A draft of general procedures on trade and services in the capital city is being developed, and polls are open for relevant organizations, citizens, businesses, and NGOs for suggestions. We had an interview with Head of the Food and Agriculture Department of Ulaanbaatar T.Zoljargal on the motives for updating the procedures and the regulations that are being renewed.

-Why the general procedures on trade and services in the capital city have been changed?

-The procedure has been renewed several times since 2004. Recently, in 2019, certain provisions were renewed and approved by the City Council. In the past, our general service procedures were considered legally incompetent. With the amendment of the Law on Legal Status of Ulaanbaatar City on January 1, 2022, the opportunity has been opened up for the capital city to approve and enforce common service procedures. Therefore, it has been redesigned. A working group with 27 members consisting of representatives from the government, private sectors, and citizens is preparing to get approval for the draft procedure next month.

-What new changes are included in the draft procedure?

-Several changes have been made over time. A number of changes have been made in connection with the allowance to conduct 74 types of trade and services without permission in the capital city. There have been changes in the regulation of markets and shopping centers and in the e-services of online centers. This is an advantage over the previous general procedure.

-Trade services provided in the capital city were divided into 18 categories. These include convenience stores, exhibition halls, outlets, and boutiques. Also, includes all kinds of services such as seasonal tent trade and recycling points?

- Yes. It covers all areas of trade and services which have been emerging in the last 4-5 years. The convenience store standard has been added to the 2019 trade and service standard. Trade and service providers are also adapting to new services. The standard includes convenience stores, wireless internet, self-service fast food chains with standard heating and refrigeration equipment. International stores, large national chain stores offer convenience store services. Retailers are also moving their services to the convenience store standard.

-Convenience stores are mainly located in the city center. How do you focus on providing a service to ger district residents?

-According to the research, in the last two years, large supermarkets have sprung up in the suburbs due to the pandemic. There are a lot of convenience stores in the suburbs. A network of convenience stores is growing in ger districts. In the future, our department is working on a plan to introduce convenience store service in ger districts.

-The range of household services includes moving services and cleaning households and offices. Although it is widely used in foreign countries, is there a license, requirements, and standards for this service that is becoming more and more popular in our country?

-There are no approved standards and permits for moving services and cleaning services for households and organizations. We have started to get feedback from relevant organizations. Based on that proposal, standards will be developed and get approved. This type of service requires responsibility and standards.

-There is a fee for using the toilets of trade and service organizations. Does it seem new to make it free of charge in the newly developed common service regulations?

-Another provision added to the public service regulations is to make service toilets free of charge. It may seem simple, but we have to focus on meeting basic human needs. It's time to introduce this service, which is not common in our country. A business organization can attract customers only if it introduces a comfortable and humane service. Today, there are 18,664 business entities operating in the capital city. Whoever is able to create a comfortable environment for customers, offer favorable prices and provide satisfactory services, the organization's business will expand. Therefore, organizations and companies must pay attention to the operation and cleanliness of public toilets in order to attract customers.

CAPITAL CITY TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS AGENCY