Montsame Daily News, Wednesday, January 25, 2017. № 2027 (3040)
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION EXPECTED ON JUNE 26
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Standing Committee on State Structure backed the parliamentary resolution on designating the date of the upcoming Presidential Election. The resolution suggests that voters in Mongolia will cast their ballots in the Presidential election on June 26, 2017. The Mongolian nationals, living outside the country, would register their votes on June 10 and 11. The decision will be legitimized after the approval by the State Great Khural.
In the interview with MONTSAME, Chairman of the General Election Committee Ch.Sodnomtseren noted that the date of balloting is being announced in accordance with the Law on Elections, as it provides that the election date must be settled at least 150 days prior to the election. The law also provides that elections should be held in the last week of June.
Pursuant to the Constitution of Mongolia, a presidential candidate must be a citizen of Mongolia, aged 45 years or more, must have lived in Mongolia for the five years to the candidature and be a member of political party that has at least one seat in the parliament.
B.Amarsaikhan
SPEAKER M.ENKHBOLD ADDRESSES EFFORTS TO REGAIN INVESTOR CONFIDENCE AT AMCHAM MEETING
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Mongolia hosted its January Monthly Meeting with His Excellency MiyegomboEnkhbold, Chairman of State Great Khural of Mongolia on January 25th, 2017, at Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel. The Honorable Jennifer Zimdahl Galt, U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia, attended the meeting as a guest of honor.
The meeting convened over 100 participants, including AmCham members, foreign ambassadors, heads of international financial institutions, leaders of foreign business groups, and representatives from the local and international
private sector. Chairman M. Enkhbold provided the latest updates on the government’s key legal reforms and spoke about actions to bolster private sector development and promote investment in Mongolia. AmCham had the honor of hosting the first formal engagement between the Chairman and the international business community.
His Excellency M. Enkhbold commented on Mongolia’s efforts to regain investor confidence and noted, “We are working to firmly maintain the stability of policy and transparent governance in law making, while strongly addressing the issue of corruption. Mongolia is also working closely with the IMF and other international donor organizations, as well as other countries – including the USA, Russia, China, and Japan – to overcome the current economic challenges in a short period of time.”
“The United States Embassy and AmCham are partnering with the Mongolian government in other areas to successfully transform the Mongolian business environment into one that enables long-term, sustainable economic growth. To nual AmCham Mongolia and Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce Delegation” said the Honorable Jennifer Zimdahl Galt, the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia, during her remarks.
Chairman of AmCham Mongolia Mr. Jay Liotta said, “One of AmCham’s major initiatives in 2017 is to make sure that each one of our member companies has a success story to tell the world in 2017. In other words, Mongolia’s private sector businesses – small and large – need to succeed for Mongolia to succeed. AmCham and our members are both pleased and encouraged to hear the Chairman’s commitment to getting Mongolia back on track.”
B.Amarsaikhan
HEALTH MINISTER MEETS ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK DELEGATES
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On January 24, A.Tsogtsetseg, Minister of Health met with delegates headed by AyumiKonishi, Director General for East Asian Department at the Asian Development Bank and exchanged views on works to be co-implemented.
Underlining that Mongolia appreciates the contribution of the ADB for the development of Mongolian health sector, Minister A.Tsogtsetseg noted that ADB’s project of Development Program of Health Sector has been realized in Mongolia since 1997 and a number of health projects are currently being implemented with grant aid and soft loan of the ADB.
Most recently, the National Blood Center of Mongolia has renovated its office and blood banks were established at the center with the support from ADB. The Government of Mongolia and the Ministry of Health had discussed about ADB’s projects to implement in Mongolia 2017-2020 and Mongolia had rendered proposals on two health projects to ADB in December 2016. In this regard, the Health Minister requested the ADB to support on the proposals by Mongolia.
In response, AyumiKonishi expressed his gratitude to the Health Minister for cooperating with Mongolia in the health sector and said that the ADB is planning to give financing of USD 300 million each year in the next 4 years, half of which, will be provided to the health industry of Mongolia. “The ADB has a willingness to cooperate with Mongolia on the delivery of social welfare to target groups and combating air pollution”.
Furthermore, he added that Mongolia needs to increase the number of ambulances in the rural areas and expedient distribution is important in optimizing the efficiency of health care.
In turn, A.Tsogtsetseg informed that the Health Ministry of Mongolia is working to estimate and re-distribute the medical equipment in the provincial areas and that ambulances in 60 percent of all soums will be revamped.
