Mongolia's industrial output shrinks 2.8 pct in 1st half of year www.xinhuanet.com

Mongolia's industrial output shrank by 2.8 percent in the first half of 2025, compared to the same period a year earlier, the country's National Statistics Office said Thursday.
The industrial output amounted to 18.6 trillion Mongolian tugriks (about 5.18 billion U.S. dollars) in the January-June period, according to the office.
The drop was mainly attributed to a significant decrease in the output of main mining and extractive products, it added.

Official agreement reached to open Busan port to Mongolia www.akipress.com

Head of Mongolia's consular-diplomatic mission in Busan Jadambaa Tsagaan-Uvgun held an official meeting with officials from the South Korean Port of Busan. The delegation included Port Director Song Sang-Geun, Vice Director and Head of the International Department Koo Ja-Rim, and Head of the International Logistics Department Sol In-Hae.
The Port of Busan, which began operations in 1876, is a major global hub. It is ranked the second-largest in the world for transit cargo and the sixth-largest for container traffic.
The port connects to 500 ports in over 150 countries, handling 400 million tons of cargo annually. It is considered a strategically vital transport and logistics center in Northeast Asia.
During an official meeting, Jadambaa Tsagaan-Uvgun and Song Sang-Geun, director of the Busan Port Authority, discussed strengthening trade and logistics ties. 
Noting that trade between the two nations is growing, Jadambaa Tsagaan-Uvgun highlighted that Mongolian cargo has traditionally been routed through the Port of Incheon. He stressed the urgent need to open a "second gateway" via the Port of Busan to accommodate the increasing trade volume.
Director Song Sang-Geun expressed his full support for the proposal and readiness to cooperate. He stated that the official launch of a dedicated section of the Busan Port for Mongolia would be initiated by signing a memorandum of cooperation between a relevant Mongolian organization and the Port Authority.
Both sides agreed that this new route would provide Mongolia with the most cost-effective and fastest conditions for transporting goods not only from South Korea but also from all maritime countries, including America and Europe.
The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding that this initiative is a crucial step toward elevating trade and economic relations and connecting Mongolia to the international transport network via Busan. Both parties expressed their commitment to quickly fulfill their obligations to facilitate the first shipment of goods.

15th edition of Silk Way Rally concludes www.ubpost.mn

The 15th edition of the prestigious Silk Way Rally came to a triumphant close in Gorno-Altaysk, the capital of the Altai Republic in Russia. The international competition, which brought together 837 competitors from 12 countries, began its journey from Irkutsk, Buryatia, and spanned over 5,500 kilometers through challenging terrain.
Participants raced across both car and motorcycle categories, traversing diverse landscapes including Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar, Bayankhongor, Govi-Altai, and Khovd provinces. The rally lasted for 11 days and tested the endurance, precision, and skill of every rider and driver involved.
In a major victory for Mongolia, International Master of Sports P.Murun claimed first place in the “Moto Rally–Up to 450cc” category. Riding a KTM 450 Rally Replica, he outperformed international contenders to become the proud winner of the coveted “White Lion” Trophy. This marks an improvement over his performance last year, where he also made it to the podium. His back-to-back success has cemented his status as one of the premier rally riders in the region. Moreover, in the automotive division, Russian teams dominated the leaderboard, securing all three top positions.
The Silk Way Rally has been held since 2009 and is recognized as one of the world’s most demanding cross-country endurance rallies. Originally, parts of the route were scheduled to pass through China, but earlier this spring, the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of China announced restrictions on certain transit areas. As a result, organizers, in cooperation with the Government of Mongolia, adjusted the route and decided to relocate the rally’s finish line to Ulaanbaatar, extending Mongolia’s role in hosting this major international event.
The successful completion of this year’s rally further solidifies Mongolia’s growing presence in global motorsport and highlights the country’s vast and challenging landscapes as an ideal setting for endurance racing.

