New U.S.-Mongolia partnership to expand access of local businesses to financial services www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), today formally launched a five-year, MNT 41.3 billion ($15 million) Business Excellence for Sustainability and Transparency (BEST) project to help grow and diversify Mongolia’s economy by increasing lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and improving economic governance and accountability.

Mongolian soldiers to march at Moscow’s Victory Day Parade www.news.mn

Every year, Russia marks the end of the World War II with a great military parade of national pride in Moscow. The parade takes place on the very day on the signing of the German act of unconditional surrender to the victorious Allies in Berlin, precisely at midnight on 9 May 1945 (Russian time). This year, it will commemorate the 75th Diamond Jubilee.

Mongolia's economy plunges as covid-19 threatens growth www.zgm.mn

Mongolia’s economy has been declining sharply due to COVID -19 outbreaks in China, according to World Economics. Also, global economic growth is projected to slow down since it did in 2009, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) warned. At this time, there is an increasing need for prompt action by the Government and the Central Bank. The economy of Mongolia is highly dependent on the Chinese market. In particular, due to the proliferation of new types of coronaviruses, China has stopped business operations in some regions. This is causing an unprecedented stagnation in Mongolia’s market, assessed the World Economics. Indexes that show market expectations have been highlighted. The Sales Managers’ Indexes (SMI) fell to 35 units as of February 20, the lowest level of 39 months. It also noted that the business confidence index fell to the 38-month low and the sales growth index 59-month low. All indexes, except for the price index, have dropped below 50 units, according to World Economics. SMI provides the earliest monthly data on the speed and direction of economic activity in key growth areas of the world. The OECD reduced also the forecast for global growth this year from 2.9 percent to 2.4 percent. “In the future, as the situation worsens, large economies will need to take measures to support their health care and the economy,” it says. The World Trade Organization also said that COVID-19 might affect significantly on the global economy.

Angry Mongolian farmers protest against Russian wheat imports www.news.mn

Earlier yesterday (4 March), Mongolian farmers demonstrated outside the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry protesting against the government’s decision to import 160 thousand tonnes of wheat from Russia. Previously, the ministry had announced that Mongolia could fully meet domestic flour demands after harvesting a total of 420 thousand tonnes of wheat.

USAID to help Mongolia address the threat of COVID-19 www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The U.S. Government announced on March 2 a commitment of USD 37 million in financing from the Emergency Reserve Fund for Contagious Infectious Diseases at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for 25 countries affected by novel coronavirus COVID-19 or at high risk of its spread. The U.S. Government is providing these funds to the World Health Organization, other multilateral institutions, and programs led by USAID's implementing partners. These are the first U.S. Government funds committed from the pledge of up to USD 100 million announced by the U.S. Department of State on February 7, 2020. Because an infectious-disease threat anywhere can be a threat everywhere, we call on other donors to contribute to the effort to combat COVID-19 as well.

Building on ongoing USAID and other U.S. Government investments to help prepare and respond to infectious diseases under the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), the new funding will help address the threat of COVID-19 in the following high-priority countries: The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; the Republics of Angola, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Africa, Tajikistan, The Philippines, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; the People's Republic of Bangladesh; Burma; the Kingdom of Cambodia; the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; the Kyrgyz Republic; the Lao People's Democratic Republic; Mongolia; the Federal Republic of Nepal; the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; the Kingdom of Thailand; and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Newly Announced Assistance

Of the total funding:

Funds that are going to the WHO will help the governments of currently affected or at-risk developing countries prepare their laboratories for large-scale testing for COVID-19, implement a public-health emergency plan for points of entry, activate case-finding and event-based surveillance for influenza-like illnesses, train and equip rapid-response teams, investigate cases and trace the contacts of infected persons, and adapt training materials for health workers on COVID-19.
Funds that are going through a broad range of other partners will support six broad areas of work: laboratory-strengthening; surveillance for, and rapid response to, infectious diseases; risk-communications and engagement with communities; public-health screening at points of entry; the prevention and control of infections in health facilities; and the management of cases of COVID-19. In addition, in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan, in the People's Republic of China, USAID has reviewed, and responded to, requests from the governments of affected countries for donations from our emergency international stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE). In close coordination with the WHO and the White House Coronavirus Task Force, this distribution of PPE - such as goggles, gowns, face shields/masks, and gloves- complements previous charitable donations from many U.S. private-sector entities.
Source: USAID Office of Press Relations

