Aspire Mining coking coal production ambitions boosted by Russia-Mongolia talks www.smallcaps.com.au

Coal explorer and aspiring coking coal producer Aspire Mining (ASX: AKM) has received an indirect boost as a result of macroeconomic developments within its operational area in northern Mongolia.

The developer of a key railway connection that’s crucial to Aspire’s chances of production success in Mongolia, Northern Railways LLC, hosted a senior delegation from Russia’s Tuva Republic during their official visit to Mongolia last week. The delegation included Mr Brockhurt, the Deputy Chairman of Tuva and Ms R Sambu-Ho, the director of foreign economic relations in the Tuva Republic.

The collaboration between Mongolia and Russia towards building a mutually beneficial infrastructure project is encouraging for Aspire Mining and improves its chances of entering production of coking coal at its respective Ovoot and Nuurstei projects.

The chairman of the Government of Tuva Republic, Mr Sholban Kara-Ool met with the Mongolian President Mr Battulga with both policymakers noting that the Northern Rail Corridor and its proposed rail connection up to the Tuvan capital of Kyzyl will “play a positive role in the economic development for both countries.”

Communal agreement
Aspire Mining also reports that the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which supports continued cooperation on seeing the Northern Rail Corridor completed to Kyzyl and to support transit freight volumes commencing in the region.

The Northern Rail Corridor is an important part of the Tuva Republic’s economic development plan which has the support from policymakers in all three of the provinces through which the railway will pass, including Russia’s Tuva region.

Mr Alexander Brokert, the Deputy Chairman of Government of Tuva Republic, said in an interview that the Russian Government is interested in the implementation of the Erdenet to Ovoot Railway Project which will boost trade and economic development between Russia and Mongolia.

Furthermore, collaboration is being supported at the highest levels of government and is “seen as an important step in growing and diversifying the local economy to boost exports and the local tourism industry,” according to Mr L Ganbold, the Governor of Mongolia’s Khuvsgul province.

Mr Ganbold said that the Citizens Representative body voted to support infrastructure projects including railway development and that “the Erdenet to Ovoot Railway is seen as one of the projects with the most potential to have a positive impact.”

Today’s news means that one of the most important features of Aspire’s ongoing project development in Mongolia (the Erdenet to Ovoot Railway) is on course to being built and is supported by all its stakeholders including local residents.

The news was also well received by investors, with Aspire Mining shares rising 5% up to $0.02 per share in early morning trade.

Commercialising coal in northern Mongolia
Aspire Mining currently holds several mining and exploration licences in Mongolia’s northern provinces and is focused on identifying, exploring and developing quality coking coal assets.

Its flagship asset is the Ovoot coking coal project which the company says is highly dependent on the construction of the Erdenet to Ovoot Railway which is being progressed by Northern Railways, a Mongolian rail infrastructure company, mandated to pursue the development of the Erdenet to Ovoot Railway, and supported by an international consortium consisting of Aspire Mining, and subsidiaries of Fortune 500-listed China Railway Construction Corporation ‑ China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corporation and China Railway First Survey & Design Institute Group.

Its other asset is the Nuurstei coking coal project which Aspire hopes to eventually connect into the railway export route but for the time being, is working towards an initial road-side production operation that’s currently being developed prior to the completion of the Erdenet to Ovoot Railway.

Mongolian President urges Malaysia to reopen 2006 model murder case www.reuters.com

ULAANBAATAR - Mongolia's president has urged new Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to reopen investigations into the murder of a Mongolian model near Kuala Lumpur in 2006, a move that could put more pressure on Mahathir's embattled predecessor.

Mongolia to hold conference on security in NE Asia www.xinhuanet.com

ULAN BATOR, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The 2018 Ulan Bator Dialogue on Northeast Asia Security is scheduled to be held here on June 14-15, and over 150 representatives from countries in the region are expected to attend, a Mongolian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.

Leaders of China, Russia and Mongolia to meet www.news.mn

D.Tsogtbaatar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia held a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow on 16 May. During the meeting, the two top diplomats discussed activating relationships between Mongolia and Russia more effectively. At the meeting, D.Tsogtbaatar invited Russian business leaders to invest in the Mongolian energy and other sectors; from his side, Foreign Minister Lavrov raised issues regarding deepening relations between Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Mongolia plans spending MNT 200 billion fighting air-pollution www.news.mn

The Mongolian Parliament held its first discussion on the 2019 socio-economic development guideline on Thursday (17 May), during which MPs debated the budget for fighting air-pollution.

Silicon Valley startup seeking software developer from Mongolia www.ubinfo.mn

Intutech LLC, a tech startup based in Silicon Valley, California, is recruiting a software development contractor from Mongolia. The company has announced to run selection between May and July 2018. The reason behind the specific recruitment is that the founders, who are Mongolians, are willing to create opportunities for Mongolian youth to learn from the practices of Silicon Valley startup company.

Number of mortgage loaners falls drastically www.ubinfo.mn

Since 2016, number of citizens who received mortgage loan has been decreased drastically. In 2016, over 12 thousand citizens obtained the eight percent mortgage loan. By the end of 2017, the number was decreased three times, to 3.9 thousand.

Mongolian tech companies penetrate foreign markets www.ubinfo.mn

Mongolian domestic tech companies has started entering international markets, offering their goods and services. For example, two years ago, Instut LLC, which was founded by Mongolian programmists, introduced their product iRestaurant in Singapore. TungLok Group, Singaporean leading restaurant chain which owns and manages over 35 restaurants in Asia, has started using the iRestaurant in its service. Instut runs its domestic operations through its branch named Kaizen Mongolia. Currently, the company reported that 192 companies use its cashier program.

Cashmere producers highlight export possibilities www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ A launch of National consultation ‘Opportunity to Increase Cashmere Export’ took place today organized by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, Mongolian Wool and Cashmere Association in cooperation with the World Bank Export Development Project for Mongolia.

Mongolbank purchases 988.8 kg gold in April www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ In connection to the Alt -2 program of the Bank of Mongolia (BoM), the bank’s gold purchase has increased. As of April 31, 2018, the BoM purchased 988.8 kgs of gold, reported on May 16.