Jul 1, 2025 87 min read Daily News Summaries

Mongolia News Summary for July 01, 2025

The following news articles are the opinions of their authors and publications. They are presented here as translations for informational purposes and do not necessarily represent the opinion of MongolBeat or its members.

Today's Stories

Politics

We Are Suffering Today From the Consequences of Corrupt Officials Who Turned Energy Shortages and Pollution Into Their Source of Enrichment

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The capital city, Ulaanbaatar, is set to face the coming winter with continued energy shortages and severe air pollution. This is the result of corrupt officials in the energy sector putting their personal interests first. Ordinary citizens are now facing the consequences, living with restricted energy supplies and breathing toxic air for many years. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with citizens seeking to restore their violated rights in court and receive compensation for damages caused by these corrupt individuals. Let us explain the circumstances to our readers.

FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY D.DORJPUREV SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGES TO “DCS-3”

A tragic accident occurred at the “TPP-3” JSC on the 2nd of this month at 00:25, resulting in the death of one engineer, injuries to another, and severe damage to the No.9 turbine generator, the southeast wall, and the roof of the high-pressure shop. The updated report by the company, dated June 25, 2025, states that a project to increase the capacity of “TPP-3” by 50 megawatts, which began in July 2013, is nearing completion, with commissioning and adjustment work ongoing. Thus, the accident happened before testing and adjustment were completed.

The police, intelligence agency, and anticorruption authority are investigating the incident and working to determine the exact extent of the damages. Officials estimate that 8.5 billion tugriks are needed for restoration alone. However, the total damages suffered by "TPP-3" are even higher. While the final figures have not been determined by the relevant agencies, it is certain that the losses amount to several billions. Reliable sources indicated that the losses from the fire at "TPP-3" were initially estimated at 28 billion tugriks, but this figure has since increased to 34.7 billion, and is expected to rise further as the assessment continues. Notably, this excludes compensation for the family of D.Khangal, the engineer who died, and the health damages suffered by Tu.Bayasgalan, the shift supervisor who was poisoned and injured.

What is regrettable is that the procurement of the generator, which was severely damaged in the incident, is not being reviewed or reconsidered. The repercussions of the corrupt officials' actions are being ignored.

Investigations revealed that the generator was purchased with funds from the Development Bank using the "Chinggis" bond. A government decision in 2013 allocated $35 million to expand “TPP-3” by 50 megawatts. A direct contract was signed with China’s “Hunan industrial equipment installation” company. The head of the project working group was D.Dorjpurev, who was Deputy Minister of Energy between 2012 and 2014. The first tranche of $28 million from the Chinggis bond was transferred to the company through commercial banks, followed by a second tranche of $7 million via US banks through the Bank of Mongolia in October 2013. As a result, a turbine generator was brought from China and installed by 107 Chinese workers. Those familiar with the matter claim that outdated equipment was imported from China.

This turned into a corruption and money laundering case. From September 2016, Dorjpurev was investigated by the Anti-Corruption Agency and the Economic Crime Division. It was established that large sums of money were transferred multiple times from “Hunan industrial equipment installation” to accounts belonging to Wang Libao, founder of “Heilongjiang Huanyan Mineral,” and Jin Shihu, director of “Shijia Investment,” both Chinese-invested companies operating in Mongolia. From these transfers, $500,000 each was sent twice to the “Fin Service” non-bank financial institution established by Dorjpurev. International SWIFT transfer records confirmed that Wang Libao sent $250,000 each on November 13 and 14, 2013, and before that, $500,000 came from “Shijia Investment.”

As a result, Dorjpurev was charged under Articles 148.4 and 166.1.1.2 of the 2002 Criminal Code for embezzlement and money laundering on a large scale. Shareholders of “Fin Service” included influential politicians, such as senior officials from the President’s Office and Supreme Court judges at the time. Possibly due to this influence, investigator Tamir from the Anti-Corruption Agency suggested dropping the case, and the prosecutor accordingly dismissed it, citing the inability to obtain the Chinese company’s bank statement. When prosecutors reopened the case later, it was again closed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

During the renewed investigation, assets worth 10 billion tugriks, including luxury apartments in Sukhbaatar district, materials, property in the city center, residences in Khan-Uul district, and two “Land Cruiser” vehicles were seized to compensate for damages caused to the state. It was also confirmed that $3.5 million from the $35 million Chinggis bond had not reached the Chinese company’s account.

Therefore, can’t the 35 billion tugrik damages to “TPP-3” be claimed from ex-Deputy Minister D.Dorjpurev? The Prosecutor’s Office should pursue this. According to Article 20.1 of the Law on the Prosecutor, if the state or public interest is violated, prosecutors may participate in court as a party or third party upon request or on their initiative. Since "TPP-3" supplies 18% of Mongolia’s electricity, 40% of Ulaanbaatar’s heating, and 80% of industrial steam, and suffered an accident affecting public interests, the prosecution must work to hold the guilty parties liable.

WHO WILL PAY FOR THE WASHED MONEY AT THE EASTERN PLANT FOR SMOKELESS FUEL?

It is now uncertain what residents of Ulaanbaatar will burn to heat their homes this winter. Mayor Kh.Nyambaatar has stated that over 300,000 tonnes of coking coal worth 226 billion tugriks will be imported from China and distributed to ger district households, causing much controversy and dispute. As people have not even gotten used to starting fires with coal and improved fuel, they may struggle with coking coal, creating even more smoke and possible poisoning.

If M.Ganbaatar and Ts.Davaatsyeren, former heads of “Tavantolgoi Tulsh” LLC, had performed their duties properly and the state had exercised proper control, there would have been no need to import coke from China – it could have been produced domestically. But over the years, successive leaders at “Tavantolgoi Tulsh” have classified non-sensitive documents as secrets to cover up their wrongdoing, possibly laundering money in the process. The audit report found that documents relating to the main ingredient norms, technology, purchase information of binders, and other records from the production of improved briquette fuel were unfoundedly classified as confidential. From 2018-2024, over 300 tenders and documents were categorized as secret. However, Article 6.1 of the Law on Organizational Secrets states that information that reflects the impact of organizational activities, production, or technologies on public health and the environment cannot be kept confidential. There is a high likelihood of corruption and conflict of interest, as well as possible money laundering under the guise of secrecy.

Specifically, under the semi-coke plant project, “Tavantolgoi Tulsh” LLC signed direct contracts with Korea’s THRU LLC for feasibility studies, design, project management, and laboratory establishment, all without tender. The signatory to these secret contracts was former director M.Ganbaatar. Although 7.3 billion tugriks of the main funding of 14.5 billion was transferred as an advance, no actual work was done. This transfer occurred within just five months in 2022. Had the coking plant been completed, there would be no need now to import 300,000 tonnes of coke from China.

Moreover, suspicions have arisen that money laundering occurred in the procurement of equipment for production lines two and three at the eastern plant of “Tavantolgoi Tulsh,” potentially embezzling taxpayers’ and shareholders’ investments. Although it was claimed that Korean equipment would be installed, in reality, fuel dryers missing laboratory components were imported from China and installed. As a result, citizens had to burn inadequately dried fuel. Last winter, social media was flooded with images of fuel that was still wet and frozen. Anyone who makes a fire knows that damp wood does not burn well and produces a lot of smoke, and so did the insufficiently dried briquettes. Over the past years, this has caused many people to suffer from gas poisoning and increased air pollution.

Additionally, there were issues with tenders for the binders used in improved fuel, raising suspicion that deaths from toxic gas could be linked to substandard binders. The audit also confirmed that binders were purchased without tender. Specifically, contracts worth 19.5 million tugriks with the companies "Garanii Bargil Tech," "Khangai Khan Undur," and "Barilt Trade" consortium, and a contract with China’s "Zhongxin New Material Technology" worth 84.5 million yuan were concluded without open tender. This violates Article 35.1.1 of the Law on Procurement, which allows direct purchase only in emergency cases where adherence to minimum tender periods is impossible, and Article 35.1.2, relating to urgent needs arising from disasters or accidents. Furthermore, during the COVID years, second-grade flour was purchased from “Altantariaa” for use as a substitute binder but never used; 161,100 tons remain, worth 120 million tugriks. It has been proven that this flour is not suitable for industrial or food use.

Clearly, Ulaanbaatar residents will have to survive another choking winter. But why shouldn’t public demonstrations and protests be held to demand compensation from those responsible for laundering money under the guise of smokeless fuel? The Anti-Corruption Agency is currently investigating all expenditures for projects such as coal enrichment, semi-coke production, and fine coke supply related to “Tavantolgoi Tulsh” LLC. Ensuring that those responsible for damages and losses caused to the state and organizations are held financially liable would be in line with principles of justice.

Back to Table of Contents

G.Zandanshatar: Public officials who illegally obtain mining licenses will be held accountable

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

One of the achievements of the previous Government was the successful implementation of the Law on the National Wealth Fund and the policy of allocating 34% and 51% of strategic deposits to the National Wealth Fund.

However, there were questions about whether the new Government could also implement the Law on the National Wealth Fund and secure the strategically important sites. The new Prime Minister, G.Zandanshatar, has given official instructions to the relevant legal authorities to present the issue to the Government meeting within July. Specifically, orders have been given to the Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs and law enforcement agencies to accelerate the implementation of the National Wealth Fund law.

In the official instructions, it is stated: “To accelerate the National Anti-Corruption Program and develop a comprehensive project to eliminate conditions and causes for corruption and official crimes, and submit it for Government discussion and decision within the third quarter of 2025. To investigate and develop the legal environment for holding public officials who have committed corruption, misused public property, or illegally acquired mining licenses accountable, and to confiscate illegally acquired assets. Also, to study the issues of illegal acquisition and granting of strategic deposits and propose to nationalize these deposits, presenting the findings to the Government within July." These official instructions were formalized last Friday and sent to the Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the General Intelligence Agency, the National Police Agency, the Anti-Corruption Agency, and the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority.

Prime Minister G.Zandanshatar said: "Internationally, the National Wealth Fund operates as an investment corporation. Since underground resources do not increase or reproduce, they are turned into growing and multiplying assets. Therefore, I have issued instructions and given direction to the law enforcement agencies. This covers all strategic and derivative deposits; policy will be developed for each deposit, and law enforcement will review materials and intensify investigations. By doing so, we will ensure the National Wealth Fund is monetized within the law."

Although there has been talk about taking a certain share of strategic deposits into government ownership, no concrete decision approved by Parliament has been made so far. At present, Mongolia has 16 officially registered strategic deposits. Reserves of 39 other strategically significant deposits have been determined, but they remain unregistered. The previous government aimed to update the list of strategic deposits and have it approved by Parliament, but was unable to submit a draft. Additionally, while J.Batzandan from the Cabinet Secretariat proposed registering 8 more deposits as strategic, this too was not approved by Parliament.

Moreover, negotiations had been underway to allocate 34% of derivative deposits to the National Wealth Fund, but these had stopped. Under the Prime Minister's latest directive, it appears that efforts to concentrate both strategic and derivative deposits in the National Wealth Fund will continue.

Back to Table of Contents

LIVE: Attempting to Pass Energy Legislation Without Public Discussion During the Naadam Festival is Suspicious

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

Members of Parliament S. Tsenguun, Ch. Lodoi-Sambuu, and Sh. Byambasuren gave information regarding the "Draft Law to Amend the Energy Law." MP S. Tsenguun stated, "Together with discussing many draft laws and the revised budget, there is an urgent amendment to the law that the public must pay attention to. This is the issue concerning the amendment to the Energy Law. This law was submitted on June 23 and is already scheduled to be discussed by the Economic Standing Committee today. The Ministry of Energy skipped the stage of introducing and discussing the law with the public, held a single discussion inside the ministry, and then submitted it to the Economic Standing Committee. Other stakeholders have not yet had the opportunity to submit their opinions.

This draft law introduces 30 new provisions under three categories. These 30 provisions introduce the new term 'energy project.' An energy project is defined as a comprehensive project that designs new non-renewable energy sources (apart from those connected to the unified grid and renewable energy sources), constructs and operates energy infrastructure, owns, transfers, and generates energy. The draft law amendment leaves out renewable energy.

There are also changes to the Public-Private Partnership Law. The concept of an energy project partnership agreement is introduced. It appears that outside the current Public-Private Partnership Law, separate regulation for new energy projects is proposed. If individual segregation of projects continues under the idea that the Law on Tenders does not apply, there is a risk of violating the core principle of the Public-Private Partnership Law.

Two sections were also added to amend the Law on Debt Management. This stipulates that regarding issues related to government debt management, they will be exempted.

Regarding licenses currently issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission, the Ministry of Energy seeks to take authority for these under the amendments. A working group will be established, responsible for selecting project implementers for energy projects. This working group will be led by the minister of energy and consist of five members: two appointed by the ministry and three representing the energy sector. These five members will have authority over all decisions regarding energy projects.

The working group will solely decide on the price of energy supply, the conditions for transferring projects to the state, project duration, financing costs, project size, capacity of subcontractors, and the competence of project implementers.

Large projects in the energy sector often stall due to licensing issues and lose precious time. I have previously mentioned in session that large projects are unable to progress because of licensing. However, bringing in major amendments to the energy law barely a month later is unprincipled. This raises the question of whether the Minister of Energy has been dishonest in the parliamentary session.

Of course, it's necessary to push forward energy projects. But it's suspicious that an attempt is being made to bypass public discussion on this major issue during the Naadam festival, at a time when many laws are being discussed. It's suspicious that such an important matter is being pushed through without public deliberation during the Naadam festival while many other laws are being discussed."

Back to Table of Contents

Second Hearing on the 2025 Budget Amendment Held

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Today, at the session of the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs of the State Great Khural (Parliament), four issues were discussed.

A report was heard regarding the discussion entitled "Strengthening Parliamentary Participation in the UN Human Rights Mechanisms," which was organized in honor of International Parliament Day.

The committee conducted the second hearing of the implementation of the 2024 consolidated budget of Mongolia, the government's 2024 consolidated financial report, and the draft parliamentary resolution "On Approving the Implementation of the 2024 Budget of Mongolia." It was decided to submit the opinions and conclusions to the Subcommittee on Budget Expenditure Oversight. Once the resolution is approved, it will officially confirm the figures for the country's 2024 income, expenditure, profit, and loss.

The second hearings were also held on the draft laws amending the Law on the 2025 State Budget of Mongolia, the Law on the 2025 National Wealth Fund Budget, the Law on the 2025 Social Insurance Fund Budget, and the Law on the 2025 Health Insurance Fund Budget.

