Mongolia Brief April 3, 2014
Ambassador
of Mongolia to Republic of Finland, Z.Altai Accredited
April 3
(infomongolia.com) Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to
represent the country to the Republic of Finland, Zorig ALTAI presented a
Letter of Credence to the President of Finland Sauli Vainamo Niinisto on March
27, 2014.
Following the
credential handing ceremony, newly accredited envoy was received by the
President and at the beginning of meeting Ambassador Z.Altai conveyed greetings
of the President of Mongolia and the sides discussed issues concerning
bilateral relations and cooperation.
On the same
day, Ambassador Z.Altai had meetings with Under-Secretary of State for Foreign
and Security Policy of the Foreign Ministry of Finland Jaakko Laajava, Director
of East Asia Team under the Department for the Americas and Asia at Foreign
Ministry Sami Leino and the Director for International Relations at the
Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland Ms. Jaana Palojarvi.
Ambassador
Z.Altai thanked the Government of Finland for implementing investment projects
in the fields of geology and forestry of Mongolia. Mongolia is interested in
cultivating productive cooperation with Finland in developing fishery and
reindeer farm and applying Finnish state-of-the-art techniques and technologies
in the mining industry of Mongolia.
Mongolia and
the Republic of Finland have established the diplomatic relations on July 15,
1963.
Related:
Speaker
receives new Ambassador from Vietnam
April 3
(news.mn) The Speaker of Mongolian Parliament, Z.Enkhbold, received the letters
of credence from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam to Mongolia, Mr Fang Dang Duong, at Government House on
April 2nd.
In the meeting
Speaker Z.Enkhbold wished success to Ambassador Fang Dang Duong for his mission
in Mongolia and expressed his satisfaction about the revival of bilateral
friendly relations between Mongolia and Vietnam over the past years and the
increasing number of reciprocal visits.
Speaker
Z.Enkhbold emphasized that the state visit last year by Mongolia`s President
Ts.Elbegdorj in Vietnam was vital to expand conventional bilateral friendly
relations and cooperation between Mongolia and Vietnam and bring bilateral
economic relations to a new level. The Speaker then pointed out Mongolia`s
willingness to intensify political negotiations at every level with Vietnam,
Mongolia’s traditional partner in Southeast Asia. He also emphasized the desire
to deepen bilateral cooperation to include economy, trade, investment,
agriculture, education, culture, labor relations, defense and law enforcement
sectors, and to strengthen collaboration in the region and international
arena.
Ambassador Fang
Dang Duong expressed his pleasure at arriving in Mongolia and showed his gratitude
to Speaker Z.Enkhbold for taking the time to receive him.
The Ambassador
also said that he hopes the Speaker and Mongolian MPs will support his mission
in Mongolia.
Related:
President’s
website releases traditional Mongolian script version
April 3 (news.mn)
In July 2010, President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj issued a decree to increase
official use of traditional Mongolian script.
As the
Presidential decree became effective from July 1st 2011, to adhere to the
regulations, any official document or letter from the President of Mongolia,
Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister, and cabinet ministers to their
counterparts in foreign countries have been sent in traditional Mongolian
script along with official translations in the respective native language or UN
official languages. Measures have also been taken to ensure birth certificates,
Identity cards, all levels of education certificates and diploma are written in
traditional Mongolian script except Cyrillic script.
In the efforts
to increase official use of traditional Mongolian script the President`s
official web site www.president.mn has been released in two Mongolian language
versions, one in traditional Mongolian script and one in Cyrillic.
Related:
Mongolia
Begins to Use Traditional Script in Official Affairs – Montsame, April 3
Government
to Support Fruit Farms
Ulaanbaatar,
April 3 (MONTSAME) The Industry and Agriculture Ministry has announced a tender
to support "Seabucktorn" program and to assist launching of fruit
farms.
Within its goal
to promote industrialization, the Government for reforms has decided to finance
winter greenhouses that grow fruits such as apple, plum, cherry, raspberry,
strawberry and blackcurrant throughout a year.
In order to
meet certain percentage of domestic needs and to reduce imports of vegetables
and fruits, the Government will fund a creation of winter glasshouses and
solar-heated greenhouses in Ulaanbaatar and in provinces that plant cucumber,
sweet pepper, leaf vegetables and fruits.
To intensify
its ongoing "Seabucktorn" program, the Government is also planning to
lend out seabucktorn seedlings to farmers.
Mongolian
Development Company Signs LOA with Nikken Sekkei
Ulaanbaatar,
April 3 (MONTSAME) The "Mon Uran" Mongolian development company has
signed with Nikken Sekkei a Letter of Agreement (LOA) to design a landmark
tower in Ulaanbaatar, reported constructionweekonline.com website on April
2.
The agreement
requires Nikken Sekkei to design a mixed-use project that will cost in excess
of $300mn once completed,it says.
The tower will
be situated in 1.1 hectares of prime city centre real estate, with a built up
area of 110,000m2, situated just 10 minutes' walk from Sukhbaatar Square, the
location of the Government House.
Dubai-based Dr.
