1 MONGOLIA MARKS CENTENNIAL WITH A NEW COURSE FOR CHANGE WWW.EASTASIAFORUM.ORG PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      2 E-MART OPENS FIFTH STORE IN ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA, TARGETING K-FOOD CRAZE WWW.BIZ.CHOSUN.COM PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      3 JAPAN AND MONGOLIA FORGE HISTORIC DEFENSE PACT UNDER THIRD NEIGHBOR STRATEGY WWW.ARMYRECOGNITION.COM  PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      4 CENTRAL BANK LOWERS ECONOMIC GROWTH FORECAST TO 5.2% WWW.UBPOST.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      5 L. OYUN-ERDENE: EVERY CITIZEN WILL RECEIVE 350,000 MNT IN DIVIDENDS WWW.GOGO.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      6 THE BILL TO ELIMINATE THE QUOTA FOR FOREIGN WORKERS IN MONGOLIA HAS BEEN SUBMITTED WWW.GOGO.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      7 THE SECOND NATIONAL ONCOLOGY CENTER TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN ULAANBAATAR WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      8 GREEN BOND ISSUED FOR WASTE RECYCLING WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/19      9 BAGANUUR 50 MW BATTERY STORAGE POWER STATION SUPPLIES ENERGY TO CENTRAL SYSTEM WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/19      10 THE PENSION AMOUNT INCREASED BY SIX PERCENT WWW.GOGO.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/19      КОКС ХИМИЙН ҮЙЛДВЭРИЙН БҮТЭЭН БАЙГУУЛАЛТЫГ ИРЭХ ОНЫ ХОЁРДУГААР УЛИРАЛД ЭХЛҮҮЛНЭ WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     "ЭРДЭНЭС ТАВАНТОЛГОЙ” ХК-ИЙН ХУВЬЦАА ЭЗЭМШИГЧ ИРГЭН БҮРД 135 МЯНГАН ТӨГРӨГ ӨНӨӨДӨР ОЛГОНО WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     ХУРИМТЛАЛЫН САНГИЙН ОРЛОГО 2040 ОНД 38 ИХ НАЯДАД ХҮРЭХ ТӨСӨӨЛӨЛ ГАРСАН WWW.NEWS.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     “ЭРДЭНЭС ОЮУ ТОЛГОЙ” ХХК-ИАС ХЭРЛЭН ТООНО ТӨСЛИЙГ ӨМНӨГОВЬ АЙМАГТ ТАНИЛЦУУЛЛАА WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     Л.ОЮУН-ЭРДЭНЭ: ХУРИМТЛАЛЫН САНГААС НЭГ ИРГЭНД 135 МЯНГАН ТӨГРӨГИЙН ХАДГАЛАМЖ ҮҮСЛЭЭ WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     “ENTRÉE RESOURCES” 2 ЖИЛ ГАРУЙ ҮРГЭЛЖИЛСЭН АРБИТРЫН МАРГААНД ЯЛАЛТ БАЙГУУЛАВ WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     “ORANO MINING”-ИЙН ГЭРЭЭ БОЛОН ГАШУУНСУХАЙТ-ГАНЦМОД БООМТЫН ТӨСЛИЙН АСУУДЛААР ЗАСГИЙН ГАЗАР ХУРАЛДАЖ БАЙНА WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     АЖИЛЧДЫН САРЫН ГОЛЧ ЦАЛИН III УЛИРЛЫН БАЙДЛААР ₮2 САЯ ОРЧИМ БАЙНА WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/19     PROGRESSIVE EQUITY RESEARCH: 2025 ОН “PETRO MATAD” КОМПАНИД ЭЭЛТЭЙ БАЙХААР БАЙНА WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/19     2026 ОНЫГ ДУУСТАЛ ГАДААД АЖИЛТНЫ ТОО, ХУВЬ ХЭМЖЭЭГ ХЯЗГААРЛАХГҮЙ БАЙХ ХУУЛИЙН ТӨСӨЛ ӨРГӨН МЭДҮҮЛЭВ WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/19    

Category

Events

Events

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MBCC “Doing Business with Mongolia seminar and Christmas Receptiom” Dec 10. 2024 London UK MBCCI London UK Goodman LLC