A hearing was also held on whether to discuss the draft law to amend the Law on Citizenship, proposed by MP P. Sainzorig and eight other MPs, along with other related draft laws submitted together. The initiators of the law emphasized that, if passed, it would enable foreign nationals who can achieve exceptional results in the field of sports to obtain citizenship. This would not only positively influence citizens' attitudes toward sports in Mongolia and support an active, healthy lifestyle among the youth, but also help increase national pride and unity.

The majority of the members who participated in the meeting supported the draft law in principle and considered it appropriate to submit it for discussion at the plenary session of parliament.

Source: Group of the Mongolian People's Party

Back to Table of Contents

The 2025 Budget Amendment is Scheduled to be Finalized Next Week

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

Last week, the Government submitted the draft law to amend the Law on the 2025 State Budget of Mongolia, as well as related draft laws, to the State Great Khural (Parliament) in an expedited manner and conducted the initial discussion. This week, the second discussion of the budget amendment is scheduled to be held by the following standing committees: the Standing Committee on Industrial Policy, Standing Committee on State Structure, Sub-Committee on Budget Expenditure Oversight, Standing Committee on the Budget, Standing Committee on Innovation and Digital Policy, Standing Committee on Education, Culture, Science and Sports, Standing Committee on Social Policy, and the Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy.

Furthermore, on Wednesday of this week, the Parliament will hold the second reading of the amendments to the Law on the 2025 State Budget of Mongolia and the accompanying draft laws. On the following day, Thursday, the third reading of the budget will take place, and on Friday, the fourth reading will be conducted. Therefore, the final discussion of the budget is scheduled for next week.

Back to Table of Contents

FACT: G. Zandanshatar and B. Javkhlan Did Not Cut Their Own Budgets, But Cut 200-500 Billion MNT from the Energy and Health Sectors

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

Just a month ago, Finance Minister B. Javkhlan was admonishing members of Parliament, saying there was no need to amend the budget. Now, the reality has caught up, and currently, Parliament is discussing the draft amendment to the 2025 state budget and the accompanying legislative proposals. Although the initial revenue for 2025 was estimated at 33.5 trillion MNT, due to falling coal prices, projections show a shortfall of 3.3 trillion MNT. As a result, expenses had to be cut by 2.3 trillion MNT, necessitating the budget amendment. Of the planned cut of 2.3 trillion, 1.8 trillion will come from operational expenditures and 500 billion from capital investment. The reduced operational spending includes the dismissal of 14,400 civil servants and cuts in meeting and travel expenses.

Operational costs were reduced according to the following principles in the budget amendment: - Reducing the salaries of all government employees (except teachers and doctors) by 9% saves 261.0 billion MNT; - Reflecting changes in government structure and functions by reassigning responsibilities among budget administrators saves 8.4 billion MNT; - Digitizing government operations and forgoing purchases of office furniture and equipment saves 104.4 billion MNT; - Saving operational costs from July 2024 until the end of the year for existing programs, and fully saving the costs of programs not yet started in 2025 saves 617.3 billion MNT; - Ensuring all procurement activities are completed by May 31, 2025, and not spending on projects without signed contracts saves further funds. Regarding this, Government Resolution "On Budget Savings" was approved on June 20, 2025.

Under this resolution, the following savings were counted towards the budget: - Ministry of Health: 69.9 billion MNT - Ministry of Environment and Climate Change: 57.7 billion MNT - Ministry of Construction and Urban Development: 36.6 billion MNT - Ministry of Education: 33.7 billion MNT - Ministry of Road and Transport Development: 33.4 billion MNT - Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism: 19.7 billion MNT - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development: 17.4 billion MNT - Ministry of Digital Development and Communications: 12.4 billion MNT - Other main budget administrators: 255.4 billion MNT

For a total of 535.9 billion MNT classified as budget savings.

Additionally, preparation for the COP-17 meeting to be held in Mongolia in August 2026 will require 41.8 billion MNT, and 35.5 billion MNT is allocated for urgent repairs and installations at Energy Plant "TETS-3" following an incident on June 3, 2025.

Thus, according to the amendment to the Law on the State Budget of 2025, 612 projects and programs with a total investment of 8,994.5 billion MNT will be financed with 2,982.6 billion MNT.

Let’s see whose budgets were cut and whose remained untouched in 2025: - President U. Khurelsukh: 694.1 billion MNT (no cut) - Speaker D. Amarbaysgalan: 8.560 billion MNT (no cut) - Prime Minister: 1,433.5 billion MNT (no cut) - Minister of Foreign Affairs B. Batsetseg: 9,569.6 billion MNT (no cut)

Their budgets were originally planned and left untouched.

However, the budget for the Minister of Economy and Development, N. Uchral, was cut from 174.732 billion to 36 billion MNT, and the Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan's budget from 56.308 billion to 41.553 billion MNT. Notably, funding for Sukhbaatar District’s emergency services was cut, although there is an annual concern about the lack of equipment and clothing for emergency organizations.

Additionally, Secretary-General of the Cabinet S. Byambatsogt's budget was cut from 60.908 billion to 23 billion, Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs L. Munkhbaatar from 144.460 billion to 104.720 billion, Minister of Defense D. Batlut from 105 billion to 65 billion, Minister of Environment and Climate Change B. Batbaatar from 72 billion to 64 billion, Minister of Education P. Naranbayar from around 1.3 trillion to 439 billion, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare T. Aubakir from 135.833 billion to 48.728 billion, and Minister of Road and Transport B. Delgersaikhan from 3.5 trillion to 918 billion MNT, with significant cuts in provincial and district road construction budgets.

Likewise, Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Ch. Undram's budget was cut from 435 billion to 125 billion, Minister of Construction, Urban Development and Housing B. Bat-Amgalan from 1 trillion to 332 billion, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry J. Enkhbayar from 141 billion to 56 billion, Minister of Digital Development E. Batshugar from 35 billion to 23 billion, Minister of Energy B. Choijilsuren from 741 billion to 229 billion, and Minister of Health J. Chinburen from 357.6 billion to 123 billion MNT.

Energy remains a critical issue in Mongolia. In winter, when electricity and heating capacities are insufficient and consumption must be limited, everyone blames the government and Minister of Energy. Nevertheless, a massive 500 billion MNT was cut from this vital sector. The 500 billion cut includes projects such as heating stations and infrastructures for aimag centers, new distributed heating sources for Ulaanbaatar's centralized system, power supply for Khushuut coal mine's briquette factory, and funds for new turbine-generator installations at Thermal Power Plant #3. For example, of the 60 billion needed to install the new Turbine Generator No.9, only 15 billion was allocated; likewise, of the 30 billion needed for Turbine Generator No.7, only 15 billion was left in the first stage of the budget.

From the healthcare sector, funds for aimag hospital and family health center repairs and money for the National Center for Maternal and Child Health renovations were cut.

Despite the fact that energy and health are critical sectors that work first and foremost for the health and lives of Mongolians, Finance Minister B. Javkhlan and Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar's budgets remained mostly untouched. For instance, Finance Minister B. Javkhlan only cut his own budget from 142.7 billion to 127.7 billion MNT, a reduction of just 20 billion, while other ministers faced cuts of 100-200 billion MNT. Click here to read the ministers’ budgets.

Back to Table of Contents

The Democratic Party Group in Parliament Discusses Entrance Exams, Energy, and the 2025 Budget

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

At the regular meeting of the Democratic Party group in the State Great Khural (Parliament) held on June 30, 2025, three issues are being discussed.

Advisors A. Batpurev and D. Amarbaysgalan from the Democratic Party group in parliament provided members with information regarding the draft law on amendments to the Law on the State Budget of Mongolia for 2025.
Parliament Member S. Tsenguun presented the introduction of the draft law on amendments and additions to the Energy Law, as well as other related draft laws.
Regarding the organization and results of the 2025 General Entrance Examination, Parliament Member and Minister of Education P. Naranbayar and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Education B. Batjargal are presenting information to the members.

Source: Democratic Party group.

Back to Table of Contents

The National Human Rights Commission's Opinion is Required for Laws Restricting Human Rights and Freedoms

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

According to the amendments to the Constitution made in 2023, the newly established 126-member parliament resulting from the 2024 regular parliamentary elections approved its 2024-2028 strategic plan on November 15, 2024, in accordance with Article 4.8 of the Law on Parliament of Mongolia. The primary goal outlined in this strategic plan is to refine the concept of human-centered legislation that upholds human rights and freedoms. In all stages of developing, planning, submitting, discussing, adopting, monitoring the implementation of laws and legislative drafts, and reporting, priority must be given to principles and requirements that are based on a human-centered approach and safeguard human rights and freedoms.

To provide the foundation for effective implementation of this goal, amendments to the Law on Legislation were finalized and adopted on June 27, 2025. As a result, initiators of legislation are now required to have impact assessments independently conducted by research and analysis organizations and experts during the drafting of legal acts. The amendments also introduce the requirement that the compliance of draft legislation with human rights be evaluated with specific methodologies. Additionally, the law sets strict criteria for conditions when human rights may be limited by law.

Only for reasons of national security, the protection of others' rights and freedoms, or maintenance of public order, can certain human rights be limited. Such limitations must not be discriminatory, must be suitable for achieving their legitimate aims, and must be applied at the minimum necessary level in accordance with fundamental human rights principles and requirements.

The requirements for drafting legal provisions that grant powers to issue administrative normative acts have also been clarified. Such provisions must be relevant to the aims, objectives, and scope of the law, must not reduce the legal status of citizens or legal entities, and must clearly define the regulated relationships.

To further ensure public participation in the lawmaking process, detailed regulations have been introduced. In particular, the detailed introduction to legislative drafts is now required to include a summary of feedback obtained from relevant state bodies, citizens, and the public, as well as explanations and justifications for whether or not each suggestion was incorporated into the draft.

According to the new procedure, legal drafts both under preparation and submitted to parliament must be posted on the unified legal information system and the online platform for legislative proposals, enabling citizens and the general public to be regularly informed about the status of discussions on these drafts.

Moreover, for any draft law that contains provisions restricting human rights and freedoms, it is now mandatory to obtain an opinion from the National Human Rights Commission. For draft laws relating to the Criminal Code, Civil Code, General Administrative Law, the Law on Violations, as well as procedural laws for judicial processes, it is also mandatory to obtain opinions from the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor General. The amended law further clarifies which government body should evaluate the consequences of implementing a law and within what timeframe, and includes measures to ensure the uniform application of laws.

These changes will come into force on August 1, 2025, according to information from the Press Office of the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia.

Back to Table of Contents

Democratic Party Caucus Discusses 2025 Budget Amendment

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: news.mn

At today's regular meeting of the Democratic Party Caucus in the State Great Khural, three issues are being discussed. These are: 1. The draft law to amend the Law on the 2025 State Budget of Mongolia, 2. The draft law to amend and supplement the Law on Energy and other related legal drafts, and 3. Information about the organization and results of the 2025 entrance examinations, which will be presented to members by Member of Parliament and Minister of Education P. Naranbayar and State Secretary of the Ministry of Education B. Batjargal.

Last Friday, the first discussion was held in parliament on the draft law to make amendments to the Law on the 2025 State Budget and other related projects. When the government submitted the budget amendment, it included provisions to reduce civil servants' salaries and allowances. The MPP caucus in parliament considered this unacceptable.

There have been many issues related to the entrance examinations. The Minister of Education P. Naranbayar stated that the entrance exam tests were not leaked and that the exam tasks were included in the curriculum taught in general education schools. However, teachers and students commented that the content of the exams was too difficult and that some tasks were not in the curriculum, suggesting that only students who attend paid, advanced classes could cope. As a result, demands have arisen for the Minister of Education and the Director of the Education Evaluation Center to resign. The caucus is discussing this issue at today's meeting.

Back to Table of Contents

Asset and Income Declarations of the Three Highest State Officials

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The Anti-Corruption Agency has released the 2024 asset and income declarations of state officials. Here is the information for the three top state officials: the President, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker of Parliament.

President U. Khurelsukh:

Personal income: 66 million MNT
Family members' income: 8.8 million MNT
Real estate: 1 apartment, 1 summer house (valued at 162.4 million MNT)
Vehicles: Small passenger car, Mercedes Benz GLE 400-1, motorcycle Harley Davidson-1, SUV Lexus 570-1 (total value 501 million MNT)
Land: Usage rights over 1.5 hectares
Valuables: 100 million MNT
Bank savings and balances: 561.6 million MNT
Loans: 0 MNT
Investments in companies/partnerships/cooperatives: Erdenes Tavantolgoi JSC, Tourism Ilkhan LLC

Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar:

Personal income: 100.4 million MNT
Family members' income: 161.8 million MNT
Real estate: 1 apartment, 1 summer house, 1 commercial building (valued at 1.1 billion MNT)
Vehicles: Passenger car, Nissan Murano-1 (valued at 80 million MNT)
Livestock: 5 horses
Land: Ownership over 699 sq.m.
Valuables: 130 million MNT
Bank savings and balances: 675.6 million MNT
Loans: 0 MNT
Investments in companies/partnerships/cooperatives: Monitor Consulting Group LLC, Negun Cashmere LLC
Gifts and donations: 937,000 MNT (1 instance)

Speaker of Parliament D. Amarbaysgalan:

Personal income: 1 billion MNT
Family members' income: 145.3 million MNT
Real estate: 2 apartments, 1 industrial building, 3 parking lots (valued at 5.9 billion MNT)
Vehicles: Passenger car, Mercedes Benz S400-1 (valued at 120 million MNT)
Livestock: 90 horses
Land: Ownership of 0.07 hectares
Valuables: 230 million MNT
Bank savings and balances: 314.2 million MNT
Loans: 0 MNT
Investments in companies/partnerships/cooperatives: Seven Tree Studio LLC, Golomt Bank JSC, Shine Talst LLC
Gifts and donations: 923,000 MNT (2 instances)

Back to Table of Contents

The MPP Group in Parliament Supports the Proposal to Establish a Land Clearance Fund

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) group in Parliament held a meeting. Ulaanbaatar city mayor and governor Kh. Nyambaatar presented the bill to amend the law on reducing traffic congestion in Ulaanbaatar and providing housing for ger districts. A majority of the participating members supported the introduction of this bill.

With the proposed amendments, compensation will be granted for land that must be vacated, using valuation methods based on Asian Development Bank model standards. Infrastructure and social facilities will be developed on cleared lands, and housing will be built and sold on these sites. It is planned to establish a Land Clearance Fund where the concentrated revenue from these projects will be spent on the redevelopment of ger districts.

