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.

Gazprom Management Meets Mongolia’s Ambassador www.steelguru.com

A working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Davaa Dulamsuren, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Russian Federation, took place today in Moscow. The parties discussed issues related to the potential implementation of the project for pipeline gas supplies from Russia to China across Mongolia. Among the topics discussed was the establishment of a joint working group to elaborate the project.
Background

Will Speaker G.Zandanshatar go to the US? www.news.mn

The Mongolian president has asked parliament to hold a snap session in connection with the coronavirus emergency. However, Parliamentary Speaker G.Zandanshatar, has been invited to visit the USA on 8-10 March. According to sources, the speaker’s visit is expected to be postponed due to the covid-19 outbreak in USA where six people have died.

BoM may cut interest rate www.zgm.mn

The Bank of Mongolia (BoM)’s Monetary Policy Committee is scheduled to meet earlier this month to discuss whether to cut or leave the policy rate untouched at 11 percent as it did consecutively in the last two years. The inflation rate, which plays an important role in the monetary decision, stood at 5.6 percent in Mongolia, nearing around BoM’s target level. Central banks around the world have been introducing their intention to implement loose monetary policy since the lethal virus COVID-19 outbreak spread. A loose monetary policy occurs to decrease unemployment and spur economic growth when it slows. In 2016, the central bank of Mongolia increased the policy rate to 15 percent, in an effort of halting the devaluation of tugrik at the time. It has been decreasing the rate since then to the current level. “Encouraging the economy through fiscal policy to at least decrease budget deficit is more efficient than focusing on the monetary policy. There is no guarantee that the cut policy rate will benefit entities. On the contrary, it may raise consumer loans, triggering the debt amount to increase further,” said Economist Dulguun Batbold. The 2020 Budget deficit of Mongolia equals 5 percent of the GDP or MNT two trillion. According to the economist, decreasing the policy interest rate rises the loan sources. Therefore, the amount of money the central bank spent in securities may be reduced and the money gets into circulation to stimulate the business environment.