Daily COVID-19 press briefing for today, April 22, by the Ministry of Health reported that 1,328 new coronavirus cases were detected in the past 24 hours after more than 10,000 tests were carried out at PCR laboratories across the country.

In specific, 1,245 new cases were confirmed in Ulaanbaatar city, three cases are imported cases from abroad, and 80 cases were detected in rural regions, including Zavkhan, Darkhan-Uul, Orkhon, Erdenet, Uvs, Khovd, Selenge, Tuv and Khentii aimags.

As a result, the nationwide infection tally is now 26,692, with the cases registered in the capital city reached 23,141.

In the last 24 hours, 426 coronavirus patients were recovered and discharged from hospital, making the number of COVID-19 recoveries 13,722. As of April 22, a total of 3,789 coronavirus patients are being treated at hospitals in Ulaanbaatar city and in the rural aimags. And another 5,140 coronavirus patients who are experiencing a mild disease are being treated at home while taking home isolation precautions.

The National Center for Communicable Diseases, the primary healthcare organization in the country responding to the pandemic, also reported five new COVID-19 related deaths, raising the country's death toll to 61. The casualties are COVID-19 patients aged between 48-90 years old, who were staying at hospitals in Ulaanbaatar city.

(Kuala Lumpur) Asian real estate technology group, Juwai IQI, today announced that the company has established an exclusive strategic partnership with Mongolia’s leading property players, Oly.mn and leading brokerage company RE/MAX Mongolia. Oly.mn will represent Juwai IQI in Mongolia through its platform exclusively under associate partner status.

In a joint statement released by all parties, the partnership will enable listings on either websites to be syndicated to the other free of charge, increasing exposure for all property listings from local real estate companies in the respective markets.

Juwai IQI Co-Founder and Group Executive Chairman Georg Chmiel said:

“We are excited to establish a strategic partnership with the leading property players in Mongolia, Oly.mn and RE/MAX Mongolia. The partnership will see Oly.mn and RE/MAX Mongolia operate as Juwai IQI Mongolia. They will adopt Juwai IQI’s brand and technology and this partnership not only represents a significant milestone for all parties, but also one for our users; the thousands of Asian property seekers, sellers and investors who want to be Global Residents in Asia.

“The Mongolian property market is considered to be one of the best destinations in Asia for property ownership. With its regulatory framework on title and property rights, great tax policies and no exchange controls, there is strong interest from Asian buyers and investors looking to get into the property market there.

“Our dedication to empowering Asian consumers to be global residents of the world is unwavering. Working closely with strategic partners, Oly.mn and RE/MAX Mongolia, we will now be able to deliver a Juwai IQI experience that meets the unique needs of the property market in Mongolia.”

Juwai IQI Group Co-Founder and CEO Kashif Ansari said:

“The expansion into Mongolia via our partnership with Oly.mn and RE/MAX Mongolia makes it easier for us to help investors from other countries who want to purchase real estate in Mongolia and at the same time, help Mongolians invest in property overseas. By operating under the Juwai IQI Mongolia brand, we will not only expand the brand's global reach, but it also reinforces our continued focus on technology and pioneering the real estate experience in international markets.”

“We are excited to welcome Oly.mn and RE/MAX Mongolia to the Juwai IQI family.”

Oly.mn Chief Executive Officer, Amartuvshin Ariunbold said:

“We are impressed with Juwai IQI’s growth journey over the past few years. They have done a great job developing the company and positioning it as one of Asia’s leading real estate technology groups. By operating under the same brand, Juwai IQI Mongolia, we are not only opening up the property market in Mongolia to the world, but we are also giving Mongolians the opportunity to purchase and rent property overseas with ease.

“To make it seamless for Mongolians to make an informed decision when it comes to purchasing a property overseas, details of the listings on Juwai IQI will be featured in the Mongolian language along with local currency.

“I'm excited about the opportunity. We have a strong position in the market, and through this partnership, we will now be able to create an even greater outcome to deliver excellence in client service and lead the industry through innovation and constant improvement.”

