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

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

NEWS

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Kingdom, Mongolia eyeing deal to up trade, investment www.phnompenhpost.com

Cambodia and Mongolia are looking to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, a commitment made during a meeting on June 29.
The MoU is expected to encourage the Mongolian private sector to also study the potential of Cambodia’s agricultural sector and other important commodities to meet its market demands.
Minister of Commerce secretary of state Reach Ra, who met with Jamsran Byambasuren, newly-appointed Mongolian ambassador to Cambodia with residence in Vientiane, said efforts have been made by the Cambodian government to improve the business and investment environment.
These include reforms and promulgation of new laws such as the Law on Competition, Law on Investment and Consumer Protection Law.
“Cambodia plays an important role in contributing to regional economic integration. We have also made efforts to diversify export markets through negotiations to establish the RCEP [Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership], bilateral trade deals with China and South Korea,” said Ra, who is also chairman of a working group on negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Mongolia.
Similarly, to tap the opportunities and potential of boosting bilateral trade, he acknowledged the need to examine the possibility of establishing a framework for economic cooperation or a MoU as the next step.
He suggested that additional meetings and an exchange of visits by leaders of Cambodia’s commerce ministry and Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs take place so that trade and economic cooperation can deepen.
Meanwhile, Byambasuren made note of Cambodia’s efforts to facilitate trade, attract investment and develop key sectors of the national economy.
“Mongolia has been exploring the context of trade cooperation between the two countries in the past,” said Byambasuren.
In September 2020, Ra led an inter-ministerial group to Mongolia to study the establishment of an FTA. The delegation comprised officials from the ministries of Economy and Finance; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and Labour and Vocational Training, as well as the Council for the Development of Cambodia.
Commerce ministry spokesman Penn Sovicheat previously told The Post that a feasibility study on the establishment of an FTA was a measure to implement Cambodia’s trade integration policy and strategy to diversify regional and global markets.
“Our ministry has been working hard to expand into new markets. We are a country with a great potential to grow our agro industry.
“We believe we can export agricultural products to world markets, including Mongolia,” he said.
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‘Mongolian Steel Complex-I’ project to satisfy 50 percent of domestic needs of steel www.montsame.mn

A discussion themed ‘New Revival Policy-Mongolian Steel’ was held today to discuss and determine the solutions to the problems encountered in the realization of the ‘Mongolian Steel Complex-I’ project.
One of the core objectives of the government’s ‘New Revival Policy’ is to gradually build plants that process value-added and import-substituting final products. In this regard, the project ‘Mongolian Steel Complex-I’ is being implemented in order to produce cast steel products out of domestic iron ore and to satisfy the domestic market.
The discussion was attended by Deputy Prime Minister S.Amarsaikhan and representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry, Ministry of Energy, Agency for Policy Coordination on State Property, Darkhan Metallurgical Plant, and some professional associations.
In his remarks delivered at the discussion, Deputy Prime Minister S.Amarsaikhan said, “Industrial sector is the main driving force of the country’s economic development. Supporting the export of processed mining products, increasing the production of products that replace imports, and ensuring the independence and security of the economy are important for the development of Mongolia. Therefore, the ‘Mongolian Steel Complex-I’ project is being implemented”.
With the construction of the complex, cast steel products will be produced out of domestic iron ore and will meet more than 50 percent of domestic needs. It also is of high economic importance, such as stabilizing the price of basic materials in the construction industry and keeping the flow of foreign currency in Mongolia.
“It will serve as one of the stepping stones to become a "producer country" instead of a consumer by opening the way for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises following heavy industry and creating about 1,900 jobs in the first instance. The government will continue to focus on solving the problems of infrastructure, such as energy and road transport, which limit the development of the industrial sector, ensuring coordination between sectors, and improving the legal environment,” he added.
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China ramps up Russian coal imports – data www.rt.com

