On November 12, 2026, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development J. Enkhbayar met with Atul Malhari Gotsurve, Ambassador of India to Mongolia. At the beginning of the meeting, J.Enkhbayar highlighted the long-standing historical ties between Mongolia and India, describing the two countries as “spiritual neighbors” and emphasizing India’s role as one of Mongolia’s “third neighbors” and strategic partners.

He expressed gratitude for the financial and technical assistance provided by the Government of India in supporting Mongolia’s socio-economic development, particularly in strengthening energy security, developing infrastructure, advancing education and information technology, and building human resource capacity. He also noted that the time had come to define and launch a new phase of bilateral cooperation.

The two sides discussed major projects and programs being implemented under the Mongolia–India Strategic Partnership, as well as opportunities to expand cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, science, education, and technology.

Ambassador Atul Malhari Gotsurve welcomed the planned increase in the frequency of direct flights operated by Hunnu Air between Mongolia and India, currently available every Monday.

He noted that the direct flights had created significant opportunities for people-to-people exchanges and contributed to bilateral trade turnover reaching USD 110 million.

The Ambassador also said that, as part of an initiative to export coking coal from Tavan Tolgoi to India, a one-tonne sample would be collected for testing and analysis. He further expressed India's interest in importing uranium and rare earth elements from Mongolia.

The meeting also highlighted progress on three major projects supported by the Government of India.

First, India has provided a concessional loan of USD 1.7 billion for the construction of Mongolia’s oil refinery, which is scheduled to be commissioned in February 2028. Preparations for its operation include training Mongolian engineers. Once operational, the refinery is expected to create new jobs and has the potential to serve as a foundation for broader development in Central Asia.

Second, the Information and Communication Training Center, currently under construction on the campus of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) with Indian government funding, is scheduled to open in four months. The center is expected to train and graduate 1,000 young people in IT-related fields annually.

Third, the India–Mongolia Friendship School, built with a USD 5.2 million grant and designed to accommodate 1,200 students per shift, is scheduled to open in two months.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Minister J.Enkhbayar expressed interest in establishing and expanding cooperation between the academies of sciences of the two countries, particularly through exchanges of scientists and young researchers. Both sides agreed to launch scientific cooperation between Mongolia and India.

Source: Ministry of Economy and Development

Published Date:2026-11-15