RE/MAX Mongolia Co-Regional Owner, Bujinlkham said:

“The relationship with Juwai IQI represents a powerful opportunity for RE/MAX Mongolia to significantly expand our presence in China and Asia, a vibrant and very important market. This partnership allows us to create the next evolution of real estate marketing and sales, delivering an incredibly unique value proposition for real estate agents, property developers as well as buyers and sellers of property in Mongolia.

“Together, we will now be able to connect discerning buyers and investors directly to the world's best properties and connect them with the best-in-class agents from Juwai IQI.”

The Mongolian government has offered loans of 563.5 billion Mongolian Tugriks (about 197.7 million U.S. dollars) to entities and citizens via commercial banks as part of employment support measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities said on Wednesday.

At present, 1,228 entities and 6,870 individuals have received the job support loans with an interest rate of 3 percent, the government's press office said in a statement.

The loans are part of a comprehensive plan involving 10 trillion Mongolian Tugriks (about 3.5 billion dollars) announced by the government in February to protect public health and recover the virus-hit economy.

As of Wednesday, Mongolia, with a population of 3.3 million, has registered a total of 25,364 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 62 related deaths. Enditem

On April 19, 2021, the Mongolian government publicly announced additional flights for foreign citizens who wish to depart Mongolia.

As of today, the Embassy is aware of the following flights to destinations with connections to the United States. These dates are subject to change and there is a possibility that the fights may not operate at all.

FLT NO DEPARTURE ARRIVE DATE

TOKYO

OM501 ULN 1000 NRT 1535 1-May

OM502 NRT 1635 ULN 2125 1-May

SEOUL

OZ5683 ICN 2000 ULN 2300 1-May

OZ5673 ULN 0120 ICN 0530 2-May

SEOUL

OM7301 ULN 1040 ICN 1450 5-May

OM7302 ICN 1620 ULN 1900 5-May

SEOUL

OM7301 ULN 1040 ICN 1450 7-May

OM7302 ICN 1620 ULN 1900 7-May

SEOUL

KE8868 ICN 1920 ULN 2200 11-May

KE8867 ULN 0100 ICN 0510 12-May

SEOUL

OM7301 ULN 1040 ICN 1450 13-May

OM7302 ICN 1620 ULN 1900 13-May

FRANKFURT

OM1371 ULN 1000 SVX 1145 14-May

OM1371 SVX 1245 FRA 1450 14-May

OM1372 FRA 1620 SVX 0005(+1) 14-May

OM1372 SVX 0105 ULN 0830 15-May

TOKYO

OM501 ULN 1000 NRT 1535 15-May

OM502 NRT 1635 ULN 2125 15-May

PUSAN

BX4135 PUS 1800 ULN 2100 15-May

BX4145 ULN 0100 ICN 0510 16-May

SEOUL

OM7301 ULN 1040 ICN 1450 19-May

OM7302 ICN 1620 ULN 1900 19-May

SEOUL

OM7301 ULN 1040 ICN 1450 21-May

OM7302 ICN 1620 ULN 1900 21-May

TOKYO

OM501 ULN 1000 NRT 1535 26-May

OM502 NRT 1635 ULN 2125 26-May

FRANKFURT

OM1371 ULN 1000 SVX 1145 26-May

OM1371 SVX 1245 FRA 1450 26-May

OM1372 FRA 1620 SVX 0005(+1) 26-May

OM1372 SVX 0105 ULN 0830 27-May

SEOUL

KE8868 ICN 1920 ULN 2200 27-May

KE8867 ULN 0100 ICN 0510 28-May

ISTANBUL

TBD IST TBD ULN TBD 28-May

TBD ULN TBD IST TBD 28-May

SEOUL

OM7301 ULN 1040 ICN 1450 29-May

OM7302 ICN 1620 ULN 1900 29-May

Tickets can be obtained from local ticketing agents, such as Airlink, AirTrans or Airmarket. To request a reservation on the MIAT flights, please contact the MIAT Mongolian Airlines call center at +976 11-333-999.

The Embassy does not know the price of tickets. You will be required to pay MIAT Mongolian Airlines directly for your travel. Though the Embassy does not endorse the services of MIAT Mongolian Airlines, it is recommended that you book your onward travel to the United States at the same time you pay for your flight from Mongolia. Doing so will ensure that you do not risk quarantine at your transfer point.

