Parliament Votes to Remove Speaker Uchral, Clearing Path to Prime Ministership www.montsame.mn

State Great Khural on March 30 voted to relieve Uchral Nyam-Osor of his duties as Speaker of Parliament, formally clearing the way for his nomination as Prime Minister following a week of rapid political change in Ulaanbaatar.

The Parliament's Standing Committee on State Structure held a session earlier in the day at which Uchral presented his own resignation request. "The Mongolian People's Party congress has made a political decision to nominate me as a candidate for Prime Minister," he said. "Therefore, I am submitting my request to be relieved of my duties as Speaker in order to ensure political stability, preserve parliamentary immunity, and place the national interest above all else." All 20 committee members present voted in favour. Deputy Speaker Bat-Erdene Jadamba was instructed to serve as acting Speaker until a successor is elected.

The full Parliament is expected to vote on Uchral's appointment as Prime Minister within days. If confirmed, the 39-year-old — born January 2, 1987 — would become the second-youngest Prime Minister in Mongolia's democratic history, after Elbegdorj Tsakhia, who served in the role in 1998 at the age of 35.

The events on Monday follow a sequence of developments that began last week. On March 27, Parliament accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav, who had held the post for nine months after taking office following the removal of his predecessor amid a no-confidence vote last May. Zandanshatar told Parliament he was stepping down voluntarily. "I am not seeking to hold my position," he said. "Therefore, I am stepping down, prioritizing the interests of the country." Seventy-four percent of members voted to accept his resignation. He will continue in an acting capacity until a new Prime Minister is appointed.

In his final address to Parliament, Zandanshatar presented an account of his government's economic record, noting that coal exports reached 90 million tons and total exports hit 15.8 billion USD in 2025. He said economic growth rose from 2.6 to 6.8 percent, inflation fell from 8.3 to 6.5 percent, and foreign currency reserves reached a historic high of 7 billion USD — an increase of 2.1 billion USD. His tenure was defined by a fiscal austerity drive that cut budget expenditures by 2.2 trillion MNT, and his final act in office included overseeing a deliberative polling process on Mongolia's National Wealth Fund.

Zandanshatar's resignation came under compounding pressure: with his two ministers resigning, and the opposition Democratic Party had boycotted Parliament sessions since earlier this month.

On 29 March, at the MPP's third party conference session, Secretary-General Sodbaatar Yangug formally introduced Uchral's nomination for Prime Minister. After 32 conference members posed questions on political, social, and economic matters, a secret ballot was held. Of 421 members present out of 597, the resolution backing Uchral's nomination passed with 99.7 percent of the vote.

Uchral, who holds degrees in law, history, and business administration, first joined the MPP in 2009 and is regarded as a consensus figure capable of bridging factional divisions within the party.

The incoming Prime Minister will face a demanding agenda: resolving the Democratic Party's parliamentary boycott, managing an economy under strain from global energy market disruptions, and consolidating the fiscal gains of his predecessor while addressing persistent public concerns over governance and corruption.

Mongolia Receives Up to $1 Billion in Bids for Borteeg Coal Deposit www.montsame.mn

Mongolia plans to bring the Borteeg deposit – part of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi JSC  Coking coal deposit in Umnugobi with over 424 million tonnes of reserves – into economic circulation and to cooperate through investment. In January, government of Mongolia was planning to take investment proposals for the deposit. Since March 23, seven domestic and foreign companies and consortia have submitted investment proposals for Mongolia's Borteeg deposit, with advance payment offers ranging from $500 million to $1 billion, officials said on March 30.

The submitted proposals will be evaluated by a working group led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development Enkhbayar Jadamba. Candidates scoring 700 points or higher will be eligible for selection, with up to three participants invited to enter into cooperation agreements.

The working group will assess proposals based on financial and economic returns, project implementation experience, and comprehensive development plans for the deposit, before presenting its recommendation to the Government.

The Government of Mongolia earlier issued an open call to the international investment community to bring the Borteeg deposit into economic circulation through partnership.

Annual political dialogue between the UK and Mongolia: joint press statement www.gov.uk

UK Minister Malhotra and Mongolia Deputy Foreign Minister Amartuvshin underlined the importance of people-to-people ties and a shared commitment to democratic values for all areas of UK-Mongolia co-operation.

On 23 March 2026, the Deputy Foreign Minister Gombosuren Amartuvshin welcomed the United Kingdom Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Seema Malhotra MP to Ulaanbaatar for the second annual Political Dialogue under the Mongolia-UK Joint Co-operation Roadmap towards a Comprehensive Partnership.

