The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has provided a local-currency loan equivalent of around 12 million U.S. dollars to a Mongolian company, the World Bank's country office in Mongolia said Tuesday.

The move is part of IFC's strategic efforts to boost resilience in Mongolia's financial sector amid COVID-19. About 15,000 micro, rural and women entrepreneurs in the next three years are set to benefit from the loan in the Mongolian tugrik for Transcapital, a leading non-bank financial institution in Mongolia.

The financing package includes a three-year loan of about 8.4 billion Mongolian tugriks (about 3 million U.S. dollars) from the IFC's own account and a syndicated loan of about 25.2 billion Mongolian tugriks (about 9 million dollars) from Impact Investment funds, including Invest in Visions, the Microfinance Initiative for Asia by BlueOrchard Finance, ACTIAM, and Developing World Markets, according to the World Bank.

"Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the Mongolian economy, providing over 50 percent of all jobs. They are also the ones hardest hit by COVID-19," said Zorigt Altanzul, CEO of Transcapital.

"IFC's innovative financing will allow us to expand our support to Mongolian micro and small enterprises while contributing to the nation's effort to rebound from (the) COVID-19 effect," Altanzul said.

In Mongolia, about 90 percent of SMEs do not have regular access to bank lending, with the financing gap estimated at 1.29 billion dollars, the bank said.

"This innovative investment will address some of the challenges faced by Mongolian businesses, especially micro and women-owned enterprises in rural and semi-urban areas," said Rufat Alimardanov, IFC's resident representative for Mongolia.

"This marks the first time IFC has invested in a non-banking financial institution in Mongolia and it's also our first local currency syndication in Mongolia. The financing signals our strong commitment to helping Mongolian enterprises in the recovery and rebuilding process in the wake of COVID-19," Alimardanov said. Enditem

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. The Ministry of Health has reported through its official social media page that 6 new COVID-19 cases detected in Mongolia.

Thus, Mongolia now has 374 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 317 recoveries. Currently, 54 people are undergoing treatment at the National Center for Communicable Diseases, of which 44 are in mild, 9 are in serious and 1 is in critical health condition.

Citizens are recommended to avoid crowded places, follow precautionary regimes and wear masks as the risk level is still high.

The drugmakers said their vaccine was more than 90 percent effective at preventing COVID-19, based on data from the first 94 people in the trial to become infected with the coronavirus.

The efficacy rate means that the overwhelming majority of infections occurred among people who received a placebo rather than the vaccine.

The 44,000-volunteer study was initially designed for a first interim analysis of whether the vaccine was working after 32 participants developed COVID-19.

Dr. William Gruber, Pfizer’s senior vice president of vaccine clinical research and development, said in an interview the companies changed the study plan after discussions with U.S. regulators and ultimately ended up with data on 94 people.

“It gives you more power and more confidence,” said John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. “When you triple the numbers and you get a large difference between them, it’s much more likely to be real.”

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Others cautioned that many questions remain, including whether the vaccine can prevent severe disease or complications, how long it will protect against infection and how well it will work in the elderly.

They noted that required safety data will not be available until later this month. In addition, Pfizer and BioNTech have yet to submit their data for peer review by other scientists, a key step in determining the quality of the results.

‘REALLY ENCOURAGING’ BUT EARLY

“These are really encouraging but they are the earliest of results possible,” said Dr Gregory Poland, a virologist and vaccine researcher with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

The full study is designed to show the vaccine is effective after 164 people fall ill. Pfizer said that may happen in the first or second week of December, when a panel of outside advisors to the Food and Drug Administration reviews the study results and decides whether to recommend authorizing its use.

Gruber said he did not yet have a breakdown of how many of the first 94 infections occurred among Black or Latino participants, two communities hit hard by the disease. He also did he know exactly how many elderly people in the trial got sick. Older people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to severe COVID-19

So far, none of the 94 people in the initial analysis developed severe COVID-19. The FDA initially had requested that the interim data include at least five severe cases, but recently relaxed that requirement, Gruber said.

“If a vaccine is to reduce severe disease and death, and thus enable the population at large to return to their normal day-to-day lives, it will need to be effective in older and elderly members of our society,” said Eleanor Riley, professor of immunology and infectious disease at Edinburgh University.

Gruber expects there will be some cases of severe disease before the trial ends.

“Bottom line is we’re going to have to use the data we have and the high efficacy to give us confidence that we’re going to prevent severe infection,” he said.

Scientists also want to understand whether the Pfizer vaccine fully prevents people from getting infected with the new coronavirus - a huge advantage in reducing transmission - or if it simply reduces the degree to which they become ill.