Fadi Jabri, general manager of Nikken Sekkei's Middle East and Asia office,
said: "This project is another example of our innovative design and energy
saving technologies. It follows on from other regional project wins such as
designing the $1bn headquarters of the Saudi Stock Exchange, or Tadawul.
"We are
hoping to display this as well as some of other projects at Cityscape Global,
Dubai in September."
The tower will
reach almost 300m over 68 floors and will feature a five-star hotel, serviced
apartments, high quality office space and a shopping mall. It will be completed
in December of 2018.
Commenting on
the accord, B.Oyunchimeg, CEO of Mon Uran LLC, said: "We chose Nikken
Sekkei because this project requires high quality and vision and we believe
that they have the right credentials to deliver such a design."
Tour
Guides Involved in Training
Ulaanbaatar,
April 3 (MONTSAME) The Capital city's Tourism Authority has recently conducted
a "Museum Guiding" training for professional tour guides in
Ulaanbaatar.
A total of 23
people from 20 tour operators such as Genco Tour Bureau, Tuul Travel, Great
Chinggis Expedition, Mongolia Expedition, Mondiscovery, Horseback Tour and
Samar magic Tour got have gathered to earn knowledge and information that will
help in guiding around museums such as Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts,
National Museum, Military Museum, Ulaanbaatar City Museum, Winter Palace of
Bogd Khan, and Choijin Lama’s Temple. They have been also sharing views and
experiences in presenting history of monuments and buildings and explaining
Mongolian tradition and customs.
The organizers
say they want to make the participants be aware of frequent misinterpretations
and lack of knowledge about exhibits.
BCM’s
NewsWire Highlights
April 3
(Mongolian Economy) BUSINESS
MMC SEES
WEAKNESS AHEAD FOR COKING COAL PRICES
Oversupply will
keep prices low, says Mongolian Mining Corp. (MMC), as the firm posts a USD
58.1 million annual loss. MMC, the nation’s largest miner of coking coal
sold primarily to China, expects the steel smelting ingredient’s price to
remain weak this year due to oversupply, although it has gained market share
from rivals by expanding processing and logistics operations.
“I don’t expect
prices to fall below current levels, but I don’t see meaningful price gain
either, until demand and supply equilibrium is restored,” Chief Executive
Battsengel Gotov told a press conference. He said prices of seaborne coking
coal—mainly from Australia and Brazil—have been trading around the USD 85 per
tonne mark since the start of the year. MMC’s average selling price of its
mainstay product, hard coking coal, fell 15 percent last year to USD 92.10 a
tonne from USD 108.40 in 2012, owing to an estimated excess supply of over 30
million tonnes. The excess is expected to fall to between 10 million and 15
million tons this year, helped partly by higher steel output in Europe and the
United States, Gotov said.
The mainland’s
steel production growth is expected to slow to 4 percent from 7.5 percent last
year as Beijing seeks to shift the economic growth driver from fixed-asset
investment to consumption and services, according to the China Iron and Steel
Association. Mongolian Mining yesterday posted a net loss of USD 58.1 million
for last year, from USD 2.5 million in 2012 as finance costs almost doubled to
USD 95.1 million. Revenue fell 7.8 percent to USD 437.3 million as the 15
percent fall in the average selling price offset a 26 percent jump in hard
coking coal sales volume to 4.3 million tonnes. The firm aims to sell 6 million
tonnes this year.
Land-locked
Mongolia’s competitiveness is expected to be constrained until a
government-built railway is completed next year or later, while Australian miners
ramp up output to lower per-tonne fixed costs.
Source: South
China Morning Press
MINING MINISTER
EMPHASIZES COOPERATION AT PDAC CONVENTION
Mining Minister
Davaajav Gankhuyag warmly welcomed foreign investment at Mongolia@PDAC
conference in Toronto on 4 March, promising that Mongolia would “never repeat”
its mistakes.
The minister
noted that “discrepancies” in laws would be addressed by Parliament and that
Mongolia’s goal was to offer investors “firm sustainability of politics,
economics and legal environment.” The Minister candidly admitted Mongolia had
made mistakes that impacted foreign investment in the past but that it would
“never repeat” them.
Gankhuyag also
said that the moratorium on new mining exploration licenses, first imposed in
June 2010, might end as a result of the Minerals Law amendments and other
legislation to be taken up during the spring session of Parliament. He also
mentioned the so-called “Long Name Law” that bans mining at areas near rivers
and forests, saying resolution may be forthcoming, but did not directly address
the issue of the 106 exploration licenses annulled last year as part of an
investigation into corruption at the Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia
(MRAM).
When asked
about Oyu Tolgoi LLC, the Minister several times said that all matters
regarding the copper-gold mine would be resolved by its board of directors,
which includes three Mongolian directors, without involvement by the Cabinet or
Parliament.
Source: NAMBC
ECONOMY
INFLATION AT
12.2 % NATIONWIDE YEAR-OVER-YEAR FOR FEBRUARY
The National
Statistical Office reported inflation year-over-year at the end of February of
12.2% nationwide and 12.0% in Ulaanbaatar.
