John Stampfl: I have seen many positive changes in Mongolia since 1998 www.gogo.mn

For the 'Mongolia through Foreign Eyes' column, we invited Mr. John Stampfl as our guest. He first came to Mongolia on a work assignment in 1998, and since 2001 he has been living permanently in Murun, Khuvsgul Province.
Please introduce yourself. Where are you from and how long have you been in Mongolia?  
My name is John Stampfl. I was born in San Francisco, though I grew up in nearby towns within about 100 kilometers. I first came to Mongolia in 1998 when my uncle came here for a UN project. I joined him, met some people, and liked it so much that I started coming back. Eventually, I moved here in 2001. 
From 2001 I lived in Mongolia continuously until two years before COVID. I had to leave to undergo an eye operation in Saipan, a U.S. Island, where I had cataract surgery. Afterwards, I tried to renew my work visa but got stuck abroad when Mongolia closed its borders during the pandemic. I stayed in the U.S. until I got vaccinated, then traveled around the U.S. and Eastern Europe before returning once the borders reopened. 
In Ulaanbaatar, I lived in Sansar, Khan-Uul District, and near the old circus. Later, I moved to Murun, Khuvsgul, and for a time lived in Erdenebulgan. I’ve spent about five years in Murun altogether, including three years before COVID and a year and a half after. I know Murun well, though I’m more familiar with old UB than the newly built areas. 
And what is your profession?  
My original profession was systems engineering—essentially computer engineering. Now I work on forest conservation, particularly on issues related to global warming. With warmer winters, insects survive longer, killing more trees. On top of that, livestock such as sheep, goats, and cows eat young saplings, which prevents regeneration. 
So, are you working in that field in Murun?  
Yes. I volunteer for a friend’s logging company, researching how global warming impacts forests. This problem isn’t unique to Mongolia—it’s happening worldwide, including in the U.S. Insects thrive in warmer climates, causing increasing damage. Normally, colder winters would kill off more insects, but as winters get milder, this becomes a bigger issue. 
What was your first impression when you came to Mongolia?  
That was back in 1998. We stayed at the Grand Chinggis Hotel, which even had a nightclub shaped like a ger on the top floor. There was almost no traffic then, since very few people owned cars. 
When I moved here in 2001, I studied Mongolian at the National University and taught English there. Later, I joined Peace Corps speaking clubs in Murun and helped students practice English. Some of them went on to study in Europe, and I’m still in touch with them today. 
Do you know much Mongolian? 
A little, but I don’t practice much since most people prefer speaking English. That’s fine with me—it’s important for young people to learn English. 
What kind of accommodation do you have in Murun?  
Currently, I live in a modern apartment. Before that, I lived in part of a wooden house where I had to haul water and chop wood. The apartment is much easier. 
What is your favorite Mongolian food?  
There’s a small restaurant near my home that serves tumsnii khuchmal, which is similar to shepherd’s pie with mashed potatoes on top. It comes with potato, cabbage, carrot salads, and rice. That’s my favorite. I also eat buuz and khuushuur occasionally, though they’re a bit too greasy for me. 
What is your daily routine like?  
I usually wake up before 7 a.m. and go to Nara’s Gym in Murun. I walk a lot, and sometimes I help teach English classes. 
Do you have pets?  
No. I like pets, but I travel too often to care for them. When I lived in the U.S. with my daughter, we had cats and a dog. 
Are you married?  
I have been married three times, but none worked out. Currently, I’m not married. 
What do you like most about living in Khuvsgul?  
I love the trees, rivers, and greenery. I often visit Erdenebulgan on the east side of Lake Khuvsgul because of my friend’s logging company. It’s beautiful there. I also like Arkhangai—great for camping, with less mud and many historical sites. Over the years, I’ve traveled to every province in Mongolia, often camping along the way. 
What do you think about Mongolia’s “One Billion Trees” initiative?  
It’s a good slogan—it raises awareness. Reaching a billion is unlikely soon, but the focus should be on restoring forests. Planting is important, but saplings often die if planted in the wrong place or eaten by livestock. In towns like Murun, they fence young trees, but in the countryside it’s harder. Education about forests is just as important so future generations will value trees more. 