“Ideally, we want to be able to completely protect from infection, but I think we all accept that these so-called first generation vaccines are more likely to prevent disease,” said Lawrence Young, a professor of molecular oncology at Britain’s University of Warwick. “And the subtlety there, which is important, is if you’re infected then you can still transmit the virus.”

Pfizer intends to seek a broad approval for individuals aged 16 to 85, but the FDA and an advisory group to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would make decisions about who should be first in line to get the initial doses, which will be scarce.

If Pfizer wins emergency use authorization, Gruber said the company feels ethically bound to inform eligible trial participants who received a placebo that they are not protected against infection, and to offer them the vaccine in hopes of keeping them from dropping out of the trial.

Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago and Kate Kelland in London; additional reporting by Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot

An unofficial Chinese ban on Australian copper concentrate imports could hurt Chinese smelters in their negotiations with miners on benchmark treatment charges for 2021, traders and analysts said.

Australian media reported that Chinese importers have been informally warned by Chinese customs officials that a range of Australian goods, including copper concentrate, will be targeted for increased inspections from November 6 amid a diplomatic row between the two countries.

The orders had already forced traders to divert some small shipments bound for China, two traders told Reuters on Friday.

While Australia is not a big supplier of copper concentrate to China, the row comes as supplies from South America have been disrupted by the coronavirus epidemic which looks set to erode the bargaining power of smelters in China to buy for next year.

“On the face of it, the market tightens for the Chinese, so ultimately they will have to push their prices on the offer a bit lower to get that security of supply,” said analyst Daniel Hynes of ANZ in Sydney.

Miners pay treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) to smelters to process concentrate into refined metal. When supply is scarce, refiners have to charge less to attract what they need.

Chinese smelters and global miners meet every November to negotiate the annual benchmark for the following year’s TC/RCs.

“The timing couldn’t have been worse. The one area that is not struggling with covid-19 impacts to logistics is Australia, and that’s the place they have banned. The South Americans will use this as leverage,” said a copper concentrate trader based in Australia. Chile and Peru are China’s biggest suppliers.

Spot TCs plumbed an eight-year low of $50.50 a tonne this week, a 30% drop from the 2020 high hit in March and well below the annual benchmark of $62 a tonne, Asian Metals data showed.

“The ban may drive the spot market lower for China. For the 2021 benchmark, a slide is fair but I think it will actually settle near $60 a tonne and 6 cents per pound,” said a Singapore-based trader.

A second Australia-based trader forecast the benchmark in the mid $50s a tonne.

Diversion

In the short term, traders are scrambling to redirect Australian shipments.

“If you had a ship full of copper concentrate floating offshore, you’re rapidly trying to find a home,” a second Australia-based trader said.

Traders said Australian shipments meant for China could divert to Japan, Korea, India, or to blending facilities in Taiwan or Malaysia.

Australian producers of lead and zinc concentrates and precious metals are also making back-up plans in case the ban broadens, two traders said.

“We have no idea how long (this will last). It’s subject to the relationship between governments,” added a trader with a Chinese smelter.

The ban is expected to have only a limited impact on the Chinese concentrate market’s supply-demand balance, as Australia accounts for just less than 5% of China’s concentrate imports.

Australia’s two biggest copper producers, BHP Group and trading house Glencore, are also unlikely to be affected. BHP does not export copper concentrate and Glencore can divert material to its two smelters, each in Australia and the Philippines, they said.

Glencore and BHP declined to comment.

(By Melanie Burton, Mai Nguyen and Tom Daly; Editing by Richard Pullin)

Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. At today’s press briefing of the Ministry of Health D.Nyamkhuu, Director of the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD), reported that twelve positive cases were detected in Mongolia after a total of 1816 tests were carried out between November 6 and 8.

In detail, five people, who arrived on a charter flight from Seoul on October 19, and one person, who arrived from India on October 20, were diagnosed with the coronavirus after their repeated testing.

In addition, a Russian freight truck driver, who entered the country through the Altanbulag border checkpoint on November 7, was tested positive. Upon his request, the freight truck driver was returned to the home country after consulting with Russian relevant officials.

Moreover, two freight truck drivers /56-year old Belorusian and 52-year old Mongolian/, who entered the country through the Altanbulag border checkpoint on November 8, were confirmed having been infected with the coronavirus.

Three freight truck drivers- all Mongolians, who entered through the Altanbulag border checkpoint on October 17 and 18, were also diagnosed with the coronavirus after their repeated testing.

Five health workers, who worked together with the infected nurse, have been tested negative.