Additionally, the proposal includes implementing AI-powered monitoring solutions to control traffic violations and stipulates that, starting June 1, 2030, vehicles with right-hand drive will no longer be allowed to be imported. There are also planned amendments to the Banking Law, Water Law, and similar legislation. Regardless of their place of residence, public transportation (except taxis) fare for persons with disabilities in the capital and provinces will be financed by the budget of the respective region.

Furthermore, parliament member B. Enkhbayar delivered a presentation on "Parliamentary Oversight of Executive Work." A study was conducted on how parliamentary special oversight is implemented and legally regulated worldwide, and a draft bill has been completed in this regard. The study compared 27 countries with high democracy index scores, as determined by the "Freedom in the World" report.

Back to Table of Contents

Economy

BUDGET: Will the Adjustment Be Adjusted?!

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: news.mn

Mongolia's economic growth was 7.4% in 2023, 4.9% in 2024, but decreased to 2.4% in the first quarter of 2025. Total exports reached 5.4 billion USD in the first five months of 2025, a decrease of 15% or 931 million USD compared to the same period last year. Total budget revenue in the first five months of 2025 also decreased by 11% or 1.3 trillion MNT to 11.4 trillion MNT compared to the same period of the previous year. Among this, the price of coal, the main export product, averaged $72 in the first five months of 2025—a drop of about 40% compared to the same period last year. This sharp fall, based on the official statistics of the General Customs Office, signals an urgent warning for Mongolia's economy which heavily depends on mining. As macroeconomic indicators have now turned negative compared to the optimistic expectations set the previous year, everyone has been forced to recognize that budget revenue from exports has fallen, economic growth has slowed, and that in 2025, the consolidated budget revenues will not reach the minimum as set in the fiscal framework declaration. As such, the situation has necessitated a budget adjustment for Mongolia's 2025 budget.

The government has submitted a revised budget proposal to parliament, forecasting a reduction of 3.2 trillion MNT in balanced budget revenue, a 1.9 trillion MNT cut in expenditures, and a deficit of 1.365 trillion MNT. In preparing the 2025 adjusted budget, the government plans to reduce balanced budget revenue by 3.26 trillion MNT to 30.21 trillion MNT, reduce total consolidated expenditures by 1.857 trillion MNT to 31.58 trillion MNT, resulting in a balanced budget deficit of 1.365 trillion MNT or 1.5% of GDP.

Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar highlighted that fiscal discipline and spending efficiency are crucial to overcoming economic challenges. Therefore, the cost-saving adjustments focus on all levels of government institutions minimizing avoidable expenses. Additionally, programs and measures that have started will shift to austerity mode, and those that haven't started will have their budgets frozen in the following manner:

Costs allocated in the 2025 budget for increasing the tariffs of heating and fuel in budget institutions will be reduced by 121.9 billion MNT
All transport, fuel, domestic business trips, and educational production expenditures for all budget institutions (except special governmental bodies) will be cut by 28.9 billion MNT
International business trip and guest reception expenses, except for high-level official events, will be reduced by 4.5 billion MNT
Purchases of furniture, office equipment, routine repairs, and technical expenses will be reduced by 104.4 billion MNT across all budget institutions
Subsidies for state and private sector organizations will be reduced by 76.8 billion MNT
One-off and other types of bonuses and rewards will be reduced by 30.2 billion MNT
Expenditures for programs and measures implemented by all levels of budget institutions will be cut by 617.3 billion MNT

In total, these measures are expected to reduce budget expenditures by 1.5084 trillion MNT.

Furthermore, under the Fiscal Savings Law, the government passed a resolution on June 20, 2025, to halt funding for projects that did not complete procurement and sign contracts on time. Adding the 535.9 billion MNT from this resolution, total expenditure reduction is estimated at 2.0442 trillion MNT.

THE FISCAL STABILITY COUNCIL KEEPS WARNING TO DEEPEN SPENDING CUTS

The Fiscal Stability Council has noted that the medium-term fiscal policy framework now needs adjustment due to overly optimistic revenue forecasts. However, the predicted balanced prices for key mining products are still calculated higher than current market conditions warrant. The planned total reduction of total expenditure and net loans is 5.4% compared to the approved 2025 budget, which is less than the 10.6% decrease in projected revenue. The Council suggests further effort to reduce expenditures in line with revenue drops, firmly avoiding revenue gaps. Reducing spending and net loans by 1.8 trillion MNT from the approved budget is insufficient, and seeks an additional 1.8721 trillion MNT in cuts.

The Council concludes that further reducing total budget expenditures, including postponing more than 500 billion MNT worth of investment projects regardless of contract status, may be necessary. Some members of parliament have raised concerns that the size of the deficit in the revised budget could necessitate another adjustment, and recommend closely reviewing and reducing 1.1 trillion MNT of "major repairs, equipment, and other expenses" newly included for 2025. Mining revenues, subject to external market conditions, are highly uncertain. If coal mines face real risk of being unable to pay taxes, further revenue shortfalls must be anticipated. This means the year-end deficit may reach 5 trillion MNT rather than the forecasted 3.2 trillion, and there are calls for the current adjustment to be based on a 5 trillion MNT deficit.

WILL PUBLIC SERVANTS BE CAUGHT IN THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT STORM?

According to Mongolia's development plan for 2026 passed by parliament, the number of civil servants is to be cut by 9% starting from the second half of this year, in line with the social and economic context. About 14,400 civil servants will be let go under this scheme. The auditing authority cautioned that reducing positions across all agencies without properly analyzing job functions and workloads risks reducing the quality and coverage of government services. It advises that budget administrators should analyze departmental functions and productivity before adjusting staffing for better efficiency.

Instead of directly reducing salaries for civil servants, the government is encouraged to develop a performance-based wage system comprising base pay, performance bonuses, and mandatory increases as prescribed by law. The current plan to directly cut the civil service workforce by 9% comes with the risk of negative consequences. For instance, for those laid off (excluding vacant positions), severance equal to three months' salary is required by law, which would cost an average of 26.8 billion MNT—a point needing consideration during legislative debates.

The austerity may itself become an additional burden on the budget. A draft parliamentary resolution associated with amendments to the 2025 Budget Law stipulates that no replacements be made for positions vacated through retirement or other valid reasons in 2025-2026, that no new positions be created, and that workloads be increased to save on wage costs. This approach, if positions are not refilled in agencies that have already reduced staff to target levels, risks disrupting normal operations and the implementation of core functions.

Back to Table of Contents

Intellinews: After Years of Neglect, Central Asia Begins to Recognize Trade Opportunities with Mongolia

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

In recent years, Central Asian countries have focused on resolving border disputes among themselves and strengthening mutual trade and economic ties. Now, they have begun to turn their attention to Mongolia, a country with which they share deep historical and cultural links, but which has long been overlooked as a trading partner.

On June 24-25, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid his first official visit to the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, describing the trip as an "historic event for developing friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation." This is the first visit of a head of state from Uzbekistan to Mongolia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

During the visit, the two countries signed numerous agreements to lay the groundwork for cooperation in agriculture, mining, environmental protection, textile production, and tourism. Mirziyoyev also announced the establishment of an Uzbek trade center in Ulaanbaatar, calling it a practical base for developing a broad partnership. Furthermore, starting this autumn, the two nations will begin direct flights between them.

Uzbekistan is not the only Central Asian country showing interest in Mongolia. Before this visit, in early June, Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedov also made an official trip to Ulaanbaatar. This was a return visit to the trip that Mongolia's President U. Khurelsukh made to Ashgabat last autumn.

While Berdimuhamedov's visit was grand but produced only modest concrete results, the two countries did sign a memorandum to develop a program to strengthen political relations, transport logistics, and trade from 2026-2028.

In an official statement published in Turkmenistan's state media, Berdimuhamedov emphasized, "Turkmen-Mongolian relations are becoming regular and systematic, reaching a level of mutually beneficial and stable partnership."

Despite shared links through nomadic culture, the history of the Golden Horde in the 13th century, and the Soviet socialist legacy, diplomatic relations between Central Asia and Mongolia have been minimal since the 1990s.

In recent years, however, Mongolia itself has proactively worked to develop these ties. Last year, President Khurelsukh visited several Central Asian capitals, and in October, Kazakhstan's President Tokayev made a state visit to Mongolia.

At a regional forum to promote trade held in Ulaanbaatar on June 19, Mongolia's Deputy Prime Minister T. Dorjkhand stated, "Mongolia is no longer a mere observer of Central Asia, but an active participant in developing regional trade networks." He characterized Mongolia as a "middle corridor" that connects East Asia and Europe and stressed the need to eliminate regulatory barriers hindering trade.

Nevertheless, geography remains a major challenge. Mongolia and Central Asian countries do not share direct borders, and all are landlocked. Surrounded by China and Russia, Mongolia faces unique obstacles, which Mirziyoyev acknowledged, agreeing to cooperate on developing effective transport routes with broad expert participation for landlocked countries.

The United States and the European Union are strongly supporting the Central Asia-Mongolia engagement initiative. U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Richard Buangan emphasized at the regional forum that "regional cooperation is not only a strategic choice but an essential requirement for long-term development and prosperity," adding that Mongolia could serve as a crucial bridge between Central Asia and international markets.

EU representative to Mongolia Ina Marciulionytė, in her statement, called on regional leaders to focus on improving digital connectivity to overcome geographical barriers, stating that "such connections are just as important as physical transit networks." She mentioned that under the EU’s Copernicus initiative, satellite data could be used to support digital cooperation.

This initiative provides satellite imagery to support efficient management of land and water resources, disaster response, climate change impact assessment, geological research, and more.

Back to Table of Contents

A Temporary Trade Agreement to be Established with the Eurasian Union

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Mongolia, Eurasian Economic Union to Sign Temporary Trade Agreement

Mongolia signed the "Temporary Agreement between Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Union." Mongolia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development N. Uchral, representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Acting President of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry B. Lkhagvajav signed the agreement in Minsk, Belarus during the Eurasian Economic Union Supreme Council Meeting and the IV Eurasian Economic Forum held on June 26-27.

Mongolian manufacturers and businesses will now have the opportunity to export 367 types of goods tariff-free to the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)—Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia—with a combined population of over 200 million. For instance, a 5% customs duty on diesel fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, and lubricants will be waived, lowering the fuel price by 147 MNT per liter. There was also attention on whether tobacco would be imported duty-free; a decision was made not to increase the physical amount of tobacco and to offset customs duties with the excise tax. Quotas of 1,500 tons each have been set for dried milk with and without sugar, and the customs duty on up to 90 million eggs has been reduced by 50%, now at 7.5%. Vodka will face a 30% duty, and beer an 18.75% duty. Cheese, processed cheese, and butter imported into Mongolia will be subject to a 7.5% tax as agreed.

The five EAEU member countries have a market worth $15 billion (47.5 trillion MNT) for meat, leather, wool, and cashmere products. Mongolia will add value to its livestock raw materials and hides, increasing incomes for herders and manufacturers. According to general equilibrium model research, exports of meat and meat products could rise by up to 140%, exports of leather goods and products by up to 152%, and exports of sewn, knitted, wool, and cashmere goods by up to 134%.

The agreement will be submitted to the State Great Khural of Mongolia for ratification.

Back to Table of Contents

OECD Upgrades Mongolia's Credit Risk Classification by One Level

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The meeting to revise the Credit Risk Classification by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) was held on June 27, 2025. As a result, Mongolia’s credit risk rating improved from the previous highest risk level of 7/7 to a better level of 6/7.

This progress raises Mongolia’s reputation and creditworthiness in the international financial market, increases opportunities to attract foreign investment and financing for both the government and private sector, and creates favorable conditions for reducing the cost of financing.

In this session, the credit risk ratings of more than 40 countries were discussed. Of these, only three countries saw changes: the ratings of Bangladesh and Senegal were downgraded, while Mongolia was the only country to get an improved rating. This achievement reflects positive international investor sentiment and trust towards Mongolia during a period of ongoing global geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and uncertain conditions.

The Country Risk Experts’ Group, which establishes the credit risk classifications, operates independently and free from political influence. They meticulously study key indicators such as the country's underlying economic conditions, political risks, fiscal discipline, debt management, and macroeconomic policy stability, using models that conform to international standards to produce their assessments.

The improved credit risk classification makes conditions for financing from export credit agencies of OECD member states and international financial institutions more favorable for Mongolia, especially regarding the risk premium rates. For example, risk premiums could decrease by 3-6%, lowering the cost of medium- and long-term export financing.

The improvement in the credit risk rating is expected to have the following positive real impacts: • The cost of commercial loans obtained from foreign sources, as well as the risk premium levels for government and private sector loans, will decrease, reducing financial pressure on the state budget and the private sector. • The private sector will have increased opportunities to attract foreign investment, and investor confidence in Mongolia will be strengthened. • Export credit guarantee conditions will improve, increasing the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers and exporters in the international market.

The official ratings for countries can be found at: https://www.oecd.org/.../coun.../cre-crc-current-english.pdf

Back to Table of Contents

Mongolian Mining Has Fallen Into China's Hands Under the Guise of Foreign Investment

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Their representatives said: Since January 2025, we have raised demands to our company regarding labor disputes. However, we still have not received any response. We are not asking for a raise. We are merely demanding that we be paid the salaries stipulated by law, which we are rightfully owed. When we make demands to the company, the situation does not improve but actually gets worse.

Has Mongolia really lost its ability to stand up to the Chinese? Mongolian mining has fallen into China's hands under the name of foreign investment. We ask the government to take action.

We are ready to negotiate with the company and continue our work. We are not asking for world-class salaries. Just pay us according to the Labor Law. We want our labor to be valued honestly and fairly. Why can't Mongolian people work and live peacefully in their own country?

Everyone knows the salary calculation system, yet salaries have been reduced even compared to previous years. The breakdown of the monthly wages, which used to be provided every month, has not been given since January of this year.

They can’t even pay their current workers properly, but they are still advertising for new employees, shamelessly promising 3-4 million MNT. Yet, in reality, they never pay that much.

Workers of TTJVSOU LLC, a 100% Chinese-invested subcontractor of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi JSC (ETT JSC), are protesting by going on a hunger strike, claiming their human rights are being violated and their wages are not being calculated according to the law.

Back to Table of Contents

Diesel Fuel to be Reduced by 145 MNT per Liter

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

Minister of Economy and Development, N. Uchral, participated last week in the meeting of the Supreme Council of the Eurasian Economic Union and the IV Eurasian Economic Forum held in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

During this event, Mongolia officially signed and confirmed the temporary trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. The process of joining this agreement intensified in 2022 when Ch. Khurelbaatar was serving as the Minister of Economy and Development, was continued by L. Gantumur, and ultimately signed by N. Uchral, who is the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development. As a result, Mongolia, together with the five EAEU member countries—Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia—will have mutual tariff exemption for 367 types of goods for a period of three years.

