The First Mongolian FM visits Czech Republic www.news.mn

Mongolian Foreign Minister D.Tsogtbaatar has visited Prague at the invitation of the Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek. It was the first visit of Mongolian Foreign Minister to the Czech Republic since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

‘Shark’ G.Amartuvshin appointed as CEO of Development Bank of Mongolia www.news.mn

The executive board of the Development Bank of Mongolia met on Monday (20 May) and dismissed CEO B.Batbayar from the job. He had been worked as the head of the Development Bank since the 2016 parliamentary election. His replacement as new CEO is G.Amartuvshin, who has been working as general director of Khas Bank since 2014. Before this, he was general director of the Tenger Insurance Company for three years.

Mongolia to provide monthly allowances to all children www.xinhuanet.com

ULAN BATOR, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The Mongolian government will start to provide monthly allowances to all children aged 0-18 from June 1, the government's press office said Tuesday in a statement.

D.Turkhuu: Electronic visa permit service is now available www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. The Mongolia Immigration Agency has just started issuing an electronic visa permit to the foreign nationals. In this regard, we have interviewed Mr. Turkhuu, Officer of the Visa and Citizenship Department of the Mongolia Immigration Agency to highlight the service.

It is understood that the electronic service of issuing the private invitation and visa permit is now accessible. Please give us detailed information about the service?

The Mongolia Immigration Agency has been functioning under the purpose of applying “e-Immigration” service since 2017. The main functions of the agency are the issuance of a visa, visa permit, residence permit, registration and control of foreign nationals, and enforcement and resolution of the violations occurred. The agency introduces step by step actions towards applying advanced information technology to implement timely and citizen-centered service. Furthermore, the Government of Mongolia has announced 2019 as the "Year of citizen-centered state service". Within this framework, our organization has commenced providing electronic service of visa permits. “Visa permit” means the permit granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Mongolia Immigration Agency to the diplomatic missions of Mongolia abroad and the border checkpoints to issue a visa to foreign nationals. The Mongolia Immigration Agency has just begun to electronically receive the application of visa permits of the temporary visitors 31-90 days’ visa and multiple entry 30 days’ visa issued at Mongolian diplomatic and consular missions, and all types of visa permits issued at the international border checkpoints of Mongolia.

How will the customers of the Mongolia Immigration Agency apply for the e-service? Also, how many days will it take to receive the response?

It is possible to get the electronic service by visiting and registering at the “E-VISA” webpage which locates at the upper right site of Mongolia Immigration Agency’s official website - immigration.gov.mn. When a registered user reads the instruction and enters the required application documents to the system, Mongolia Immigration Agency officers accept the application. If the electronically sent documents are complete, the visa officers will send the visa permit via e-mail or message in 3 working days.

What are the concerns when applying for e-visa permit?

At first, it is recommended to thoroughly read the steps on how to apply for the electronic visa permit before completing the application. The immigration officer of the border checkpoint may refuse to grant a visa to foreign national with visa permit based on the interview as determining the foreigner has different purpose of entry and visa application information. Therefore, individuals and representatives of the organizations applying for the visa permit on behalf of the foreign national must be responsible and provide accurate information. There are several grounds for refusing to grant visas. For example, if the foreign national was punished for violation set forth in Article 16.2 of the “Law on Violation” one month before, fails to determine the purpose of visiting Mongolia, has not brought necessary documents, has compiled the fraudulent document, has false statement, fails to complete the application form fully and so on.

How do you see the advantages and benefits of the e-service?

The advanced technology and electronic services have a more significant benefit to simplify any service. The global community takes advantage of high-speed internet and technological advances. In this sense, we are introducing state service which conforms with the international standards and needs of our customers. Previously, our customers used to arrive at the Mongolia Immigration Agency twice for one application to bring application documents at first and obtain the result at second. But now, it is possible to get an application result without even coming. The e-service has other precious advantages, and for example, the state service promptness would not be affected due to the personal behavior and relationships issue.

Erdenet Methane LLC signs Methane Investment Agreement www.zgm.mn

Erdenes Methane LLC and Jade Methane LLC of Australia established Methane gas investment agreement to set reserves of coal seams of coal at Tavantolgoi deposit. Executive Director of Erdenes Methane LLC and Executive Director of Jade Methane LLC have signed the contract on May 17, 2019.

Decline in Iran's Trade With Mongolia www.financialtribune.com

Iran traded 2,523 tons of non-oil commodities worth $11.44 million with Mongolia in the last fiscal year (ended March 20, 2019), registering a 18.14% and 23.16% decline in tonnage and value respectively compared with the year before, latest data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration show.