If you require financial assistance to pay for your travel to the United States, please clearly indicate this in your email. The Embassy is able to provide such assistance and your timely request will ensure that you receive the funds needed to return home.

Please continue to check the CDC’s COVID-19-specific website and the page for international travelers in order to stay updated on relevant regulations and rule changes for travel: https://www.cdc.gov/corona.../2019-ncov/travelers/index.html. All travelers two years of age or older, including United States citizens, arriving in the United States are required to present a negative viral test for COVID-19 performed on a specimen collected during the three days preceding the traveler’s departure. Alternatively, if the passenger has recovered from COVID-19, the passenger may instead travel with written or electronic documentation of a positive viral test result that confirms previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and a letter from a licensed health care provider or public health official stating that the traveler has been cleared for travel. More information on this requirement can be found at the CDC’s website.

Should you experience difficulties with the above process please contact the Consular Section by calling +976 7007-6001 during business hours to request assistance.

The cabinet yesterday, April 21, convened for a weekly regular session.

At the meeting, the cabinet backed a decision to file a counterclaim by bringing Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources as parties in the tax dispute concerning the Oyu Tolgoi gold-copper mining project. The decision is made on the basis of advice given by a law firm providing legal consulting services to the government Mongolia.

According to the press release issued by the cabinet secretariat, the government’s working group in charge of settling issues on the Oyu Tolgoi project benefits has been maintaining regular communications with the law firm and is developing a well founded response.

While considering it is necessary to raise a counterclaim on three issues in order to ensure Mongolia’s interests and safeguarding its position, the government today authorized the Ministry Finance, Ministry Justice and Internal Affairs and corresponding government agencies to file counterclaim and gave orders to take required measures.

The aforementioned issues include claims that Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources may have breached contracts and that public service officials may have granted undue advantages to foreign investors in connection with the Oyu Tolgoi project through the use of illegal and corrupt practices.

On February 20, Oyu Tolgoi LLC, jointly owned by Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC on behalf of the Government of Mongolia (34 percent) and Turquoise Hill Resources (66 percent), initiated an international arbitration proceeding at the London Court of International Arbitration in line with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Arbitration Rules in accordance with the tax assessment issued by the Mongolian Tax Authority relating to an audit on taxes imposed and paid by Oyu Tolgoi between 2013 and 2015 and another decision made by Mongolian Professional Inspection Agency relating to unpaid royalties on Oyu Tolgoi molybdenum.

The Mongolian Government was supposed to submit a response by February 20, 2021, to the case raised by Oyu Tolgoi LLC in compliance with the arbitration dispute resolution schedule. However, the deadline has been postponed by a relevant arbitration composition until April 30, 2021, as Oyu Tolgoi LLC requested on January 7, 2021, to update matters in the arbitration concerning the new tax assessment issued by Mongolian Tax Authority to fulfill conditions set by the clause 14.1 in Oyu Tolgoi’s Investment Agreement.

ULAANBAATAR, April 21 (Reuters) - Mongolia’s giant Tavan Tolgoi coal mine is aiming to raise 2 trillion tugriks ($700 million) through a bond issue as it tries to build infrastructure needed to replace Australia as one of China’s top coal suppliers, the head of the project said.

Gankhuyag Battulga, chief executive of the state-owned Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi JSC, said Mongolia needs to invest in railways to take advantage of simmering tensions between Beijing and Canberra, which have reduced coal shipments to zero since December.

“The Chinese government introduced a strict limit on Australian coal and this provides Mongolian coal exporters a unique opportunity to boost market share,” he told Reuters, adding that market conditions should shift in favour of Mongolia.

Tavan Tolgoi, located around 240 kilometres from the Chinese border, is one of the world’s largest coal deposits, but its development has been stymied by limited delivery capacity and longstanding financing troubles.

Part of the project was put up for tender in 2011 but the winning bid was annulled after Japan and South Korea complained the process was unfair. Mongolia has also tried to list Tavan Tolgoi on global stock exchanges.

“Underwriters warned us that there is a risk of not reaching our goal with failing coal demand and (an) uncertain world financial market,” Gankhuyag said.