Specifically, under the agreement, the 5% customs duty on diesel fuel, kerosene, mazut, and lubricants will be eliminated. For instance, the price of diesel fuel is expected to decrease by 147 MNT per liter. As of June 23, the price of diesel fuel in Ulaanbaatar is 2,940 MNT per liter. With the exemption, diesel will become 2,793 MNT per liter, emphasizing the benefit highlighted by the Ministry of Economy and Development.

"This creates an opportunity for fuel, which is 100% import-dependent and significantly affects crop and vegetable harvests and price increases, to become cheaper," it was noted.

According to a study using the General Trade Balance Model, the export of meat and meat products could increase by up to 140%, leather goods and rawhides by 152%, and apparel, knitwear, wool, and cashmere products by up to 134%.

The five EAEU member states form a market worth 15 billion USD, or 47.5 trillion MNT, for meat, leather, and woolen products. Access to such a large market presents widespread opportunities for increasing the value and income from animal-based raw materials, hides, the wages of labor, and income of herders and producers.

To protect domestic production, eight products, such as liquid and condensed milk, whey, thick cream, cucumbers, onions, potatoes, carrots, and yellow beets, have been completely removed from the list of tariff-free imports. For 11 products, quotas have been established and tariffs will be reduced.

A quota of 1,500 tons has been set for both sweetened and unsweetened milk powder. The customs duty on eggs, up to a quota of 90 million pieces, will be reduced by 50%, with the rate set at 7.5%. Vodka will be subject to a 30% tariff, and beer, 18.75%. Cheese, processed cheese, and butter imported to Mongolia will have a tariff of 7.5%.

As of 2024, Mongolia's trade turnover with EAEU member countries reached $3.0 billion, of which imports amounted to $2.9 billion, exports to $110 million, resulting in a total deficit of $2.8 billion.

The agreement will be submitted to the State Great Khural of Mongolia for ratification and approval.

Back to Table of Contents

Mongolia's Fluorspar Exports Reach Record Highs

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

Mongolia exported 659.1 thousand tons of fluorspar ore and concentrate in the first five months after the start of 2025, setting a historic record. This figure shows an increase of 196 thousand tons compared to the same period last year, which is two times higher than in 2023 and six times higher than in 2022—a positive development.

Last year, our country exported 1.3 million tons of fluorspar ore and concentrate for 318 million US dollars. In 2024, the average price per ton of fluorspar was 232.6 US dollars, but since the start of this year, it has risen to 241.4 US dollars per ton.

The majority of fluorspar exports go to China, followed by Hong Kong and Luxembourg.

Back to Table of Contents

20,000 Tons of Hay Prepared for Export to China Burned Due to Delays in Permit Issuance

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: news.mn

At today's session of the Parliament's Standing Committee on Environment, Food, and Agriculture, the issue of hay that had been prepared for export to China, worth about 5 billion MNT, being burned was discussed.

Member of Parliament U. Otgonbayar stated: "Around 20,000 tons of hay prepared at the Bichigt border port for export to China have burned and been lost. In total, businesses and citizens suffered losses worth about 4.5-5 billion MNT. To export hay, a plant quarantine certificate is necessary. This certificate was not issued for a full two months. If the permit had been granted in time, there would have been no need for the hay to remain at the border; it could have crossed promptly, according to affected citizens and businesses. Why was the certificate delayed? Previously, once customs had approved the certificate, exports proceeded quickly. Why did it take so long this time, and what will happen going forward? Will businesses and citizens continue to suffer losses?"

Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry J. Enkhbayar responded: "The issue of preparing hay in the eastern region for export to China was raised. By December 2024, all relevant permits had been issued. The Mongolian side has supported and encouraged this export. The main issue was that China’s quarantine service delayed the process for disinfecting and treating the hay, or so we’ve been informed. I intervened swiftly and issued all permits for hay that had been harvested given the risk of fire at the border, low snowfall, and favorable eastern conditions. Most problems arose from the Chinese side. We have tried to maximize exports. We are supporting all possibilities for exporting hayfeed, livestock meat, and food products. Only then will our economic indicators and incomes improve. Therefore, if a business has submitted an export request for hay and it has not been resolved, we want the names. If an issue remains at the level of a single business and a problem has arisen at the Veterinary Service or Plant Protection Agency, those officials need to be held accountable and removed from their posts.

Our policy is to support exports and encourage businesses. For meat, we removed all quotas and restrictions. Anyone who can prepare and contract for export may export. If a company’s request was submitted in a certain month and delayed by an agency head, accountability will be enforced."

Member of Parliament U. Otgonbayar added: "The problem seems to be more on the Mongolian side, with certificates not being issued. From February 24 to April 24, certificates were not issued due to system errors and print malfunctions—there are several causes. There seems to have been no issues stemming from the Chinese side."

Director General of the General Authority for Veterinary Services, A. Narantuya, stated: "According to the World Organization for Animal Health's code, the General Authority for Veterinary Services was authorized to issue certificates for pasture-harvested plants as of last February. A total of 321 certificates were written according to company requests. During February, this company did not itself submit a request for hay export abroad. The responsible specialist at the Customs General Administration typically handles this. Since the official international livestock certificates began to be issued, out of 600 planned truckloads of hay, only over 200 have actually left, being loaded and weighed by customs and submitted to us for documentation. At that time, the General Authority for Veterinary Services issued a certificate for each truck. Permits started being issued from April 21."

Back to Table of Contents

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

A briefing was given today by the relevant authority regarding the execution of the court decision related to “Olon Ovoot Gold” LLC. The case is a civil case that was finally resolved by a resolution of the Supreme Court in 2016, but since the enforcement process had not been carried out at that time, a working group issued Resolution No. 03.

In this regard, B. Davaasuren, Colonel and Head of the Khan-Uul District Division I of the Ulaanbaatar City Court Decision Enforcement Agency, stated:

“Enforcement action is being conducted based on an executive writ to recover certain monetary assets from Olon Ovoot Gold LLC and distribute them to the bank’s receiver. The court decision enforcement agency acts on the basis of an effective court decision and the executive writ issued pursuant to it. The aforementioned case is a civil matter resolved by the Supreme Court in 2016. Supreme Court resolution No. 853 states that certain funds should be collected from Olon Ovoot Gold LLC and given to the bank's receiver, citing Article 153, Article 175 of the Civil Code, and Article 52 of the Minerals Law, which allow for payment out of pledged assets. However, it does not specify a direct transfer of the special license of the pledged asset. Once the executive writ is issued and enforcement of the court order for payment is underway, procedural actions must follow the Law on Court Decisions. Because such procedures were not followed, the basis for issuing Resolution No. 03 was established.

Article 153 of the Civil Code states that the pledgee should satisfy their claims primarily from the pledged asset. Article 175 specifies the asset must be forcibly sold to meet the claim. Article 52 of the Minerals Law specifies that if the pledgor cannot pay, a request must be made by the pledgor to resolve the matter, not solely at the pledgee’s request; therefore, there is no basis for transferring a mineral license solely at the pledgee’s request.”

B. Batbold, Colonel and Head of the Internal Control Division of the General Authority for Court Decision Enforcement (GACDE), said:

“In addition to Savings Bank, there is a court decision for Olon Ovoot Gold to pay over ₮100 billion to certain individuals and legal entities. The pledged assets are associated with Savings Bank and Zoos Bank. Mr. Enkhtur was appointed as receiver of the bank by resolution of the Governor of the Bank of Mongolia. As the company founder, Citizen A, passed away, the right of inheritance had not been established for over a year. During this time, of the 44 licenses held by the company, only eight remained. Payments should have been enforced by seizing, securing, valuing, and selling these remaining eight licenses, with proceeds to be distributed according to relevant laws and procedures.

However, at that time, an official letter was sent to a company called Mineral Exploration Funding, a supposed subsidiary of the bank's receiver, granting them the rights. But the Minerals Authority did not transfer the licenses based on that letter. Our enforcement agency did not hand over the mining operations to that company. Nevertheless, they have illegally taken over and commenced mining operations. The working group found that, since inheritance rights were not yet established after Citizen A died, transferring everything solely to the receiver for Savings Bank was illegal and violated the rights of other creditors. Holding a unanimous opinion, the group issued their conclusions and Resolution No. 03 by order of the Chief Bailiff on September 26, 2024.

The Court Decision Enforcement Agency provides professional guidance and constant monitoring in major cases and those involving foreign-invested companies according to legal grounds and procedures, without giving preference to any party. Judicial review is ongoing. Any claims that the process is being influenced are unfounded. Savings Bank has ₮44 billion in receivables. In total, in connection with over ₮100 billion, more citizens and the state are being compensated.”

Warning Media outlets (TV, radio, social and web pages) are prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form, except with consent and attribution to the source (ikon.mn).

Back to Table of Contents

Certificate for the rights to possess and use the Ulaanbaatar city land sold for 9.3 billion MNT has been handed over

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

On May 21, an auction was held for the rights to possess and use 3,150 square meters of land, formerly occupied by the pharmaceutical factory building located northwest of Dashchoilin Monastery in Sukhbaatar District's 8th khoroo. "Ekhlel Brand" LLC purchased this land for 9.3 billion MNT. Today, the official certificate granting the rights to possess and use this land has been handed to "Ekhlel Brand" LLC.

During the ceremony, D. Amgalan, Chief of Staff of the Ulaanbaatar City Governor's Office, stated: “Ulaanbaatar City is carrying out efforts to reclaim properties that have been illegally possessed and used by others. One such case is the pharmaceutical factory building belonging to the Liver Clinic Center of Traditional Medicine under the City Governor. As professional organizations concluded that the building, which had been in use for 73 years, was no longer usable, it was forcibly vacated and demolished on April 14.

On May 21, we organized an open auction on the principles of fairness and equal opportunity. Our national company, 'Ekhlel Brand' LLC, purchased the land for 9.3 billion MNT and has paid the amount in full. According to Order No. 910 of the City Governor dated June 27, 'Ekhlel Brand' LLC is granted possession of this land for 15 years for the purpose of constructing a mixed-use apartment building, and the certificate has been registered. The revenue from this auction will be directed towards building schools and kindergartens in Ulaanbaatar whose construction was halted due to lack of funding. We will continue the phased process of reclaiming similar abandoned or ownerless buildings for city ownership,” he said.

Ch. Batzaya, founder and chairman of the board of "Ekhlel Brand" LLC, said, “The city government organized an open and exemplary auction for the public. On the 3,150 square meter land acquired through this auction, we will construct a modern building with a unique design. I hope such transparent auctions will become standard practice in the future. We are aiming to set an example of public-private partnership contributing to Mongolia's development.”

Source: Ulaanbaatar City Governor’s Office, Public Relations Department

Back to Table of Contents

The Governor of the Bank of Mongolia to Present on Pension Loan Conditions at Standing Committee Meeting

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Member of Parliament Ts. Iderbat wrote on his social media page that at the July 1 meeting of the Standing Committee on Social Policy of the State Great Khural, the Governor of the Bank of Mongolia, B. Lkhagvasuren, will deliver a presentation on the conditions of pension loans. The meeting is scheduled to start at 15:00.

During this meeting, a presentation will be given on the following topics:

Pension loan conditions
The policy being implemented to reduce interest rates on pension loans

Back to Table of Contents

Diplomacy

Emphasis Placed on Actively Working Towards the Commencement of Direct Flights Between Mongolia and the United States

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Prime Minister of Mongolia Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai received Richard Buangan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Mongolia. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene expressed gratitude for the persistent support extended by various U.S. administrations to strengthen the relations and cooperation between the two countries, noting the United States as Mongolia’s important “third neighbor” and strategic partner. He reiterated that the Government of Mongolia places great importance on consolidating its third neighbor strategic partnership with the United States and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in all spheres.

Ambassador Richard Buangan thanked the Prime Minister for meeting with him and congratulated him on his appointment as Prime Minister of Mongolia. He highlighted that, in recent years, due to the visits and exchanges between the U.S. and Mongolia, the third neighbor strategic partnership has deepened, a comprehensive strategic dialogue mechanism was established, and noteworthy events took place such as United Airlines commencing flights on the Tokyo-Ulaanbaatar route from May of this year.

During the meeting, the parties agreed to further closely cooperate on priority areas such as expanding economic and energy cooperation and improving the investment climate in Mongolia. Specifically, they emphasized the importance of completing the implementation of the second Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact, which will significantly contribute to increasing Ulaanbaatar's water supply and ensuring sustainable development, and actively preparing for launching direct flights between the two countries by continuing collaborative work through the relevant agencies.

Within the framework of Mongolia legislating English as its primary foreign language for education, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene expressed appreciation to the U.S. Government for its support in officially opening the "English Language Excellence Center" recently. Both sides confirmed their commitment to further enhancing cooperation in the English language sector, including supporting the center's activities.

Notice: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social networks, and Websites) are prohibited from fully or partially using our information in any form without agreement. Usage is only allowed by citing the source (ikon.mn) after reaching an agreement.

Back to Table of Contents

Political Consultations Held Between Mongolian and Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The VI Political Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands were held in The Hague on the 27th of this month. During the consultations, the parties exchanged information on the current state of political, social, and economic relations between Mongolia and the Netherlands, as well as major objectives outlined in their long-term development policies. They discussed in detail the possibilities of expanding bilateral relations and cooperation in other mutually interesting areas.

The parties expressed their satisfaction with the readiness to renew the "Air Services Agreement" between the two governments, and reaffirmed their commitment to continue working towards creating a legal framework to increase exchanges and mutual understanding between the citizens of both countries.

Furthermore, the sides discussed cooperation within the United Nations and other international organizations, and exchanged views on certain issues in international relations.

The political consultations on the Mongolian side were led by G. Battungalag, Director of the Department of Europe and Africa, and on the Dutch side by Dominic Kuehling, Director of the Department of Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Back to Table of Contents

Meeting of the Governing Board of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union Begins

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Organized by the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Communications, the Communications Regulatory Commission, and Mongol Post JSC, the regular meeting of the Governing Board of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU) has begun. The APPU is a regional branch of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a specialized UN agency, and comprises 32 member countries. The assembly is attended, both in-person and online, by more than 100 representatives from 50 countries' regional postal organizations, sector ministries, and regulatory bodies, who are discussing topics such as improving postal service integration, introducing advanced standards and technologies, implementing development programs, strengthening technical capacity, and enhancing cooperation. This meeting is notable as it precedes the global postal union congress to be held in the United Arab Emirates in September.