In the U.S., especially in places like Montana, people used to practice what they called “clear-cutting.” That meant going in and cutting down all the trees in an area. Now, they don’t have nearly as many trees left. Most of the wood used in the U.S. today comes from Canada because so many of the trees in Montana were cut down. 
The problem is, if you don’t replant after cutting, the forest doesn’t naturally come back the same way. It’s much better to cut some trees and leave others so the forest can keep regenerating on its own. A hundred years ago, people didn’t think about that. They assumed there were endless trees, so it didn’t matter. But eventually, they cut so many that there are hardly any large, old trees left in Montana. Now there are mostly small trees. They’ve been replanting, but it takes a long time for trees to grow to maturity. 
Here in Mongolia, up near Sükhbaatar City, there also used to be a lot of big trees. Now there’s just a small section where a few large ones remain, and people call them the “mother trees.” I’ve visited that area—it’s beautiful—but I believe the whole region was once covered with forest before it was cut down. 
More trees really need to be planted there. It would make a big difference. But this isn’t only something that happened in Mongolia; it has happened in many places. In the U.S., for example, huge areas of forest were cleared, partly to create farmland in the summers. 
What kind of developments would you like to see in Mongolia?  
Mongolia has improved a lot—there are many more paved roads than when I first came. But more railroads, especially an east–west line, would greatly benefit business and trade. 
I also think Mongolia should develop international internship programs. Sending young professionals to gain hands-on experience in industries abroad could help them bring back modern skills and knowledge. 
What challenges have you faced living in Mongolia?  
Life is generally good. One issue is that Mongolia could benefit from more expert volunteers—not necessarily young people teaching English, but experienced professionals in different industries. Countries like Japan send retired specialists abroad to share their expertise, and Mongolia could benefit from similar programs. 
What did you learn the most after you came to Mongolia?  
Well, one of the most interesting things has been learning about herding culture and how extended families work together in the herding industry. Of course, as more people move into the cities, that system begins to break down. 
If you go out into the countryside, extended families are still working together in herding. It reminded me of something from my own family history. Both of my parents grew up in large families—each with around eight kids. That used to be very common in the U.S., but now most families only have one or two children. In the countryside, though, having many kids is actually helpful. Children can herd animals, milk cows, haul water, and do all sorts of chores that contribute to the household. 
But in the city, kids don’t really have those opportunities. Instead, parents have to find ways to take care of them, which creates challenges. For example, I have a friend with four children. In the summer, she can’t work because there’s no school or kindergarten to take care of the kids, and she can’t afford private help. During the school year, there’s support, but in summer, parents are on their own. 
What’s really needed are year-round programs for children so parents—especially women who want careers—can continue working. Right now, many women limit themselves to one or two kids because they know it will be too difficult to manage more. If there were stronger support systems or government programs to provide childcare year-round, families might feel freer to have more children. Some parents rely on grandparents to help, but not everyone has that option. 
What is a bright memory you have from Mongolia?  
Camping at Lake Khuvsgul and visiting students’ families in the countryside are unforgettable experiences. I really enjoyed seeing their way of life firsthand. 
What life advice would you give to young people?  
Education is important, but so is hard work and honesty. Skills are key—whether you want to be an electrician, plumber, or journalist, keep improving yourself. Opportunities come when you are skilled and reliable. 
Family is also important, though modern city life makes it harder than in the countryside. Whatever profession you choose, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to pursue it even later in life. I once read about a woman who became an archaeologist at 60—it’s never too late. 
Any final thoughts?  
Mongolia is a peaceful country with very friendly people, especially in the countryside. I’ve seen many positive changes since 1998—better roads, new hospitals, more cars, improved infrastructure. Life here keeps improving step by step, and I’m optimistic about the future. 
Thank you so much for your time, John! 
BY B.Nyamdari