Russian seaborne coal deliveries to China soared 55% to 6.2 million tons in the first 28 days of June compared to the same period last year, S&P’s Commodities at Sea database shows. In May, supplies were also up, rising 20% year-on-year to 5.5 million tons.
“Despite lower demand and higher domestic coal production, China has been buying significantly [more] Russian coal since May 2022,” S&P Global Market Intelligence Associate Director Pranay Shukla told CNBC. “This is because Russia has been offering very steep discounts on prevailing international coal prices.”
Shukla pointed out that overall coal imports into mainland China were lower due to reduced demand amid strict Covid lockdown policies.
China is Russia’s largest coal buyer, taking in more than 50 million tons of the commodity worth $7.4 billion last year via rail and sea from Russia’s Far East, according to data. Russia accounted for roughly 15% of China’s total imports and was its second-largest supplier behind Indonesia.
Nearly half of the imports from Russia are metallurgical coal and Chinese buyers are interested in importing more supplies despite the struggle to secure financing from state banks worried about potential sanctions.
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Mongolia’s daily met coal shipments to China peak in June as lockdowns ease www.hellenicshippingnews.com

The number of trucks carrying metallurgical coal into China in June rose to the highest level in 2022, as COVID-19 movement restrictions eased in the country, industry sources said June 30.
Daily coal hauls to China reached the year’s peak at about 820 trucks in the week started June 27, the latest data from investment bank Founder CIFCO showed.
Land border ports of Ganqimaodu and Mandura accounted for most of the truck traffic.
The number of trucks has more than doubled since May, when the daily Mongolian coal haul to China averaged 400 trucks, CIFCO’s data showed.
A resurgence of COVID-19 had disrupted truck inflows in February, with just 23 trucks moving coal from Mongolia to China, down sharply from about 100 trucks in January.
Mongolia has emerged as the top coking coal supplier to China in the absence of Australian coal. However, tight pandemic controls on both side of the China-Mongolia border impeded supplies in 2021.
Mongolia’s coal exports to China are expected to rise further in the near term, helping ease tight domestic met coal supplies in the country, according to CIFCO.
Met coal stocks at Chinese independent coking producers were at 9.80 million mt in the week to June 24, down 500,000 mt week on week, data from Huajin Securities showed.
Meanwhile, stocks at key Chinese steel producers slipped 10,000 mt on the week to 8.78 million mt.
The inventories at these key producers are expected to last for about 13 days, according to Huajin Securities.
Domestic situation
Chinese coking sector’s profit margins have been squeezed, with coking producers anticipating an unfavorable outlook in the near term, Huajin Securities said.
Market players have adopted a wait-and-watch stance, leading to muted buying interest and bids in met coal supply tenders, according to Huajin Securities.
Henan-based key Chinese met coal producer Pingdingshan Tianan Coal Mining Co. said June 29 that it was temporarily halting exports due to insufficient coking coal inflows to meet required demand.
The producer set 2022 refined coal output at 12.35 million mt, up from 11.88 million mt in 2021. It has contracted to sell 13 million mt in 2022.
Another key met coal producer Shanxi-based Wintime Energy recently said it is aiming to hike its future coking coal output capacity.
Wintime in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange said China was short on met coal resources, with domestic reserves meeting only 20%-25% of local needs.
China’s met coal supply is expected to remain tight for the next three-five years with prices elevated, as future new capacity estimated at just 30 million mt/year is not enough to cover domestic demand, Wintime said.
The producer is aiming to speed up the construction of its four coal mines in Shanxi’s Qinyang county that have a total 1.5 million mt/year of mined coal capacity. The new mines will bump up the producer’s met coal capacity to 11 million mt/year, from 9.9 million mt/year currently, according to Wintime. The timeline to complete these projects remains unknown.
Wintime has coal reserves estimated at 3.83 billion mt and it owns 13 running coal mines.
Guotai Junan Futures, a unit of Guotai Junan Securities, said Chinese met coal demand is expected to receive strong support in the long term, as Chinese authorities pushed back decarbonization targets for the steel sector to 2030, from 2025.
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Program of events for National Naadam Festival 2022 www.montsame.mn

 The complete program of events for the National Naadam Holiday on the 2230th and 2231st Anniversary of the establishment of the first Statehood in Mongolia, the 815th and 816th anniversary of the Great Mongol Empire, and the 100th and 101st anniversary of the People’s Revolution of Mongolia.