Deputy Foreign Minister G.Amartuvshin and Minister Malhotra reaffirmed the strong partnership between Mongolia and the UK, built on shared democratic values, respect for international law, and close economic relations.

In a rapidly changing global context, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and democratic values. These principles are anchors for Mongolia and the UK in navigating global uncertainty. Both sides renewed calls for all countries to refrain from using force against the territorial integrity and sovereign independence of any state.

Mongolia and the UK recognised that there were many opportunities for further strengthening bilateral relations and co-operation across all areas.

Ministers underlined the importance of people to people ties and shared commitment to democratic values for all areas of bilateral Mongolia-UK co-operation.

Both ministers agreed increasing access to education opportunities would strengthen ties further. Ministers committed to continue exploring ways to expand co-operation between higher education institutions, noting the many young Mongolian students enrolling on the Chevening Scholarship.

Deputy Foreign Minister G. Amartuvshin expressed Mongolia’s appreciation to UK for its continued support in English Language teaching, provided in partnership with British organisations. The ministers welcomed the expansion of quality English language teaching through partnership between the Mongolian Ministry of Education, UNICEF, and British organisations. They welcomed this provision extended to rural and nomadic communities.

The ministers welcomed Mongolia’s vibrant civil society and recognised the important contribution that civil society organisations make to democratic societies. They also welcomed the role these organisations play in increasing women’s political and economic empowerment. Minister Malhotra welcomed the collaboration between the BBC Media Action and Mongolian media supporting these goals.

Both sides welcomed the increased number of female parliamentarians in both countries and committed to maintaining progress toward women’s political participation at all levels.

In challenging global circumstances, ministers committed to explore opportunities to support mutual and resilient economic growth whilst increasing the flows of trade and investment between Mongolia and the UK. To that end, the ministers discussed their national economic plans, noting areas of alignment between our respective strategies on priority Industrial strategy sectors.

Ministers discussed the need for improvement of the business environment in Mongolia, and stability for new and existing investment. Both ministers noted the UK’s readiness to continue discussions on UK Export Finance regarding support to the construction of Ulaanbaatar’s first Metro.

Both ministers recognised the important role private and public finance played in tackling climate change. Transitioning to clean energy was a key priority for both nations.

Ministers looked forward to Mongolia hosting COP17 Desertification in August 2026 and to its success. Mongolia welcomed the role of UK experts played in COP-17 preparations.

Ministers noted the substantial benefits of Mongolia-UK co-operation on critical minerals. They recognised that our co-operation was vital to diversifying supply chains, global economic resilience and future growth. Sharing innovations, research and expertise including, on rare earth and minerals presented more opportunities to strengthen ties.

The ministers agreed on the importance of the highest Environmental, Social, Governance standards and agreed to work together to increase co-operation through the Working Group established under the MOU on Critical Minerals between Mongolia and UK.

Both ministers welcomed opportunities for continued and regular engagement between Mongolia and the UK and look forward to scaling-up the co-operation to a Comprehensive Partnership.

COP17 Roads, Site, Parking Works Reach 65 Percent Completion www.montsame.mn

Representatives of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) are visiting Mongolia for the third time.
 
During the visit, a delegation led by Director of the UNCCD Liaison Office in New York Rajeb Boulharouf reviewed progress at the project site as part of preparations for the COP17 conference. The delegates examined the technical solutions of the conference facilities, room layouts, and planning process, and provided recommendations to ensure compliance with international standards and requirements.

 While working at the project site, Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Munkhtamir Batbayar and Head of the State Protocol Department Odmunkh Enkhbold provided proposals and relevant directives to the National Committee’s Working Office regarding the access areas for high-level delegates and the “Green Zone,” overall organization, and matters to be incorporated into the work plan.

 As of today, connections to the site’s infrastructure have been completed, while road, site, and parking works, which began on March 15, are 65 percent complete. Installation of the main structures is scheduled to be finished by June.

 At the same time, the project contractor emphasized the need to urgently select contractors for landscaping, assembly of conference halls, and equipment installation, and to commence these works simultaneously, urging attention to this matter.

City Launches Bond Trading for Thermal Power Plant Project www.montsame.mn

Under Article 10.3 of the 2026 State Budget Law and Article 28.1 of the Law on Debt Management, the ceiling for municipal bond issuance has been set at MNT 275 billion.

Accordingly, the capital city has decided to finance the Thermal Power Plant No. 5 project by issuing domestic bonds worth MNT 200 billion, in line with relevant laws and regulations. The primary market trading of the municipal bonds was officially launched on March 30, 2026, with a bell-ringing ceremony.