Inflation rose
0.9 percent inflation in February from January and was driven by price growth
in food products and beverages. Inflation in Ulaanbaatar fell from 1.2 percent
to 1 percent the year before, partly due to growth in meat prices of 45 percent
this year compared with 73.2 percent the year before, said E. Erdenesan, deputy
head of the macroeconomic statistics department.
The average
monthly family income increased 14 percent to MNT 893,500 in February
year-on-year.
Source: Zuunii
Medee
FOREIGN TRADE
BALANCE DEFICIT NARROWS
Mongolia traded
with 92 countries for total external trade turnover of USD 1,208.5 million in
the first two months of 2014, reported the Bank of Mongolia.
Exports made up
USD 594.6 million while imports were USD 613.9 million, with a foreign trade
balance deficit of USD 305.1 million. The balance of payments was in deficit of
USD 19.3 million in the year up to March.
Compared to
same period of the previous year, the deficit fell 93.7 percent by USD 285.8
million. Total external trade turnover fell 8.3 percent by USD 108.8 million,
and imports were down 24.3 percent by USD 197.3 million, while exports grew by
USD 88.5 million or 17.5 percent, compared to the same period of the previous
year.
Source:
Montsame
GOVERNMENT
SPENDING ON THE RISE
Government
revenue totaled 709.4 billion for the first two months of 2014.
Total
expenditure and net lending was MNT 799.7 billion, representing a deficit of
MNT 90.4 billion. Tax revenue grew 1.6 percent by MNT 10.1 billion from the
same period in 2013, which has been attributed to a 32.4 percent increase by
MNT 16.1 billion in additional tax revenue from social security and tax on
foreign trade. Income tax collected fell 11.8 percent by 21.8 billion.
Total
expenditure and net lending by the government grew 30 percent by MNT 184.4
billion to MNT 799.7 billion in the year to March, compared with the same
period from the year before. Capital expenditure grew 4.7 times by MNT 83.1
billion from the year before, subsidies and account transfers grew 22.6 percent
by MNT 63.9 billion, spending on goods and services grew 8 percent by 24.7
billion, and interest payments grew 3.2 times by MNT 21.7 billion. Lending
minus repayments, however, fell by MNT 9 billion.
Source:
Montsame
POLITICS
MAYOR
INTRODUCES THREE-STRIKE POLICY FOR CITY OFFICIALS
Ulaanbaatar
Mayor Erdene Bat-Uul introduced a new three-strike plan to encouraged better
performance from city officials.
In light of
cases brought to his attention where there were long delays before action was
taken by the city, the mayor said any government authorities performing poorly
in their positions would receive yellow slips to serve as warnings for their
misconduct. Any official to receive three warnings, he said, would be dismissed
from their position.
Source:
Undesnii Shuudan
PRIME MINISTER
DELIVERS SPEECH AT FAO CONFERENCE
Prime Minister
Norov Altankhuyag spoke of the contributions Mongolia could make toward the
global food supply in a speech 10 March on the third day of the 32nd session of
the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Ulaanbaatar.
“[Countries]
see us as a country based on mining, with high economic growth, but Mongolia
has the great opportunity to reach high development with its agriculture,
including through animal husbandry,” he said to an audience of representatives
of agriculture, forestry and fisheries from 40 countries in the Pacific region.
Altankhuyag
said Mongolia could help provide food around the world “through its 43 million
heads of livestock.” He added, “A combination of our thousand-year-old
traditional methods of raising livestock and modern technologies can make
Mongolia a model exporter for the world reserve of organic foods.”
Source:
Montsame
Mongolia’s
Economy Facing Difficulties and It Is True, Says Finance Minister Ch.Ulaan
April 3
(infomongolia.com) Every Wednesday, a Government official works at the "11
11" Center to give comprehensive understandings on current situation
arousing in the country and this time guest was Minister of Finance Ch.Ulaan.
Finance
Minister emphasized and he did not hide that the country’s economy facing difficulties,
therefore the Government of Mongolia should bear to cut needless spending, find
effective project expenditure and strengthen control on budget executors.
Here below some
question-answers.
The speculation of worsening economy in the
country has been growing, what the reason is?
We have been
facing economic challenges and there are several factors caused. For instances,
by the end of the third quarter the state budgetary revenue did not hit the
planned volume that caused to interrupt revenue from taxes for export products,
where the world market price for mining products dropped. Also, some
large-scale enterprises’ activities have not been stabilized yet, which caused
to interrupt budget revenue by 20 percent. However, the State Budget for the
first quarter of 2014 was approved lower compare to previous year’s quarter,
but we have been facing budget revenue interruption and this warns a big signal
in Mongolia’s economic prospects.
The US dollar rate against Tugrug is been
strengthening, aftermath entities expect a huge deficit.
We cannot
artificially reduce the dollar rate and it impossible. The key factor to keep
and lowering the rate is to adhere a right policy, but Mongolia’s economy
prefers to import all end-products. Let’s figure out, Mongolia’s population is
only three million people and livestock counts at 45 million heads, but we
purchase 70% of imported milk by foreign currency. We should get rid of that.