B.Oyundelger
PARLIAMENT MEMBER MEETS CZECH AMBASSADOR
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ J.Ganbaatar, Member of Parliament and head of Parliamentary Deputy Committee on SMEs Development met with Ivana Grollova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Czech to Mongolia on Monday, January 23.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Parliament Member remarked, “Small and Medium-sized Enterprises or SMEs are the driving force of any economy, and the Republic of Czech demonstrates it. Therefore, we’d like to learn from your experiences, link our corresponding organizations in charge of SMEs, and organize productive events”.
For her part, the Ambassador touched upon bilateral ties which are ‘at a high level’, and said, “We have experience in implementing SMEs-oriented projects and programs especially in agriculture”.
“We will review your proposal, and be focusing on cooperation, and connecting small and medium-sized businesses of the two countries”, Ambassador Grollova said.
Kh.Aminaa
DEPUTY MINISTER RECEIVES DELEGATES OF ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Ts.Batbayar, Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism received a delegation led by AyumiKonishi, Director General for East Asia Department at the Asian Development Bank and Yolanda Fernandez Lommen, Country Director, ADB Mongolia.
At the meeting, the dignitaries exchanged views on projects and programs, which will be co-implemented in areas of environment and tourism in the next three years with the funding of grant aid and soft loans.
AyumiKonishi is paying a visit to Mongolia with an aim to monitor the process of ADB projects in Mongolia and develop a partnership strategy to implement in 2017-2020.
ADB is one of the biggest donor organizations of Mongolia and renders soft loan, grant aid and technical assistance worth USD 300 million every year.
B.Oyundelger
EXTENDED COUNCIL UNDER CAPITAL MAYOR CONVENES
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On January 25, the first meeting of the extended council under the Mayor of the capital city convened to discuss actions and works to be implemented in 2017. Mayor of the capital and Governor of Ulaanbaatar city S.Batbold released an ordinance to establish the extended council with composition of 25-30 people.
The council, in charge of counseling on development principles of the capital, strategy, social and economic policies, is comprised of representatives from government and non-government organizations, scientists, businessmen and citizens.
“-Previous council under the UB Governor consisted of few government officials. Involvement of representatives from different organizations and citizens, I expect, will positively influence to make proper effective decisions and to realize the decisions. The council will convene quarterly and counsel on already released and to be released decisions and ordinances of the Governor” said Mayor S.Batbold.
During the meeting, action plan of the Governor in 2016-2020 and Guidelines on social and economic development in 2017 were introduced. Even though the country and the city face economic difficulties in 2017, the city authorities plan to continue infrastructure and construction projects and make investment targeted to well beings of the citizens. Within four years term a new children’s hospital with capacity of 100 beds will be built and buildings for two district clinics and 10 health centers will be renovated. “BRT” project will start and 4 lines will be put into operation by 2019. Auto road with four lanes in route Ulaanbaatar-Choir and a new overpass will be built and three bridges will be renovated. Extensions for 31 school buildings will be made to change three shifts of classes. ‘The biggest work to implement this year is to renew legal status of the capital. We have developed a bill on the legal status of the capital and submitted it to the Government. When its principal is approved, the bill will be submitted to the parliament” said Governor S.Batbold.
B.Ooluun
MONGOLIA AND USA TRAINING FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME “Peace winter-2017” bilateral training for enhancing peacekeeping special operations’ capability has started. Mongolian armed forces and the United States Army Special Operations Command Pacific are organizing the training for the first time.
The opening ceremony was held on January 23 with an attendance of Ambassador of the United States to Mongolia Jennifer Zimdahl Galt, Deputy Head of the Mongolian Armed forces Brigadier- General J.Badambazar.
B.Ooluun
UNICEF HOLDS 2012-2016 REVIEW MEETING
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ “The cooperation between the Government of Mongolia and UNICEF during the period 2012-2016 has brought many results”, said Roberto Benes, UNICEF Representative to Mongolia to reporters at a meeting to discuss the results of 2012-2016 cooperation between Mongolian Government and UNICEF, which is taking place in Shangri-La Hotel today, January 25.
“Today, children are better off than in 2012 in number of key areas, especially in the two geographic areas Khuvsgul and Nalaikh; with provided access to kindergarten, water and sanitation in schools, but also better opportunities for children when it comes to their health and immunization. Together with these results at local level, we have important progress on national level. I want to thank the Mongolian Government for their commitment especially in improving legislations and policies”, he noted.