NEWS

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Export of Mongolia grows by $1.8 billion in Q1 www.akipress.com

Mongolia traded with 125 countries in the first quarter of this year. The foreign trade turnover reached $5.7 billion, of which exports were $3.8 billion, and imports $1.9 billion.
Trade turnover increased by $2.1 billion (57.9%), with export increasing by $1.8 billion (96%), import by $248.9 million (14.7%) compared to the previous year. Exports increased by 354.7 million (30.4%) in this March, and imports by 231.3 million (45.3%) compared to the previous month.
The balance of foreign trade amounted to $1.8 billion, having increased by $1.6 billion (7.9 times) compared to the previous year. The profit amounted to 779.1 million in March, an increase of $123.4 million (18.8%) compared to the previous month.
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TMK raises cash to chase more gas in Mongolia www.thewest.com.au

Perth-based oil and gas explorer TMK Energy has raised nearly $6 million from sophisticated and institutional investors to accelerate and expand its exploration drilling program at its promising coal seam gas project in Mongolia’s South Gobi Basin.
TMK is reporting firm commitments for $5.7 million, before costs, by way of a private placement and says the move is strongly supported by new and existing sophisticated and institutional investors in addition to its own board members.
Company director Professor John Warburton subscribed for four million shares, with fellow director Tim Wise taking up 1.5 million – with both packages subject to shareholder approval at the company’s annual general meeting next month.
TMK will issue more than 393 million shares at an issue price of 1.45 cents per share, representing a 19.4 per cent discount to the company’s last traded share price before it went into a trading halt on Tuesday. The new shares will come with a free attaching option on a 1-for-2 basis, at a strike price of $0.025 that expires on April 30, 2026.
The company says the capital raising plan has the support of its three biggest shareholders. The biggest of those, Tsetsen Zantav, has agreed to enter a voluntary selling restriction for six months following the issue of the new shares. That holding will represent 19.98 per cent of TMK’s outstanding shares immediately following the placement.
The funds generated by the placement will enable the company to later this year launch an expanded exploration drill program at its Gurvantes XXXV coal seam gas project, which sits virtually on the Chinese border in Mongolia’s south.
The program will target areas with known coal to the east of the central Nariin Sukhait area, which was the focus of TMK’s successful maiden exploration program last year that delivered a gross 1.2 trillion cubic feet contingent resource (2C).
Gurvantes XXXV covers about 8400 square kilometres of what TMK says is one of the most prospective CSG basins in the world. Within the area there are six active coal mining operations, 26 coal mining leases and many coal exploration licences, which together have defined a substantial coal resource.
The Gurvantes XXXV project is a joint venture with ASX-listed Talon Energy, which became involved when it signed a US$5 million ($7.44 million) farm-out agreement with Telmen Energy in January, 2021. In February last year, TMK Energy (formerly Tamaska Oil and Gas) acquired Telmen and its 100 per cent interest in the project.
The exploration program is planned to commence in early Q3 of 2023 after the completion of the drilling of the three production wells currently being drilled in the Nariin Sukhait pilot well program.
TMK Energy chief executive officer Brendan Stats
Mr Stats predicted the coming months would constitute an active and exciting period for the company as it progressed the project through key development milestones. TMK believes there are multiple opportunities to market the project’s natural gas, particularly to several large-scale mining operations with high energy requirements in the South Gobi area.
There is also a big market for gas in China and the project is close to an extensive Northern China gas transmission and distribution network.
TMK says the area of the project boasts thick high-quality coal seams outcrop at the surface, extending along an east-west strike for about 150km. With the company granted a 15-year exploration licence in September 2021, it has both the time and incentive to continue chasing more CSG in the South Gobi Basin for a while to come.
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3×3 Ulaanbaatar Super Quest 2023 www.news.mn