Contrary, we have experiencing some positive outlooks. In the first quarter,
foreign trade deficit has been reduced year-on-year and expect equilibrium of
payment balance. Further, foresee to increase export and reduce import, at that
time we can generate foreign currencies.
The State Great Khural (Parliament)
approved a policy to hold inflation at one-digit this year. Do we have
opportunities to reach this goal?
Although the
regulation was ratified, as of the first three months of 2014, inflation rate
is still at two-digit numbers and only implementing macroeconomic and state
monetary policies, it is fully available to transfer into single digit.
How about salary and pension increase
possibilities or facing insufficient fund?
It was ratified
a bill to spend 200 billion MNT (Tugrug) for salaries and pensions, where
pensions were increased in the first quarter and salaries being raised step by
step. However civilians are not satisfied, but Government is considering to
reach the preferable level.
When it expects to start the second phase
of Oyu Tolgoi Project?
Government of
Mongolia is ready to implement the second phase investment, but investors are
delaying, which is related to the first phase disputes. Nevertheless, some
issues to finalize the investment audit for the first phase are still awaited
and Mongolia’s position remains same forwarded before.
Is it true that the Bank of Mongolia about
to release a 50,000 banknote?
We are studying
to release a 50 thousand banknote. Primarily in terms of economic efficiency we
should foresee.
Do you think Mongolia’s total debt is
underestimating due to law?
Yes, the total
debt limit is set by law. Performances showed in 2013, the debt is included in
the GDP’s 50 percent. This does not mean at the warning level, but we should to
lessen up to 40 percent of GDP.
NEMA
Decides to Release Quarantines in Khentii, Sukhbaatar and Dornogovi Aimags
Caused by Foot-And-Mouth Disease
April 3 (infomongolia.com) The regular
meeting of the National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia (NEMA) was held
on April 02, 2014, where the current situation of the foot-and-mouth disease
outbreaks occurred in eastern three Aimags, measures carried out and further
plans were discussed.
The first outbreak was recorded last January
27 in Ongon Sum of Sukhbaatar Aimag a n d spread to neighboring territories
further to six Sums of Dornogovi Aimag, aftermath the disease covered 13 Sums
of 3 Aimags and as of today, 3,454 animals were destroyed and 4.5 million
cattle were vaccinated.
In the past 11-41 days, no new
occurrences are registered, thus it was decided to release quarantines in
Khentii, Sukhbaatar and Dornogovi Aimags, but animal migration from these
regions are prohibited for another two months and raw materials transportation
will be disinfected and sanitized at mobile posts.
Although the foot-and-mouth disease
outbreak is stopped, some facts to revise are still under discussion, notes
NEMA Secretary M.Enkh-Amar. For instances, under irresponsible operations by
Veterinary and Animal Breeding Agency, first part of imported vaccines were
transported and stored beyond its standard norms, moreover it was first
diagnosed the disease was caused by “A” sector virus, but following the World
Animal Health Organization’s laboratory summary it was concluded the disease
refer to “O” sector virus. Fortunately, Mongolia imported “A” and “O” sector
combined vaccines from China and Russia and if it was not ordered so, nobody
knows how much casualties would expect Mongolia, says Secretary M.Enkh-Amar.
In order to stop foot-and-mouth
disease outbreaks in 2014, the Government of Mongolia spent a total of 10.6
billion MNT compare to 27.1 billion MNT in 2005-2013.
Parliament
Office Secretary-General Meets Latvian Ambassador
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME) The
Parliament Office Secretary-General B.Boldbaatar met with the Ambassador of
Latvia to Mongolia Mrs Ingrida Levrence on Thursday.
Since the establishment of their
diplomatic ties, Mongolia and Latvia have advanced their friendly relations and
cooperation, said Mr Boldbaatar, citing examples of that: Latvia-manufactured
VEF radios used to be almost in every family in the countryside, the Mongolians
studied in Riga's Aviation University.
He also recalled a meeting of
Parliament Speaker Z.Enkhbold with the Latvian Parliamentary Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Ministry Viktors Makarovs amid the Ministerial Conference of
the Community of Democracies in Ulaanbaatar last year to talk about
establishment of inter-parliamentary relations between the two countries.
The Ambassador Levrence said that
parliamentary elections will run this August in her country and that the
Latvian President Andris Berzins plans to visit Mongolia, which, she believes,
will be a great impetus to the Mongolia-Latvia cooperation.
Mr Boldbaatar said our parliament is
to discuss an establishment of the Mongolia-Latvia parliamentary group and
hoped that not only this but also Latvia-Mongolia group will be founded before
the visit of Latvian leader.
Mrs Levrence pointed out a willingness
of the Latvian business people to operate in Mongolia, and expressed a
confidence in the contribution of Mr Berzins’ visit to leveling-up of the
business and economic relations between the countries.
Mongolia
to Cooperate with Finland
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME) The
Concurrent Non-Resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Mongolia to Finland Z.Altai met with officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry
of this country on March 27.
The Ambassador thanked the Government
of Finland for implementing investment projects in geology and forestry of
Mongolia in 2009-2011 and 2012-2014 and spoke about a 491 thousand EUR-funded
joint project realized by the Government Implementing agency “Forest
Authority”, a forest research department of National University of Mongolia and
the Finland's forest research institute to improve forest researches
capacity here.