The meeting’s first session was dedicated to discussing 2016 results and lessons learnt. The outcome of UNICEF’s activities last year was outlined in four sections – social policy, media and partnership, child friendly community and child friendly school.
The second session focused on cycle-wide review of progress: main achievements, opportunities and lessons learnt. The discussion was on the UNICEF’s progress at the national and sub-national level, progress on data, knowledge and partnership and financial utilization.
The last session was themed ‘The bridge to the new cycle and key features of the new country programme document’, and the expected outcome of the new programme was introduced.
“By learning from the lessons from the past, we want to improve our service to children of Mongolia in the future. That’s why we are discussing the next five years today”, Mr. Benes said.
He continued, “It is very important that we increase our efforts to address inequality which prevent Mongolian children from unlocking their fantastic potentials. So, we are targeting equalities in health, education, access to water and sanitation and nutrition, but also, at the same time will invest our efforts and support in those areas where the return of investment is the highest such as early childhood education, the first five years when the brain has the highest capacity of potential and development, adolescence health and child protection. These are all areas we will focus on in the next five years, increasing our support to the Government of Mongolia; and by doing so, serving children in the best possible way”.
“One important way to address inequality is to replicate at the larger scale. Today, we can say we know what works for children and the solutions to children problems because we tested these in the last couple of years. And now we will replicate our success at the larger scale in new five geographic areas”.
“I am very happy to say that our funding for 2017-2021 has slightly increased which is a result of successful fund raising and the good performance of Mongolian Government and UNICEF. The tentative total budget for the programmes of next five years is about USD 26 million, and Mr. Benes said that he was happy to confirm an increase in budget than the previous cycle.
Kh.Aminaa
MONGOLIA TO DECIDE ON STAND-BY DEAL WITH IMF
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ According to the Minister of Finance, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission will probably resume their activity in Ulaanbaatar on the negotiation of Stand-By Arrangement sometime this week.
Mongolia officially requested financial aid from IMF on September 30, 2016. The representatives of IMF came to Mongolia on the request, having met with the heads of Bank of Mongolia, Ministry of Finance and corresponding Parliamentary standing committees. The mission revisited last month to negotiate on the Stand-By program, but delayed due to public holidays.
Therefore, the next potential meeting is projected to discuss the guidance on which IMF program needs to be implemented, and what changes are needed in Mongolia. Whether if Mongolia will be included in the Stand-By arrangement or not would be made clear in this meeting, along with the initial amounts of loan.
After their previous visit, Minister of Finance B.Choijilsuren said “The Stand- By program can be launched before the Lunar New Year”. Also, the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted in his interview for Bloomberg Mongolia “The Government is planning to settle the negotiation for the Stand-by program with IMF by February”.
The reason behind the rushed talks before the Tsagaan Sar or the Lunar New Year, which will be observed late February is the expected payment of USD 580 million of Development Bank bonds due in March. Although the exact amount is unclear, the first deputy governor of the central bank, O.Erdembileg said during the discussion on the state guidelines on monetary policy for 2017 held in October 2016, “Around USD 400 million loan will be available with the Stand-By program. The Government is negotiating for other sources for investment”.
Even if the government successfully negotiates with IMF on Stand-By program, there’s probably still a need of other investment sources to repay its debts. The Finance Minister said that the initial plan to pay the USD 580 million notes is yet to be released.
B.Tugsbilig
GOLD EXPORT HITS USD 758.4 MILLION IN 2016
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Last year, Mongolia exported USD 758.4 million worth of gold. According to National Statistical Office of Mongolia (NSO), 69.7 percent were exported to UK, 30.2 percent to Switzerland and the rest were exported to Nepal.
With the total volume of 19.2 tons, the export rate increased by 70 percent since 2015. Due to the policy to increase gold reserves held by the Bank of Mongolia, the Central Bank made decision to buy gold with London Metal Exchange (LME) rate. Previous rate was at USD 2 lower than LME. According to Mongol Bank, the submission rate of Central Bank hit the all time highest 17.6 tons in November of last year.
On the other hand, the Government implemented “Gold-2” national program to increase gold mining. “Gold-2” program will be implemented with stages until 2020 to restore the economy and to increase the volume by 2-3 tons per year and reaching 25 tons by 2020. Also, according to the government, it’s possible to increase the budget by approximately MNT 33-59 million per year as a royalty and the gold reserve ready for use by 100-150 tons after geological surveys.
