Luxembourg-Backed Project Advances to National Cardiovascular Center Stage www.montsame.mn

 A nationwide project to reduce cardiovascular disease—one of the leading causes of illness and death in Mongolia—is being advanced.

A delegation led by Gusty Graas, Member of Parliament of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Chair of its Foreign and European Affairs Committee, visited the State Third Central Hospital to review progress on a project to establish a National Cardiovascular Center. During the visit, the delegation praised the development of cardiovascular services, as well as the results and achievements of the project implemented over the past 25 years with grant assistance from the Government of Luxembourg.

According to the State Third Central Hospital, the project—implemented in five phases since 2001 under Mongolia–Luxembourg cooperation—has made a significant contribution to the development of cardiology in Mongolia and helped bring the sector closer to international standards.

The initiative has already covered all 21 aimags and nine districts, and its fifth phase involves the establishment of the national center. Plans call for building a modern, fully equipped 120-bed National Cardiovascular Center between 2025 and 2029, enabling integrated services including diagnostics, surgery, emergency care, and rehabilitation in one location.

Over the past five years, the State Third Central Hospital has successfully localized advanced cardiovascular surgeries, performing more than 6,500 procedures and keeping MNT 39 billion in foreign currency within the country, Director Tumur-Ochir Ts. noted.

Founded in 1954, the P.N. Shastin State Third Central Hospital serves as a national referral center, providing leading care in cardiovascular and neurological fields.

SMTrack expands into Mongolia's events market www.klsescreener.com

SMTrack Bhd has teamed up with Mongolia-based Madyna Global LLC to buy a company that operates one of the largest rooftop event venues in Mongolia.

SMTrack today said it had signed a joint venture agreement with Madyna Global to establish a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the acquisition of Gold Moon DTT LLC.

Gold Moon operates Z Terra Event Hall in Ulaanbaatar, one of the largest rooftop event venues in Mongolia, and is involved in food and beverage, hospitality and event management.

SMTrack will hold a 90 per cent stake in the SPV, with Madyna the remaining 10 per cent.

"Madyna and Gold Moon had in principle agreed that the joint venture shall be by way of Madyna acquiring 60 per cent equity in Gold Moon," it said.

The SPV will take over Madyna's rights under a memorandum of agreement and negotiate the acquisition of Gold Moon, which owns the Z Terra brand and operates Z Terra Event Hall.

Madyna, incorporated in Mongolia in 2009, is primarily involved in business consultancy and foreign trading, with extensions into food and beverage-related activities.

Gold Moon is a privately held hospitality and event management company focusing on corporate, social and lifestyle events.

Under the joint venture agreement, Madyna will lead the acquisition process, including negotiations, due diligence, valuation and regulatory approvals.

SMTrack will provide administrative, financial and technical support where required.

The deal is subject to conditions precedent, including satisfactory due diligence and an independent valuation of Gold Moon.

These conditions must be met within six months, with a possible three-month extension.

If the conditions are not fulfilled within the stipulated timeframe, the agreement will lapse unless otherwise mutually extended or waived.

"The proposed joint venture provides an opportunity for the SMTrack group to increase its revenue base and improve its financial position by expanding its food & beverage related business via the acquisition of Gold Moon DTT," it said.

SMTrack said the joint venture is expected to improve the company's future earnings prospects.

Mongolia exports surge 62.3% in first quarter compared to last year www.azertag.az

In the first quarter of this year, Mongolia traded with 143 countries, reaching a total foreign trade turnover of USD 7.4 billion, according to Montsame.

Of this, exports amounted to USD 4.9 billion, while imports stood at USD 2.5 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 2.4 billion, according to the National Statistics Office.

Compared to the same period last year, total trade turnover increased by 32.5% (USD 1.8 billion,) exports rose by 62.3% (USD 1.9 billion), and the trade surplus increased by 5.2 times (USD 1.9 billion). Meanwhile, imports decreased by 2.7% (USD 68.3 million).