The 10th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of FEALAC Underway www.montsame.mn

The 10th Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) is currently being held in Ulaanbaatar.
The FEALAC Foundation Board of Directors, along with the Political, Cultural, Economic, and Humanitarian Working Groups, convened their respective meetings on August 20, 2025. These sessions were held as part of the commemorative events marking the 25th anniversary of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC). During the meeting, member countries are set to engage in discussions under the theme “25 Years and Beyond: A Vision for East Asia-Latin American Cooperation”, with plans to adopt the “Ulaanbaatar Declaration” as a key outcome.
The Forum, which brings together 16 East Asian and Pacific countries and 20 Latin American countries, is co-chaired by Mongolia and the Dominican Republic for the 2025-2027 term. This marks the first meeting of Foreign Ministers since 2019.
The 10th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting continues from August 20 to 22, 2025.

TMK set for production from seven wells at Mongolian gas field www.smh.com.au

TMK Energy has completed its seventh and final pilot production well at its giant Gurvantes XXXV coal seam gas project in Mongolia’s South Gobi Basin.
The company says it is now poised to bring all seven wells to optimal production rates in the Lucky Fox area by the end of August, accelerating its reservoir depressurisation efforts to unlock final commercial gas flows at the pilot production area.
The Lucky Fox 7 (LF-07) well is currently undergoing final commissioning and production is expected to commence in the coming days.
The company has utilised its onsite resources to perform essential maintenance on the neighbouring LF-06 well, which involved cleaning the downhole pump and clearing fill to prevent future interruptions at fully depressured commercial flows. Production at LF-06 is now reinstated.
‘With seven pilot production wells online, we hope and expect to soon see all the hard work and capital investment that has been made bearing fruit.’
TMK Energy chief executive officer Dougal Ferguson
All seven active wells at the Lucky Fox Pilot project now have operational redundancy, meaning that all capital costs are accounted for and the reservoir will only require maintenance to manage production.
Commissioning LF-07 will provide TMK with critical data on reservoir pressure reduction at its location, which is about the same distance from the company’s LF-01, LF-02 and LF-05 wells. The desorption pressure must be consistent across the pilot reservoir area to return a smooth commercial gas flow following dewatering.
TMK will now shift its focus to operational efficiency and strategic partnerships over its mammoth project. The company is looking for project partners to co-fund the next phase of development at Gurvantes XXXV, 50 kilometres from China’s Shivee Khuren border, to streamline logistics and enhance cost-effectiveness.
TMK Energy chief executive officer Dougal Ferguson said: “With the drilling operations phase now complete, there is no further major capital expenditure planned at the Pilot Well project in the short to medium term. With seven pilot production wells online, we hope and expect to soon see all the hard work and capital investment that has been made bearing fruit. All the data continues to point to a positive outcome being achieved in the coming months, with reservoir pressures continuing to reduce towards the target critical desorption pressure.”
Spanning a gargantuan 8400 square kilometres, Gurvantes XXXV hosts Mongolia’s largest 2C contingent resource of 1.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and a prospective resource of 5300 billion cubic feet.
The project offers massive strategic value to Mongolia, as the largely coal-dominated country accelerates its transition to cleaner energy. TMK’s project is a central pillar to meeting the nation’s domestic demand.
The company is simultaneously tapping into northern China’s robust energy infrastructure. It recently entered a strategic alliance with Beijing-based J-Energy to enhance the project’s technical and logistical capabilities towards full commercialisation.
With all seven wells set to reach optimal production by the end of the month, TMK has cleared the final hurdle to demonstrate commercial viability at Gurvantes XXXV. It is now prioritising strategic, high-quality partnerships to establish itself as a dependable natural gas supplier for Mongolia’s domestic market and the region’s energy network.

Mongolia's foreign tourist arrivals surge over 20 pct in first 7 months www.xinhuanet.com

Tourist arrivals to Mongolia grew by 21.5 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2025, official data showed Wednesday.
Mongolia recorded a total of 457,158 inbound tourist visits by foreign passport holders in the period from January to July, according to the country's National Statistics Office (NSO).
During the period, China has remained the leading source of foreign tourists to Mongolia.
Currently, Mongolia's economy relies most heavily on the export of mineral resources. Tourism promotion is considered one of the priorities for diversifying the country's economy and increasing the competitiveness of its tourism in the context of global competition.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sport, Tourism and Youth, the Mongolian government has decided to continue the "Years to Visit Mongolia" tourism program until 2028 to promote the development of four-season tourism in the country.
The country received a total of 727,400 foreign tourists in 2024, earning 1.6 billion U.S. dollars from the tourism sector.