President U.Khurelsukh begins state visit to Tajikistan www.gogo.mn

Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, the President of Mongolia, is paying a state visit to the Republic of Tajikistan on July 23-26 at the invitation of President Emomali Rahmon.
Upon arrival at Dushanbe International Airport, President U.Khurelsukh was welcomed by First Deputy Prime Minister Kholikzoda Khokim and D.Bayarkhuu, Mongolia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Tajikistan. 
The visit is expected to provide significant momentum for expanding and strengthening Mongolia’s friendly relations with Central Asian countries, particularly Tajikistan, by deepening economic cooperation and enhancing people-to-people ties.
During the visit, Presidents U.Khurelsukh and Rahmon will hold one-on-one meetings and official talks, after which they will issue a Joint Statement of Mongolia and the Republic of Tajikistan on the Development of Friendly Relations and Multilateral Cooperation.
Several bilateral cooperation agreements are also expected to be signed to promote relations in various sectors.
In addition, President U.Khurelsukh will meet with the Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, the lower house of Tajikistan’s Parliament, to discuss inter-parliamentary cooperation.
A Mongolia-Tajikistan business forum and cultural performances will also be held as part of the state visit under the auspices of the two heads of state.
Mongolia and Tajikistan established diplomatic relations in 1992, and this marks the first state visit by a Mongolian President.
Upon his arrival in Dushanbe, President U.Khurelsukh laid a wreath at the monument to Ismoil Somoni, a national symbol of Tajik history and culture.
Ismoil Somoni, the first emir of the Samanid dynasty, is revered for his pivotal role in shaping Tajik statehood. A 13-meter-tall statue stands in his honor, accompanied by a museum that includes a replica of the Samanid Mausoleum from the 9th–10th centuries in Bukhara.
Flanked by bronze lions symbolizing stability, peace, and national unity, the monument serves as a ceremonial site where visiting heads of state and dignitaries traditionally pay their respects.

Mongolia renewable energy 2025: 5 Essential Steps for Success www.pvknowhow.com

Mongolian banking sector's net foreign assets down 60.2 pct in June www.xinhuanet.com

The Mongolian banking sector's net foreign assets fell 60.2 percent year-on-year to reach 3.9 trillion Mongolian tugriks (about 1.08 billion U.S. dollars) in June, government data showed Wednesday.
During the period, net domestic assets of Mongolia's banks amounted to 39.1 trillion tugriks (10.90 billion dollars), an increase of 23.6 percent, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO).
Meanwhile, cumulative savings within Mongolian commercial banks demonstrated a robust performance, reaching 22.6 trillion tugriks (about 6.30 billion dollars) by the end of June 2025.
U.S. dollar savings experienced a substantial uptick, surging 16.9 percent, while Mongolian tugrik savings exhibited a more modest increase of 15 percent, the NSO said.
Currently, there are about 1,500 branches of 11 commercial banks operating in Mongolia.

Probe targets alleged link between Mongolia operation, martial law www.koreaherald.com