Powerful Asian teams will be primed to start the season strong at the FIBA 3×3 Ulaanbaatar Super Quest on 22-23 April.
Pools
Pool A: Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL), Zaisan MIGdaatgal (MGL), Amgalan (MGL)
Pool B: Sansar MMC Energy, Sansar MMC Energy (MGL), Zavkhan (MGL), Kuala Lumpur (MAS)
Pool C: Futian (CHN), Saitama Alphas (JPN), Seongnam Officechec (KOR)
Pool D: Utsunomiya BREX (JPN), Manila Chooks (PHI), Bayangol Broncos (MGL)
Some of the best teams in Asia will be Ulaanbaatar and they’ll be keen to start with Ws. This is a loaded field headed by top seeds Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL) and Sansar MMC Energy (MGL).
They’ll enter with a ton of confidence after a number of their players were part of Mongolia’s incredible triumph in Singapore earlier this month.
No.1 national player D.Delgernyam lived up to his nickname as ‘The Bull’ to collect MVP and he’ll be leading Ulaanbaatar’s charge alongside legendary sniper Steve Sir.
Sansar’s main man is springy A.Anand, who made the title-winning three-point play against Australia and wants to prove that he’s the best player in Asia.
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Team Splicing from Mongolia wins the SCALA Hackathon for Asia and the Pacific www.undp.mn

In recent years, hackathons have emerged as a powerful space for engaging youth in the fight against climate change. These intensive, yet collaborative events bring together teams of young innovators and entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Hackathons provide unique opportunities for young people to have their voices and ideas heard, and to take an active role in shaping the future of our planet.
The FAO-UNDP SCALA programme aims to foster a culture of innovation and experimentation by engaging youth to help catalyze the development of solutions to some of the most urgent environmental problems. In February 2023, the programme hosted an online hackathon for the Asia and Pacific region to find and grow ideas that can help tackle the impacts of climate change in the SCALA partner countries in the region: Cambodia, Mongolia, Nepal and Thailand. The event showcased innovation and creativity, with each participating team bringing their unique solutions to the table.
The Hackathon Journey
The SCALA hackathon was a popular event with interest from 76 applicants from 16 countries demonstrating the eagerness of youth in the region to take climate action. From this pool of applicants, the top 16 teams from 11 countries were invited to attend a full-day “hackathon bootcamp”, a capacity-building workshop designed to provide participating teams with the necessary tools and skills to develop their ideas and prepare a winning pitch.
The capacity-building sessions were designed and facilitated by Beau Damen, Natural Resources Officer (FAO), Sergio Bogazzi, Information Technology Officer (FAO), Erik VanIngen, Digital Agriculture and Innovation Expert​ (FAO), Rozita Singh, Head of Solutions Mapping​, Accelerator Lab​ ​(UNDP), Joie Cruz, International Innovation Consultant and Facilitator ​(Limitless Lab), Nisha Oswal, Startup Support Expert (UNDP) and Cedric Monteiro, Regional Communications Specialist​ (UNDP).
The bootcamp included sessions on design thinking, problem-solving, storytelling and pitching skills. The teams were able to learn from experienced facilitators and speakers and network with other participants. It was an opportunity for teams to connect with each other and to provide them with the knowledge and confidence to take their ideas to the next level at the hackathon pitching day a week later.
On the SCALA hackathon pitching day, eight teams entered the competition to present their final pitches to a panel of three judges. The judges heard a range of ideas and solutions from how bees and mushroom farming can combat air pollination in Thailand, to a web-GIS tool that determines the area for reducing water and fertilizer usage in rice farming. Following the first round, the top five teams were chosen as finalists to move on to the final round of pitching. The other top finalist ideas are detailed later in this article.
And the WINNER Is…
After the second and final round of pitches, the judges selected one winner among the finalists: Team Splicing from Mongolia.
The winning idea was a mobile phone application for data collection of livestock for better herd and livestock planning and monitoring. Since livestock is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Mongolia, this app could be useful in managing livestock and subsequently reducing GHG emissions. Many of Mongolia’s rural communities are traditionally nomadic pastoralists. The livestock and agriculture sector are very important to Mongolia’s economy and contributed to 12.8 percent of the national GDP in 2020 and 2021.
Indeed, in 2022, Mongolia reached a record high number of livestock with 71 million animals (National Statistical Office, 2022). The country has taken measures to reduce this number, including the adoption of a new law that imposed a “livestock tax” on herders. This policy was introduced to address several issues like pasture overexploitation, balance of herd structure and reduction of livestock numbers, to ultimately try and reduce GHG emissions. The proposed mobile application will support the implementation of the livestock sector policy and more substantial market engagement of herders.
Team Splicing’s idea offered a real-life solution to the on-going challenges Mongolia faces in reducing and tracking its GHG emissions from the livestock sector, a commitment outlined in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The innovative mobile application for Mongolia can be applied and piloted within the country’s context and help connect herders’ data with the government’s Action Plan for the NDC.
Team Splicing was led by Dashlkhundev Nyamdagva, a researcher at the Research Institute of Animal Husbandry along with his colleaguesOyuntsatsral Batsaikhan (researcher), Nurmuhammet Burshakhbai (researcher) and Gantuya Jargalsaikhan (researcher) and Onontuul Ganbaatar, a lecturer at Mongolian University of Life Sciences. The five team members met while working together at the Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and have expertise in various fields ranging from livestock production management and rangeland restoration management to livestock production. Since the members of Team Splicing are colleagues, it will be easy for them to work together on the development of their mobile application.
FAO and UNDP Mongolia welcome Mongolian teams
On 28 February, the Mongolian teams that participated in the SCALA hackathon met with FAO Mongolia Office Representatives and UNDP Representatives to informally exchange ideas, discuss next steps and share their experience from the hackathon. Team Splicing has a program prototype structure for their application, and they need support on sustainable management modeling to convert the program structure to the mobile app.
Team Splicing expressed that the SCALA hackathon was a great platform because it helped them realize that it was possible to implement their idea practically. The team’s winning idea is supported by the SCALA programme through the hackathon’s grant prize of US$ 2,000 to develop their proposed solution further. Team Splicing will also explore additional seed funding throughout the development of their mobile app idea.
According to Team Splicing, 96 percent of Mongolian herders already use mobile phones (National Statistical Office, 2022), which will make it easy for their app to be used by nomadic herders in remote areas across the country. They hope to introduce their app to herders with the support from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry (MOFALI) in Mongolia. The FAO and UNDP in Mongolia can help Team Splicing connect with the MOFALI later this year.
Under the SCALA programme, UNDP will develop a recommendation to measure carbon sequestration potentials to advance the transformative climate actions in the land use and agriculture sector priorities in Mongolia’s NDC. Team Splicing’s idea would enhance the process of developing this recommendation by providing a real solution for tracking the GHG emissions from the livestock sector.
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How Mongolia’s Gobi Desert Became a Critical Environmental Battleground www.globalpressjournal.com

When Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai arrived at the Musical Drama Theatre (Хөгжимт жүжгийн театр) in Dalanzadgad soum to meet with local citizens in May, tensions ran high. Citizens had come to the meeting from all over Umnugovi, Mongolia’s southernmost province, armed with slogans and banners, some of which said: “We will never have our sandy Gobi back,” “Let’s leave our homeland to our next generation,” and “Mongolia with unbroken doors!”
Umnugovi residents had prepared for the meeting since 2019, when the central government approved the construction of two heavy-duty roads and a new border crossing with China in the south of the province for freightage of coal. The roads would cut through herding regions and pass very close to a national reserve in the Gobi desert region that enjoys strict environmental protection. Crucially, the new roads and border checkpoint would allow companies owning about 70 mining licenses to start operations in the province.
Years of activism against the construction of the Tsagaandel Uul-Ulzii checkpoint, as the whole project came to be known, culminated at that meeting in May. That day, the audience had a taste of victory: After witnessing its anger, Oyun-Erdene said he would suspend the projects, admitting that it had been “a mistake” to authorize it without citizen consultation. “Today … I decide to suspend [the project] at the next meeting of the government,” he said then.
But that verbal promise was never made official. Now, the Ministry of Economy and Development has revealed for the first time what herders have long suspected: The government is planning to go through with the Tsagaandel Uul-Ulzii checkpoint anyway.
After the prime minister’s visit, a working group was established consisting of representatives from key ministries as well as heads of land departments and herder representatives from Khankhongor, Khurmen and Nomgon soums, says Erdenebulgan Khishigbayar, who oversees the modernization of border trade ports at the Ministry of Economy and Development. In late September, this working group attended a meeting of Umnugovi province’s Development Council, a multi-stakeholder advisory body to the provincial government, where the Tsagaandel Uul-Ulzii checkpoint project was discussed. “The ministries were of the position that since the government’s decision had been made … it is appropriate to continue its activities,” Erdenebulgan said.
Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene’s office did not reply to a request for comment for this story.
Umnugovi residents have known something was up since summer, when they discovered a large amount of construction material had been brought across the border from China to Tsagaandel Uul-Ulzii. “When we went to the border port in July, there was one container. On Aug. 6 … we went to check it ourselves, and a lot of cargo had arrived,” says Undarmaa Tsetsegmaa, a herder from Khurmen soum who on that occasion took photos of the material with her mobile phone.
Enkhtsetseg Batbuyan, a herder who lives 17 kilometers (11 miles) from the border, also noted the construction materials’ appearance. “When I heard that the prime minister would suspend the work of the border port, I became hopeful. Now that they are doing it secretly, I have no trust,” she says. “There is no scarcity of border ports in Umnugovi province. We are not stingy with its wealth. It is flowing out of the country to the south day and night.”
The struggle over the Tsagaandel Uul-Ulzii border crossing illustrates Mongolia’s challenges in balancing protection for herders’ livelihoods and ecosystems with an economy heavily dependent on mining.
Mining represents a quarter of Mongolia’s gross domestic product and in 2020 made up 90% of its exports. China was the destination for 98% of Mongolia’s mineral exports. All this wealth flows south through 13 border checkpoints between the two countries, two of which are in Umnugovi province, which shares an 800-kilometer (497-mile) border with China.
The coal-rich Umnugovi province is located in the Gobi, a fragile ecological region with several protected areas, including the Small Gobi Nature Reserve. The Gobi desert region is home to 33 rare and endangered animal species, including the so-called “Great Gobi 6” — the wild camel, takhi (wild horse), khulan (wild donkey), goitered gazelle, saiga antelope and Gobi bear — which are found only in the Gobi.
A 2014 study by The Nature Conservancy, a United States-based environmental organization, in collaboration with the Mongolian government, defined the southern Gobi region as “the place least affected by humans on Earth.”