 

 

 

Time

Event

Venue

  

                                                                    Thursday, July 7

  
 
 

09:00-19:00

Uriankhai Archery

Archery field

  

                                                                       Friday, July 8

  
 
 

09.00-16.00

Buryat archery

Archery field

  

11:00

‘Beautiful Mongolia’ painting exhibition

Union of Mongolian Artists

  

                                                                    Saturday, July 9

  
 
 

08:00-18:00

Knucklebone shooting tournament

Knucklebone shooting field

  

09:00-18:00

Children’s archery

Archery field

  

11:30-21:00

“Deeltei Mongol” traditional costumes festival

Sukhbaatar Square

  

11:00-18:00

“Mongolian Pride” photo exhibition

Sukhbaatar Square

  

                                                                   Sunday, July 10

  
 
 

07:00-11:00

Four-year-old horse (Khyazaalan) race

Khui Doloon Khudag

  

08:00-22:00

Knucklebone shooting tournament

Knucklebone shooting field

  

08:30-14:30

First matches of the National Khana Archery tournament

Archery field

  

10:00-11:30

A ceremony for raising the National Flag, a military parade

Sukhbaatar Square

  

12:00-15:00

Three-year-old horse (Shudlen) race

Khui Doloon Khudag

  

14:30-20:30

The middle stage of the National Khana ArcheryTournament

Archery field

  

13:00

A Ceremony to lay wreaths at the Sukhbaatar monument

and pay tributes to the Chinggis Khaan monument

Sukhbaatar Square

  

15:00-17:00

State Grand Honoring Concert

Central Cultural Palace

  

21:00-23:00

State Grand Honoring Concert

Sukhbaatar Square

  

                                                               Monday, July 11

  
 
 

07:00-11:00

Stallion horse race

Khui Doloon Khudag

  

08:00-11:00

Knucklebone shooting tournament

Knucklebone shooting field

  

09:00-18:00

"Khukhuuriin Airag" Festival

Khui Doloon Khudag

  

10:00-21:00

"Cultural Naadam" Festival

Khui Doloon Khudag

  

11:00-11:10

The President of Mongolia officially opens Naadam Festival and pays respect to the Great White Banners

Central Stadium

  

11:20-12:40

Grand Opening of the National Holiday-Naadam Festival

Central Stadium

  

11:40-12:40

Official opening of knucklebone shooting

Knucklebone shooting field

  

13:00-22:00

The group stage of the Knucklebone shooting tournament

Knucklebone shooting field

  

12:00-15:00

Above five-year-old horse (Ikh nas) race

Khui Doloon Khudag

  

13:00-17:30

Wrestling tournament, round 1

Central Stadium

  

14:30-17:30

Final matches of the National Khana Archery tournament

Archery field

  

17:30-21:30

Wrestling tournament, round 2

Central Stadium

  

23:00

Naadam Festival Gun salute

Sukhbaatar Square

  

                                                                            Tuesday, July 12

  
 
 

07:00-11:00

Five-year-old horse (Soyolon) race

Khui Doloon Khudag

  

08:00-12:00

The middle stage of National Khasaa Archery

Archery field

  

08:00-11:00

Semi-finals of knucklebone shooting

Knucklebone shooting field

  

09:00-18:00

"Khukhuuriin Airag" Festival

Khui Doloon Khudag

  

09:00-11:30

Wrestling tournament, round 3

Central Stadium

  

10:00-14:00

"Cultural Naadam" Festival

Khui Doloon Khudag

  

11:00-14:00

Finals of knucklebone shooting

Knucklebone shooting field

  

11:30-14:30

Wrestling tournament, round 4

Central Stadium

  

12:00-14:00

Colt race

Khui Doloon Khudag

  

12:00-14:00

Final tournament of National Khasaa Archery

Archery field

  

14:00-15:30

Prize-giving ceremony for winners of knucklebone shooting

Knucklebone shooting field

  

14:10-15:30

Sixteen best archers’ archery show

Archery field

  

15:00-17:00

Wrestling tournament, round 5

Central Stadium

  

17:00-18:00

Praise-singing for winning horses, President of Mongolia presents gifts to jockey children

Central Stadium

  

18:00-19:30

Wrestling tournament, round 6

Central Stadium

  

19:30-19:50

President of Mongolia awards prizes, titles, and medals to winners of archery and knucklebone shooting tournaments

Central Stadium

  

19:30-20:30

Wrestling tournament, round 7

Central Stadium

  