The first tranche of bonds was offered for sale in late March, with an interest rate of 10% for local currency and 6.8% for U.S. dollars. It raised around $200 million.

The bonds are due to mature in two years. The underwriters were BDSec JSC and the Mongolian International Capital Corporation, two local investment banks.

Tavan Tolgoi will require $3.4 billion in investment over the 2021-2025 period, and 70% of that could be funded from the company’s own cashflow, Gankhuyag said.

The company is also constructing water pipelines, a coal washing facility and a 450-megawatt power plant that will supply electricity to Rio Tinto’s giant Oyu Tolgoi copper project.

It has become increasingly difficult to finance coal projects as banks come under pressure to divest from fossil fuels, a major source of climate-warming greenhouse gas.

Gankhuyag said Tavan Tolgoi saw the shift towards clean energy “not as a difficulty but as an opportunity”. The company will focus more on selling gas and electricity in future, he added.

The second tranche of bonds is due to go up for sale in the third quarter, and Gankhuyag said international investors were welcome.

“We are working hard to make our bond available both on local and international stock exchanges,” he said. (Reporting by Anand Turmurtogoo; Writing by David Stanway; editing by Barbara Lewis)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Prime Minister of Mongolia L.Oyun-Erdene delivered a speech via video at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021, which took place on April 20.

This year's conference, attended by more than 2,600 guests from over 60 countries and regions, is themed ‘A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation.’

In his speech, PM L.Oyun-Erdene highlighted that the Boao Forum is becoming an important dialogue platform that integrates multi-partite cooperation and efforts for ensuring regional sustainable economic development.

While congratulating the People’s Republic of China for its realization of goal to reduce poverty, which is outlined in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ten years ago, the PM underlined the importance of achieving economic growth sustainably, diversifying economy and making equal wealth distribution to end poverty.

Citing that the pandemic reminds us of how countries being deeply interrelated and the significance of mutual actions more than before, the PM presented Government’s ongoing policies and actions for its fight against the pandemic.

The PM also remarked that Mongolia would continue its policy to develop mutually beneficial cooperation and to take part in regional political and economic activities actively within the country’s priority directions including mining production, agriculture, energy, information technology, tourism, transport and logistics that are stated in Mongolia’s Vision 2050 long-term development policy.

The Forum is committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries even closer to their development goals. Initiated in 1998 by Fidel V. Ramos, former President of the Philippines, Bob Hawke, former Prime Minister of Australia, and Morihiro Hosokawa, former Prime Minister of Japan, the Boao Forum for Asia was formally inaugurated in February 2001.

Within the framework of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and China, Boao Forum for Asia Ulaanbaatar Conference was held in Mongolia in 2019 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia in partnership with the Boao Forum for Asia.

Mongolia has been ranked 68th out of 180 countries in 2021 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders.

The report told that the overall environment for the media has improved in Mongolia in recent years, especially as a result of the state media’s transformation from government mouthpieces into public services. But media ownership is very concentrated and most media are affiliated to political parties, which curtails the emergence of independent media. Whether state or privately-owned, the media are under pressure from politicians and their ability to act as watchdogs is limited by the government’s lack of transparency and susceptibility to criticism, and by still very imperfect media legislation.

Norway is ranked first in the Index for the fifth year running even though its media have complained of a lack of access to state-held information about the pandemic. Finland maintained its position in second place while Sweden (up 1 at 3rd) recovered its third place ranking, which it had yielded to Denmark (down 1 at 4th) last year.

This year’s Index, which evaluates the press freedom situation in 180 countries and territories annually, shows that journalism, which is arguably the best vaccine against the virus of disinformation, is totally blocked or seriously impeded in 73 countries and constrained in 59 others, which together represent 73% of the countries evaluated. These countries are classified as having “very bad,” “bad” or “problematic” environments for press freedom.