G. Telmen, the CEO of Mongol Post JSC, commented, "At the September congress, we will define the postal sector's plan of action for the next four years. This meeting is a major step in preparation for that. The Asia-Pacific region comprises 70% of the global postal market. The sector is facing new challenges. As traditional letter correspondence becomes obsolete, discussions are taking place on the new role of postal organizations and how to adopt emerging innovations. According to the global postal union’s evaluation, Mongolia currently ranks 66th out of 192 countries. This is neither particularly good, nor bad. Our government does not pay much attention to the postal sector. Through this meeting, we are trying to raise awareness of the sector's importance and are also meeting with government leaders and policymakers."

Bhavana Patel, Director of International Relations at Australia Post, stated, "This meeting is mainly focusing on how to improve regional postal systems and operate in an environmentally friendly manner. Customer satisfaction is very important in our postal services. We aim to understand and meet our users’ needs. We have introduced a system that allows the tracking of sent items. As Australia has a large territory, in recent years, we have been working to improve our postal services and align with modern times."

The meeting will continue until July 5, with subsequent discussions on expanding cooperation in postal and logistics, cross-border delivery solutions aligned with the growth of e-commerce, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, automation, green postal policy, sustainable development, and strategies for strengthening human resource capacity.

Back to Table of Contents

Infrastructure

The "Chinggis Khan" Airport will be expanded and its capacity increased with Japan's concessional loan

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Prime Minister of Mongolia, G. Zandanshatar, met today with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Mongolia, M. Igawahara. At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar expressed his gratitude and conveyed thanks to the Prime Minister of Japan, Sh. Ishiba, for the congratulations upon his appointment to this position. Prime Minister Zandanshatar emphasized the high importance Mongolia places on developing and expanding its relationship and cooperation with Japan, which shares common democratic values and is an important "third neighbor."

He expressed appreciation for the decision by the Government of Japan to restore the provision of official development assistance to Mongolia through concessional yen loans, and reaffirmed his commitment to cooperate closely in expanding and increasing the capacity of the "Chinggis Khan" International Airport with the financing from this loan.

Additionally, in order to enhance the utilization and effectiveness of the Mongolia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, which became effective in 2016, the Prime Minister noted the importance of continuously working to increase its benefits, and mentioned plans to establish a Mongolia-Japan business council under the Prime Minister's office.

He also highlighted the high importance the Government of Mongolia places on the upcoming historic first state visit to Mongolia by Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan, to be held at the invitation of the President of Mongolia.

Ambassador M. Igawahara expressed his confidence that this visit by Their Majesties would be an event of historical significance, further strengthening and deepening the friendly relations and people-to-people friendship between the two countries.

Both parties noted that Mongolia-Japan relations and cooperation have been developing at a high level in all fields within the framework of the "Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity" and agreed to ensure the concrete implementation of the "10-Year Action Plan" under this partnership by working closely together. As part of this, they discussed strengthening mutually beneficial trade and economic relations, increasing Japan's investment, technology, and know-how in Mongolia, supporting people-to-people exchanges, and deepening their cooperation in regional and international arenas for common goals, according to the Government's Press and Public Relations Department.

Warning: Media organizations (television, radio, social media, and websites) are strictly prohibited from using our information in any form, whether in part or in whole, unless agreed upon, and must cite the source (ikon.mn) if used.

Back to Table of Contents

City Mayor Kh. Nyambaatar Announces Law to Ban Import of Right-Hand Drive Vehicles from 2030

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Mongolian People's Party (MPP) parliamentary group held a session during which City Mayor and Governor of Ulaanbaatar Kh. Nyambaatar introduced a bill to amend the law on reducing traffic congestion in Ulaanbaatar and converting ger districts into apartment zones. The majority of attending members supported the proposal.

During the session, Mayor Kh. Nyambaatar stated, "We are implementing a solution for monitoring traffic violations using artificial intelligence technology. Additionally, the law stipulates that starting from June 1, 2030, the import of vehicles with right-hand drive will no longer be allowed. Furthermore, there are plans to add amendments to other laws such as the Banking Law and the Water Law. Disabled citizens who use public transportation (excluding taxis) in the capital or provinces will have their travel costs covered from the local or city budgets, regardless of their official residence."

Back to Table of Contents

International Competition for "Hunnu City Planning Concept" Launched

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

An open international competition for developing the "Hunnu City Planning Concept" has been announced starting from the 27th of this month, in accordance with international urban planning standards. Hunnu City aims to ensure the balanced development of the region, decentralize the population from Mongolia's capital city Ulaanbaatar, fulfill special functions of the capital, and grow as a satellite city to Ulaanbaatar with optimal spatial planning.

The development of the "Hunnu City Planning Concept" is intended to be based on the principles of sustainable development, integrating modern smart and green technology, combining Mongolia's historical heritage and culture with global development trends, and designing a human-centered, livable city environment.

Both domestic and international design organizations, teams, and individuals are eligible to participate in this competition, from which the top five entries will be selected. The panel of judges for this concept will be announced publicly and will include both domestic and foreign experts.

For the international open competition to develop the "Hunnu City Planning Concept", registration for participating teams will end at 12:00 noon on August 3rd of this year. Upon completing registration within this period, participants will be able to download the assignments and materials for the concept development. After gaining the right to participate, teams can begin developing their concepts, which must be submitted electronically in accordance with the requirements of the design brief by 12:00 noon on November 3rd. The selection evaluation will be conducted in three stages, and the best works will be determined by cumulative scores, with a public urban planning exhibition to be organized afterwards.

Back to Table of Contents

A. Erbol: Four Companies Have Submitted Proposals for the Tuul Expressway Construction Tender

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Within the framework of the "Tuul Expressway" project construction, an open tender selection process was launched on the 27th of this month. Regarding this, the Director of Road and Road Facility Projects, A. Erbol, stated, "The Capital Procurement Agency has opened the tender numbered 'NHAAG/20250101139’, which is for the Tuul Expressway project work. So far, four organizations have submitted proposals. The working group will review and evaluate the submitted proposals in accordance with the law, then proceed to the stage of signing contracts and granting rights to the participants who have submitted the best bids. We adhere to the principles of fair competition, transparency, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and responsibility, as stipulated by the Law on Procurement of Goods, Works, and Services with State and Local Government Funds, aiming to select a contractor and implement the project effectively."

The expressway is planned to start at the eastern part of Ulaanbaatar, at the Bayanzurkh checkpoint along the Ulaanbaatar-Nalaikh road, and to reach the safety roundabout at the western edge of the city, covering a total length of 32 km and including a six-lane road. This is intended to create a traffic bypass around the city center.

The project includes the construction of bridge structures at 12 locations, tunnels at 7 locations, and intersections with two-level crossings at 7 locations. Along the highway, 23 locations will have traffic lights, 4,686 lighting poles will be installed, and there will be two fully equipped toll collection points. Since it intersects with major roads such as the Nalaikh Highway, Dunjingarav, Ajilchdyn Street, Yaarmag, Songsgolon, and Emeelt, the project will provide continuous traffic flow around the city, and it is estimated that road congestion will decrease by 10-20% upon implementation.

Warning
Media agencies (TV, radio, social and web pages) are strictly prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form, except with agreement, in which case the source (ikon.mn) must be cited.

Back to Table of Contents

Khan Bank Provides Funding to Build Four Primary Schools

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Khan Bank has signed an agreement to participate in the "Bagiin Baga Surguuli" (Village Primary School) initiative, providing funding for comprehensive work including the establishment of primary schools in Uvs, Khovd, Khuvsgul, Darkhan-Uul, and Tuv provinces, the furnishing of digital classrooms, and addressing learning gaps. The initiative is being implemented jointly by the Ministry of Education, UNICEF, investor companies, and relevant local organizations. As a result of the project, this year child-friendly and climate-resistant school complexes will be established in remote villages of the aforementioned provinces, allowing more than 600 children aged 2-10 to attend school close to their homes.

Khan Bank is taking a leading role in this initiative, making a significant initial investment towards the project. This funding will be used to build primary schools in Uench soum of Khovd province, Borshoo port in Uvs province, Rinchenlkhumbe in Khuvsgul province, and Batsumber soum in Tuv province.

According to a World Bank study, families living in remote areas of Mongolia face many challenges in sending their children to first grade. Six-year-old children are often required to live far from home in dormitories at the sum (county) center, or a family member must move permanently to the sum center, both of which create many unfavorable and difficult conditions. Alarmingly, about 80% of children who drop out of school nationwide are rural children aged 6-14.

It has been proven that access to quality education is a crucial factor in children becoming valuable, healthy, and productive members of society and contributing to social and economic development. In countries where basic education levels are high, economic development is also demonstrably better. For this reason, Khan Bank has supported this initiative from the beginning and is calling on other private sector entities to join in funding the construction of more primary schools.

During the agreement signing, Khan Bank’s CEO and UNICEF National Ambassador R. Munkhtuya shared: "I am delighted, as a UNICEF Ambassador and on behalf of Khan Bank’s team, to contribute to enabling young children across our vast land to receive quality basic education in a comfortable environment close to home, laying a solid foundation for their future. I am confident this project is a real investment supporting the education and aspirations of Mongolia’s children."

Currently, only 44 out of 1,575 village units nationwide have primary schools. In cooperation with the private sector, UNICEF aims to establish primary schools in around 60 villages by 2027, creating opportunities for young and disabled children to learn close to home and with community support.

Khan Bank not only provides financial products and services to its customers but also conducts business activities that are friendly to society, people, and the environment, contributing concretely to Mongolia’s economic and social development. Through its social responsibility foundation, Khan Bank has implemented over 520 projects and programs for social good since 2007, distributing over 16 billion MNT in funding.

Shared growth in harmony – Khan Bank

Notice: Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social, and Web pages) are strictly prohibited from using this information in full or in part in any form without agreement; use is only permitted by mentioning the source (ikon.mn) with prior consent.

Back to Table of Contents

Old Apartment Buildings in Nalaikh District Need to Be Renovated

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The First Deputy Governor of the capital city, T. Davaadalai, and related officials worked in the Nalaikh district, where they met with the district’s management to discuss ongoing projects and pressing issues.

Nalaikh district is located 36 kilometers east of the center of Ulaanbaatar city. It was established and developed based on the Nalaikh coal mine to supply coal to Ulaanbaatar. Although it has an official population of around 40,000 people, unofficially about 90,000 people reside there. The district is divided into eight subdistricts (khoroos).

It has a special economic zone, as well as industrial and technology parks. The First Deputy Governor, T. Davaadalai, emphasized that Nalaikh is developing into an industrial satellite city that helps share the industrial load coming into Ulaanbaatar from the west.

The Governor of Nalaikh District, D. Nayanbayar, remarked: “Nalaikh district developed as a worker’s district based on mining and is the closest of the three remote districts to Ulaanbaatar city. We face issues with infrastructure that need addressing and are working on them.

For example, our heating plant has an installed capacity of 69 MW, but it cannot operate at full capacity; one of its boilers has issues, leading to energy and infrastructure problems in winter. Moreover, the old apartments known as '10 shar' from the 1980s have been neglected in terms of engineering pipelines and infrastructure.”

At this time, First Deputy Governor T. Davaadalai stated: “We need to conduct a selection process for the 1980s buildings and explore the legal options for constructing new apartments.”

District Governor D. Nayanbayar highlighted that they are preparing to hand over a new 32 MW power plant associated with the district's industrial and technology park to the state commission. In this connection, issues with water have been resolved, and a feasibility study for a water treatment facility has been completed. If the energy and heating issues are fully resolved, there is an opportunity to relocate heavy and light industries from Ulaanbaatar city to Nalaikh district. This and other related issues were discussed and feedback exchanged.

Furthermore, residential projects by NOCK (National Housing Corporation) are being implemented in Nalaikh district. With grant assistance from Japan's "Grassroots" project, a kindergarten expansion was carried out, and a building for the German-Mongolian International School of Technology was constructed.

Although road construction is underway in this area, there are financial constraints completing the connector roads, so a request was made for assistance to fully complete these works.

Source: Capital City Governor's Office, Public Relations Department

Back to Table of Contents

Society

15 South Korean Citizens Deported from Mongolia for Violating Laws by Providing Paid Examinations and Diagnostics Without a Visa

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

By the decision of the Government of Mongolia, South Korean citizens traveling to Mongolia for tourism purposes for up to 90 days are exempt from the Mongolian visa requirement until December 31, 2025. This visa waiver is provided only for tourism and leisure, and under these conditions, foreign citizens entering Mongolia without a visa are prohibited by law from working illegally, receiving medical treatment, conducting medical diagnostics, performing cosmetic or surgical procedures, or undertaking any activities not related to their declared purpose of travel.

Recently, under the visa-free arrangement, South Korean citizens have been found entering Mongolia without a visa and engaging in paid medical examinations, diagnostics, and other healthcare-related activities, which constitutes a growing number of legal violations. For example, in the first five months of this year, 80 South Korean citizens were found to be in violation, and 15 of them were deported.

According to Article 37.1.7 of the Law on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens, a foreign citizen who engages in employment without the proper authorization from a relevant organization, or undertakes activities inconsistent with their stated purpose of entry, may be subject to deportation from Mongolia.

Therefore, foreign citizens, their Mongolian hosts, and business entities are advised to use tourist visas strictly for their intended purpose. It is also recommended to avoid violations of this type and to refrain from repeated offenses in the future. If entering Mongolia for purposes other than tourism, visitors must enter with the appropriate visa category, and those wishing to work must receive the necessary work permits from authorized organizations, pay the prescribed employment fees, and, in the case of healthcare activities, obtain special authorization from relevant health authorities.

This information was reported by the Mongolian Immigration Agency.

Warning: Media organizations (television, radio, social, and web pages) are strictly prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form except by agreement and must cite the source (ikon.mn) if permission is granted.

Back to Table of Contents

"We Are Not Demanding World-Class Wages. We Are Demanding to Be Paid Under the Mongolian Labor Law"

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

With special permission from the MPA agency, photos were used. Today, employees of the Chinese-invested sub-contractor TTJVCO LLC working for "Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi" JSC announced in a press conference that they would go on a hunger strike regarding violations of their human rights.

A representative of the employees said, "Why can't our company director Wang Chang Qin and the Mongolian management meet with us? The employees are ready to negotiate and return to work. We build, operate, and work with world-class techniques, yet we are not demanding world-class wages. We want our labor to be valued honestly and fairly. Why can't Mongolian people work and be paid according to their own country's labor law? We just want to work and live peacefully in Mongolia. We are not demanding world-class wages. We demanded to be paid according to the Mongolian Labor Law. This is not a strike. Since the rights and interests of all employees are being violated, miners are appealing to the government to resolve this issue."