The two roads envisioned by this project would cut through the Gobi. They would connect the Tsagaantolgoi coal mine and the Tavantolgoi West Naran Road to the border checkpoint.
Once these roads and the border crossing are operational, mining licenses in the area would be activated and exploration activities would intensify, Erdenebulgan confirms. “However, exploration work will increase the number of jobs, foreign investments and taxes that will be concentrated in the national and local budgets,” he says.
The official admits that government decisions in Mongolia fall short of citizen participation. “Misunderstandings arise because citizens are not given a proper understanding of the environmental, economic and social effects and benefits, and how it will affect the lives of herders,” he says.
He adds that environmental impact and citizens’ concerns will be taken into account at the next meeting of the Umnugovi Development Council, but says a date hasn’t yet been set.
As for the construction material seen by the herders, Erdenebulgan confirms it was brought from China, as it had already been purchased, and that transportation was possible because both countries had agreed on a temporary border crossing that would be open between the 15th and 25th every month.
Tumendelger Khumbaa, head of the Amazing Gobi Tourism Association, laments that plans for the road might have begun back in 2009 as a tourism project. “It was initially discussed that this checkpoint would become a major tourism hub,” he says, recalling a meeting with Chinese and Mongolian delegates held that year. “This road would enable tourists to see Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and then visit Manchuria,” he said, referring to the historical region of northeastern China.
Somewhere along the way, he says, it was converted into a mining project.
Batsuren Tsagaanduu, a transport driver and resident of Nomgon soum, says the checkpoint could have switched purposes in 2010, when Mongolia suffered a harsh winter and China temporarily opened the Tsagaandel Uul-Ulzii checkpoint for 10 days to provide herders with hay and feed. By doing so, the Chinese hired Mongolian drivers, who by driving through sand effectively created a new road, recalls Batsuren. “At that time, a new paved road from Tavantolgoi mining to the Tsagaandel Uul-Ulzii checkpoint was approved based on the [makeshift] road through which we transported hay and feed, without even a single meter of difference,” he says.
“The soil of the Gobi is easily destroyed within two to three days of a storm. If thousands of cars pass back and forth, nothing will be left for cattle to eat. It will be impossible to herd cattle then,” says Tuya Bumbur, a herder from Khurmen soum who lives along the future 270-kilometer (168-mile) road.
Herders like Tuya and Batsuren have been at the forefront of organizing against the project for the past four years. Otgontugs Tudev, another herder who represents local citizens of Khurmen soum, tells of a winter night with a snowstorm and raging winds when he received a phone call informing him of heavy trucks on the road near Jargalant bagh of Khankhongor soum toward the Tsagaandel Uul-Ulzii checkpoint. Despite the frosty night, he put on his winter deel lined with fur, crammed 10 people in his car, and drove fast to stop the trucks on their way.
“Since big, heavy trucks usually drive to the checkpoint after 2 a.m. at night, we have lived in a semi-militarized mode for the past four years,” he says. “We used to sleep fully prepared to grab our car keys and turn on the engine of the car, while lying in bed with our outdoor clothes.”
In April, he says he and other herdsmen stopped about 30 vehicles that were driving toward the checkpoint and managed to keep them at a standstill for three days. It cost them. “Since we could not care for our cattle and guard our livestock yards at night, all the offspring born that time froze to death,” he says.
“If our struggle does not succeed and the checkpoint is opened despite our efforts, it will be dangerous that Mongolia would become a mining region of China,” Batsuren adds.
He says he will keep protesting. “Is there any cement more valuable than native nature and the ecosystem of our country?”, Batsuren asks, angrily. “I will fight to my last breath until they cancel the decision completely.”
BY: Uranchimeg Tsoghuu is a Global Press Journal reporter based in Mongolia.
 