Putin 'consulted shamans and mystics' about launching nukes that 'could start WW3' www.the-express.com

Vladimir Putin reportedly sought spiritual guidance from Mongolian shamans about the potential use of nuclear weapons, according to Russian sources.
The Russian president has been known for his "special attitude to mysticism" over the years, with rumors circulating in 2018 that he bathed in the blood of a Siberian red deer to boost his virility.
However, during his visit to Mongolia in early September last year, it's claimed that Putin took his mystical beliefs a step further, reports the Daily Star. 
Vladimir Putin facing demands for his arrest in Mongolia 
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He allegedly sought permission from the country's spirits to use nuclear weapons, fearing he might provoke their wrath if he did so without their blessing, as reported by Mail+.
In an article for the German news website Der Spiegel, Zygar wrote: "Mongolia and Tuva are considered the home of the most powerful shamans in the world. Vladimir Putin has long been known for his special attitude towards mysticism. And he apparently combines his interest in Orthodox mysticism with pagan traditions."
Mongolia is a member of the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin last year following his deportation of Ukrainian children.
Despite the warrant, Mongolian officials did not detain Putin during his visit, citing their heavy reliance on Russia as a reason for their inaction. Zygar suggested that Putin was willing to risk arrest to consult the spirits.
The Kremlin has dismissed recent allegations made by an opposition figure, stating: "The mentioned circumstances related to the Russian President's visit to Mongolia in September 2024 have no connection to reality."
By Tom McGhie, Brigid Brown

Global Connections: linking students in Connecticut and Mongolia www.peacecorps.gov

When David Stoloff, who hails from New York, joined the Peace Corps in 1973, he was sent to Zaire to serve as a teacher of science, math, and English. He ultimately spent two years there, teaching in various parts of the country. By the time he completed his Peace Corps service, the teaching bug was entrenched. He eventually moved to California as a doctoral student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Eventually, he landed at Eastern Connecticut State University (Eastern), where he’s been a professor for the last 30 years.
Peace Corps service inspires ongoing intercultural connections
His Peace Corps service inspired him to continue promoting intercultural connections among universities. For his classes in international and cross-cultural education and global connections in education, he built connections with universities in over a dozen nations—from Algeria to Pakistan. He notes that given the available technology, it’s a surprise there aren’t more connections among universities, because it’s an easy way to introduce students to different cultures and to develop intercultural projects across borders. Enter the Peace Corps’ Global Connections Program.
Peace Corps’ Global Connections program
The Paul D. Coverdell World Wise Schools Global Connections program, a Peace Corps initiative that centers on the third goal of the Peace Corps—to increase Americans’ understanding of other peoples and cultures—links educators, camps, youth programs, and universities around the world with members of the Peace Corps network to promote knowledge and cultural exchange. Professor Stoloff submitted his students and himself for a Global Connections listing.
In his words, “I posted a request for intercultural connections among universities with the Global Connections program at Peace Corps in June 2024. John Luebke responded in September 2024 and introduced me to two professors, Enkhbayar Lkhagva and Bulgantsetseg Munkhbat, at the Mongolian National University. After email exchanges, Professor Enkhbayar organized a video conference to further discuss planning in December 2024.”
A match between Mongolia and Connecticut
John Luebke was serving as a Community Development and Education Volunteer in a town in the Uvurkhangai Province of Mongolia. During the early part of his service, Peace Corps/Mongolia staff mentioned the Global Connections program, and John thought that matching Mongolian students of English with students and teachers in the United States would be interesting. He notes that many Mongolian students who are practicing English want to learn more about American culture, daily life, and studying abroad. John rightfully anticipated that connecting Mongolian students with American students might be more impactful than an adult “telling the students what to do.” When John scrolled thorough the Global Connections listing, he saw David’s. Intrigued, John emailed David, who enthusiastically started generating ideas for the Global Connections match.
A seed of connection grows
John said that the Mongolian teachers who taught secondary English with him also wanted more knowledge and interaction about American culture, and that became the initial focus of the connection. However, due to limits on their time and class demands, the project eventually shifted to connecting university students in Mongolia and Connecticut. But the scope grew.
In John’s words: "Through connections with a geography teacher at my school, whose sister (Professor Enkhee) teaches at the Mongolian National University of Education (MNUE) in Ulaanbaatar, I connected professors Enkhee and Professor Bulgantsetseg 'Bulgaa' Munkhbat, who also taught at MNUE, with this possibility. Then a Zoom call with professors David, Enkhee, and Bulgaa ballooned into additional possibilities. It helped that Professors Enkhee and Bulgaa also graduated from the secondary school at which I co-teach, so we already had the familiarity to start building a global connection.”
Digital connections
In the fall of 2024, the two educators developed a Facebook group, and some Eastern students added introductions. During the spring 2025 semester, Eastern students created videos and uploaded them to a YouTube channel to share with their new Mongolian friends. After that, students from both nations continued to post introductions to the Facebook group website. Eastern students shared a list of email addresses to encourage individual connections.
For John, the biggest surprise about the connection was how surprised the Mongolian professors were at the additional time (often late into the evenings) they needed to coach and correct the students with their Tik Tok videos. Developing social media in this way was not common for their students, so everyone was learning. The students came from various schools within the university, so they were not all teachers-in-training.
David, for his part, was surprised about the interest the Mongolian students had in using Facebook as a communication medium, rather than communicating via email.
Professors team up to help program succeed
The two American professors developed a curriculum-based format and mapped out the timing and expectations of the virtual exchange. The Mongolian professors invested extra time developing the program to fit their curricula, and they needed to guide, correct and coach the students with their video projects, which initially were not fully developed. The Mongolian professors involved another professor and later suggested involving more professors so that each small group of students could be paired with a university professor for more program guidance. The Global Connections program was outside the standard curriculum for MNUE but, fortunately, these professors were able to convey the importance of the program to their universities and work to make it fit the curriculum.
Although the project was not always easy to manage due to the 12-hour time difference between the two groups of students, both American professors were impressed by the participants’ and fellow professor’s enthusiasm, curiosity, and ability to think outside of the box to make things happen. Both John and David noted that “once they started linking the Global Connections possibilities to their respective curricula, the Mongolian educators took the program and ran with it—including creating videos for the exchange that spanned a tour of the Chinggis Khaan National Museum in Ulaanbaatar, a video short on the daily life of a Mongolian student, a video on herding livestock in Mongolia, a day in the life of an Eastern State University commuting student, a survey of Connecticut foods, and a video about professional goals and interests.
Key learnings
When asked what they thought other Peace Corps Volunteers and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) could get out of the Global Connections program, both David and John talked about all the positives.
John advised that “sometimes one needs to be spontaneous and just go with trying to make a program work, and sometimes one needs to carefully plan aspects of a program to match relevant, applicable, and interesting aspects within a curriculum. Finding the enthusiastic and realistic students and teachers/professors is key, and having those people involved will make the possibilities more joyful and interesting.”
David, as an RPCV, said that he learned more about the possibilities of how intercultural connections can widen the worldviews of both students and educators. He went on to say that “Eastern Connecticut State University students were impressed by the video and language skills of the Mongolian university students. They learned a lot about Mongolia and student life there. Using Facebook, the students are beginning to make personal connections and share their hopes for the future.” What a perfect example of the Peace Corps’ third goal in action.
Global connections into the future
John emphasized the huge potential in intercultural learning through the Global Connections program, and offered the idea that, especially in a university setting, the program must link easily to the curriculum. The benefits are clear though. John hopes that one day intercultural connections will be used regularly to connect students worldwide as they study English and other languages and learn the history and culture of other nations.