20:30-20:40

President of Mongolia presents certificates and medals to wrestlers with the newly-granted State Nachin (State Falcon) and State Khartsaga (State Hawk) wrestling title

Central Stadium

  

20:40-20:50

A ceremony to pay tributes to State Champions

Central Stadium

  

20:50-21:30

Wrestling tournament, round 8

Central Stadium

  

21:30-21:40

President presents certificates and medals to wrestlers with the newly granted State Zaan (State Elephant) title

Central Stadium

  

21:40-22:00

Wrestling tournament, round 9

Central Stadium

  

22:00-22:10

President presents certificates and medals to wrestlers with the newly granted State Gardi (State Garuda) title

Central Stadium

  

22:10-22:30

Wrestling tournament, round 10

Central Stadium

  

22:30-22:40

President presents titles, certificates, and medals to the winner and runner-ups of the National Wrestling Tournament

Central Stadium

  

22:40-23:00

President officially closes Naadam Festival

Central Stadium

  

Closing ceremony and Parade of Great White Banners back to the State House 

Central Stadium

  

 

CULTURAL EVENTS

 

Sukhbaatar square

July 9-10

11:00-21:00 Photo exhibitions entitled “Mongolian Pride”, and “Through the birthplace of Chinggis Khaan”.

 

Central Stadium

July 11-12

11:00-21:00 Photo exhibitions entitled “Mongolian Pride”, and “Through the birthplace of Chinggis Khaan”.

 

Khui Doloon Khudag

July 11-12

11:00-21:00 “Cultural Naadam”

22:00-00:00 “Ulaanbaatar’s Night-2022” Concert

 

July 13

10:00-18:00 “Naadam of Horse Trainers”

22:00-00:00 “Ulaanbaatar’s Night-2022” Concert

 

Central Cultural Palace

July 12 ‘Beautiful Mongolia’ concert by State Morin Khuur Ensemble

 

Grand Theatre of National Art  

July 1-15

17:00-19:00 ‘World Famous National Art’ exclusive concert for tourists

 

Bogd Khaan Palace Museum

July-12

20:45-22:30 “Naadam Night” concert

 

Tsagaan Lavai Ensemble

July 1-15

18:00-19:00 “Nomadic Legend” national folk art concert

 

Mongolian Theatre Museum

July 8-12

16:00-17:00 “Heritage resurrected in the cave” national folk art concert

18:00-19:00 “Heritage resurrected in the cave” national folk art concert

 

National Amusement Park

July 10-12

 

20:00-21:00 “Mongolian Culture-Mongolian Naadam” national folk art concert

 

Art Gallery of Union of Mongolian Artists

June 28-July 17

10:00-18:00 ‘Beautiful Mongolia’ best works exhibition  

 

Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery 

 July 1-7

09:00-18:00 ‘Wonder of Mongolian craftsmen’ exhibition

 

July 8-15

09:00-18:00 ‘Legend’ exhibition by D.Otgontugs

 

July 16-27

09:00-18:00 Mongolian modern art exhibition

 

Mongol Shiltgeen

July 7-10

14:00-05:00 Playtime Music Festival

 

Chinggis Khaan Museum

July 3

09:00-18:00 Opening ceremony of Chinggis Khaan Museum

 

July 8-15

09:00-18:00 “Heritage of Chinggis Khaan”, “Guyuk Khaan” exhibitions

 

Mongolian National Museum

July 8-15

09:00-17:00 “Mongolian crafts, wooden chests” exhibition

 

Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum

July 8-15

 

09:00-18:00 Exhibition of best works from the museums’ treasury fund

 

Choijin Lama Temple Museum

July 4

19:00-00:00 “Night Museum” event

 

Bogd Khaan Palace Museum

July 8-15

09:00-18:00 Exhibition of best works from the museums’ treasury fund

 

Mongolian Theatre Museum

July 8-15

09:00-18:00 Exhibition of best works from the museums’ treasury fund

 

Mongolian Military Museum

July 8-15

09:00-18:00 Exhibition of best works from the museums’ treasury fund

 

Museum of Ulaanbaatar

July 8-15

 

09:00-18:00 “Khurug” exhibition

...


