this event, the partnership with UNICEF is expected to expand further, implementing many projects and programs with beneficial outcomes for societal well-being and health. Showcasing Mongolian Intelligence to the World – Monos Group Notice to Media Media outlets (television, radio, social media, and websites) must cite their source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, in whole or in part.

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Measles Outbreak in Two City Schools

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

In the last 10 days, the number of measles cases has rapidly increased, with a total of 114 cases recorded. Of these, 77 people are undergoing treatment, and 32 people have recovered, which is good news. As of today, it has been reported by the Center for Health and Immunization that the outbreak has spread most significantly in three areas: 75 cases in Ulaanbaatar, 11 in Umnugovi, and 23 in Dundgovi. Looking at the age of those infected, children aged 10-14 have contracted the disease the most. Furthermore, most of the infected individuals are young children, and infections have been detected among students from 22 schools in the capital, with two schools seeing a concentrated outbreak. It has been reported by relevant authorities that these infected children had not been vaccinated against measles or had incomplete vaccination. Therefore, it is advised that parents ensure their children receive the full vaccination to prevent measles.

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This year, four children contracted meningococcal infection, two of them died

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The National Center for Communicable Diseases provided the following information: - This year, four cases of meningococcal infection have been recorded. Two of them could not be saved by doctors because of delays at home. Parents are advised to carefully monitor their children and watch for symptoms. The appearance of a rash on the child's body is the last symptom that appears, indicating the infection is severe. Parents who are not aware of this think that nothing is wrong if there is no rash. High and sudden fever, prolonged fever, headache, children crying intermittently, continuous vomiting, abdominal pain, and sensitivity to light are symptoms of this infection. If these symptoms appear, seeking medical attention quickly can save the child. In our country, the last recording of this infection was in 2019. It tends to reoccur every 5-6 years. Parents are advised to regularly obtain information from health organizations.

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E. Ankhbayar: The two children who died from meningococcal since the beginning of the year both received medical assistance too late

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: isee.mn

The National Center for Communicable Diseases provided information today regarding the situation of meningococcal infections, measles, and flu-like illnesses. Director General of NCCD, E. Ankhbayar, stated: "Since the beginning of the year, four cases of meningococcal have been confirmed. The day before yesterday, a suspected case was confirmed in Tsenkher soum, Arkhangai aimag, and the child involved was five years old. The child was in a very critical condition and was taken in a struggling state to the central hospital of Arkhangai aimag, where despite receiving treatment and care, unfortunately passed away. The two children who have died from meningococcal since the beginning of the year both received medical assistance too late. Therefore, I advise parents that if their child has a fever, even without a rash, they should urgently seek medical attention." Besides measles, there are a lot of cases of chickenpox and food poisoning. Currently, there are 114 suspected cases of measles nationwide and 98 laboratory-confirmed cases. Measles outbreaks have occurred in Ulaanbaatar city, Umnugovi, and Dundgovi aimags. Healthcare sector doctors and staff are working to contain these outbreaks. In addition, there are now many cases of chickenpox and food poisoning being reported alongside measles.

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NCCD: Confirmed Measles Cases Reach 114. Varicella and Food Poisoning Cases Increasing

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) has reported that the number of confirmed measles cases has reached 114, with 123 suspected cases. Out of the confirmed cases, 32 have recovered. The disease has predominantly emerged in Ovorkhangai, Dundgovi, and Ulaanbaatar, prompting intensified vaccination efforts and the deployment of professional teams to these localities to contain the outbreak. As a result, vaccination and supplementary immunization have increased by 20-30%. Additionally, the NCCD warns that cases of varicella (chickenpox) and food poisoning are on the rise. Parents and guardians are advised to urgently seek medical attention for children exhibiting symptoms such as coughing, fever, or sore throat. According to N. Suvdaa, head of the NCCD unit, measles cases are more common among the 10-14 age group. She stated, "Epidemiological studies and vaccine coverage data show that infected children have either received only one vaccine dose or none at all. Therefore, full vaccination is crucial. Previously, health centers in the capital and districts administered scheduled vaccines once a week, but since three weeks ago, they have been doing so daily. Most provinces are also conducting daily immunizations." Currently, measles cases have been reported in 22 schools in the capital. Due to the highly infectious nature of the disease, schools and kindergartens are under strict surveillance, with authorities monitoring attendance and symptoms closely. Warning: Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social and Web pages) are prohibited from fully or partially using our information without agreement and must cite the source (ikon.mn) when using it.

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E. Ankhbayar: A Tragic Case of Meningitis in a Five-Year-Old in Arkhangai Province

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: ikon.mn

E. Ankhbayar stated that a tragic case occurred in Arkhangai province where a five-year-old child fell ill with meningitis and passed away. Information about the current situation concerning meningococcal and measles diseases was provided today by the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID). Since the beginning of 2025, four cases of meningitis have been confirmed. The director of the NCID, E. Ankhbayar, stated, "The suspicious case reported the day before yesterday in Tsenkher Sum, Arkhangai Province, was confirmed. The child was five years old and was in a very serious condition. Although the child was brought to the provincial hospital and received treatment, unfortunately, the child passed away. The NCID confirmed the test results early yesterday morning. As soon as the information was received, a joint team from the NCID, the Arkhangai Provincial General Hospital, and the MCHC went to the site but, unfortunately, the child's condition was very serious and resulted in this tragic event." Cases of contagious rashes are increasing. Since the beginning of the year, the fourth case of meningitis has been confirmed, and two cases have resulted in death. Parents and guardians are requested to seek medical attention without delay if their children show symptoms such as fever, cough, or throat pain before any rash appears," he said. Warning: Media organizations (television, radio, social media, and websites) must cite the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, either in full or in part.

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Arts

The World Circus in Mongolia Coming Soon

Published: 2025-03-28 | Translated from: news.mn

The World Circus will perform in Mongolia for the 13th year at "Steppe Arena." This time, the famous Italian clown David Larible will present his act. He has not performed in any Asian countries before, and this will be his first performance in an Asian country, which is Mongolia. Additionally, international performers and trained animals from 15 countries including Mongolia, America, Germany, Italy, Argentina, Colombia, Russia, Iran, Belarus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan will deliver amazing and thrilling performances, as highlighted by the organizers. The performance will be held at "Steppe Arena" from April 12 to May 11, 2025. In terms of pricing, children aged 0-4 years can attend for free. For those aged 5 and above, ticket prices will range from 20,000 to 100,000 MNT depending on seat location. Additionally, there is a special room with 12 seats for families with young children. The price for one seat in this special room is 80,000 MNT, according to the organizers.

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Arts

The World Circus in Mongolia Coming Soon

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