A total of 200,000 bonds—each with a face value of MNT 1 million—have been offered to the public. The bonds have a three-year maturity and carry an annual interest rate of 14 percent.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar Nyambaatar Khishgee noted that the revised Law on the Legal Status of Cities has enabled the capital to finance major infrastructure projects using diverse financial instruments. He highlighted that around 60 percent of Ulaanbaatar’s population currently lives in housing connected to engineering infrastructure, while about 40 percent reside in ger districts.

The mayor emphasized that expanding electricity and heat supply is a priority to transition residents from ger districts into apartments. He also noted that the city had fully repaid its previous domestic bonds issued two years ago, making it possible to issue new bonds to finance the long-planned Thermal Power Plant No. 5 project.

Once completed, the plant will provide reliable electricity to around 100,000 households and heat to 40,000–50,000 households. The first unit is expected to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2028.

The Thermal Power Plant No. 5 project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with a contract signed with Mitime International. The total project cost is estimated at USD 658.5 million, of which the city’s share amounts to USD 131.7 million (approximately MNT 467.4 billion). Of this, MNT 200 billion will be financed through bond issuance in 2026, with the construction period set at 30 months.

Production branch of China's largest truck manufacturer to open in Mongolia www.akipress.com

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of Mongolia Damdinyam Gongor met with representatives of Sinotruck Group during the official visit of Speaker of the Parliament Uchral Nyam-Osor to China.

During the meeting, Sinotruck representatives expressed interest in opening a vehicle manufacturing plant in Mongolia.

The planned plant will focus on the local assembly of trucks and will concentrate on four main areas: logistics for the mining industry, transportation of agricultural products and livestock, cross-border freight transportation, and the development of urban infrastructures.

The company aims to produce high-quality, frost-resistant trucks of medium and heavy load capacity, as well as specialized vehicles for the mining sector. This will also create over 200 jobs and contribute to the training of qualified specialists for the production and repair of trucks.

The parties also discussed opportunities for developing related sectors, including local logistics, maintenance and spare parts, as well as supporting the modernization of the manufacturing sector in Mongolia.

An agreement was reached on joint actions to further explore the establishment of a company branch in Mongolia.

Sinotruk Limited, founded in 2007, is a Hong Kong truck manufacturer. Its subsidiaries produce vehicles in mainland China. The parent company, China National Heavy Duty Truck Group, also known as Sinotruk Group or CNHTC, is located in Jinan, Shandong province.

Internal party splits force Mongolia’s PM to step down www.intellinews.com

Mongolian Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav resigned late on March 26 following a legislative stalemate that has hobbled parliament. His departure has laid bare factionalism within the ruling party, signalling uncertainty ahead of key elections. 

Zandanshatar, who took office in June last year, replacing Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, stepped down as parliament remained paralysed by factional disputes and an opposition boycott. He said he was leaving to reduce tensions and protect the national interest.

“I am not seeking to hold my position. Therefore, I am stepping down, prioritising the interests of the country,” Zandanshatar told lawmakers.

The resignation is a sign of rare instability inside the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP), a political juggernaut that has controlled the country of 3.6mn for most of its modern existence. The MPP has struggled to maintain consistent leadership since last year’s departure from the PM’s office of Oyun-Erdene.

The infighting could make investors wary at a time when Mongolia is trying to sustain economic momentum, and it also signals potential trouble for the MPP as the country moves toward its next election cycle.

Parliament voted to accept Zandanshatar’s resignation. He will serve in an acting capacity until a new prime minister is confirmed.

Internal splits within the MPP were recently highlighted when a faction aligned with Oyun-Erdene did not attend sessions, helping to prevent a quorum. The opposition Democratic Party, meanwhile, has boycotted parliament since the spring session opened, deepening the gridlock.

On March 29, state news agency Montsame reported that the MPP had nominated Speaker of Parliament Uchral Nyam-Osor, 39, as the next prime minister. The party later backed his nomination with 99.7% support at a conference. The legislature is expected to confirm him early next week.

Uchral has an MBA degree from the University of Gloucestershire and has served as a member of parliament since 2016, when he was elected as a 29-year-old. He touts a programme called the Four Liberations – a platform to free Mongolia from economic gridlock, legal sprawl, fossil fuel dependence and systemic corruption. 

Unconfirmed reports said Uchral offered Zandanshatar a cabinet post, suggesting at least some policy continuity if the transition proceeds smoothly.

Analysts said the resignation appears to reflect more than a simple personnel change. Amar Adiya, a political commentator and editor of Mongolia Weekly, said the move marks the closing phase of a longer struggle inside the MPP rather than an escalation of tensions. 