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Fascinating tourist routes in Ulaanbaatar www.montsame.mn

Ready for summer travel? In addition to traveling to the beautiful places of Mongolia, there are several interesting ideas for trips around the capital city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. We present you interesting and extreme trip ideas that you can travel around Ulaanbaatar.
Day trip of horseback riding, motorcycle and boat trip
Terelj is considered one of the most beautiful worth visiting places for travelers who wanted to rest in surroundings near Ulaanbaatar. Here you can find a lot of entertainment activities, especially for enthusiasts of extreme sports. You will enjoy numerous activities such as learning how to shoot a bow and arrow, playing interesting games, riding horses and enjoying boat trips. Most importantly, you can meet interesting people and make friends with the similar interests⁠⁠. The cost of this tour organized by the Mongolian tour Club is MNT 85,000 for an adult and MNT 75,000 for a child (5-10 years old).
Tandem paragliding with an instructor
Paragliding is something everyone who is looking for an unforgettable experience should try. It is also the easiest and most inexpensive way to get acquainted with the air element. A tandem paragliding flight with a qualified instructor is organized every year by Paragliding Club Mongolia.
The cost of the ‘Yol’ tour package is MNT 180,000. The flight lasts for 20-25 minutes. You will rise to a height of 600-1000 meters.
The ‘Eagle’ tour package costs MNT 150,000. Flight time lasts for 15 minutes at an altitude of 500-800 meters. The tour package ‘Sokol’ costs MNT 120,000. Paragliding flight with an instructor at an altitude of 400-600 m – lasts for 10 minutes.
During the paragliding, you will admire Ulaanbaatar city view and enjoy soaring in the air. The tandem instructor will take care for your soft landing.
Extreme Mongolia
This tour will be loved by those who want to be involved in adventurous activities that can stimulate the release of adrenaline rush. The tour program includes: the rock climbing (MNT 10,000), a walk along a 110-meter suspension bridge (MNT 20,000) and zipline (MNT 15,000).
Travel by e-bike
Traveling on an electric bike will give you an opportunity to take an adventure and to get refreshed with new feelings. The trip is suitable for good cyclists or motorcyclists aged over 18.
Before riding, you need to become acquainted with all information and instructions for using e-bikes. In addition, you will need comfortable clothes, gloves and shoes with hard soles. The cost of the tour is MNT 30,000.
Cognitive journey through Khustain Nuruu
We suggest you having an interesting and cognitive tour to Khustain Nuruu National Park. It is located approximately 100 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar. By visiting the national park, you can enjoy wildlife and see the Przewalski's horse-Takhi. Also, it will be an interesting trip for you to learn about many rare plants with help of biologists.
The area is now home to more than 390 Przewalski's horses since it was taken under special state protection as a ‘natural reserve’ in 1993. You can also enjoy seeing deer, marmots, gazelles and about 213 bird species.
As a result, Khustain nuruu has become one of the main tourist destinations in Mongolia.
The tour is available through the tour company 'Tourist info center’. Its price is MNT 65,000 for an adult and MNT 55,000 for a child. The cost of the tour includes: travel, entrance ticket to Khustain Nuruu National Park, meals, guide services and hostel.
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Cross-border paperless trade toolkit launches www.montsame.mn

The World Trade Organization (WTO) in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) organized a virtual event for launching the “Cross-border Paperless Trade Toolkit” on 30 June 2022.
The event brought together around 130 participants to discuss the growing role of the cross border paperless trade in addressing trade hurdles and practical instruments that are responsive to needs for trade digitalization.
In her remarks at the launch of the toolkit, Deputy Director-General Anabel González highlighted that “Paperless trade can be a very powerful tool to reduce trade costs, which is key to making economies more efficient, global trade more inclusive, and supply chains more resilient”.
The launch was followed by a panel discussion with speakers from Mongolia, Mexico and the Philippines on how to effectively remove the impediments to cross border paperless trade by the virtue of legal and technical readiness checklist developed by the ESCAP and the toolkit.
Mongolia ratified the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and Pacific on April 27, 2022. Mongolia’s accession to this Framework Agreement is crucial to reduce trade costs by digitalizing export and import documents, simplifying trade procedures.
Source: mfa.gov.mn
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New Constitutional Amendments in Mongolia: Real Reform or Political Opportunism? www.thediplomat.com