As of today, the total case of COVID-19 in Mongolia has reached 368, with 317 recoveries. Three patients made recoveries and are moving to the next stage isolation. There are 49 patients undergoing treatment at the NCCD, of whom 41 are in mild and 7 are in moderate condition.

A China-funded children's hospital equipped with 50 beds and advanced medical equipment opened in the Bayanzurkh district of Mongolia's capital Ulan Bator on Nov 9.

Mongolian Health Minister Togtmol Munkhsaikhan and Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Chai Wenrui attended a ceremony to mark the opening of the hospital.

"This is the fifth children's hospital built in Ulan Bator with the support of the China Foundation for Peace and Development. I am confident that the hospital will make a significant contribution to improving the quality of healthcare for children," Chai said at the ceremony, adding that the Chinese government and the Chinese embassy in Mongolia will continue to always support this kind of work.

Improving hospital care for children is one of the most pressing issues in Mongolia, especially in Ulan Batar which is home to nearly half of the country's child population.

As well as children in the Bayanzurkh district, those from Mongolia's eastern provinces can also receive medical care and services at the new hospital, Munkhsaikhan said, expressing his sincere gratitude to the Chinese side.

WUHAN, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Central China's Hubei Province on Monday sent the first batch of 10 container trucks to pick up Mongolia-donated sheep in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The first batch of 4,000 sheep, donated by Mongolia in support of China's COVID-19 epidemic fight, arrived in the China-Mongolia border city of Erenhot on Oct. 22.

The trucks, each loaded with a 40-foot refrigerated container that can contain 1,200 slaughtered sheep, were sent by Wuhan Asia-Europe Logistics and are scheduled to arrive in Erenhot Wednesday.

For epidemic control, all trucks and containers had been disinfected a week before departure, and all the drivers, as well as relevant trip riders, had gone through nucleic acid tests.

Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga in February visited China at the critical stage of China's COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control and promised to offer 30,000 sheep as a token of support.

According to a bilateral agreement, the sheep will be transported in batches to Erenhot before mid-November, where they will be slaughtered and processed before being sent to Hubei. Enditem

Mongolia currently has a low number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, but is under high risk of the COVID-19 infection and spread according to the Ministry of Health. When the pandemic started, the Mongolian government declared lockdown throughout the country and suspended inter-regional movements and closed schools, shops and all public services. Currently, local lockdown is lifted but the border is still closed. The Mongolian authorities have extended the state of emergency to December 31, 2020. It means that all passengers including the Mongolian nationals are not allowed to enter the country’s all auto road, railroad and air border.

According to the Mongolia National Police, the incident of domestic violence has been increased by 63% in contrast to the third quarter of last year and 92.7% of the victims are women and children because of longer hours staying at home and increased stress due to financial difficulties. Thus, GoodNeighbors International has intervened to respond.

In cooperation with KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) and Green Asia (NGO), GoodNeighbors International produced prevention videos of violence against children and women. Each video explains the rights of children in animation, corrects parents’ behaviors in child rights infringement situation, shows process of resolving domestic violence through counseling and encourages the viewers to adopt the method in their daily lives. The video transmission has started on October 26, 2020 and a total of four videos will be broadcasted 224 times nationwide through 16 broadcasting stations by December 26, 2020. The broadcast is scheduled between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. when people watch the most. The videos were produced by professionals and Mongolian famous celebrities appeared on the videos to attract all ages.

In line with the videos, the local social workers have been visiting 3,500 families to accelerate family activities to enhance family bonding. Through a series of activities, it is expected to enhance psychological and emotional support, strengthen the ability of the vulnerable to maintain their livelihood and strengthen the COVID-19 response and resilience of the Mongolian community.

Total beneficiaries and participants of the project are 28,000 individuals including the most vulnerable families, especially women and children who receive laundry service, hygiene kits, hand washing facilities and food packages.

GoodNeighbors International is an international humanitarian and development organization. It has made great strides in its mission by providing people around the world with a better quality of life since its establishment in Korea, 1991. GNI was granted General Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC in 1996 and acknowledged its contribution and granted the “MDGs Award” in 2007.

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. Millennium Challenge Account Mongolia organized a stakeholder engagement meeting, the first of a series of meetings planned to discuss a draft Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan (IPP), to incorporate recommendations and proposals of key stakeholders into the plan, at the “Consent Hall” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mongolia.