“The resignation is not a surprise; the ruling party has been managing unresolved internal tensions since the previous leadership transition and those pressures are now being resolved rather than escalated,” Amar said. 

Amar said the key question is whether Uchral can quickly assemble a cabinet capable of balancing competing factions within the party.

Julian Dierkes, a Mongolia expert at the University of Mannheim, described Zandanshatar as a weak prime minister and said his departure was another sign of “rampant infighting” within the MPP.

“Substantively, a new PM will make little difference; none of the current fight is about policies,” Dierkes said.

Zandanshatar, in his resignation speech, pointed to economic gains during his nine months in office, including higher exports, faster growth and larger foreign currency reserves. He said the government had tightened its own belt rather than burdening the public.

He closed his address by emphasising the importance of institutional stability over individual roles in government. 

“Positions are not eternal, but the Mongolian state is,” he said.

By Michael Kohn

Mongolia Plans to Provide Full Mobile Coverage Across Its Vast Territory by 2028 www.open.kg

The Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Communications of Mongolia, Batshugar Enkhbayar, announced on Wednesday plans to expand the mobile network to cover all bags of the country — the smallest administrative units, including the most remote areas with small populations. This was reported by MiddleAsianNews.

Mongolia covers an area of 1,564,116 km², which is three times the size of France, and ranks 18th in the world by land area.

There are 1,650 bags in the country, of which 104 do not have access to mobile communication. At a press conference following a government meeting, Batshugar promised that all these areas would be connected to the mobile network by 2028.

According to the minister, internet connectivity across Mongolia will help address important issues, including the provision of government services in electronic format.

Currently, mobile networks, primarily 4G/LTE, cover approximately 95% of the population, but only 23.8% of habitable land has a stable signal. Large areas of steppe, the Gobi Desert, and remote mountainous regions remain without reliable coverage.

A national satellite is planned to be launched in 2027, which will provide communication in the most inaccessible places where building mobile towers is too expensive or impractical.

Since 2025, a 5G network has already been launched in Mongolia, focusing on Ulaanbaatar and the centers of aimags. Plans aim to cover 70% of the population with 5G by 2027. Major operators such as Unitel, Mobicom, Skytel, G-Mobile, and ONDO are participating in this project.

This initiative is part of a broader program in Mongolia called "Digital Nation," aimed at bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas, supporting e-learning, telemedicine, smart mining, improving livestock management, and stimulating economic growth.

Among the challenges faced by the initiators are extreme climatic conditions, low population density, which complicates infrastructure development, and the need to implement hybrid solutions, such as a combination of mobile towers and satellites.

MPP Backs Uchral for Prime Minister with 99.7 Percent Vote www.montsame.mn

At the third session of the ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) Conference, Secretary-General Sodbaatar Yangug formally introduced the nomination of Party Chairman Uchral Nyam-Osor as a candidate for Prime Minister.  

During the session, 32 members of the conference raised questions to the nominee on political, social, and economic issues, received responses, and expressed their views.

A secret ballot was then conducted among attending members. As a result, the conference adopted a resolution supporting Uchral’s nomination for Prime Minister with 99.7 percent of the vote.

Of the 597 conference members, 421 were present at today’s session.

Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav Resigns www.montsame.mn

At the plenary session of State Great Khural (Parliament) on March 27, members of Parliament discussed the resignation request of Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav.

During the session, he stated, “I am not seeking to hold my position. Therefore, I am stepping down, prioritizing the interests of the country. This is not merely about handing over a position; it is about calling on politicians to unite for a greater common interest and setting a personal example by doing so.” After responding to questions from members of Parliament, he delivered a report on the work carried out over the past nine months.

In his remarks, he highlighted, “In 2025, for the first time in history, we reduced budget expenditures by MNT 2.2 trillion through an austerity amendment. As a result, coal exports reached 90 million tons, and total exports hit USD 15.8 billion. Cashmere exports increased 4.7 times, and meat exports rose by 25.7 percent. Economic growth improved from 2.6 percent to 6.8 percent, while inflation declined from 8.3 percent to 6.5 percent. The balance of payments shifted from a USD 600 million deficit to a USD 1 billion surplus. Foreign currency reserves reached a historic high of USD 7 billion, increasing by USD 2.1 billion. These are not just numbers; they are the results of sound policy.”

Parliament Speaker Uchral Nyam-Osor wished him success in his future public service. At the end of the session, a vote was held to accept Prime Minister Zandanshatar’s resignation, with 74 percent of members voting in favor.

He will continue to serve in an acting capacity until a new Prime Minister is appointed.