With special permission from the MPA agency, photos were used.

Another worker said: "We operate equipment larger than 15 m³ and over 100 tons. We work in dusty, hot, and tough conditions on both day and night shifts. The appreciation for workers is very low. Miners' salaries are inadequate. The mining industry in Mongolia has fallen into the hands of Chinese interests under the guise of foreign investment. Behind this, there is a lot of political, corruption, and conflict of interest at play. We want the ministers and responsible persons involved in mining to take substantive action on this issue. Although we started our protest peacefully, later on, over 200 young people shaved their heads to express their dissent. Now, the situation has escalated, and we hereby declare that we are beginning a wet hunger strike."

Notice:
Media organizations (TV, radio, social, and web pages) are strictly prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form without permission, and if agreed, the original source (ikon.mn) must be cited when using.

Back to Table of Contents

Russian Citizen Attempts to Smuggle 94 Hunting Bullets Across Mongolian Border

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

A Russian citizen named G.O attempted to illegally smuggle 94 hunting bullets across the Mongolian border. Specifically, the Russian citizen G.O tried to conceal 94 bullets intended for hunting in a Mitsubishi Pajero passenger vehicle in order to smuggle them through the Tsagaannuur border checkpoint. This attempt was detected by border guard investigator and junior sergeant A. Tümengerel, together with customs inspector Ts. Bayaraa of the Border Troops Unit No. 0285.

The relevant authorities have taken over the case for further investigation.

Back to Table of Contents

Trade and Development Bank Participates in International Forum on Women's Empowerment in Asian Countries

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The International Forum on Women's Empowerment in Asian countries, organized by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and the German International Cooperation Society in China, was successfully held in Beijing, China. The purpose of the event was to promote cooperation among stakeholders working towards sustainable development goals, highlight key ongoing initiatives, empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs), accelerate regional development, and share international experiences and initiatives.

The Trade and Development Bank, in collaboration with the German International Cooperation Society in Mongolia, signed a project implementation agreement to jointly carry out the "SFME" project in Mongolia, which aims to empower SMEs and improve access to sustainable financing. The project will run from March 2024 to June 2026 and will include activities such as improving the financial literacy of SME entrepreneurs, training bank staff working with SMEs to international standards, increasing understanding of sustainable finance, organizing training, seminars, and meetings, as well as implementing specialized consulting services and measures aimed at developing multifaceted cooperation.

During the seminar, discussions were held on gender equality initiatives in China, the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and new ideas and initiatives carried out within this framework, innovations and technological solutions implemented for sustainable development, legal regulations, emerging highly efficient innovative and technological organizations, pathways and characteristics of women's development, and factors contributing to new accomplishments. The seminar proved to be productive and informative.

The event, held under the theme "Gender Equality, Sustainable and Inclusive Development: Cooperation between the United Nations and the Private Sector," saw the participation of the Trade and Development Bank, which highlighted its recent actions related to gender equality, SME development, sustainable growth, and green finance. Trade and Development Bank was the first to introduce an Environmental and Social Risk Management System (ESG) into its operations and has embedded the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its core activities, remaining a leader in advancing sustainable finance in Mongolia. In 2024, the bank was recognized by the Mongolian Sustainable Finance Association as a Leading Organization on Gender and will continue to contribute significantly to advancing gender equality and sustainable development.

TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BANK
TOGETHER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Notice: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) are prohibited from using our information in full or in part in any form, and may only use it by agreement, citing the source (ikon.mn).

Back to Table of Contents

The First World Mongolians Festival Held in Brussels

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The First World Mongolians Festival was held under the auspices of the President of Mongolia in Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium, on the 28th of this month. Organized according to the standards and traditions of the National Naadam Festival, this event saw participation from 128 wrestlers, 60 archers, and 250 knucklebone shooters competing in strength, speed, skill, agility, and accuracy.

The festival played an important role in preserving and passing down Mongolian heritage, culture, and traditions to future generations, as well as promoting Mongolia abroad. Around 5,000 people, including Mongolians and foreigners residing in European countries, attended and enjoyed the event.

The festival was organized in collaboration by the Office of the President of Mongolia, the National Naadam Festival Organizing Committee, Mongolian diplomatic missions in European countries, the Council of Mongolians Abroad NGO, the Mongolian National Wrestling Association, the Mongolian National Archery Association, the Mongolian Knucklebone Shooting Association, musical groups and singers, and Mongolian citizens residing across European countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Back to Table of Contents

Defendants Charged for Forcing Girls into Prostitution, Case Transferred to Court

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The Prosecutor's Office has supervised 53,850 criminal cases under investigation from June 23 to 27, 2025. During this period, 1,691 crime-related complaints and reports were registered, 751 new cases were opened, and the prosecutor made indictments and transferred 834 cases to court.

To clarify the nature of the indicted cases: 313 were against the right to health and bodily integrity, 208 against property rights, 169 against road safety and the use of vehicles, 30 against sexual freedom and inviolability, 24 against the environment, 15 corruption cases, 20 against the right to life, 20 against public officials' interests, 9 against liberty and security of a person, 8 against public safety and public interests, 6 against cyber information security, 5 economic crimes, 4 against court proceedings, 2 against cultural heritage, and 1 crime against a child.

Some examples of the cases transferred to court:

Citizens O.P and B.E, acting as a group, exploited underage girls by forcing them into prostitution for profit, taking advantage of their status as runaways without shelter or financial means. They provided shelter and posted ads in online spaces stating "will receive financial compensation", and forced the girls into prostitution. Indictments were made under Article 12.1 (2.1, 4) /Rape/ and Article 13.1 (2.1, 2.2) /Human Trafficking/ of the Criminal Law, and the case was transferred to the first instance criminal courts for Bayangol, Khan-Uul, and Songinokhairkhan districts.

From the Capital Prosecutor's Office: S.E, who worked at the "Road and Transport Development Center" SOE, failed between 2022 and 2024 to carry out his duty to monitor whether vehicles exceeding technical parameters and weight limits were being allowed on the road, and whether axle loads exceeded the standard. He accepted bribes from drivers to let overloaded vehicles pass, violating Article 22.1 (3.1) /Abuse of Power/ and Article 22.4 (1) /Accepting Bribes as a Public Official/ of the Criminal Law. The drivers who gave the bribes were indicted under Article 22.5 (1) /Bribery/, and the cases have been transferred to relevant district criminal courts.

Customs officials E.B and P.B abused their official positions by failing to inspect goods in a citizen's shipping container, providing false information about the quantity, thus giving undue advantage to others. They were indicted under Article 22.1 (1) /Abuse of Power/ and the case was transferred to the district courts.

Citizen L.L, who worked as an inspector engineer and public officer for road construction in rural areas, included work that was not performed by the contractor in the final report and certified it, causing budget losses of 90.8 million MNT to the state. He was indicted under Article 22.1 (2) /Abuse of Power/ and Article 17.4 (1) /Embezzlement/ of the Criminal Law, with the case transferred to the respective courts.

Company "O" LLC, operating in the fields of mineral exploration, mining, and foreign trade, illegally stored 4 liters of hazardous chemicals (potassium dichromate, sodium carbonate, sodium hypochlorite solution) classified as “hazardous chemicals” in their factory premises. An indictment was made under Article 24.3 (3) /Illegal Handling of Hazardous Chemicals/ of the Criminal Law, and the case was transferred to the sum-level primary court in Dornogovi province.

Back to Table of Contents

Suspect Arrested for Stabbing and Killing a Woman at 'GEM mall', Charged Under Two Criminal Articles

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

An incident occurred at the GEM mall shopping center, located in the 6th khoroo of Bayangol district, where a woman was fatally stabbed. Specifically, a woman working at GEM mall was killed by her husband due to family conflict, and the case is currently under investigation by the police.

The man who committed the crime has been named as a suspect and is being held in custody. According to sources, the individual is being investigated and charged under two articles of the criminal code.

Back to Table of Contents

“If the Issue of Pensioners is Not Resolved, We Will Escalate our Protest”

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Mongolia held meetings on June 12 and 13, deciding to maintain the policy rate at its current 12% and to change the upper limit for pension loans to 50%.

Pensioners have opposed this decision, staging a sit-in at Sukhbaatar Square for the ninth day.

Citizen Ts. Altanzul

"There is No Basis for the Pension Loan Fund to Be at Risk for 11.7 Billion"

Ts. Altanzul said: "On June 12, the Bank of Mongolia issued a regulation stating, 'Pension loans will be issued on a 50:50 condition to pensioners.' This regulation is completely unnecessary for our lives.

In 2020, by decision of the Mongolian government, a law was passed for the state to cover once the pension loan debts of citizens pledged against their pensions, paying off the loans of pensioners with debts up to six million.

Five years have passed since then. Now, such a resolution has suddenly been issued and false information is being spread, which we oppose.

Secondly, they say that pension loans are issued from the money of depositors. What happened to the pension fund? Since 1995, employers have been deducting contributions from salaries every month. Where is that accumulated money?

Also, they reported that 'pension loans are at a risk of 11.7 billion.' There is absolutely no basis for this.

If you take a pension loan for more than six months, it requires a guarantor. However, even if the pensioner who took the loan is alive, they require the guarantor to pay the loan.

Additionally, incorrect information is spread to make pensioners look bad to society. But we are human beings too.

The country's 400,000 pensioners are part of Mongolia's more than three million citizens. They should be ashamed to let us sit on cold cement for nine days without any respect at all.

We cannot live as comfortably as pensioners in foreign countries.

Today, representatives of pensioners submitted a 72-hour demand letter to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Policy.

If our issue is not resolved before the spring session, we will escalate to a sharper form of protest," he said strongly.

Citizen M. Oyund

"We Are Not Here For Ourselves, But For Our Children"

M. Oyund said: "I am 65 years old and have two children. I had my youngest son after I turned 40. He is currently studying in Japan. I pay for my son’s tuition with my pension.

This August, an eight million tugrik tuition payment is due. For the past three years, I have been able to pay from my pension. Because of this decision, now I find myself unable to pay the remaining two years of tuition.

They also deemed pension loans 'risky.' In reality, this is not the case. Banks never lend to single or unaccompanied pensioners with no dependents.

Pensioners do not have accumulated wealth. During socialism, such conditions were rare. The pension loan is from the wealth we have accumulated. We live only on that accumulated wealth.

Now, I cannot understand where the money we deposited with the state has gone, to end up in this situation. I want an explanation for this. Our main demand is that we do not accept the 50:50 condition for pension loans," she said.

Back to Table of Contents

Environment

22 Forest and Steppe Fire Reports in the Last Five Days: 12 Fully Extinguished, Efforts Continue in Tuv and Selenge

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

According to the General Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), there have been regular updates regarding the forest and steppe fire situation and current conditions. As of today, in the last five days, a total of 22 fire incidents have been reported in Selenge, Bulgan, Dornod, Darkhan-Uul, and Tuv provinces.

Colonel T. Bayarkhuu, Secretary of the State Emergency Commission (SEC), stated: "Out of the 22 reported fires, 12 have been fully extinguished. As of today, seven fires have been contained in Omnodelger soum of Khentii province, Khongor soum of Darkhan-Uul, two in Khuder soum as well as Yeruu and Altanbulag soums of Selenge province. We are working to contain four fires in Erdene soum of Tuv province and Mandal, Altanbulag, and Khuder soums of Selenge province."

Firefighting operations involve 540 NEMA personnel, 74 vehicles, one helicopter from the Armed Forces, 14 border protection officers with two vehicles, 10 police officers, as well as local residents working together. Although there has been some light rainfall in the affected regions in recent days, it has not been enough to fully extinguish the fires. As a result, the risk of fire remains high due to dryness.

Under the decision of the SEC, they are cooperating with the police to investigate the causes of the forest and steppe fires. According to information provided by these agencies, between January 1 and June 29, 79 criminal and 4 administrative (violation) reports related to fires have been registered. Out of these, six cases (27.2%) have identified offenders, while 16 cases are considered to have been caused by natural factors.

Notice: Media organizations (television, radio, social, and web pages) are prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form except with permission and must cite the source (ikon.mn) if used.

Back to Table of Contents

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: news.mn

In accordance with the instructions given by the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Finance Minister B. Javkhlan and Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth Ch. Undram, representing the Government, visited the sites of ongoing forest and steppe fires in Selenge and Darkhan-Uul aimags on the 29th and 30th of this month to familiarize themselves with the situation and receive updates from Emergency Management Agency personnel. The fire risk in these regions is twice as high. This year, due to increased dryness, there have been 42 forest and steppe fires in these areas.

In Altanbulag soum of Selenge aimag, the field headquarters team led by Major General G. Ariunbuyan, head of the National Emergency Management Agency, is working together with local residents. As of the 29th of this month, four forest fires in Battsumber soum of Tuv aimag, Batshireet soum of Khentii aimag, and two in Yeröö soum of Selenge aimag have been completely extinguished. In Khongor soum of Darkhan-Uul aimag, Khuder and Yeröö soums, and two in Altanbulag soum of Selenge aimag, a total of six forest and steppe fires have been contained. Efforts are underway to extinguish five fires currently burning in Omnodelger soum of Khentii aimag, Erdene soum of Tuv aimag, and Mandal, Altanbulag, and Khuder soums of Selenge aimag.

A total of 858 personnel and 128 vehicles from the Emergency Management Agency, Border Protection, Police, and professional units are working in the fire-affected regions.

The team representing the government, after familiarizing themselves with the fire situation and current issues, is preparing to present six issues to the upcoming government meeting. These include the urgent replenishment of equipment and tools used by emergency responders in this spring and summer’s fires, and most importantly, the need to acquire specialized equipment for extinguishing fires in high mountainous areas. Also considered necessary is the supply of off-road vehicles, and ensuring fuel replenishment in each aimag. In the medium and long term, the issue of professional personnel should be addressed, and it is deemed essential to comprehensively update the emergency services fleet with modern air and ground equipment. Additionally, conducting forest cleaning according to standards, to reduce fire risk, is identified as a pressing issue that needs to be addressed.

Back to Table of Contents

LG launches 'Life’s Good' garden in Mongolia to celebrate World Environment Day

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

LG Electronics opened the 'Life’s Good' garden in Mongolia to mark World Environment Day, making a substantial contribution to the nation's green development initiative. As part of this effort, more than 120 trees and shrubs—including spruce and pine—were planted.

Located at the Chinggis Khan Statue Complex in Tsonjin Boldog, the garden symbolizes LG’s long-term commitment and consistent policy towards environmental sustainability in Mongolia. The tree-planting event was jointly organized by LG Electronics and the Genco Tour Bureau, with participation from Mr. Youngnam Roh, President of LG Electronics CIS, and Mr. Hak Hyun Kim, President of LG Electronics Almaty Kazakhstan.

