Mongolia, Czech Republic to cooperate in mega projects www.azertag.az

To reduce traffic congestion and air pollution and improve the living environment for residents, Ulaanbaatar City is implementing major development projects aimed at transforming the Capital’s infrastructure and urban landscape, according to Montsame.
Chief Architect of Ulaanbaatar City, Tugsdelger Chinbat, received a delegation of business representatives led by the Vice President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, Radek Jakubský. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on potential cooperation in these development projects.
The Governor's Office of the Capital City of Ulaanbaatar presented an overview of 24 mega development projects. The Vice President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, Radek Jakubský, noted, “The progress, feasibility studies, and research of these projects are convincing. We are pleased to cooperate in realizing major projects that will bring significant social and economic benefits.”
Chief Architect Ch. Tugsdelger expressed the Capital city’s interest in working with the Czech Republic on infrastructure projects such as metro and tram systems and in sharing experience and technical expertise. Founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Czech architecture and construction company “Atelier Tsunami,” Aleš Krtíčka, introduced the company’s 33 years of experience in both domestic and international markets.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the Czech Republic on April 25, 1950, the two countries have developed relations that have now reached the level of a Comprehensive Partnership. Czech-invested and joint-venture companies have invested a total of USD 25.1 million in Mongolia since 1993, reflecting the expansion of bilateral business and economic cooperation.

Twelve Micro Parks to Be Built Across Eight Districts of Ulaanbaatar www.montsame.mn

Under a decree issued by the Governor of the Capital City, Ulaanbaatar will establish 12 micro parks across eight districts by clearing and redeveloping public land areas.
According to the Governor’s Office of the Capital City, the initiative seeks to enhance residents’ health, safety, and living environment by removing fences, garages, and kiosks from public spaces and converting the cleared areas into green zones.
Two micro parks will be developed in the 22nd and 8th khoroos of Bayangol District.
Tree nurseries have been established on a 0.5-hectare site in Bayanzurkh District for the planned “International Eco Park,” with additional micro parks to follow.
Meanwhile, in Sukhbaatar District’s 13th khoroo, two hectares of land are being cleared for a new park, while 39 land plots in Songinokhairkhan District’s 8th, 39th, and 40th khoroos have already been vacated to create green spaces.
Along the Tuul River in Khan-Uul District’s 22nd khoroo, a landscaped park with recreation areas will be developed in two phases between 2025 and 2026. 
Chingeltei District plans to establish two micro parks, Nalaikh District one, and Baganuur District three green micro parks.
Last year, micro parks with green landscaping were established in Bagakhangai District’s 2nd khoroo; Baganuur District’s 5th khoroo; Bayanzurkh District’s 20th, 34th, and 35th khoroos; Chingeltei District’s 6th, 15th, and 16th khoroos; Songinokhairkhan District’s 11th, 18th, 22nd, and 35th khoroos; Sukhbaatar District’s 17th khoroo; and Nalaikh District’s 5th khoroo.

Mongolian prime minister steps down after four months www.reuters.com

Mongolian Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar has stepped down after losing support of the country's parliament, Chinese state media reported on Friday, vacating the pivotal role after taking office just four months ago.
Lawmakers on Friday voted for the dismissal of Zandanshatar, a former foreign minister and parliamentary speaker, following a meeting, according to China's official Xinhua news agency.
The 55-year-old was confirmed as the country's 32nd prime minister in June after his predecessor, Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, quit, also after losing parliamentary backing, due to corruption claims and street protests.
Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, Mongolia's head of state and president since 2021, is expected to nominate the next prime minister, who would require the approval of the State Great Khural, or parliament.
Mongolian politics has been rocked by waves of volatility in recent years amid public anger over corruption and a weak domestic economy.
The dismissal of two prime ministers within months will also cast uncertainty over policy continuity and erode investor sentiment for  the resources-rich country.
Earlier this month, the World Bank slashed its forecast for Mongolia's 2025 economic growth to 5.9% from its April estimate of 6.3%, citing lower coal prices, global trade uncertainty, as well as elevated inflation and stagnant wages.
Mongolia's gross domestic product grew 4.9% in 2024.
Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Lincoln Feast

Mongolia’s rating upgraded to B1 by Moody’s on stable growth www.investing.com

Qatar and Mongolia talk environmental co-operation ahead of UN desertification summit www.gulf-times.com

HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, held talks with his Mongolian counterpart, Batbaatar Bat, in Doha yesterday.
The meeting focused on preparations for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which Mongolia is set to host in August 2026.
The two ministers also explored avenues for bilateral co-operation in environmental protection and climate change mitigation, reflecting a shared commitment to global sustainability goals.
The talks come as both nations seek to deepen collaboration on issues related to land degradation, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

Mayor of Ulaanbaatar Authorized to Conclude Partnership Agreement for CHP-5 Project www.montsame.mn

At its meeting held on October 16, 2025, the Citizens’ Representative Khural of the Capital City approved a resolution to grant authority to the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar to conclude a partnership agreement for the “Combined Heat and Power Plant No. 5 (CHP-5)” project.
This marks the commencement of a historic infrastructure development, the first mega-project in Mongolia’s energy sector to be implemented through a public-private partnership. The project is a strategic development aimed at meeting the Capital city’s electricity and heat demand, improving the reliability of energy supply, and reducing air pollution. The plant, with a capacity of 2×150 megawatts, will employ modern circulating fluidized bed combustion technology to generate 2.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and 4.8 million gigajoules of heat annually. Equipped with a flue gas filtration system, it will feature an environmentally friendly solution capable of reducing particulate emissions by up to 99.9 percent.
The selection process for the private sector partner to implement the project has been organized in stages in accordance with the Law on Public-Private Partnership and the procedures approved by Government Resolution No. 210 of 2024. Based on the evaluation results, a working group was established to negotiate with the highest-ranked bidder, and mutual agreement was reached on September 25, 2025. With the Citizens’ Representative Khural granting the authority to conclude the agreement, the project has now reached the stage of practical implementation.
During the implementation of the CHP-5 project, more than 1,600 jobs will be created, with 369 permanent positions upon commissioning. In addition, the project is expected to provide multiple benefits, such as training engineers and technical specialists and supporting domestic production and service sectors. The total investment amounts to USD 658.6 million, of which 80 percent will be financed by the private sector and 20 percent by the Capital city budget in phases.

With Presidential Visit, Mongolia and India Envisage Stronger Economic Links www.thediplomat.com