He also proposed cooperating in
developing forestry and fishery and reindeer farms in Mongolia and in
introducing the latest hi tech to our mining industry, and asked Finland to
support our education sector, for example, in reforming elementary school
program, running teacher trainings and seminars.
In response, Mr Jaakko Laajava,
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy of the Ministry, Mr
Sami Leino, the deputy director of East Asia team under department for Americas
and Asia, and Ms Jaana Palojarvi, a director for international relations
department of the Ministry of Education and Culture, said they are ready to
cooperate in all above spheres.
Premier
Works in Gobisumber
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME) The
Prime Minister N.Altankhuyag got au fait with the "Shivee-Ovoo" coal
mine during his working tour to Gobisumber aimag on Wednesday.
Officials of the mine, who took up the
duties over a year ago, said they managed to save 5 billion togrog by cutting
various expenses except the salaries, and intend to save more 5 billion this year.
It was appreciated by the Premier. Some 90 percent of coal extracted from the
“Shivee-Ovoo” mine is sold to the #4 thermal power station, and it is now has
receivables from power stations of Dornogobi, Tov aimags and the city’s Nalaikh
district. Here the mine’s authorities asked the Premier to pay an attention. In
response, the Premier said it is necessary to make related decisions at the
cabinet meeting.
After this the Premier held a meeting
with the aimag’s people. The cabinet for reforms is working transparently, the
Premier said, the government has a goal called “Let's make in homeland”
which supports the import substitution industries, he said.
“The cabinet is giving loans to people
from the Fund of Soums’ Development and Fund for supporting small- and
middle-sized productions, moreover, we have launched other programmes on
providing 40-year and older people with jobs and student s with part-time
jobs," he said.
The Premier also spoke about the
"1,000 apartments' program, mortgage loans, creation of diagnostic centers
in aimags and construction of paved roads.
The gathered asked the PM to solve
finance matters concerning a construction of engineering pipelines in
apartments, erecting of united hospital and building for a secondary school.
Capital
City to Provide Elementary School Teachers with Shelter
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME) Under
an initiative of Ulaanbaatar Mayor E.Bat-Uul, an "Elementary school
teachers–Social issues" meeting ran in UB palace on Wednesday.
The Mayor introduced to teachers a
newly founded Capital city Housing Corporation, It has put forward a generous
housing offer for elementary school teachers in the city. Accordingly, a
teacher who pays 25%-30% of his/her salary every month can own a 25 sq m-40 sq
m flat within 3-5 years, depending on the amount of the salary. This offer
sounds exceptionally pleasant for the overwhelming majority who are not able to
collect prepayment of housing.
Ulaanbaatar is in a need to supply 180
thousand apartments, but mere 15 thousand apartments come into service every
year, meeting 10% of the demand, noted the Mayor during the meeting.
Mongolia
to Host SEPD
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME)
Mongolia took part in the 126th meeting of the Committee of Permanent
Representatives (CPR) to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which
ran in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 24-28.
Our country was represented by
D.Batbold, the director of the department of Foreign Relations of the Ministry
of Environment and Green Development.
At the action, the delegates agreed to
organize the 11th Asia Pacific Sub-regional Environmental Policy Dialogue in
the UB city this September.
The annual SEPD brings together
Ministers and eminent civil society representatives from all five sub-regions
of the Asia Pacific region, namely Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia,
Northeast Asia and the South Pacific.
About
ADB’s Forecast on Mongolian Economy
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME)
Developing Asia will extend its steady economic growth in 2014 as higher demand
from recovering advanced economies will be dampened somewhat by moderating
growth in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), says a new Asian Development
Bank (ADB) report. ADB’s flagship annual economic publication, Asian
Development Outlook 2014 (ADO), released on Wednesday.
It forecasts developing Asia will
achieve gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.2% in 2014, and 6.4% in 2015.
The region grew 6.1% in 2013.
The recovery in the major industrial
economies is gaining momentum. Combined GDP growth in the United States, the
euro area, and Japan is expected to pick up to 1.9% in 2014 from 1.0% in 2013
before strengthening further to 2.2% in 2015. Growth in the PRC is expected to
moderate. The economy slowed to 7.7% in 2013 on impacts from tightened credit
growth, pared industrial overcapacity, deepening local government debt, rising
wages, currency appreciation, and the continuing shift in the government’s
development priorities away from quantity toward quality. These factors persist
and PRC growth is forecast to slow to 7.5% in 2014 and 7.4% in 2015.
While risks to the international
outlook have eased, three areas warrant close monitoring. First, if efforts in
PRC to curb credit expansion are too abrupt and excessively undermine growth, a
deeper slowdown could drag down prospects for its trade partners, including
Mongolia. Second, data on the recovery in the major industrial economies have
been mixed; pointing to the possibility that demand for the region’s goods from
these countries may be softer than envisaged. And third, a further shock to
global financial markets from changes in US monetary policy cannot be ruled
out.