Mongolia is gearing up for a second constitutional amendment in the space of just three years. The previous 2019 amendment strengthened the powers of the prime minister, capped the number of MPs who can hold ministerial positions to four, and limited the maximum term of the presidency from two four-year terms to one six-year term, in order to end “development-hampering” political instability.
The key elements of the current amendment proposal are the enlargement of the legislature, re-introduction of a proportional component to the parliamentary elections, introduction of indirect elections for the president, increasing the cap of minister-MPs and simultaneous reform of the political parties, which should go in parallel to the amendments.
However, the clumsy rationale provided for the amendments, citing external geopolitical factors and the need to avoid becoming “Kazakhstan or Ukraine,” as well as the track record of the ruling Mongolian People’s Party, suggest that the amendments may simply be a veiled opportunism for a previously unfinished job – to get rid of the direct presidential elections.
What started as a signature collection initiative by the Hun Party – which holds a single seat in parliament – to amend the constitution has surprisingly received support from both the ruling Mongolian People’s Party and the main opposition Democratic Party and if the amendments pass there may be an early parliamentary election in 2023.
On June 9, following few rounds of extended discussions with non-parliamentary parties, 24 political parties signed a joint declaration confirming their support for the constitutional amendment. On June 27, again as a result of a petition by the Hun Party MP, the Constitutional Court reversed its 2016 ruling, allowing for the parliamentary election to be held through a mixed system with a proportional component, a format used in the 2012 parliamentary elections.
The enlargement of the legislature failed to gain enough support in 2019, but times have changed. The current mainstream view is to double the number of MPs from the current 76 to 140-150, with subsequent budgetary funding for the parliamentary parties. Certain corners also suggest having upper and lower chambers, as opposed to Mongolia’s current unicameral legislature, but such ideas are unlikely to gain traction simply due to the lack of research and familiarity within the political class and the electorate.
The key argument for the enlargement of the legislature is the fact that the current parliament is disproportionally small compared to the size of the population and that the limited number of seats is contributing to corruption and making Mongolian politics vulnerable to influence operations from abroad. Technically, the accompanying increase to the number of MPs who can hold ministerial positions mirrors the proposed enlargement of the legislature. However, one also has to keep in mind that due to factional politics the current prime minister has been unable to appoint people to two newly created ministerial positions.
Similarly, the re-introduction of proportional component to elections, which failed to gain support in the 2019 constitutional amendments, has returned to the fore. The fact that numerous if not the majority of voters in any given district currently do not gain any representation because of the single-mandate majoritarian system is a strong enough reason for such a change. Similarly, the proposal is designed to reverse the diminishing voter turnout in Mongolia’s elections and increase the legitimacy of the government institutions in the eyes of the electorate.
The proponents of indirect presidential elections argue that Mongolia needs parliamentarianism, in its pure form, and believe that a strong president with certain executive branch powers has contributed to political deadlock. This idea is not new; it has been brewing since 2016 when the previous MPP-led parliament proposed to elect the president from the MPs and members of the local citizen representative councils. It reiterated this stance after the 2020 parliamentary elections.
A simultaneous reform of the political parties, aimed primarily at decreasing corruption and increasing internal democracy within the parties, is considered an overdue necessity across the political classes. A new draft law on the political parties is being developed by the Office of the President. The move is partially motivated by the experience of the 2012 parliamentary elections, where one-third of the seats were elected through the proportional system – this provided party leaders with a chance to effectively sell the proportional component seats to the vested interest groups. The arguments against such cross-party interest group, commonly dubbed as “MANAN” (meaning “fog/haze”) for a combination of the Mongolian People’s Party (MAN) and Democratic Party (AN) acronyms, turn contributed to reversing the election system, brining a return to a purely majoritarian voting system in the 2016 elections.
Hidden Motives?
Yet, the newfound urgency and the sudden consensus among Mongolia’s political class on these amendments seem to smack more of clumsy opportunism rather than a genuine desire for reform.
First, the comparisons with Ukraine and Kazakhstan are mere PR rather than a proper understanding of the causes and processes that led to the war in Ukraine or the January 2022 events in Kazakhstan. Keeping in mind that no serious discussions about Ukraine or Kazakhstan have happened within Mongolia’s political establishment, the idea that politicians are serious about avoiding these scenarios through strengthened parliamentarism is a wishful thinking – and the odd comparisons prove an awkward cause of foreign policy frictions.
Ironically, the recent reversal of the 2016 Constitutional Court ruling, and the renewed possibility of holding parliamentary elections with a proportional component, removes at least part of the rationale for the new constitutional amendments. In the same vein, a vigorous reform of the political parties would by itself be enough to increase intra-party democracy, motivate voters for greater turnout, decrease corruption, and diminish foreign interference.
The argument about the vulnerability to foreign influence has some ground. Indeed, the 2017 presidential elections was seen by the public as a choice between a pro-Russian and pro-Chinese candidate. The eventual winner from the opposition Democratic Party indeed worked to bring Mongolia closer to the Kremlin’s orbit. Even so, such a feat would not have been possible without active collaboration from the ruling Mongolian People’s Party, whose lack of transparency made it possible to push through controversial policy moves such as the reversal of Mongolia’s permanent neutrality. Even if parliament gets enlarged and the president gets elected indirectly, those changes would not lead to better scrutiny of the political system as long as the Mongolian People’s Party remains in power, with its absence of internal democracy and opaque decision making. The MPP’s current support for call for constitutional amendments initiated by a small party is by itself a proof that the real decision was already made behind the scenes.
The real interest of the ruling Mongolian People’s Party appears to be using its parliamentary supermajority to push through a change to indirect presidential elections. At a time when the MPP controls all branches of the government, big business interests, which see the presidency as an unpredictable office that can pave the way for leftist and pro-redistribution politicians, seem to have decided to seize an opportunity it may not have after 2024 parliamentary elections.
Without a popularly elected president in a country with increasing wealth disparity, the kleptocracy would have much more predictable election outcomes. On the other hand, given the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the socially vulnerable, the priority of avoiding a “populist” president might be ever more pressing.
With the absence of a popularly elected president, increased overlap between the parliament and executive branch, and an already weak judiciary, there will be an acute deficit of checks and balances, cementing Mongolia’s dominant party syndrome and moving the country farther down the path of democratic regression. At the same time, the Mongolian political parties that signed onto the June 10 declaration have no way of ensuring that the new law on the political parties will be passed at all or have the desired impact on the political institutions.
In this context, the real function of the enlargement of the legislature and proportional voting, with a near-guaranteed return of small parties to the parliament, and the increase of the number of minister-MPs, serve simply as the tools to buy political support from other political parties for introducing indirect presidential elections. Perhaps it is no surprise that the current push for constitutional amendments was initiated by the Hun Party, which in 2021, also petitioned the Constitutional Court to bar the sitting president from re-running, which conveniently saved the ruling MPP from U-turning on the previous position to let the president run for a second term. As a result, the 2021 presidential elections were denied of real competition, as the key opposition could not field its top candidate and the electorate was not given a chance to make an informed choice.
Despite having the means and mandate to fight corruption and inequality, Mongolia’s political class seems to be opting for further disenfranchisement of the vulnerable.
GUEST AUTHOR
Munkhnaran Bayarlkhagva is a graduate of Johns Hopkins SAIS with a concentration on Middle East and Eurasian studies. He has served at the National Security Council of Mongolia, researched the Russian oil and gas industry under sanctions for the Stanford U.S.-Russia Forum, and provided project finance advice on large-scale infrastructure projects in Mongolia.
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Mongolia Looks Into New Parliamentary System www.mongoliaweekly.org