The USD 1.8 billion increase in exports during the first quarter was mainly driven by higher shipments of copper ore and concentrates (up USD 1.3 billion), coal (up USD 453.7 million), unrefined and semi-processed gold (up USD 148.8 million), and lead ore and concentrates (up USD 21.5 million).

On the other hand, exports of crude oil fell by USD 16.0 million, fluorspar ore and concentrates by USD 9.4 million, refined copper and alloys by USD 10.4 million, and horse meat by USD 4.6 million.

Improved Road Design in Mongolia Halves Predicted Fatal and Serious Injuries www.irap.org

An Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project is optimising the safety for the road connecting Uliastai to Altai in Mongolia, reducing predicted fatal and serious injuries by 51.7% and delivering 4- and 5-star safety outcomes.

The US$158 million Regional Road Development and Maintenance – Phase 3 Project for the Government of Mongolia aims to promote inclusive economic growth by upgrading key sections of the state road network, improving road safety, asset management and the climate resilience of two critical routes – Uliastai-Altai (198 km) and Khovd-Ulaangom (163 km). The improvements are vital in connecting Mongolia’s western aimag capitals to its major east-west corridors linking the country to the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation.

As part of the project, Kocks Consult GmbH tasked iRAP with evaluating the safety of the proposed road upgrade design for a 140.8 km section of the Uliastai-Altai route using the iRAP Star Ratings methodology.

The analysis builds on a baseline assessment of the existing road performed in 2023, enabling before and after safety analysis.

The incorporation of iRAP assessment recommendations to the  design showed impressive improvements in road safety:

Increased safety for vehicle occupants and motorcyclists through road paving and widening, implementation of roadside barriers, improved delineation with advance warning signs and markers installed at significant curves, safer roadside conditions, and effective speed management at critical locations.
A 51.7% reduction in predicted fatal and serious injuries (FSIs) – preventing an estimated 118 FSIs over 20 years.
The safety Star Rating increased dramatically. Whilst the existing road is predominantly 1-2 stars (very high risk), 100% of the upgrade design length achieves a 4-star or better safety rating for vehicle occupants (including 83% at the highest 5-star safety rating). For motorcyclists, 96% of the design length achieves a 4-star safety rating, 2.1% achieves a 5-star safety rating, and 2.1% achieves a 3-star safety rating.
Exceeds the minimum 3-star safety rating required by both the ADB and United Nations’ Global Road Safety Performance Target 3.

Prime Minister N.Uchral prioritizes education reform in first policy address www.gogo.mn

Prime Minister N.Uchral told parliament that his government will place education at the center of its policy agenda, saying a stronger education system is essential to reducing unemployment, poverty and crime. He delivered the remarks while presenting his cabinet’s policy priorities to lawmakers.

N.Uchral said Mongolia’s children still start from unequal positions because of gaps between urban and rural schools, and between public and private schools. Citing the 2022 PISA results, he said students in soums lag behind urban students by up to three years and behind children in province centers by about one year. He said the government’s goal is to narrow those gaps and expand access to high-quality education through technology.

He also said teachers’ social protection and pay will be improved, including performance-based compensation and implementation of the Law on Supporting Teacher Development. In his remarks, he described a “good school” as one with a strong curriculum, qualified teachers, fair grading, per-student funding, digital tools, hot meals and a safe environment free from bullying.

The Prime Minister further said child protection must be treated as a national priority and that schools, kindergartens and online spaces should be made safer. He added that the education system should be aligned with labor market demand, with artificial intelligence used to help produce skilled graduates rather than unemployed diploma holders.

Mongolia received 74 points for internet freedom, while Russia received only 4 points www.open.kg

As of April 2026, Mongolia, with a score of 74 points, holds one of the leading positions in Asia for internet freedom, indicating a relatively open digital environment. However, it also highlights the need for improvements in the protection of digital rights and regulation, as reported by MiddleAsianNews.