For Mongolia, economic growth is
forecast at 9.5% in 2014, driven by the start of copper production at the Oyu
Tolgoi open pit mine last year and 10% in 2015. Rapidly declining foreign
direct investment, falling coal exports, compounded by highly expansionary
fiscal and monetary policy have created balance-of-payment (BOP) pressures.
While the depreciation of the togrog has already stabilized the current account
deficit, relieving BOP pressures, stabilizing the togrog and containing
inflation will require a tightening of economic policy to rein in domestic
demand growth. Mongolia’s economic prospects also remain highly vulnerable to
economic trends in the PRC and the global economy, while current policies offer
little buffers to cope with possible external shocks.
Tour
Guides Involve in Training
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME) The
Capital city's Tourism Authority has recently conducted "Museum
Guiding" training for professional tour guides in Ulaanbaatar.
A total of 23 people from 20 tour
operators such as Genco Tour Bureau, Tuul Travel, Great Chinggis Expedition,
Mongolia Expedition, Mondiscovery, Horseback Tour and Samar magic Tour got have
gathered to earn knowledge and information that will help in guiding around
museums such as Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum, Military
Museum, Ulaanbaatar City Museum, Winter Palace of Bogd Khan, and Choijin Lama’s
Temple. They have been also sharing views and experiences in presenting history
of monuments and buildings and explaining Mongolian tradition and customs.
The organizers say they want to make
the participants be aware of frequent misinterpretations and lack of knowledge
about exhibits.
Young
Herders to Gather for Consultation
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME) A
national consultation of young herders is planned to run this May 9-10.
It will be co-organized by the
Ministries of Labor and of Industry and Agriculture and by youth initiative
organizations. At the action, more than 300 young herders from all aimags
intend to focus on their achievements and problems.
Diagnostic
Center Opens in Khovsgol
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME) A
medical diagnostic center opened its door in Khovsgol province on Tuesday.
This is one of 11 same centers erected
to provide people with better and prompt medical treatment and diagnosis.
A 50 billion togrog sum has been spent
from the PM's package to build up these centers and "arm" them with
the latest equipment made in Japan, S.Korea, France, Italy, China and Brazils.
The opening ceremony was attended by
Ts.Davaasuren, a Chairman of parliamentary Standing Committee on budget, the
locality administrations and others. The Premier N.Altankhuyag was with them
online.
International
Day of Sport to be celebrated
April 3 (news.mn) Mongolia will for
the first time mark the International Day of Sport that has been declared by
the UN along with the International Olympic Committee to celebrate the
contribution of sports and physical activity to education, human development,
healthy lifestyles and a peaceful world on April 4th.
On April 4th athletes from every level
of all sports organizations will gather together. The UN and the International
Olympic Committee issued a joint resolution to annually mark the International
Day of Sports for development and peace on April 6th.
The International Day of Sports is
celebrated globally to promote peace and the Olympic spirit for fair
competition. For the upcoming International Day of Sports, the Central Palace
of Culture of the Mongolian trade union will host a day-long event dedicated to
the celebration including sports and cultural events, including a promotion
presentation for Olympics spirit where all kinds of sports organizations will
be involved on April 6th.
The sports day event will start at
11.00 am on Sunday.
As part of the International Day of
Sports for development and peace, essay writing and art contests have been
announced amongst children. Participants` inventions will be received by the
Department of Policy Implementation on Mongolian physical culture of the
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism until 5:00 pm on May 2nd, 2014.
Related:
Sport
for Development and Peace Int'l Day to Be Marked Here – Montsame, April 3
"Altargana"
to Be Held under Auspices of Premier
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME) The
"Altargana" festival of the Buryats will be celebrated this July
18-21 under auspices of the Prime Minister of Mongolia.
The first-ever Altargana ran was in
1994 in our Khentii aimag to promote folk arts and culture of the Buryats living
in Mongolia, Russia and China. This year, the festival will be marked in this
province again, together with representatives of five countries, says
M.Khuderbaatar, a chairperson of the Festival Organizing Committee and advisor
to the PM.
The festival, which takes place every
two year, includes competitions of wrestling, beauty pageant and folk song
singing and is expected to be attended by at least 10 thousand people. The
previous Altargana took place in Aga Buryatia, an administrative division of
Zabaykalsky Krai of Russia.
The Buryats or the Buryat-Mongols
numbering approximately 500,000, are the largest indigenous (aboriginal) group
in Siberia, mainly concentrated in their homeland, the Buryat Republic, a
federal subject of Russia. They are the major northern subgroup of the Mongols.
Mongolian
Pianist to Play Chopin Night
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME) Mongolian
pianist B.Oyu is planning to perform her fifth solo concert under a name of
"Chopin Night" in the State Philharmonic Hall this Friday.
As the name suggests, the concert
program solely consists of piano masterpieces written by Frederic Chopin, a romantic-era
Polish composer, who mostly known for his compositions for solo piano.
The concert will be joined by Ms Oyu’s
teacher S.Sayantsetseg, who will explain content and motion of pieces to
facilitate audience’s perception of all greatness of those piano compositions.
Before the concert, B.Oyu performed
with her country woman violinist O.Baigalmaa and represented her nation with
her solo performances in Italy, Spain and China.