 
 
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Over 42 Million Trees to be Planted in 2023 www.montsame.mn

Under the “One Billion Tree” National Campaign initiated by President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khureslukh, 42.9 million trees will be planted throughout the country in 2023.
“Since 2021, Mongolia has planted over 17 million trees,” noted B. Bat-Erdene, Minister of Environment and Tourism, during the briefing on the implementation of the "One Billion Trees" National Campaign.
In Mongolia, there are 336 tree nurseries, covering an area of 1,750 hectares, with an average area of over five hectares per nursery. By the end of 2022, 51.3 million seedlings and saplings had been planted in these nurseries.
Within the scope of the National Campaign, 1,017 teachers were trained in tree planting and care. A "Forestry" program has also been launched by National University of Mongolia, and 52 students have enrolled in the program for the 2022-2023 academic year. Mongolian University of Life Science, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, has organized a comprehensive 40-hour training program, which involved 23,600 citizens on tree planting methods and techniques. Additionally, 120 citizens have received specialized training to become certified tree-planting trainers.
The capital city of Ulaanbaatar has a total land area of 470.444 hectares, of which 116.258 hectares or 24.7 percent are forest resources area. Of this forest resources area, 95.233 hectares or 84.4 percent are forest area, while 17.543 hectares or 15.6 percent are not covered with forest. Out of the Area not covered with the forest, 17.098 hectares need to be afforested. "One Billion Tree" National Campaign aims to increase the forest areas of the capital city from 20.2 percent to 22.9 percent by 2030.
As part of the Strategic and Action Plans for implementing the "One Billion Trees" National Campaign in 2022-2030, a total of 120 million trees will be planted in Ulaanbaatar. The Plan involves planting 20.7 million trees in an area of 12.948 hectares for afforestation and forest restoration, 34.3 million trees in windbreaks areas (3500 hectares), and 65 million trees in urban green spaces (3750 hectares). As a result, green space per person is expected to increase from 5.1 square meters in 2021 to 25 square meters by 2030.
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Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski returns from week-long trade visit to Mongolia www.shropshirestar.com