A special counsel is investigating a covert operation conducted by the military in Mongolia in November, in which two intelligence officers allegedly attempted to contact North Korean officials, as part of its probe into former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Investigators suspect that the operation was designed to provoke North Korea or to open a line of communication that could serve as justification for Yoon's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 of last year.
The special council has also underscored the importance of the ongoing probe into military authorities.
"Not investigating cases involving suspicions of treason would be a dereliction of duty,” assistant special counsel Park Ji-young said during a briefing Wednesday afternoon.
According to local daily Hankyoreh on Wednesday, two Korea Defense Intelligence Command officers — a lieutenant colonel and a major — were deployed to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where they attempted to approach the North Korean Embassy through Mongolian officials. They had been tasked with gathering intelligence on North Korea, and their mission report reportedly listed the North Korean Embassy as a target.
The officers were detained by Mongolian intelligence authorities during the operation and were released after then-KDIC commander Major Gen. Moon Sang-ho traveled to Mongolia to request their release.
The KDIC has links to other aspects of the martial law attempt. Moon was suspended in December for dispatching KDIC personnel to the National Election Commission on the night of Dec. 3 to photograph the commission’s server room.
However, no concrete evidence has been found to prove the KDIC’s direct involvement in the overall planning of the martial law imposition, aside from its connection to former KDIC chief Noh Sang-won, who was arrested in December on charges related to orchestrating Yoon's martial law plan.
Noh reportedly received a list of 46 intelligence officers from Gen. Moon in October 2024. A notebook seized from Noh contained phrases such as “induce the North’s attack at NLL (referring to the Northern Limit Line)” and “waste balloons,” which investigators believe suggest the KDIC’s involvement in fabricating a security crisis ahead of the Dec. 3 declaration.
If such intent from the KDIC is discovered through the special counsel investigation, officials responsible for the actions could be subject to charges of treason. Under Article 92 of the Criminal Act, treason refers to acts of colluding with foreign powers to initiate war or armed rebellion against the country.
As of press time, the Ministry of National Defense has not commented on the investigation. When reports about the Mongolia operation first surfaced in late 2024, the ministry denied any connection between the trip and preparations for martial law.
The investigation into the Mongolia operation is unfolding alongside suspicions of another attempt to provoke the North — a military drone mission carried out in early October 2024. The drone reportedly carried propaganda leaflets and was deliberately crashed to elicit a response from North Korea.
The special counsel said that it obtained testimony that indicates that former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun ordered the Drone Operations Command to fly an unmanned aircraft toward North Korea in October 2024.
According to transcripts, Joint Chiefs of Staff Operations Director Lt. Gen. Lee Seung-oh testified that Kim personally directed the missions, rerouting drones to areas such as Nampo, the North's South Pyongan Province, and regions north of the East Sea’s Northern Limit Line.
The special counsel later sought an arrest warrant for Drone Operations Commander Lt. Gen. Kim Yong-dae on suspicion of forging military documents to conceal the mission.
However, the court rejected the request on Monday, citing insufficient grounds for detention. The investigation team is reviewing the court’s decision and considering whether to refile the request.
BY Hwang Joo-young
flylikekite@heraldcorp.com

Dushanbe to host Tajikistan-Mongolia Investment Forum www.qazinform.com

Social insurance revenue rises in Mongolia in H1 www.qazinform.com

The Social Insurance Fund (SIF) of Mongolia generated MNT 3,220.5 billion in revenue during the first half of 2025, an increase of MNT 390.7 billion compared to the same period in 2024, MONTSAME reports. 
According to the National Statistics Office of Mongolia, this growth was mainly driven by a MNT 295.1 billion increase in pension insurance revenue and a MNT 42.5 billion increase in benefit insurance revenue.
Meanwhile, the SIF’s total expenditure reached MNT 2,903.2 billion, which is MNT 468.3 billion higher than in the same period of 2024.
Pension insurance payments amounted to MNT 2,666.6 billion, covering 518,800 individuals. Of these recipients, 79.3 percent were senior citizens, 12.4 percent were persons with disabilities, 4 percent were survivors of deceased breadwinners, and 4.3 percent were military pensioners.
As for social welfare services, a total of MNT 1,241.4 billion was disbursed to 2.3 million individuals. While the number of welfare recipients decreased by 125,200 compared to the same period in 2024, the amount of financial assistance provided increased by MNT 83.2 billion.
As reported previously, Mongolia is to cooperate with The Asia Group to improve the investment climate. 
BY  Adlet Seilkhanov

Mongolia's criminal cases up 30.2 pct in H1 www.xinhuanet.com

The number of criminal cases in Mongolia has increased by nearly 31 percent in the first half of 2025, the country's National Statistical Office (NSO) said Wednesday.
A total of 26,706 criminal cases were recorded in the January-June period, up 30.2 percent against the same period last year, the NSO said.
In the first half of the year, a total of 24,600 people fell victim to various crimes, nearly 52 percent of whom were children and women, it added.
Meanwhile, the crime rate per 10,000 people aged 16 or older came to 118, up 28.2 percent year-on-year.