B.Tugsbilig
MONGOLIA’S CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX REVEALED
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Today, January 25, Transparency International Mongolia announced Mongolia’s ranking in the 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) at the same time with the Transparency International’s global release of the report.
This year, 176 countries around the world were ranked with the global average score being 43, and Mongolia received 38 out of 100 to rank 87th.
If we look at the previous scores and ranks of Mongolia in the CPI, in 2012, Mongolia scored 36, in 2013 38, in 2014 39 and in 2015 39.
“The CPI 2016 is calculated using 13 different data sources from 12 different institutions that capture perceptions of corruption and Mongolia’s score was determined on the basis of 9 data sources”, said O.Batbayar, Executive Director of Transparency International Mongolia.
The sources and Mongolia’s scores are Bertelsmann Foundation Transformation Index 2016 – 36, Economist Intelligence Unit – Country Risk Ratings 2016 – 37, HIS Global Insight – Country Risk Ratings 2016 – 47, IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2016 – 35, Political Risk Services International – Country Risk Guidance 2016 – 32, World Bank – Country Policy and Institutional Assessment 2016 – 47, World Economic Forum – Executive Opinion Survey 2016 – 38, World Justice Project – Rule of Law Index 2016 – 38 and Varieties of Democracy Project 2016 – 34.
Following the release, Transparency International Mongolia expressed its stance saying, “It’s crucial to strengthen the Independent Authority Against Corruption of Mongolia, improve the legal environment surrounding corruption, enforce the realization of newly approved National Anti-Corruption program, and thwart corruption in order to restore the faith of Mongolian people in Government”.
Kh.Aminaa
MONGOLIAN POUCH CRAFTING HOPES TO SET GUINNESS WORLD RECORD
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Mongolian embroiderers and officials from the Bogd Khan Palace Museum and Cultural Heritage Center announced on January 25 that a Mongolian pouch crafting would be registered into the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO.
S.Gantsetseg, Executive Director of “Egneshgui sanaa” NGO (literal meaning Unique Initiatives) informed on the press conference held today, “We sent our request to register the Mongolian pouch crafting into the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO in 2010”.
To accelerate the matter, a replica of Bogd Khaan’s pouch will be nominated to the Guinness book. The crafting process of the pouch will start during the opening ceremony of the “Embroidery art wonder” exhibition, which will take place at the Bogd Khaan Palace Museum on January 27.
The duplicate of the Bogd Khaan’s pouch will be crafted as 225cmx88cm four times bigger than the actual size of original pouch of Bogd Khaan. It will be nominated for “the biggest pouch crafted by the most number of people” in the Guiness records.
The exhibition will display the best of modern day embroidery works and rare collections of Bogd Khaan Palace Museum to the public, including the original pouch of Bogd Khaan.
B.Tugsbilig
RED CROSS PROVIDES AID FOR HERDERS HIT BY SEVERE WINTER
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ In January 2016, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement” began a program to assist herders to overcome difficulties of dzud. The program was set to take effect for 12 months.
With the deadline set on February 28, 2017, the program has donated CHF 847 thousand for Mongolian herders. The early estimation says the assitance to herders totaled CHF 979,346 within the program, which is nearly finished, executing 87 percent of its projected humanitarian aids. The remaining CHF 132 thousand will be provided to herders by February 28, wrapping up the program altogether.
According to the web page of the Red Cross Society”, the aid was provided to 32 thousand herders of 5500 households in 17 aimags of Mongolia.
B.Tugsbilig
ZAVKHAN PROVINCE MIGHT OPT FOR BIOPOWER SOURCES
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ A team of researchers from the biopower plant of Novosibirsk, Russia, has worked in Zavkhanaimag of Mongolia. The team collected data from Ikh-Uul, Tosontsengel and Idersoums, where the largest number of yaks inhabit.
With the collected data, the researchers are to prepare a complete study suggesting a solution to meet the heating and power demand of the province with biogas alternatives. Based on the study results, a project would be implemented in the Zavkhan province.
The project will aim at reducing wood consumption for heat, and improving environmental protection in general.
Although the first instalment of project investment is estimated to be a rather large amount, 85 percent of the investment can be settled through bank loan if the provincial administration would be willing to provide the 15 percent.
If mobilized, the project would build model wintering places and townhouses powered by biogas.