Representatives from organizations to implement the Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan participated in the first-day discussion, including the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Ministry of Food Agriculture and Light industry, Water Agency, USUG, Municipality of Ulaanbaatar, Capital City Governor’s office, WSRC, Tuul River’s basin Authority, as well as collaborating organizations, including Mongolian Tax Authority, State General Agency of Specialized Inspection, Metropolitan Professional Inspection Department, UB Environmental Department, OSNAAUG, New Wastewater treatment Plant PIU, Emeelt’s Light Industry and Technology park, Darkhan Light Industry and Technological park, and various research institutes and NGOs.

Head of the Department of Infrastructure Engineering Management Policy, MCUD G.Tsogtsaikhan chaired the event and moderated the discussions. Following the opening remarks, MCA-Mongolia Wastewater Recycling Activity Director T.Khishigt gave a presentation on the draft IPP.

In the beginning of the discussion session, MCA-Mongolia CEO E.Sodontogos reminded, “The Compact funding will only be available after the Government of Mongolia approves the Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan and the Cost Recovery Plan, being developed by the MCA-Mongolia in cooperation with key stakeholders. Upon the completion of this phase, we will be able to start construction works of the planned projects. Therefore, it is equally important for us to openly discuss challenges we face and solutions we seek, and exchange ideas and comments. As a result, the IPP will be submitted to the Government by the MCUD for approval”.

Participants actively engaged in the discussion session and raised interesting comments and points towards the improvement of the plan. Project Implementation Unit’s engineer at the New CWWTP D.Ankhbat highlighted that “According to the Conditions Precedent to the Compact EIF, our short and mid-term goal is to reduce the pollution level of the wastewater going into the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant to the level of 2013. However, we shall not forget that our long-term goal is to continue reducing pollutions to meet the Wastewater standard MNS 6561:2015.”

Development and approval of the Industrial Pre-Treatment Plan is one of the conditions precedent to entry-into-force of the Mongolia Water Compact, signed between the Government of Mongolia and the Millennium Challenge Corporation of the United States. The Government of Mongolia is obliged to implement the IPP during the Compact implementation period and shall be reporting through MCA-Mongolia to the MCC as stated in the Compact agreement.

Background

Millennium Challenge Account - Mongolia is a state-owned enterprise established by the decision of the Government of Mongolia on October 3, 2018, pursuant to Government Resolution No 297 in accordance with Section 3.2 of the Compact to implement the Program under the 350 million USD Mongolia Water Compact signed with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. government foreign aid agency.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation is an independent U.S. government agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth. Created in 2004, MCC provides time-limited grants and assistance to poor countries that meet rigorous standards for good governance, from fighting corruption to respecting democratic rights. Learn more about MCC at www.mcc.gov.

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ ‘Mars On Earth’ international hybrid online conference is to be organized by Mars-V project team on November 13 at the initiative of Mongolian Aerospace Research and Science Association (MARSA).

World-famous space and Mars experts and members of the first mission to Mars will virtually take part in the international conference to be held under the auspices of the President of Mongolia, with the support of the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of Mongolia. Mars On Earth’s purpose is to run discussion on Mars-V project that aims to establish in the Mongolian Gobi an International center of science, technology and innovation that consists of Mars comprehensive training academy, Space exploration and development free-zone and Satellite city for tourism.

According to the 'Mars on Earth' organizers, conference speakers are consisted of experts across diverse fields of policy making, information technology, science and space exploration as well as future Martians from NASA and ESA and the guests and audiences will be able to explore mankind's vision for Mars, to feel the lifestyle and immerse themselves into the future of space exploration, technological advancements and beyond.

The conference will have 3 sessions. In the 1st session, keynote speakers, namely, Founder and President of the Mars Society Dr. Robert Zubrin, Euro Space Center astronaut instructor and Founder of Mars Society Belgium Pierre Emmanuel Paulis, Chiba Institute of Technology, Team Lead for the Japan and United Arab Emirates joint Mars Research program Akiyama Hiroaki, and Professor at the National University of Mongolia, Mars-V project consultant Tsolmon Renchin will discuss ‘Mankind’s Vision to Reach Mars.

In the 2nd session, some of the first people who are to set foot on Mars, namely NASA astronaut Alyssa Carson, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Camille Fournier, astronaut Linda Raimondo who works on ESA and NASA programs will speak about the ‘Mars Generation’, while Member of the American Chamber of Commerce National Space Committee Gavin Gillett, Chairman of Communications and Information Technology Authority of Mongolia Bolor-Erdene Battsengel, Founder of Norwegian Space Agency Jannicke Mikkelsen, and Chief Executive of Young Researcher Supporting Foundation Mongolia Jargalsaikhan Dugar will discuss Space Technology and Digital Transformation.