Train
Museum of Marshal to Be Shown
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME) On
occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Victory on Khalkh River Battle,
celebrated in August, a "Train Museum of Marshal" will open on June
6.
The Ministry of Defense and the
Ulaanbaatar Railways joint venture agreed on this matter during
their meeting to discuss cooperation issues. Accordingly, the UB railways
and the Museum of Mongolian Troops will co-organize a campaign called
"Warrior Flag" through the southern and northern railways.
In addition, a three-month campaign
will commence soon to have all employees of the railways visit the UB-based
Home Museum of Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov with purposes to propagandize the
tradition of Mongolian military and promote the patriotism.
Present at the meeting were Colonel
O.Batmonkh, secretary of the sub-commission for marking the anniversary;
Colonel G.Zolzaya, a members of the commission; I.A.Dombrovsky, the first
deputy head of the UB Railways joint venture and chairman of the working group
of celebrating the anniversary of Khalkh River Battle; and Yu.Nyamjargal, a
deputy head of the UB Railways.
Photo
Exhibition Re-opens on Visitors’ Request
Ulaanbaatar, April 3 (MONTSAME) A
photographic exhibition by A.Tumenjargal will open in Blue Mon art gallery on
April 7-17.
Before this, the exhibition ran in the
Mongolian Art Gallery March 14-16, displaying the nature and peoples of Tibet.
The exhibition in Blue Mon gallery will include more photos taken in Mongolia.
The photographer usually focuses on
main three themes--nature, portrait and city. This time he will display the
bests of his travel photographs. The exhibition "Tibet-Through the Holy
Land" marked the first of a series project named "Lost World".
Visitors can also see there his previous exhibition photos (Mongolia-Savage
Garden) which were on display in Chinese Tianjin in 2012.
Tumenjargal has published photo albums
of all his exhibitions such as Wonders of Mongolia (2008), Inspiring Mongolia
(2011), Savage Garden (2013) and Tibet-Through the Holy Land (2014).
“Student-soldier”
program begins on Saturday
April 3 (news.mn) The
"Student-Soldier" program based on Presidential Decree #92 that gives
directions to the Government will begin on April 5th. The program, approved by
the Government of Mongolia, allows students to serve in the army during their
summer vacation.
Student registration for the program
was conducted between March 27th and 29th. Students who want to serve in the
army must be over the age of 18. A total of 450 junior course students from 64
national universities and colleges were registered to the program. The
students who are to serve in the army will take their oaths in June as soldiers.
The “Student-soldier” program will run
in two phases of the General Military Course and Army Special Preparatory
Course. The first General Military Course will be conducted for two months
between April 5th and May. The Army Special Preparatory Course will be
conducted between June 1st and August. When a four-month military course is
completed by a student they will be considered serving in the army.
This year only junior students were
allowed to enroll in the program.
Developing
Asia will continue to grow, but Mongolian Economy challenged by external
imbalances
April 3 (Mongolian Economy) Mongolia’s
economic prospects remain highly vulnerable to economic trends in China and the
global economy, while current policies offer little buffer to cope with
possible external shocks, says new Asian Development Bank (ABD) report.
Mongolia’s economic growth is forecast
at 9.5% in 2014, driven by the start of copper production at the Oyu Tolgoi
open pit mine last year and 10% in 2015. However, rapidly declining foreign
direct investment, falling coal exports, compounded by highly expansionary
fiscal and monetary policy have created balance-of-payment (BOP)
pressures.
While the depreciation of the tugrug
has already stabilised the current account deficit, relieving BOP pressures,
stabilising the tugrug and containing inflation will require a tightening of
economic policy to rein in domestic demand growth.
Developing Asia will extend its steady
economic growth in 2014 as higher demand from recovering advanced economies
will be dampened somewhat by moderating growth in China, says ADB. Gross
domestic product (GDP) growth is tipped at 6.2% in 2014, and 6.4% in 2015. The
region grew 6.1% in 2013.
There are three areas warrant close
monitoring for developing Asian countries. First, if efforts in China to curb
credit expansion are too abrupt and excessively undermine growth, a deeper
slowdown could drag down prospects for its trade partners, including Mongolia.
Second, data on the recovery in the
major industrial economies have been mixed; pointing to the possibility that
demand for the region’s goods from these countries may be softer than
envisaged.
And third, a further shock to global
financial markets from changes in US monetary policy cannot be ruled out.
The recovery in the major industrial
economies is, however, gaining momentum. Combined GDP growth in the United
States, the Eurozone, and Japan is expected to pick up to 1.9% in 2014, from
1.0% in 2013, before strengthening further to 2.2% in 2015. Growth in China is
expected to moderate.
Its economy slowed to 7.7% in 2013 on
impacts from tightened credit growth, pared industrial overcapacity, deepening
local government debt, rising wages, currency appreciation, and the continuing
shift in the government’s development priorities away from quantity toward
quality. These factors persist and China’s growth is forecast to slow to 7.5%
in 2014 and 7.4% in 2015.