Efficient Use of Renewable Energy Resources Can Enable Regional Supply www.montsame.mn

The “Fourth Mongolia-South Korea Strategic Forum” took place at the State Palace on August 20, 2025.
First Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia Uchral Nyam-Osor delivered opening remarks, noting that, since establishing diplomatic relations in 1990, bilateral cooperation between Mongolia and the Republic of Korea has developed intensively, reaching the level of a Comprehensive Partnership through joint efforts. First Deputy PM highlighted the significance of the Forum in defining the directions of the bilateral strategic partnership and exploring new opportunities and resources for future cooperation.
First Deputy PM Uchral further elaborated, “Mongolia has abundant renewable energy resources. If its abundant sources of solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy are utilized efficiently, Mongolia has the potential not only to meet its own energy needs but also to supply energy to the broader region. Thus, the high technology, investment, and experiences of the Republic of Korea can make a valuable contribution to the future of Mongolia’s energy sector.
Furthermore, we need to join forces in efforts to combat climate change on a regional level. Implementing joint projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions and increasing reforestation, as well as sharing research findings on pollution, will not only contribute to environmental protection but also further strengthen the future relations and cooperation between the two countries.
This Strategic Forum is the beginning of a new step forward in bilateral cooperation. I am confident that the strategic partnership between Mongolia and South Korea in the areas of renewable energy, urban heating modernization, and environmental protection will continue to strengthen and expand, contributing to the creation of a healthy and sustainable environment for future generations.”
Held annually, this year’s edition of the Forum focuses on the themes of energy and ecological issues.
Executive Director of the Ban-Ki Moon Foundation for a Better Future, Mr. Kim Sook, stated in his interview, “Mongolia, with its vast lands, has abundant renewable energy resources, marking a potential to unlock many advantages. The development of renewable energy will contribute not only to the domestic power and energy sectors but also to the technology sector, particularly artificial intelligence. Many renewable energy experts work in the Republic of Korea. I am confident that at this Forum, we will set the foundation for incorporating our human resources into energy operations to reach tangible outcomes.”
 Advisor to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mr. D. Amgalan, noted the Fourth Mongolia-South Korea Strategic Forum as one form of bilateral cooperation, and stated, “The renewable energy technologies currently in use in South Korea are highly applicable to Mongolia. In addition, the environmental and climate change research conducted by Korean experts closely aligns with Mongolia’s conditions, making their implementation both relevant and feasible in practice.”