B.Amarsaikhan
PIANIST B.BAT-ERDENE TO PLAY IN BURYATIA
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Pianist B.Bat-Erdene will play at the Philharmonic of Republic of Buryatia, Russian Federation on February 01. B.Bat-Erdene, born in 1990, graduated from the Music and Dance College in 2008 and studied at the UWC Adriatic College in Italy.
Afterwards, he graduated from the Trieste Music Conservatory of Italy with high success and entered to the Udine Conservatory for a master’s degree under the leadership of MassimilianoFerrati.
B.Bat-Erdene was the first winner of ‘Chopin and 21th century’ contest organized in Mongolia in 2010. Moreover, he won in several other competitions, including ‘Milosz Magin’ in France in 2011 and ‘Villa de Madrid” in Spain in 2013. He was also entitled to play in ‘La Fenice’ theatre of Venice, winning the 4th place in ‘PremioVenezia’ competition for graduates in Italy in October 2014.
B.Ooluun
CENTRAL MUSEUM OF MONGOLIAN DINOSAURS
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Over 70 million-year-old dinosaur fossils returned to Mongolia in the spring of 2013, after the President of Mongolia took actions on the alleged report that the Tyrannosaurus Bataar fossils that had been found in Mongolia were to be sold for USD 1.085 million at an auction in the US.
With the help of an international court, Mongolia received its rare finding of Tyrannosaurus Bataar fossils and displayed in a special facility at the Central square of Ulaanbaatar city for the public. This event was the start of the establishment of the Museum of Mongolian Dinosaurs, which was then put into operation by the autumn of 2013.
The Central Museum of Mongolian Dinosaurs, located in the Chingeltei District of Ulaanbaatar city, is aimed at protecting and preserving findings of dinosaurs, displaying them to the public and passing those heritages down to the next generations. The Museum is also working to seek for any dinosaur fossils initially found in Mongolia and to register the rare items and create a database.
The museum accommodates many types of interesting paleontological findings, dinosaur fossils and eggs such as Tarbosaurusbataar, Saurolophus, Oviraptorosauria, Ankylosauridae, Protoceratops, Ornithomimosauria, Prenocephale, Lycoptera, Conchostrace and Ephemeroptera.
B.Oyundelger
AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS CONTEST WITH PHOTOS ON NATURAL FEATURE
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ “Beauty of Mongolia and its features” photo contest among amateur photographers has announced its best photos. 12 amateur photographers took part in the contest with their 12 photos and a photo by G.Munkh-Od, which depicted ‘Hun chuluu (Kurgan stele)’ in Khovdaimag won the first place.
Photos Sea shore” by B.Ulsbold, and ‘On the way to Ushir waterfall’ by L.Janchivdorj, which ilustrated the shore of Khuvsgul Lake as well as Ushir Waterfall located in Bayanzurkhsoum of Khuvsgulaimag respectively, won the second and third places.
The photo contest was organized in the framework of the third international conference “Considering natural conditions and territorial features in the social and economic development”. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism granted certificates and prizes to the winners.
B.Ooluun
MONGOLIAN-MADE GIFTS ENCOURAGED FOR LUNAR NEW YEAR
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Mongolian NGO named ‘Shine Mongol beleg’ (literal meaning: New Mongolian gift) called for support of domestic production during Mongolian TsagaanSar (Lunar New Year) festival.
Mongolian population is made of 816 thousand households. And a study conducted by the NGO suggests that there are about 100 thousand households which regularly prepare gifts for their guests during the national holiday. And on average, the study shows, one household spends about MNT 250-300 thousand on presents which indicate a total amount MNT 25-30 billion.
“About 80 percent of the presents are goods imported from People’s Republic of China”, said M.Dorjdagva, Head of the NGO.
“Some 30 domestic entities and more than 20 media outlets have agreed to cooperate on our project ‘Let’s choose Mongolian gifts’ which involves free delivery of gifts by orders at 1900-2424 starting on February 1. The price rate of our gifts for delivery starts at MNT 2000”, he said.
M.Dorjdagva encouraged the Mongolian people to support domestic production by investing in their businesses for one of the biggest national festivals observed in Mongolia.
Mongolian TsagaanSar or Lunar New Year celebration begins on Bituun or New Year’s Eve when families prepare a great feast. Bituun means ‘close down’, a day when the moon can’t be seen. As the sun rises the next day, the first day of another lunar year, celebration starts within every family with greetings. The greeting ceremony is later shared with extended family involving visits to each relative’s family where presents are handed over to guests.
Nationwide celebration of the year of the Rooster is set to begin on February 27, Monday this year.
Kh.Aminaa