Regional position: Mongolia ranks 2nd in Asia for internet freedom.
Global position: With a score of 74 points, Mongolia is on par with several developed democracies, including Germany and Italy, which also scored 74 points.
Score comparison: The maximum possible score is 100, with countries like Iceland (94) and Estonia (91) achieving close figures, while countries with strict censorship, such as China, Russia, and North Korea, have significantly lower scores (often below 10).

As of 2026, Russia is among the countries with the least internet freedom, scoring only 4 points on the Cloudwards index, which is slightly above North Korea's figures. Russian authorities have implemented strict censorship, internet traffic filtering, and restrictions on the use of VPNs and social networks, thereby creating a "digital iron curtain."

According to the new ranking reflecting the level of internet freedom by country in 2026, there is a global decline in scores, which experts believe signals governments' efforts to tighten control over the digital space.

North Korea was recognized as the country with the least internet freedom, receiving 0 points. Following it on this list are Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and China, all with 4 points.

The Kremlin is increasing oversight of the internet space, citing national security concerns and geopolitical tensions, especially in the context of the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. These measures are part of a broader strategy to control information and promote state platforms.

The freest countries in terms of internet are recognized as 11 states, each scoring 92 points: Belgium, Costa Rica, East Timor, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Slovakia, and Suriname.

Mongolia, with 74 points, ranked 42nd overall. The United Kingdom scored 52 points, while South Korea scored 32, indicating attempts by local governments to establish control over the digital space.

British-Mongolian cooperation in the field of education is our priority, - ambassador www.open.kg

As reported by MiddleAsianNews, the British Ambassador to Mongolia Fiona Blight met with the newly appointed Minister of Education Enkh-Amgalan Luvsantseren.

During the discussion, the parties emphasized the development of joint programs, including English language training, Chevening scholarship offers, and Cambridge programs.

“The meeting with Minister Enkh-Amgalan was very pleasant for me. We discussed opportunities to strengthen our educational cooperation, including English language training programs, Chevening scholarships, and the Cambridge program,” noted Ambassador Fiona Blight in her social media post.

The Chevening scholarship program began its existence in Mongolia in 1993 and has been successfully functioning for 33 years to date.

During this time, more than 200 outstanding young Mongolians have obtained master's degrees in the UK and now hold leading positions in their professional fields. The scholarship is unique in that it covers not only tuition fees but also living expenses, visas, and airfare. The selection of candidates for the 2025-2026 academic year has already been completed, and the next recruitment, aimed at the 2026-2027 year, is expected from August to November.

The Cambridge program in Mongolia is implemented thanks to a network of accredited international schools and close cooperation with the Mongolian government aimed at reforming educational standards.

The Cambridge international program is successfully being implemented in public and private institutions across the country, with the goal of improving the quality of education to international standards and preparing students for scholarships to study at foreign universities. Currently, about 29 schools in Mongolia participate in this program.

The Ministry of Education plans to further integrate elements of the Cambridge curriculum and assessment system into the country's educational institutions.

World Bank Projects 5% Economic Growth for Mongolia in 2026 www.montsame.mn

While presenting the latest “Mongolia Economic Update,” World Bank Country Manager for Mongolia, Taehyun Lee, noted that “Mongolia’s economy stays resilient but faces rising uncertainty.”

He further explained, “Protecting macroeconomic stability and vulnerable households from potential prolonged external shocks, while diversifying the economy and boosting its competitiveness, remain key pressing priorities.”

According to the latest Mongolia Economic Update, Mongolia’s economy is projected to grow at 5.0% in 2026, as mining and agricultural output normalizes following a strong 2025 performance.

Despite trade disruptions and elevated geopolitical tensions, Mongolia’s economy expanded by 6.9 % in 2025. Growth was driven by a strong rebound in agriculture and solid mining performance, particularly copper production at Oyu Tolgoi, a key national mine. These growth drivers helped offset weaker coal activity. Other sectors experienced mixed performance, with strong growth in construction and manufacturing, while trade and services moderated.