"The 'Life’s Good' garden is not just a green facility—it's a heartfelt expression of LG’s dedication to sustainable development and a greener future. We are proud to contribute to Mongolia's national tree-planting campaign. We sincerely thank the government and local partners for their trust and cooperation. At LG, we believe that 'Life’s Good when you do good.' This garden is a tangible reflection of that belief," said Mr. Youngnam Roh, President of LG Electronics CIS.

As part of the initiative, a total area of 4,000 m² is being landscaped to create a green space that will positively influence the well-being of local residents. In addition, 610 m² of colored paved walkways have been constructed, making the garden an open area for relaxation and leisure.

The 'Life’s Good' garden is open to everyone, including citizens and tourists, and invites anyone who wishes to make a real contribution to the environment to participate. Planting a tree here is not only a memorable event, but also a way to leave behind a living legacy and support the sustainable development of the environment. For residents, it is a meaningful opportunity to actively improve their living environment and to support long-term environmental sustainability.

This collaborative effort cultivates a shared mindset, promotes a culture of responsible behavior towards nature, and contributes to expanding green public spaces. Each participant will have a personalized tag bearing their name and the date of planting placed next to their tree. This symbolic gesture emphasizes that each tree has its own story and that even a single tree can be part of a larger initiative for a greener future.

LG continues to aim for positive social impact through energy-efficient technologies and environmentally friendly initiatives. The company is confident that these efforts will play a real role in preserving natural resources and supporting the well-being of future generations.

Back to Table of Contents

NEMA: 11 Forest and Steppe Fires Nationwide, Seven Brought Under Control

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provided an update on the current situation. As of today at 11:00, there are 11 forest and steppe fires across the country. Of these, seven fires have been brought under control and efforts are underway to extinguish four fires.

According to Colonel T. Bayarkhuu, Secretary of the State Emergency Commission, "Within the last five days (2025.06.25-30), there have been 22 forest and steppe fires recorded in Bulgan, Selenge, Dornod, Darkhan-Uul, and Tuv provinces, of which 12 have been extinguished. As of today, fires in Omnodelger soum of Khentii aimag, Khongor soum of Darkhan-Uul aimag, Khuder, Yeruu, and Altanbulag soums of Selenge aimag have been brought under control. Works are ongoing to extinguish four fires in Erdene soum of Tuv aimag, and Mandal and Altanbulag soums of Selenge aimag. A total of 542 NEMA personnel are working on fire suppression activities. Local citizens and government workers are also participating. Although it is raining in the affected areas of Darkhan, Selenge, and Tuv provinces, lightning remains frequent. The risk of fire remains high, so we urge citizens to pay close attention to fire safety precautions," he said.

Back to Table of Contents

T. Bayarkhuu: Eight out of 18 Fires Registered in the Last 24 Hours Have Been Fully Extinguished

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The overall dryness in the country, especially in forested areas, has reached dangerous levels, causing wildfires to erupt one after another. For example, 18 wildfires have been registered in the last 24 hours. The National Emergency Commission and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) gave an update yesterday on the forest and steppe fire situation. Colonel T. Bayarkhuu, the head of the State Emergency Commission, said, "As of 11:00 am yesterday (today), efforts are underway to fully extinguish 10 fires. Of these, five have been controlled. As of June 28, there were 14 fires burning. Since then, four more fires have broken out, making it 18 in total. Eight of these have been completely extinguished. Specifically, the fires in Khuder, Yeruu, and Altanbulag soums in Selenge province have been controlled. Efforts continue to extinguish five fires in Khongor, Darkhan-Uul province; Erdene in Tuv province; and Mandal and Khuder soums in Selenge province."

Since the beginning of this year, there have been 132 cases of forest and steppe fires across 64 soums in 12 provinces and three districts of the capital, representing a 47.2% increase compared to the same period last year. Selenge province has seen the highest number, with 31 fires registered. Dornod province had 22, and Khentii 18 fires. As of yesterday, approximately 410 officials and over 720 people, including local citizens and professional units, were working to completely extinguish the fires, according to the emergency services. In addition, helicopters from the armed forces and emergency services have been mobilized to fight fires in mountainous areas inaccessible by vehicles. Meteorological agencies have also used cloud seeding to induce precipitation, greatly supporting firefighting efforts. However, firefighters noted that new fires erupt in different areas as they work to put out existing ones. The NEMA highlighted that although natural factors like lightning contribute to the occurrence of fires, cases caused by human negligence continue to occur.

Back to Table of Contents

Innovation

Moncement Building Materials LLC to Collaborate with UNICEF to Improve Access to Education

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Khan Bank and Moncement Building Materials LLC have signed an investment agreement to support children's education in remote areas as part of their corporate social responsibility, in cooperation with UNICEF's initiatives aimed at improving access to education.

Moncement will implement projects such as upgrading and renovating the digital classroom at the school in Urgun soum, Dornogovi province, organizing summer training courses to reduce educational delays, and enhancing teacher capacities in partnership with local authorities.

During the event, Ms. N. Munkhnasan, Chair of Monpolymet Group's Board, said:

"Private sector enterprises are not only operating businesses, but are also key contributors to the state budget. There remains a question as to whether the taxes we pay after dedicated work truly reach the basic social needs like education and healthcare sectors in an equitable and effective manner. In situations where budget allocations do not reach their intended destinations, it becomes inevitable—even in economically challenging times—that private entities must take the lead in addressing social issues themselves.

In this era of technological advancement, there is a growing need to improve the technological infrastructure and accessibility to educational equipment for young people and students, especially those in remote regions. Monpolymet Group is beginning to implement projects jointly with UNICEF to upgrade digital learning classrooms and organize training for local teachers and students.

Every child has the right to quality education in a healthy and safe environment. Making education accessible regardless of geographic location is the foundation for developing knowledgeable and skilled citizens, and for shaping the future of Mongolia. Therefore, I trust that policymakers will from now on implement more effective and consistent policies aimed at improving teacher availability, enhancing learning conditions, and supporting the development of the education sector."

Previously, Moncement, a company under Monpolymet Group, has been supporting UNICEF's "Tablet Teacher" initiative for early childhood development and education, and the results of this initiative will be announced this August.

Back to Table of Contents

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The high-level policy discussion on the topic “Establishing an ecosystem of higher education based on artificial intelligence” is being held today.

During the discussion, S. Badral, founder of "Bolorsoft" LLC, criticized Mongolia for lagging behind in the development of artificial intelligence and emphasized the need for robust government policies and the approval of a strategy.

He stated that an artificial intelligence strategy is a comprehensive plan of vision, goals, policy, and actions aimed at the effective, responsible, and sustainable development and use of AI within a country, organization, or sector.

He pointed out that Mongolia has not yet approved its official AI strategy document. Meanwhile, over 100 countries worldwide have approved and begun implementing their AI strategies in just the past year. If we do not abandon our traditional approaches, we will be erased from this sector. Mongolia has a high rate of internet usage and the beginnings of a national AI industry, but disorganization and the passive approach of decision-makers are slowing down this opportunity.

In an environment where nothing seems to proceed without mentioning AI, instead of just talking about it as a show, concrete actions need to be taken. Artificial intelligence is not just a passing trend but a technology that will penetrate every sector like electricity.

He also warned that if artificial intelligence is not systematically integrated into the education system, the future of 900,000 children will be uncertain. He emphasized that rather than focusing on building a single school, it is time to invest in digital infrastructure.

Since 2008, he has been developing linguistic digital solutions such as the "Bolor Dictionary", and since 2013, has been integrating AI into software development.

Back to Table of Contents

Event: High-Level Policy Dialogue on Building an AI-Enabled Higher Education Ecosystem to be Held

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: ikon.mn

At the Shangri-La Hotel, the high-level policy dialogue entitled "Fostering an AI-enabled Higher Education Ecosystem" will be organized by the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO, the UNESCO Office in East Asia, the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation (UNESCO ICHEI), the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST), and China Pocy Group.

At the State Palace: - 10:00 AM: The MPP and DP caucuses in the Parliament will meet. - 12:30-4:30 PM: Standing committees will meet.

At the Chinggis Khaan Museum: - 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: As part of the "KHARKHORUM-2025" International Film Festival, the "Mongolian Film Pitch Session" event will be held to present Mongolian film projects to international producers and investors.

At the National Emergency Management Agency: - 11:00 AM: Information will be provided on forest and steppe fires, as well as the current situation.

At the General Executive Agency of Court Decision: - 11:00 AM: Information will be given about the execution of the court decision related to the company "Olon Ovoot Gold" LLC.

At the "National Information Center": - 2:00 PM: Information will be provided regarding the hunger strike being held by employees of the subsidiary TTJVSIOU LLC (with 100% Chinese investment) of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi JSC, over violations of human rights and issues concerning the lawful calculation of salaries and wages.

Notice: Media organizations (television, radio, social and web pages) are prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form. Use is only allowed by agreement, and in such cases, the source (ikon.mn) must be cited.

Back to Table of Contents

Over 120 Trainers Prepared in the Field of Artificial Intelligence

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The "Establishing an Artificial Intelligence-Based Higher Education Ecosystem in East Asia in 2025" policy discussion was held today in Ulaanbaatar. The 2025 high-level policy dialogue in East Asia aims to further facilitate the integration of artificial intelligence technology into the region's higher education and contribute to the implementation of UNESCO's "Roadmap for Higher Education until 2030: Surpassing Limits – New Ways to Revitalize Higher Education" and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4.

Lee Jin, Director of Innovation at the UNESCO-ICHEI Center, stated: "Artificial intelligence technology is now powerfully entering the field of higher education. In East Asia, as we apply this technology in the education sector, we must consider not only its advantages but also the obstacles and challenges it presents so that these can be addressed in decision-making. It is important to discuss issues such as personal privacy and national data safety. UNESCO is implementing an organized, comprehensive, and policy-driven approach to localizing artificial intelligence in higher education. The best example of this is the International Center for Higher Education Innovation based in Xinjiang, which is methodically introducing AI into the higher education sector. Through short-term certified online courses, we have started to develop human resources with AI capabilities in higher education, training representatives from 120 higher education institutions, including university faculty from Asian countries. This has proven to be the most efficient and effective way to enhance AI capacity."

Regional international organizations, scholars, industry professionals, and businesses together aim to study the opportunities and challenges brought by AI technology to local higher education systems, analyze specific needs and challenges, and highlight promising opportunities for using AI in higher education. Officials emphasized that this initiative will serve as a bridge to foster collaboration in the sectors of research, academia, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Back to Table of Contents

TODAY: Discussion on 'Building an Artificial Intelligence-Based Higher Education Ecosystem' to Take Place

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Overview of today's events:

Meetings of the MPP (Mongolian People's Party) and DP (Democratic Party) factions in parliament will take place.

9:00 am: The discussion "Building an Artificial Intelligence-Based Higher Education Ecosystem" will be held at the Shangri-La Hotel.

10:00 am: As part of the "Kharkhorum-2025" International Film Festival, an event to present Mongolian film projects to international producers and investors will take place at the Chinggis Khaan National Museum.

11:00 am: An announcement regarding the court decision enforcement related to "Olon Ovoot Gold" LLC will be made at the General Executive Agency of Court Decisions. For inquiries, contact 88064025.

The Asia Pacific Postal Union (APPU) Board of Directors meeting will be held in Ulaanbaatar from June 30 to July 4.

In the provinces:

At the Arkhangai aimag museum, the temporary exhibition "Nature Up Close" will be held until July 28.

Abroad:

From June 30 to July 6: The World Cup boxing championship will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Back to Table of Contents

Collaboration with Regional Countries for Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Higher Education

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The East Asian High-Level Policy Dialogue on "Supporting the Higher Education Ecosystem with Artificial Intelligence" was held today. The event was attended by more than 200 representatives from over 10 regional and global countries.

The dialogue addressed the opportunities and challenges of integrating artificial intelligence in higher education, shared best practices, and aimed to deepen collaboration between the government, private sector, and educational institutions.

It was emphasized that Mongolia needs a more concrete policy-level strategy to overcome the unequal distribution of educational resources and the shortage of teachers' IT skills through the help of artificial intelligence.

D. Gantulga, Chair of the Board of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST), noted that joining the UNESCO International Center for Innovation in Higher Education is a significant step for the university. He stated that MUST has the potential to become a regional center. Artificial intelligence can be used for evaluating and grading theses as well as supporting students, but teachers need to be systematically and gradually trained for this purpose.

The UNESCO International Center for Innovation in Higher Education has organized short-term AI-focused training for university professors in the region, empowering over 120 university teachers. This has been one of the first major steps in supporting digital transformation, and Mongolia has the full potential to implement such programs sustainably in-country.

The POCY Group from China, a global model institution for integrating artificial intelligence into higher education systems, participated in the conference.

Specifically, the group implemented a project covering more than 150 square kilometers, invested a total of 170 billion yuan, established 10 high-level professional schools, and trained more than 100,000 students. The employment stability rate of graduates exceeds 98%.

According to Mr. Yao Yi Chun, President of POCY Group, the organization manages the only UNESCO Global Center for Vocational Education and Training in China. Through the "Jiangu" charitable foundation, they donated 10 million yuan to a district in Hunan province, providing rural students with the opportunity to study at universities for free.

The organization has begun implementing the "10-100-1000-10,000" program. In five years, they aim to train 100,000 young people with in-demand labor market skills, partner with 100 schools to introduce innovative learning models, and establish stable collaborations with domestic and international higher and vocational educational institutions aligned with usage trends.

Additionally, under the "Belt and Road" initiative, their goal is to establish 10 overseas training bases in Southeast Asia, develop an integrated international digital education platform, and enhance digital skills globally through events such as conferences, exhibitions, and competitions.

The cooperation between Mongolia, UNESCO, and the POCY Group is focused on solutions and marks the beginning of a new stage in advancing Mongolia's higher education system based on artificial intelligence to be more accessible, high-quality, and in line with international trends.

As an outcome of the dialogue, an AI-based higher education development program will be established, digital competencies of teachers and management will be increased, and Mongolia will be further developed as a regional center of innovation.

Back to Table of Contents

Recent Graduates from MUST Develop App for Visually Impaired People

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Graduates of the School of Information and Communication Technology at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) this spring have successfully developed an artificial intelligence-based application called “Smart Guide” intended for people with visual impairments.

The goal of this application, which has two versions, is to support the right to safe mobility of more than 12,000 visually impaired individuals living in Mongolia.