Mongolia’s Parliament has initiated public consultations to amend the country’s constitution and adopt a parliamentary system of governance. Lawmakers are campaigning about the need to update the constitution and strengthen democracy while touting the virtues of the Westminster system. If the amendment is ratified, the president would be stripped of much of his power.
A new parliamentary system could help improve governance, ensure regulatory stability and promote more accountability, transparency and participation in major economic decision-making.
This should make it easier for businesses operating in Mongolia and contribute more to broader economic growth. If accepted, the proposed changes would end the long-standing debate on whether Mongolia should have a presidential or parliamentary system of governance.
Parliament Speaker Gombojavyn Zandanshatar Source: The State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia
What You Need To Know:
The current semi-presidential system in Mongolia has provided opportunities for the president to check and balance the prime minister and Cabinet. Under this arrangement of cohabitation, a publicly elected president serves alongside a powerful prime minister.
Mongolia’s governance has been plagued with friction and stalemates lately. This was most recently evidenced during a showdown between then-President Khaltmaagiin Battulga and then-Prime Minister Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh from 2020-2021.
Public opinion over the last decade has favored a stronger leader in the form of a president. With one-party domination since 2016, the argument has now shifted toward modernizing governance and rebalancing political power to stabilize the economy in view of Mongolia's current financial and geopolitical hardships.
The most recent constitutional amendments in 2019 transferred some powers from the president to the prime minister. The ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) aims to reduce the president to a ceremonial figurehead, bolster parliamentary governance and elevate the prime minister, who is also a party head. Under this scenario, Parliament would elect the president, as is the case in some other countries, including Germany.
President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh has not revealed his thoughts about the new proposals to change the constitution, but he is a known supporter of parliamentary democracy. His one-time term ends in 2026, so new constitutional reforms will likely not affect him.
The MPP hopes to push for constitutional changes before the country’s parliamentary elections in June 2024.
The remainder of 2022 and early 2023 are expected to be crucial to consult and educate the public about the benefits of the Westminster system. Constitutional referendums are not being considered given the MPP’s supermajority control of Parliament.
Lawmakers are considering enlarging Parliament to bolster governance. The latest thinking is to double the current number of members from 76 to 152 to reflect population growth since 1992. Half of the expanded Parliament would be elected on a proportional basis and the other by the winner-take-all method.
Reintroducing a proportional representation mixed electoral system, which failed to get support in 2019, is now gaining more traction. The opposition and smaller political parties hope this would help them win seats in Parliament and encourage more political diversity.
The prime minister wants to increase the current cap on the number of lawmakers who can enter his Cabinet. Two Cabinet portfolios are vacant, and non-parliamentarian ministers are perceived to be weak when challenged in the parliamentary sessions.
A rule prohibiting constitutional changes before 2027 remains a significant obstacle to adopting parliamentary governance. The MPP aims to change that rule during public consultations.
Not everyone in Mongolia supports constitutional changes. Some critics strongly oppose reintroducing the proportional voting system. They allege that corrupt politicians can be hidden within party lists, therefore diminishing voters’ say.
Several political elders have appealed to the Constitutional Court and accused Parliament of conducting an unconstitutional public discussion. They have argued that basic rules should not be easily or frequently changed.
The main opposition Democratic Party said the government should prioritize economic problems over constitutional changes and has accused the government of wasting time.
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EU agrees rules to tame 'Wild West' crypto market www.reuters.com