Senior Country Economist for Mongolia, Jose Luis Diaz Sanchez, highlighted, “Strong export earnings and resilient household incomes kept consumer spending high. Combined with higher food and energy prices, these factors pushed inflation up from an average of 6.8% in 2024 to 8.6% in 2025. Over the medium term, growth is projected to average approximately 5.5% in 2027-2028, supported by large infrastructure projects and sustained domestic demand.”

Country Economist for Mongolia, Undral Batmunkh, elaborated, “Risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside. Globally, trade uncertainty and a prolonged Middle East conflict could weaken external demand, disrupt mineral exports, raise production costs and consumer prices, and slow growth. Domestically, stronger-than-expected fiscal spending could boost growth in the short-term but may widen external imbalances and increase inflation.”

The report highlights the importance of strengthening economic resilience and supporting diversification. It calls for addressing persistent infrastructure gaps and advancing critical mineral development to enhance competitiveness, alongside efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and climate resilience. In this context, the report’s special chapter examines how the clustering of firms and workers in Ulaanbaatar raises productivity and creates opportunities. It also shows, however, how growing urban congestion may limit these gains. This highlights the need to improve urban efficiency and promote more balanced spatial development across the country.

Mongolia to Implement Project to Reduce Hazardous Chemical Use www.montsame.mn

A project to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in Mongolia’s wool, cashmere, and leather supply chains will be implemented.

The project will be carried out in Ulaanbaatar, as well as in Darkhan, Erdenet, Khuvsgul, and Uvurkhangai aimags. It aims to cut the use of dangerous chemicals across the supply chain and promote sustainable, circular economy-based production. This is expected to reduce negative impacts on the environment and human health, according to Batzorig. L, an expert in charge of chemical policy and planning at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

The initiative will also introduce solutions to reduce and reuse waste generated by the wool, cashmere, and leather sectors. In addition, an inventory of hazardous chemicals will be conducted this year, alongside the launch of life-cycle assessments.

As a result, the project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 573,875 tons of CO₂ equivalent, as well as cut the use of persistent organic pollutants.

The project will support Mongolia’s implementation of the Stockholm Convention, to which the country is a party, and will be carried out in phases, including baseline studies, impact assessments, and capacity-building training.

Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the project will be implemented jointly by the United Nations Development Programme, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry. It forms part of an international environmental program to be carried out in eight countries over a period of 72 months.

PM Uchral Holds Talks with Russian Ambassador on Fuel Supplies www.montsame.mn

Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor received Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Mongolia  Evsikov Alexey Nikolaevich.

The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for congratulatory messages sent by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chairman of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev on his appointment, and reaffirmed the Mongolian government’s commitment to further expanding the comprehensive strategic partnership between Mongolia and Russia. 

The sides discussed cooperation in the fuel and energy sector. In particular, the supplementary protocol to the intergovernmental agreement on the supply of aviation fuel to Mongolia has been reviewed and supported by the Standing Committees on Security and Foreign Policy, Budget, and Economy of the State Great Khural. Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Damdinnyam Gongor is expected to sign the protocol in Moscow in the near future.

The prime minister noted that the current situation in the Middle East is causing instability in global energy markets and driving a sharp increase in petroleum product prices. This is beginning to pose challenges to Mongolia’s transport, mining and agriculture sectors. As mining activity picks up and spring planting begins, Mongolia has expressed interest in purchasing petroleum products, including diesel fuel, under preferential terms for a period of no less than six months. He also noted that the government has begun budget-funded preparatory work to build infrastructure for state petroleum reserves.

The Prime Minister further requested support to ensure stable and uninterrupted supplies of ammonia in aqueous solution, a key input for Mongolia’s agriculture and mining sectors, and highlighted the possibility of concluding a dedicated agreement on the matter.

Ambassador Evsikov thanked Prime Minister Uchral for his attention to Mongolia–Russia relations and noted the significance of his previous official visit to Russia as speaker of parliament. The ambassador said he would convey the issues raised to relevant Russian authorities. The two sides also exchanged views on cooperation in food and agriculture, tourism, education, culture, sports, and humanitarian fields, within the framework of the 105th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, according to the Press and Public Relations Department of the Government.