Daniel Kawczynski, Conservative MP for Shrewsbury & Atcham, the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Mongolia, recently made his third visit to the country, spending three days in Ulaanbaatar.
He said he had spent the time holding meetings with members of the government and business community.
They included discussions with Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan, Minister and Chairman of the National Committee on Traffic Congestion J. Sukhbaatar, Construction and Urban Development Minister Ts. Davaasuren and Minister of Road and Transport Development S. Byambatsogt.
Mr Kawczynski said that during the discussions, British support for the Ulaanbaatar ring road project, and the recently-concluded Bilateral Air Services Agreement, which would allow direct flights between London and Ulaanbaatar, were discussed.
Accompanied by British Ambassador Philip Malone, Mr Kawczynski also visited Steppe Metal Powder where he met company executives and discussed how British and Mongolian companies worked together to complete the plant project, as well as exchanging views on further collaboration opportunities.
He and the Ambassador also accompanied the Deputy Prime Minister on a visit to ULE, the official distributor of JCB in Mongolia, to showcase the strengths of one of Britain’s most well-known products.
Mr Kawczynski also visited the western province of Khovd, around 1,000 miles from the capital.
During the trip he met the governor, Ms E.Bolormaa, to learn about development plans for the province and discuss business opportunities.
He also visited the Durgun hydro plant and saw further expansion into green energy in the region, including at the site of the planned Erdeneburen hydro plant.
Finally, at the end of his week-long stay in Mongolia, the MP spoke to members of the British Association of Trade and Commerce in Mongolia (BritCham) at the first of their “influencer” discussions.
He also visited the British Embassy’s Great British Food Days Expo in the Shangri-La Mall, showcasing British food and beverage products available in Mongolia.
The trip came against the backdrop of the 60th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Britain and Mongolia, and followed celebratory receptions held in Ulaanbaatar and London in January.
Mr Kawczynski was also able to see the specially-themed 60th Anniversary double-decker bus, which will run through the streets of Ulaanbaatar throughout the anniversary.
He said: "I am delighted to have returned to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for my third visit as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy.
"My visit came as we celebrate our 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Mongolia. Continuing to strengthen relations with this democratic country, which is sandwiched between the autocracies of Russia and China, is incredibly important. Britain is making tremendous inroads with Mongolia, and I am pleased my visit covered the latest progress we are achieving to create opportunities for trade and business."
By Dominic Robertson
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United States Provides Additional Assistance in Response to Mongolia’s Dzud www.mn.usembassy.gov

The U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is giving an additional $900,000 to respond to the dzud to provide livestock fodder and cash for vulnerable herder households to meet basic needs. This brings the total U.S. Government assistance for dzud response to $1 million.
“We are witnessing Mongolia’s harshest dzud in well over a decade, and we stand with the Mongolian people to help them protect their livelihoods and help them bounce back.” said U.S. Ambassador Richard Buangan.
The new assistance will reach vulnerable livestock herders in seven of the most affected provinces with additional fodder and cash resources to meet household needs. The response project will build on USAID’s ongoing disaster risk reduction programs that strengthen livestock herders’ resilience against dzuds as well as other natural disasters.
The U.S. government, through USAID, has been helping vulnerable Mongolian communities to be more resilient to disasters and better able to handle their impacts. Since 2010, USAID has provided nearly $8 million to support disaster risk reduction programs in Mongolia.
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Mongolia’s Economy to Accelerate in 2023, but Reforms and Diversification Needed to Sustain Growth www.worldbank.org