In recognition of Mongolia and India’s 70 years of diplomatic relations, Mongolia’s President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa paid four-day state visit to India from October 13-16. It was the first visit to India by a Mongolian president in six years.
During Khurelsukh’s visit to New Delhi, Mongolia and India held high-level talks and reiterated their mutual commitment to strengthen the 2015 Strategic Partnership. Mongolia and India, as partners with strong cultural and spiritual links, hope to increase their engagement both economically and in multilateral forums.
India was the first noncommunist state to recognize the Mongolian People’s Republic in 1955. More recently, ties were raised to the level of a Strategic Partnership when India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Mongolia in 2015.
Despite these milestones, ties have remained below their potential. India’s growing role in the Indo-Pacific could open a major door for Mongolia. Khurelsukh’s visit, although not the first by Mongolian president, demonstrates the expansion of Mongolia’s foreign policy, and its further aim to be a player in the Indo-Pacific. In particular, landlocked Mongolia is seeking greater maritime access. 
During the official talks between Khurelsukh and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the Strategic Partnership, based on “shared values of democracy, freedom, and mutual respect.” The India-Mongolia joint statement particularly focused on trade, energy, infrastructure, green development, education, and culture. 
On October 16, the India-Mongolia Business Forum was co-organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Mongolian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Embassy of Mongolia in India. The forum showcased Mongolia as an attractive investment destination, particularly in coking coal, gold, copper, and critical minerals. Mongolia’s Deputy Prime Minister Amarsaikhan Sainbuyan invited Indian businesses to explore diverse sectors such as railroad, animal husbandry, fintech, technology, banking and finance, disaster risk reduction, and the mining sector at large.
Rajoli Siddharth Jayaprakash, a Eurasian Studies Initiative Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, described India’s cooperation with Mongolia as “rather interesting.” He explained: “While trade volumes remain on the lower end, the interest in India to strengthen engagement with Ulaanbaatar has increased and can be particularly reflected in the minerals segment, where there is also an Indian private sector presence [by] major players such as Adani, Hindalco, Vedanta, and JSW Steel.”  
Mongolia can be a source of critical raw materials for India’s steel and technology industries. For example, in 2024, the Mongolian and the Indian governments discussed possible cooperation in Mongolian exports of coking coal. Khurelsukh’s visit included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Geology and Mineral Resources between the Ministry of Mines of India and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources of Mongolia. The goal, the joint statement said, is to “lay the groundwork for collaboration in exporting Mongolia’s key mineral resources to the Indian market, including coking coal and copper.”
India is also helping to jump start Mongolia’s oil industry. The Mongolia-India joint oil refinery in Dornogovi is being funding by a $1.7 billion line of credit from the Indian government. When completed in 2027, the refinery aims to process 1.5 million tonnes of crude oil annually. This will help address Mongolia’s dependency on Russian oil. 
Beyond fossil fuels, the two partners also discussed cooperation on clean energy. During the bilateral talk, Khurelsukh praised India’s active participation and engagement in global energy solutions. He then announced Mongolia was joining the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The ISA was established in Paris in 2015 as a collaborative mechanism between India and France to find and implement solar energy solutions. Ulaanbaatar’s joining the ISA is an important indicator of Mongolia’s determination to accelerate its transition to diverse, renewable energy. It helps that Mongolia is strengthening its relations with both co-founders, India and France.
In India’s Eurasian strategy, Mongolia’s vast natural resources and its democratic, open society make it a natural partner. And Khurelsukh’s visit had impeccable timing, coming just over a month after Modi’s attendance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit showcase a warming of India-Russia and China-Russia relations. India’s improved ties with Mongolia’s direct neighbors can create other avenues of cooperation given Mongolia’s landlocked position.
One of the major agreements reached during Khurelsukh’s visit was the establishment of the third-neighbor port. The head of press at the Office of the President, Zolbayar Ulziibayar, wrote that “the two sides agreed to utilize the third-neighbor ports, transportation transits, and have direct flights between the two countries.” Having access to ports in “third neighbor” countries is strategically important for Mongolia, given its landlocked geographical limitations.
In a symbolic gesture to commemorate the people-to-people relations between Mongolia and India, Modi and Khurelsukh planted a memorial tree. The gesture also indicated Modi’s support for Mongolia’s “One Billion Trees” initiative, Khurelsukh’s signature initiative to combat climate change. India, too, has a similar initiative called “One Tree for Mother [Earth].”
In an interview with the press, Foreign Minister of Mongolia Batsetseg Batmunkh highlighted that “even though Mongolia and India are celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, our ties began 2,500 years ago. India is the sole country that Mongolia has a special spiritual link [with].”
In official parlance, the two countries describe their relationship as “Spiritual Neighbors” as well as Strategic Partners. In 1990, when the Embassy of India first opened its doors in Ulaanbaatar, the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, an Indian Buddhist lama, was appointed as ambassador. 
To modernize this 2,000-plus-year-old connection, Mongolia and India have agreed to digitalize 1 million ancient manuscripts and connect India’s Nalanda University to Mongolia’s Gandan Monastery. As thousands of Buddhists make a pilgrimage to India each year, this is a major step in strengthening Buddhism in both countries. The Modi government also plan to build a library in Gandan Monastery and will finance the renovation of the Bogd Khan Museum.
Mongolia’s push to advance relations with India also includes strengthening people-to-people relations in education. As the joint statement noted, India’s “Atal Bihari Vajpayee Centre of Excellence in Information Technology, Communication and Outsourcing will enable the training of over 1,000 Mongolian youth annually in advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and related fields.” During Khurelsukh’s visit, India also agreed to providing training to an additional 70 Mongolian nationals under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program for 2025–2026.
Khurelsukh’s visit to India was accompanied by numerous cultural events, including a “Beautiful Homeland of Mongolia” concert, a painting exhibition, and a morin khuur (Mongolian horsehead fiddle) exhibition. 
Finally, India and Mongolia have been strengthening their defense ties. India has been a long-time supporter of Mongolia’s military diplomacy and peacekeeping on the world stage. Mongolia and India have a bilateral military drill, called Nomadic Elephant, and India also participates in Mongolia’s multinational exercise, Khaan Quest.
A new mechanism that will bolster defense ties between the two countries is India’s decision to post a defense attaché in Ulaanbaatar. The new post aims to “launch a new capacity-building program, which will support Mongolia’s border security forces.”
Amid notable geopolitical shifts, India is giving greater impetus to strengthening relations in Eurasia, especially with fellow democracies like Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar, in return, hopes to accelerate economic activities and receive greater investment from India. As the joint statement put it, both sides are seeking to “advance their shared vision of a stronger Strategic Partnership that contributes to peace, prosperity, and stability in the region and the world in the decade ahead.”
By Bolor Lkhaajav