The European Union has agreed on ground-breaking rules for regulating crypto assets, EU lawmakers said on Thursday, as the rout in bitcoin piles pressure on authorities to rein in the sector.
Globally, crypto assets are largely unregulated, with national operators in the EU only required to show controls for combating money laundering.
Representatives from the European Parliament and EU states thrashed out a deal on the markets in crypto assets (MiCA) law, which is expected to come into force around the end of 2023.
"Today, we put order in the Wild West of crypto assets and set clear rules for a harmonized market," said Stefan Berger, the center right lawmaker who led negotiations on behalf of the parliament.
"The recent fall in the value of digital currencies shows us how highly risky and speculative they are and that it is fundamental to act," Berger said.
MiCA will be the first comprehensive regime for crypto-assets in the world and will contain strong measures to guard against market abuse and manipulation, added Ernest Urtasun, a Green Party lawmaker in the parliament.
The new law gives issuers of crypto assets and providers of related services a "passport" to serve clients across the EU from a single base, while meeting capital and consumer protection rules.
The United States and Britain, two major crypto centers, have yet to approve similar rules.
Crypto assets came under pressure after the collapse of TerraUSD and luna tokens last month, with major US cryptocurrency lending company Celsius Network this month freezing withdrawals and transfers.
Bitcoin collapsed this month to around $17,600, and was trading around $18,900 on Thursday, well below its late March level of $48,200 as investors nurse losses.
Negotiations on Thursday focused on issues such as supervision and energy consumption of cryptoassets.
"We have agreed that crypto asset providers should in future disclose the energy consumption and environmental impact of assets," Berger said.
EU states will be the main regulators for crypto companies, though the bloc's securities watchdog ESMA will have powers to step in if investor protection or financial stability is threatened, lawmaker Urtasun said.
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