Mongolia’s economy is projected to accelerate to 5.2 percent growth in 2023 from 4.7 percent in 2022 as mining and exports expand and the post-pandemic recovery in services continues.
Growth is also anticipated to be supported this year by household consumption, which is expected to remain steady as the labor market improves, along with substantial public investment, according to the World Bank’s latest Mongolia Economic Update. Services, particularly tourism, are projected to continue recovering from restrictions associated with the pandemic, offsetting sluggish agricultural production due to the recent harsh winter.
However, labor force participation remains below its pre-COVID level. In addition, high inflation, debt, increasing fiscal risks, external sector imbalances, and over-reliance on the mining sector pose challenges to the economy.
“Strengthening the non-mining sector’s contribution will be important to sustaining economic growth and expanding labor opportunities for the workforce, especially women,” said Thilasoni Benjamin Musuku, World Bank Acting Country Manager for Mongolia. “Improving the competitiveness of non-resource tradeable sectors can be a source of productivity growth and lessen vulnerability to commodity price shocks.”
Risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside and include negative economic impacts from larger-than-expected tightening of monetary policy in advanced economies, geopolitical tensions, accumulation of sizable government contingent liabilities, and uncertainty related to coal export agreements.
Economic growth is expected to accelerate to above 6 percent in 2024-2025 as mining production increases. Nevertheless, reforms to promote economic diversification remain critical to sustaining growth and building resilience to domestic, external, and climate shocks. A more dynamic labor market will complement diversification efforts by increasing productivity in non-mining sectors.
The report proposes steps to strengthen labor markets with reforms aimed at expanding labor opportunities for the workforce, upgrading skills, and creating a comprehensive labor market information system. Mongolia’s development would benefit from increasing inclusion by raising women’s labor force participation, providing more opportunities for young people, and bringing more urban residents into the workforce.
The report further highlights the importance of fiscal discipline and reforms to enhance governance to improve fiscal sustainability and resilience. Exchange rate flexibility, better prioritization of investment projects, and boosting export revenues and capital inflows are necessary to rebuild Mongolia's foreign exchange reserves and ease the pressure on the balance of payments.
 
 
 
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Draft Laws on Elections and Political Parties under Discussion www.montsame.mn

Chairman of the State Great Khural G. Zandanshatar met with representatives of lawyers and scholars on April 18 to discuss changes and amendments to the draft Law on Elections of the State Great Khural of Mongolia and the revised draft Law on Political Parties.


 

At the beginning of the meeting, Speaker of the Parliament G. Zandanshatar emphasized the importance of the amendments to the Law on Elections of the State Great Khural and the Law on Political Parties to animate the 2019 amendments to the Constitution of Mongolia and implement legal reforms. Working groups designated to prepare draft laws for parliamentary discussion will be set up this week and persons concerned are invited to take part.  

 

 

Legislative reform is expected to be made through changing the "Money" election, strengthening the internal democracy of parties, and making the financing of political parties transparent. In his speech, the Speaker stressed that Law on Elections of the State Great Khural and the Law on Political Parties were inseparably linked and it was necessary to listen to the opinions of academics and lawyers in order to reflect all process in details to avoid to make the laws declarative.


 

Head of the Office of the President of Mongolia Ya. Sodbaatar presented the revised draft Law on Political Parties. On January 6, 2022 President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh appointed a working group to develop revised draft Law on Political Parties, consisting of representatives of parliamentary parties and other parties, academics, and government organizations, paying attention to the legal reform of political parties. The working group held 14 discussions, meetings and interviews with representatives of parliamentary parties and other parties, academics, and government organizations during the process of drafting the law, and received opinions from 35 political parties registered in the Supreme Court. The draft reflected the main five regulations:


 

- To improve the responsibility of political parties,

- Development of a political party as a policy institution,

- Ensuring the transparency of party financing and improving control,

- Ensuring equal participation of party members,

- Development of internal democracy of political parties.


 

The participants of the meeting expressed their position regarding the concept of the draft law. For example, Member of the People's Great Khural, Honored Economist of Mongolia T. Ochirkhuu, and Constitutional Researcher D. Lamjav said, "It is correct to regulate the strict membership of political parties. The General Election Commission should have an independent structure to review any political disputes.”


 

Honored Scientist of Mongolia, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Jurisprudence, Professor N. Lundendorj, pointed out that major reforms were to be made within the law on political parties, and said that to prevent it from becoming a declaratory law, detailed regulations of the processes should be included. Lawyer B. Gunbileg noted that if the draft law did not clearly reflect the issues that may or may not be specified in the rules of political parties, there may be a risk of violation of the state power granted by the Constitution.

 

Academician S. Narangerel expressed his opinion on the need to make certain arrangements to capacity building of human resources and strengthen internal democracy, as the main goal of political parties was to have candidates capable of representing the people. Honored Lawyer of Mongolia, Doctor of Law, professor N. Jantsan, Honored Cultural Figure of Mongolia, Diplomat T. Gombosuren expressed their support for the draft law and said, "It should become a law to eliminate the instability of political parties. The main focus should be put on ensuring the transparency of financing of political parties and improving control.”

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