State Secretary D.Davaasuren receives EEC delegates www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Delegates led by Director of Department for the Development of Integration of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) S.S.Shukhno are working in Ulaanbaatar city on May 20-22.

Death in Mongolia’s State Palace www.news.mn

Former Mongolian lawmaker G.Batkhuu, also former Deputy Chair of Democratic Party, was found dead in Mongolia’s most important building, the State Palace, on Friday (17 May). According to one source, G.Batkhuu was discovered by a security guard with an apparently fatal head injury in the western section of the ground floor of the building at 7.00 p.m. The guard, evidently, called an ambulance as well as the police. However, he was already dead before the ambulance arrived at the scene.

Indian PM wears Mongolian deel during meditation www.news.mn

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day visit to Uttarakhand on Sunday with a visit to Kedarnath shrine. Dressed in deel, a traditional Mongolian outfit, PM Modi offered prayers at the temple for around half-an-hour and undertook circumambulation of the shrine. He meditated and took stock of the ongoing development works in the temple town.

Pacific Air Forces Commander Visit to Mongolia Affirms Growing Partnership www.pacom.mil

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia -- Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) commander, met with senior leaders from Mongolia and the United States here May 14, to seek opportunities to enhance cooperation and partnership with the Mongolian Air Force Command (MAFC).

“It is a real honor for me to be here to gain a greater understanding of our two air forces and identify ways we can make progress together,” Brown said. “We have many shared interests and values and we look forward to greater cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the region and around the world.”

Though Mongolia has a history of military aviation capability, the MAFC only recently reestablished in January 2017, making Brown’s visit not only his first time in country, but also the first for a PACAF commander since the MAFC’s establishment.

Developing an air force has been one of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s long-term priorities for greater engagement with Mongolia, and part of the command’s overall goal to assist the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) in pursuing defense reform priorities.

As such, the visit builds upon a number of frequent engagements between the two nations, to include Defense Minister Enkhbold Nyamaa’s visit with Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan in April in Washington D.C., and the inaugural Airman-to-Airman Talks hosted at PACAF Headquarters at Joint Base Pearl-Harbor Hickam, Hawaii, in March.

“It was really important of me to come here after the Airman-to-Airman Talks to solidify the topics we discussed and highlight our commitment to the long-term relationship,” Brown said. “Frequent engagement at various levels is important to building the relationship and enhancing capabilities in areas of shared interest throughout the region.”

Throughout the two-day visit, Brown met with key defense and military leadership, to include Minister Nyamaa, MAF Chief of General Staff Maj. Gen. Ganbat Ayush, MAFC Commander Brig. Gen. Enkhbayar Ochir, as well as U.S. Ambassador Michael Klecheski and members of the U.S. Embassy.

In addition to evaluating the success of the Airman-to-Airman Talks, discussions during the visit included opportunities to enhance training, exercises and subject matter expert exchanges.

In Mongolian tradition and showcasing the importance of horses to their culture, Brown had the honor of receiving a horse to be named by him, and to remain in country to exemplify the enduring relationship. In tribute to his home state of Texas and the state from which he now serves, Hawaii, the general named the young horse, “Lone Star Koa.” Koa is Hawaiian for warrior.

In addition to the long-standing relationship of supporting missions in Afghanistan and the United Nations peacekeeping operations, other examples of the bilateral relationship include the strong bonds between the Alaska Air National Guard through the State Partnership Program as well as participation and observation in a number of multilateral events and exercises throughout the region.

“There is plenty of opportunity between the things we have worked on together in the past, the things we are doing today, and our commitment to increased engagement in the future,” Brown said.

Additionally, in 2018 the first Mongolian cadet entered the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the first MAFC officer completed U.S. pilot training.

In late July, early August, Mongolia will cohost a Pacific Angel humanitarian event, part of a three-part series of humanitarian assistance and civil military assistance events held annually around the Indo-Pacific region.

Brown also provided an invitation for the MAFC to attend the Indo-Pacific Safety Air Force Exchange in August in Hawaii. He is scheduled to host MAFC leadership, alongside many other partner nations, at the next Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium at PACAF in December.

Next month, the MAF and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command will co-host the annual Khaan Quest multilateral peacekeeping exercise in Mongolia, considered the cornerstone of the defense cooperation between the two nations. More than 1,700 military members are expected to take part in various exercises between June 14-28, to include an appearance from INDOPACOM leadership.