Mongolia Wins 18 Medals at International Robotics Competition www.montsame.mn

Mongolian athletes achieved outstanding results at the “Robot Challenge” international robotics competition, held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, from August 15 to 19, 2025, earning six gold, seven silver, and five bronze medals.
A Mongolian team consisting of over 100 participants competed in the tournament, including the Mongolian Robot Development Association, New Era, Mongol Temuulel, School No. 44 of Ulaanbaatar, Orkhon Empathy, and School No.2 of Khanbogd soum in Umnugobi aimag. Together, the team won a total of 18 medals, proudly uplifting Mongolia’s reputation on the world stage.
The competition featured 5,000 athletes from 42 countries. Participating for the fifth time since 2018, Mongolia’s national team secured its fourth victory in the “Robot Rugby” category, reaffirming its continued success.
Originally launched in Austria in 2004 and later hosted in China since 2017, the international robotics competition has expanded steadily over the years. Today, it stands as one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence robotics events, drawing participants from 82 countries.

PM: “SOEs Must Lead in Implementing the State Austerity Policy” www.montsame.mn

By the order of Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav, the Government was instructed to eliminate inefficient expenses and optimize the structure and staffing of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and factories. The Prime Minister met with officials from the “Erdenes Mongol” Group and its subsidiaries to review the results of the official directive.
Chief Executive Officer of the “Erdenes Mongol” Group, Narantsogt Sanjaa, introduced its change and reform plans to increase revenues and reduce expenses in three phases.
“Erdenet Mining Corporation” SOE aims to surpass its revenues by MNT 208 billion, while other subsidiary companies aim for an outperformance of MNT 95 billion. While the sales incomes of “Shivee Ovoo” and “Baganuur” companies reduced by MNT 32 billion, “Erdenes Tavantolgoi” postponed investment activities worth MNT 199 billion, “Erdenet Mining Corporation” worth MNT 320 billion, and others worth MNT 36 billion. In addition, “Erdenes Tavantolgoi” is estimated to cut down operational costs by MNT 1.3 billion, and others by MNT 45 billion.
Prime Minister Zandanshatar noted, “Improving the quality, accessibility, and productivity of public services is the Government’s priority. The public criticizes the superfluous structure and poor productivity of state-involved and -owned enterprises. Approximately 38,000 of the 188,000 citizens who submitted suggestions for the 2026 State Budget Draft poll proposed to dismantle SOEs, cut down wasteful costs, and reduce bloated structures. The Government will acknowledge and consider citizens’ constructive criticism and suggestions in its work.
The Erdenes Mongol Group is obligated to implement the constitutional article on the fair distribution of benefits from natural resources to the people. You have the potential to generate benefits worth up to MNT 4 trillion, which the revenue increase plan for 2025 must not reduce below.” The Premier reminded that SOEs must lead in implementing the State Austerity Policy.
Furthermore, reminding that the “Erdenes Mongol” Group must increase exports and tax contributions to the State Budget in 2026 to enrich the National Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Premier highlighted the importance of planning and managing processing factories and procurement activities within the Group.

U.S. Government Reaffirms Commitment to Mongolia’s Water Security www.gogo.mn