The Index data reflect a dramatic deterioration in people's access to information and an increase in obstacles to news coverage. The coronavirus pandemic has been used as grounds to block journalists’ access to information sources and reporting in the field. The data shows that journalists are finding it increasingly hard to investigate and report sensitive stories, especially in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

source: www.rfs.org

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, a team of Mongolian construction workers have been trapped in the Pacific on the US territory of Guam. The Mongolians have been working for Imperial Pacific International (IPI), which is part of a Chinese investment holding company specialising on building casinos. The following is US coverage of the case:

Attorney Michael Dotts told the federal court that progress has been made in repatriating Imperial Pacific International’s Mongolian construction workers. He said IPI, which he represents, is hopeful that the employees can return to their home country in early May.

Construction work at the IPI casino-resort site remains suspended as ordered by the court, Dotts added.

In IPI’s 14th status report filed with the District Court for the NMI on Monday, Dotts said, “IPI employee housing still has power. Food services have continued without interruption for all IPI H-2B workers.” IPI’s next payday (payroll 9) is April 23, he added.

Dotts also informed the court that the Bank of Guam has requested until April 30 to produce documents sought by a subpoena served to BOG for copies of cancelled checks issued by IPI to its employees.

This is in relation to the recently approved amended consent judgment between IPI and the U.S. Department of Labour to assure that checks to IPI’s employees have cleared.

Iron ore prices jumped more than 4% on Tuesday, extending gains spurred by improved steel profit margins in China and disappointing output figures from Rio Tinto and Vale.

According to Fastmarkets MB, Benchmark 62% Fe fines imported into Northern China (CFR Qingdao) were changing hands for $189.61 a tonne on Tuesday, up 4.29% from the previous day – the highest level since 2011.

September iron ore on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange ended the daytime trading session 3.6% higher at 1,100 yuan ($169.28) a tonne, following news that China’s crude steel production jumped 19% last month from a year earlier to near a record.

The nation’s output of the alloy is booming at the same time as a pollution crackdown has lifted prices and benefited profit margins at mills.

Daniel Hynes, senior commodities strategist, ANZ Banking Group

“Incredibly healthy Chinese steel margins have been the real driving force behind iron ore’s move higher over the past week,” managing director at Navigate Commodities in Singapore Atilla Widnell told Reuters.

Rio Tinto’s iron ore output in the March quarter dropped 2% on an annual basis, while production at Vale fell 19.5% from the previous quarter.

BHP Group Ltd on Wednesday reported a near 2% dip in third-quarter iron ore production but said full-year output is expected to be at the upper end of its forecast.

“With the market relatively tight at the moment, it will certainly see any failure to meet current guidelines as relatively positive for the price,” Daniel Hynes, senior commodities strategist at ANZ Banking Group told Bloomberg.

Vale and Rio both maintained their forecasts for full-year production, though a slower-than-expected recovery at Vale could see the market reset its expectations, he said.

Rio cautioned that its guidance for the annual output of up to 340 million tonnes was subject to logistical risks associated with bringing 90 million tonnes of replacement mine capacity on stream. It also said that Tropical Cyclone Seroja had impacted its Pilbara mine and port operations in April.

It was a “mediocre quarter” for Rio, Tyler Broda, mining analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said in a note. Quarterly production was 6% less than the bank’s estimate.

“Not all that much is going in the right direction from a bottom-up basis for Rio Tinto as they continue to tackle the various challenges at their operations and projects, but main commodities iron ore and aluminum are both benefiting from the China decarbonisation theme,” Broda said.

The iron ore market has kept a wary eye on the still-tight global supply in the wake of a Vale tailings dam disaster in 2019 that had prompted mine closures for safety checks in Brazil.

However, real-time shipping data showed an improvement in cargo volumes from the world’s top suppliers. Iron ore shipments by Australia and Brazil recovered last week after two weeks of declines, according to Mysteel consultancy.

The short-term outlook for iron ore prices remained strong, ANZ’s Hynes said, with Chinese steel mills content to accept current high prices for their main feedstock while their margins were so strong. However, he added the cost of ore was now well above fair value, with the risk of a pullback later in the year if Beijing’s plans to curb steel production to control greenhouse gas emissions start to impact demand.

“If we saw a 1% fall in Chinese steel production that would potentially wipe out about 15-20 million tonnes of iron ore,” said Hynes.

(With files from Reuters and Bloomberg)