In
2014, It Plans to Cultivate Total of 373.5 Thousand Hectares of Land
April 3 (infomongolia.com) Today on
April 03, 2014, the Ministry of Industry and Agriculture of Mongolia reported
the spring sowing preparation works.
In 2014, it plans to cultivate a total
of 373.5 thousand hectares, of which wheat in 304.5 thousand ha, 15.5 thousand
ha of potatoes, 8.3 thousand ha of vegetables, 24.1 thousand ha of oilseeds and
10.3 thousand ha for animal feed.
In 2014, it expects to harvest a total
of 426.4 thousand tons of crop, 198.1 thousand tons of potatoes, 106.8 thousand
tons of other vegetables, 25.9 thousand tons of fodder and 19.2 thousand tons
of oilseeds.
In 2014 spring sowing, a total 48
thousand tons of wheat seed are required according to estimation. Entities and
individuals reserved 26.8 thousand tons of wheat seed and Agriculture
Production Support Fund stored 1.2 thousand tons of wheat seed.
Despite of this volume, another 20
thousand tons of seed would be shortened, therefore it was resolved to import
and following the Parliament decision, the necessary amount of seed will
imported VAT free. Currently, a contract was made to import 6,800 tons of seed
from Russia’s Altai and Buryat regions and already been delivered at “Khutul”
platform in Selenge Aimag.
Also, it estimates to spend a total of
6.2 thousand tons of diesel for spring sow, 8.1 thousand tons of fuel for
cultivation, and 5.8 thousand tons of diesel fuel for harvesting. Thus, the
total crop production estimates a total of 20.1 thousand tons of diesel fuel
and agricultural businesses and individuals will be provided with fuel in
advance as loan no greater than 50% of total required.
This year, 2,100 tractors, 1,700
seeders and 3,200 soil processing trailer and swing machines will be exploiting
in spring sowing and the technical readiness are at 70 percent.
Interactive
Discussion to Develop Open Contracting in Mongolia Held with SDC and World Bank
Participations
April 3 (infomongolia.com) On April
02, 2014, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the World
Bank Offices in Mongolia have organized a highly interactive discussion to
offer and develop Open Contracting Partnership in Mongolia.
The event was held at the Open Society
Forum office in Ulaanbaatar, where more than 40 representatives from
government, civil society and development partners in Mongolia came together to
learn and discuss about the concept of open contracting.
The purpose of yesterday’s gathering
was to introduce open contracting and its relevance for Mongolia, and to share
the resources and tools that the Open Contracting Partnership offers.
Open contracting is a concept which is
gaining momentum around the globe. It aims to set new norms and practices for
increased disclosure and participation in public contracting, and covers the
whole contracting chain from planning to finalization of contract obligations,
including tendering and performance.
“I believe this is a timely and
important step in making all contracting processes open and public in
Mongolia,” said N.Dorjdari, Adviser to the Open Society Forum and Mongolia
Country Coordinator for the Revenue Watch Institute in his opening remarks.
“Many civil society initiatives in
Mongolia such as “The Publish What You Pay” initiative have been putting
pressure on the Government of Mongolia to make its contracts open and
accessible to the public. For this, the Government of Mongolia is making some
of their contracts open and publically available, yet the majority still
remains inaccessible. People of Mongolia, as rightful owners of the national
wealth, are entitled to know what contracts have been concluded with the
extractive industries, and whether they are receiving a fair share from the
investment agreements the government is signing on their people’s behalf”, he
said.
Kristina Aquino, World Bank Governance
Specialist and the key-note presenter at the discussion highlighted,
“Governments around the world spend an estimated 9.5 trillion USD every single
year through contracts. Yet, contracting information is often unavailable for
public scrutiny”.
The Open Contracting Partnership is
facilitating a global consultation process to create a set of global principles
that can serve as a guide for all of those seeking to advance open contracting
around the world. Mongolia is participating in this partnership through the
Public Procurement Partnership - a CSO network working on procurement reform in
Mongolia.
Director of Public Procurement
Partnership N.Otgonjargal said, “This is not a new concept in Mongolia. Thanks
to joint efforts of civil society initiatives, the Information Transparency and
Right to Information Law, the Public Procurement Law and the new Budget Law now
encompass some measures to make public procurement more transparent and
accountable. Moreover, it is crucial to establish a stable and permanent
structure for allocating regular funding resources for independent procurement
monitoring practice".
The discussion was significant in the
sense that it brought together all parties working on contracting and
procurement issues to begin a loose community of stakeholders working on open
contracting. This emerging Mongolian community of practice is now able to tap
into the wealth of resources and materials offered by the Open Contracting
Partnership.
The Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation (SDC), working on improving local public tendering processes
through its “Improved Competitive Outsourcing of Government Services” Project,
has sponsored today’s’ discussion in order to make the open contracting
initiative known among Mongolian stakeholders.
“Poverty and corruption are very
closely related. SDC has a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, and we
also believe in transparency. Open contracting is a process that we will learn
more about. For this, it is important to have high level commitment, but it
could even begin with simple efforts to change the mind-sets of people”, says
Director of Cooperation of SDC in Mongolia Markus Waldvogel in his closing
remarks.
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