The first version uses artificial intelligence to recognize objects in front of the user, calculates the distance to those objects, and provides audio information in the Mongolian language. In the next stage, a system enabling voice control will be introduced, which will transmit route instructions to designated destinations.

The app's information delivery functions operate with an accuracy of about 85-90%. According to team leader M. Tumen-Ayush, the system is being continuously improved based on deep learning algorithms in artificial intelligence. The idea was initially proposed by Dr. S. Ulziibayar, who completed his doctorate in Japan, and development began last October.

The "Smart Vision" team won the silver prize at the international "Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship" startup competition held in Qingdao, China, with their project. Eighteen top teams from 10 countries competed in the event.

Previously, the "Smart Vision" team won the "Mongolian Intelligence" national startup competition and participated in a six-month incubation program by “INNO HUB Mongolia,” turning their idea into a real product. They note that this experience provided them with fundamental exposure to compete on the international stage.

Back to Table of Contents

Health

A Heart Surgery Previously Impossible in Mongolia Was Successfully Performed Domestically

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

A team of cardiac surgeons from the University Hospital of Strasbourg in France, in collaboration with Mongolian doctors, conducted specialized examinations for 36 individuals and provided surgical care to patients with severe heart defects. Among these patients, 27 were children. Specifically, the French doctors, together with the joint cardiac surgery team from the Central Hospital and the National Center for Maternal and Child Health, performed surgery on six children with severe congenital multiple heart defects who previously required treatment abroad, as well as an operation on one patient with an aortic and valve disorder.

A notable aspect of this joint surgery was that the foreign doctors participated in a consulting and supervisory capacity, while the local team performed the procedures independently. These successful surgeries included complex cases such as repairing a severe aneurysm of the ascending aorta with decreased cardiac contractility and heart failure, correcting severe congenital aortic anomalies, and performing repeat surgeries after tetralogy of Fallot repair involving the right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary artery stenosis. Such conditions were previously included in the list of diseases that could not be treated in Mongolia.

Back to Table of Contents

10,721 measles cases confirmed, 648 hospitalized

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The National Center for Infectious Diseases has provided information about the current measles situation. As of today, a total of 10,721 laboratory-confirmed measles cases have been reported. There are 648 people receiving hospital treatment, 953 quarantined at home, 9,113 recovered, 75,657 identified contacts, and 7 deaths.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be prevented by vaccination. Most measles cases have occurred in general educational schools, so children and individuals who study or work together are advised to get vaccinated against measles to protect themselves and others from the disease.

Everyone should act responsibly and help prevent the spread of infection for their own health.

Source: National Center for Infectious Diseases

Back to Table of Contents

Catch-up vaccinations for children under 15 who missed the measles vaccine will begin from July 1

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The National Center for Communicable Diseases has provided information concerning the status of measles cases. As of June 30, 2025, there have been a total of 10,721 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles, with 648 currently hospitalized, 953 being treated at home, 9,113 recovered, 75,657 contacts, and 7 deaths.

By age group, children aged 10-14 years are the most affected. Professionals have noted that children who were not included in the scheduled vaccination program are becoming ill the most. Therefore, on July 1, a nationwide information day will be held at local clinics to provide information about preventive catch-up vaccinations for measles.

During this event, children aged 6-8 months will receive additional immunizations. Also, children aged 10 months to 15 years who missed their scheduled vaccinations will be included in the catch-up immunization campaign.

Source: National Center for Communicable Diseases

Back to Table of Contents

Zh.Chinbüren: Starting Next Autumn, the Government Will Discuss and Decide on Not Allowing Children Without Vaccinations to Attend Schools and Kindergartens

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: isee.mn

Minister of Health Zh. Chinbüren announced through his social media that children who have not been vaccinated will not be allowed to enroll in schools or kindergartens next autumn.

Regarding this statement, which may potentially violate children's rights, further clarification was sought from Minister Zh. Chinbüren. He stated, "Some people say that since their children have not fallen ill, they do not need to get vaccinated. But the reason their children haven't caught diseases is because vaccinated children have not spread the infections. This is something to consider. Thinking that your child has avoided infection because they aren't vaccinated is a one-sided view. On the contrary, newborns must receive their scheduled vaccinations. As both the Minister of Health and a parent, I am saying this is not a game. It is not something for people to criticize each other over. This concerns the lives of our children. Therefore, I want everyone to approach this matter properly and based on evidence.

About 70 billion MNT has been cut from health sector investments, which was originally set aside for updating equipment at local facilities. Also, 35 billion MNT to be spent on public health and 43 billion MNT from the insurance fund have been cut. While we're talking about how to manage the existing funds efficiently, these cuts are regrettable.

The issue of not allowing unvaccinated children to attend school or kindergarten is not something I can decide alone. This will be discussed in the Government and a joint decision will be made. I will definitely present this issue. I am not afraid or embarrassed at all. The rights of children who haven't become ill are also being discussed here."

Back to Table of Contents

N. Suvdmaa: If you are planning domestic or international travel, it is advisable to get the measles vaccine

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: itoim.mn

As the weather warms up, people's travel and leisure activities increase, making it important to prevent infectious diseases such as measles. When traveling, it is important to check the vaccination status, ventilation, and hygiene of the environment and the people you are traveling with. Among the countries with the highest measles cases are Russia, India, Kazakhstan, and others. Recently, our country has moved into a heightened state of preparedness, with family clinics extending their working hours. Citizens can check their vaccination status via the E-Mongolia application and get immunized at their local family clinic. N. Suvdmaa, head of the Infectious Disease Surveillance Department at the National Center for Communicable Diseases, gave the following explanation:

"Our country has a harsh climate. With the arrival of the warm season, the number of people traveling domestically and internationally increases. One of the important health considerations when traveling is preventing infectious diseases. Especially now, as measles cases are not decreasing in some countries, extra caution is needed for your safety.

If you are planning to travel with your family, friends, or colleagues, it's best to check whether anyone in the group has had measles and whether everyone is vaccinated. Teachers and staff working at summer camps should also definitely be vaccinated against measles. Maintaining hygiene during travel is very important. In particular, you should check that rooms at hotels, resorts, and camp facilities are well-ventilated, clean, and have good air circulation. This is an important preventive measure against infectious diseases.

Also, if you are planning to travel abroad, research in advance the prevalent diseases in the country you are visiting and collect necessary information. This preparation enables you to be aware of what to watch out for in those conditions. The National Center for Communicable Diseases provides timely updates on global infectious disease outbreaks, so it is necessary to obtain information from official, reliable sources. Recently, countries with persistently high rates of measles include Russia, India, Kazakhstan, and some European countries. Those traveling to these countries should be extra careful. It's important for citizens to filter and verify any information they receive. Obtaining accurate information and sharing it with others plays a vital role in preventing diseases.

Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease, and our country has shifted into a heightened state of preparedness to control its outbreak. Over 150 family health centers are now working extended hours, so people no longer need to go to the National Center for Communicable Diseases but can get immunized at the nearest family clinic. There are also mobile vaccination teams working. Research shows that over 80% of Mongolia's population uses smartphones, so you can use the E-Mongolia app to check your vaccination information. If you have not yet been vaccinated, it is advisable to get immunized urgently."

The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine has been administered in Mongolia in two doses since 1973, with no adverse reactions recorded to date. Recently, there has been an increase in cases among children aged 10–14, related to waning immunity from scheduled vaccines. Some parents wrongly believe there is no need for the vaccine if the child hasn't been sick, which is a misunderstanding. Dr. B. Oyuuntsetseg from the “Enerengui Yils” Family Health Center provided more information:

"Within the framework of the National Immunization Law in Mongolia, since 1973, the measles, rubella, and mumps vaccine has been administered in two doses: the first at nine months old, and the second at two years old. This vaccine is safe and effective based on many years of experience, and no serious side effects have been reported to date. Unfortunately, recently there has been an increase in measles cases among children aged 10–14. Therefore, children in this age group should receive an additional dose.

The immunity provided by the vaccine diminishes over time, after about 5–10 years. Some parents mistakenly think that if their child hasn’t gotten sick, vaccination isn't necessary, displaying negligence. However, this can be risky. Unless everyone is vaccinated, herd immunity does not develop. For example, if two out of three children are vaccinated, the remaining child is at lower risk; this is called herd immunity. But if more people don't get vaccinated, this protection is lost and outbreaks can occur. Therefore, parents must act responsibly, ensure their children receive scheduled measles vaccinations, and, if necessary, have additional immunizations done. This protects not just their child but others as well."

Back to Table of Contents

63 Billion Tugrik Allocated for Medical Equipment in the Healthcare Sector

Published: 2025-06-30 | Translated from: news.mn

Member of Parliament Kh. Gankhuyag expressed his opinion regarding the budget amendment. He stated that there are limited opportunities to increase or decrease the budget. Nevertheless, all reducible expenditures are being cut. An allocation of 63 billion tugrik is being planned for the purchase of equipment in the healthcare sector.

For example, the MRI at the National Center for Maternal and Child Health is broken. Some equipment at the Third Hospital is also malfunctioning. Therefore, there is no choice but to allocate a certain amount of money to the healthcare sector.

Additionally, the General Council of the Courts is discussing the establishment of new courts for children and families. If the investment for this is not resolved, they will not be able to become operational. There is a need for such investments.

Back to Table of Contents

Today's Stories

Politics

Economy

Diplomacy

Infrastructure

Society

Environment

Innovation

Health

Politics

We Are Suffering Today From the Consequences of Corrupt Officials Who Turned Energy Shortages and Pollution Into Their Source of Enrichment

G.Zandanshatar: Public officials who illegally obtain mining licenses will be held accountable

LIVE: Attempting to Pass Energy Legislation Without Public Discussion During the Naadam Festival is Suspicious

Second Hearing on the 2025 Budget Amendment Held

The 2025 Budget Amendment is Scheduled to be Finalized Next Week

FACT: G. Zandanshatar and B. Javkhlan Did Not Cut Their Own Budgets, But Cut 200-500 Billion MNT from the Energy and Health Sectors

The Democratic Party Group in Parliament Discusses Entrance Exams, Energy, and the 2025 Budget

The National Human Rights Commission's Opinion is Required for Laws Restricting Human Rights and Freedoms

Democratic Party Caucus Discusses 2025 Budget Amendment

Asset and Income Declarations of the Three Highest State Officials

The MPP Group in Parliament Supports the Proposal to Establish a Land Clearance Fund

Economy

BUDGET: Will the Adjustment Be Adjusted?!

Intellinews: After Years of Neglect, Central Asia Begins to Recognize Trade Opportunities with Mongolia

A Temporary Trade Agreement to be Established with the Eurasian Union

OECD Upgrades Mongolia's Credit Risk Classification by One Level

Mongolian Mining Has Fallen Into China's Hands Under the Guise of Foreign Investment

Diesel Fuel to be Reduced by 145 MNT per Liter

Mongolia's Fluorspar Exports Reach Record Highs

20,000 Tons of Hay Prepared for Export to China Burned Due to Delays in Permit Issuance

There are over ₮100 billion in issues related to the Olon Ovoot Gold case, ₮44 billion of which are assets of Savings Bank

Certificate for the rights to possess and use the Ulaanbaatar city land sold for 9.3 billion MNT has been handed over

The Governor of the Bank of Mongolia to Present on Pension Loan Conditions at Standing Committee Meeting

Diplomacy

Emphasis Placed on Actively Working Towards the Commencement of Direct Flights Between Mongolia and the United States

Political Consultations Held Between Mongolian and Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs

Meeting of the Governing Board of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union Begins

Infrastructure

The "Chinggis Khan" Airport will be expanded and its capacity increased with Japan's concessional loan

City Mayor Kh. Nyambaatar Announces Law to Ban Import of Right-Hand Drive Vehicles from 2030

International Competition for "Hunnu City Planning Concept" Launched

A. Erbol: Four Companies Have Submitted Proposals for the Tuul Expressway Construction Tender

Khan Bank Provides Funding to Build Four Primary Schools

Old Apartment Buildings in Nalaikh District Need to Be Renovated

Society

15 South Korean Citizens Deported from Mongolia for Violating Laws by Providing Paid Examinations and Diagnostics Without a Visa

"We Are Not Demanding World-Class Wages. We Are Demanding to Be Paid Under the Mongolian Labor Law"

Russian Citizen Attempts to Smuggle 94 Hunting Bullets Across Mongolian Border

Trade and Development Bank Participates in International Forum on Women's Empowerment in Asian Countries

The First World Mongolians Festival Held in Brussels

Defendants Charged for Forcing Girls into Prostitution, Case Transferred to Court

Suspect Arrested for Stabbing and Killing a Woman at 'GEM mall', Charged Under Two Criminal Articles

“If the Issue of Pensioners is Not Resolved, We Will Escalate our Protest”

Environment

22 Forest and Steppe Fire Reports in the Last Five Days: 12 Fully Extinguished, Efforts Continue in Tuv and Selenge

Government to Present Six Issues Related to Forest and Steppe Fires

LG launches 'Life’s Good' garden in Mongolia to celebrate World Environment Day

NEMA: 11 Forest and Steppe Fires Nationwide, Seven Brought Under Control

T. Bayarkhuu: Eight out of 18 Fires Registered in the Last 24 Hours Have Been Fully Extinguished

Innovation

Moncement Building Materials LLC to Collaborate with UNICEF to Improve Access to Education

S. Badral: Decision-makers should stop their AI-related shows and approve an artificial intelligence strategy

Event: High-Level Policy Dialogue on Building an AI-Enabled Higher Education Ecosystem to be Held

Over 120 Trainers Prepared in the Field of Artificial Intelligence

TODAY: Discussion on 'Building an Artificial Intelligence-Based Higher Education Ecosystem' to Take Place

Collaboration with Regional Countries for Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Higher Education

Recent Graduates from MUST Develop App for Visually Impaired People

Health

A Heart Surgery Previously Impossible in Mongolia Was Successfully Performed Domestically

10,721 measles cases confirmed, 648 hospitalized

Catch-up vaccinations for children under 15 who missed the measles vaccine will begin from July 1

Zh.Chinbüren: Starting Next Autumn, the Government Will Discuss and Decide on Not Allowing Children Without Vaccinations to Attend Schools and Kindergartens

N. Suvdmaa: If you are planning domestic or international travel, it is advisable to get the measles vaccine

63 Billion Tugrik Allocated for Medical Equipment in the Healthcare Sector

You might also like...

Mongolia News Summary for June 30, 2025

Mongolia News Summary for June 29, 2025

Mongolia News Summary for June 28, 2025

Mongolia News Summary for June 27, 2025

Mongolia News Summary for June 26, 2025