Skeletal Analysis Hints at Millet Consumption in Mongolia www.archaeology.org

JENA, GERMANY—According to a Cosmos Magazine report, an international team of researchers examined the ratios of stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes in collagen and dental enamel samples obtained from the remains of some 130 individuals who were buried in Mongolia between 4500 B.C. and A.D. 1300. The analysis suggests that during the Bronze Age, the Mongolian diet was based on milk and meat and supplemented with local plants. From about the third century B.C. to the late first century A.D., during the Xiongnu Empire, some people continued to eat the Bronze Age diet, while those living in political centers began to eat more millet-based foods. Grain consumption and thus the practice of agriculture appears to have continued to increase into the period of the Mongolian Empire of the Khans. “Namely, instead of roving hoards, these empires were supported by pastoralists and farmers practicing different subsistence strategies that provided strength in diversity,” explained Shevan Wilkin of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. To read about the tombs of Xiongnu nobles unearthed in Mongolia, go to "Tomb of the Silver Dragons," one of ARCHAEOLOGY's Top 10 Discoveries of 2019.

Mollaei cleared to compete for Mongolia at Tokyo 2020 after IOC approves nationality change www.insidethegames.biz

Iranian former world judo champion Saeid Mollaei has been cleared to represent Mongolia at Tokyo 2020 after his switch of allegiance was approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board.

Roundup: Despite no cases, Mongolians prep for battle against COVID-19 www.xinhuanet.com

Mongolian Foreign Minister Damdin Tsogtbaatar told Xinhua in a recent interview that China has taken "highly organized measures" to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

ULAN BATOR, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Mongolians have donated cash and supplies to support their government's efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus despite no cases of the disease having emerged in the country.

Public figures in Mongolia including singers, bands and wrestlers have donated money and much-needed prevention supplies to the country's Health Ministry, hospitals and other organizations.

Former sumo grand champion Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj recently provided 400 pieces of medical protective gear to the ministry.

A Mongolian herder from the southwestern province of Bayankhongor on Monday donated 10 sheep to the National Center for Communicable Disease of Mongolia to support the organization's anti-virus efforts.

"Every citizen's participation is important to prevent the spread of COVID-19. I am glad that the Mongolian people are not only consciously implementing, but also supporting the government's anti-coronavirus efforts," Sambuu Lambaa, former Mongolian health minister, told local media.

Meanwhile, since the COVID-19 outbreak in China, Mongolian leaders, members of the public, students and even children have been expressing solidarity with China in its battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The Mongolian government has donated 200,000 U.S. dollars toward China's epidemic control efforts, and the country's President Khaltmaa Battulga, as the first foreign head of state to visit China since the COVID-19 outbreak, has offered a donation of 30,000 sheep to China during his recent one-day visit there.

Mongolian Foreign Minister Damdin Tsogtbaatar told Xinhua in a recent interview that China has taken "highly organized measures" to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

To help China contain the coronavirus, other countries need to be equally responsible and take preventive measures, he said, adding that Mongolia has been following the recommendations of the World Health Organization to prevent an epidemic.

As more Mongolians wish to donate money and prevention supplies to China, the Mongolian government last month launched a nationwide campaign called "Emotional Support to an Eternal Neighbor."

During the campaign's launch, Mongolian Environment and Tourism Minister Namsrai Tserenbat highlighted China's great contribution to the social and economic development of Mongolia, underlining the necessity of supporting China in fighting COVID-19.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Mongolia Tapan Mishra recently hailed the efforts of the Mongolian government to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"The Mongolian government has taken optimal measures to prevent the spread of the disease, setting a good example to the world," Tapan said at a recent meeting with Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Ulziisaikhan Enkhtuvshin.

Mongolia has banned all public gatherings and provided its citizens with information on how to contain the disease's spread should an outbreak occur in the country. ■

Ch.Ulaan: Food wheat and all types of rice to be exempted from tax www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Ch.Ulaan reports that at its regular meeting held today, the Cabinet decided to submit a bill to the Parliament on exemption of wheat, wheat seed, all types of rice, sugar and vegetable oil from customs and value added taxes.

Mongolia imported 541.5 thousand tons of gasoline in 2019 www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. Mongolia imported 541.5 tons of gasoline in 2019, according to the statistics of Mongolian Customs General Authority.