The Debate Around Government Resolution No.55: Why It Matters for Mongolia’s Economic Stability www.arctusanalytics.com

Mongolia Urges Indian Companies to Explore Investment Opportunities in Mining and Oil Exploration www.chemindigest.com

Mongolia’s Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan has urged Indian companies to tap into the country’s vast potential in mineral mining and oil exploration. Speaking at the India-Mongolia Business Forum held in New Delhi, he underlined a wide spectrum of investment prospects spanning railway development, animal husbandry processing (including wool, leather, and cashew value addition), manufacturing, tourism, healthcare, transport and logistics, banking and finance, ICT, and standards and measurements.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCII), and the Embassy of Mongolia in India jointly organised the forum, reflecting the growing economic engagement between the two nations.
Opportunities in Oil and Energy Infrastructure
Highlighting Mongolia’s plans to strengthen its energy infrastructure, Amarsaikhan invited Indian oil companies to participate in exploration and production activities across the country’s oil fields. He noted that essential supporting infrastructure will be completed within the next two years, creating a favourable environment for investment and collaboration.
Strategic Location and Trade Advantages
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized Mongolia’s strategic location between major markets such as China and Russia, along with its Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Japan and other nations, offering India an extended trade corridor and improved market access. These advantages, he noted, could significantly enhance the competitiveness of Indian exports through Mongolia.
India-Financed Refinery to Strengthen Energy Partnership
Amarsaikhan also highlighted the landmark $1.7 billion oil refinery project, Mongolia’s first and only refinery, financed by the Government of India. Once operational, the facility is expected to meet nearly 50% of Mongolia’s domestic demand for petroleum products. This will mark a milestone in bilateral energy cooperation and self-reliance.
Expanding Cooperation in Mining and Industrial Sectors
Atul Malhari Gotsurve, Ambassador of India to Mongolia, reiterated the immense potential for cooperation in the mining sector. He cited Mongolia’s abundant reserves of coking coal, gold, copper, and other critical minerals. He also noted that Mongolia’s special treaty with Russia provides tariff rebates of 50–60% on goods transported there. This opens up new export opportunities for Indian enterprises.
New Avenues in Automobiles and Pharmaceuticals
As reported by etenergyworld.com, both leaders identified the automobile and pharmaceutical sectors as emerging areas for collaboration. As reported by assamtribune.com, the two countries aim to strengthen trade ties and promote sustainable growth. By leveraging Mongolia’s resource base and India’s industrial expertise, they plan to build a long-term strategic economic partnership.

US judge set to approve Rio Tinto's $138.75 million Mongolia mine settlement www.reuters.com

NEW YORK, Oct 15 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday said he was ready to approve Rio Tinto's (RIO.L), opens new tab, (RIO.AX), opens new tab agreement to pay $138.75 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the Anglo-Australian mining giant of defrauding investors by concealing problems with its $7 billion underground expansion of the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine in Mongolia.
Rio Tinto had reached a preliminary settlement with shareholders of the former Montreal-based Turquoise Hill Resources in June, pending approval from Manhattan-based U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman.
Liman at a hearing on Wednesday said he was ready to approve the settlement, but did not sign off on it yet because he was waiting for the shareholders' lawyers to inform him of what they planned to do with any funds left after initial distributions.
Rio Tinto did not admit wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.
The lawsuit sought damages on behalf of Turquoise Hill shareholders between July 2018 and July 2019, when that company, then listed in Toronto, was majority-owned by Rio Tinto.
Shareholders were led by funds advised by Chicago-based Pentwater Capital Management.
Pentwater said in a September 10 court filing that the settlement amount represented between 34% and 43% of the damages it believed it could prove at trial, describing it as reasonable given the risk of continued litigation.
Turquoise Hill had been a single-asset company owning 66% of the Oyu Tolgoi mine, with Mongolia's government owning 34%.
Pentwater accused Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill of fraudulently assuring that the Oyu Tolgoi mine was "on plan" and "on budget," even as it was falling up to 2-1/2 years behind schedule and running as much as $1.9 billion over budget.
Rio announced the possible $1.9 billion overrun in 2019, and projected total capital expenditures of $6.5 billion to $7.2 billion.
In 2022, Rio Tinto bought the 49% of Turquoise Hill it did not already own for $3.3 billion, fully integrating the mine into its copper portfolio.
Lawyers accused some of the world's biggest carmakers of manipulating diesel emissions tests.
Reporting by Luc Cohen, Clara Denina, Editing by Alexandra Hudson