Mongolia News Summary for July 05, 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
- Minister N.Uchral Is Confident to Work Together to Further Liberalize the Public-Private Partnership Law
- 6.7 Billion MNT to Be Allocated from Government Reserve Fund for Firefighting
- Draft Law on Amendments and Changes to the Law on Ensuring the Safety of Food Products Submitted
- Parliament: Due to Political Circumstances, the Country Fails to Fulfill Its International Promises
- Call to Parliament Members to Urgently Annul the 'Communist' Law Violating the Right to Own Property
Economy
- Press Conference Held Ahead of the Mongolia Economic Forum 2025
- Mongolian Commercial Banks to List Shares on Foreign Stock Exchanges
- Ulaanbaatar City Placed ₮1.7 Trillion Bonds at Seven Commercial Banks but Incurred a ₮5.7 Billion Loss
- Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi sells 26.3 million tons of coal through the stock exchange
- Audit of the Government's Consolidated Financial Statement Reveals a Discrepancy of ₮9.2 Trillion
- The Monetary Policy Council to Discuss Adjusting the Debt-to-Income Ratio for Pension Loans Back to 70/30
- The World is Accumulating Gold—Time for Mongolia to Increase Its Output
- Foreign Exchange Reserves Reach 5.2 Billion US Dollars
- Oyu Tolgoi LLC Ranked First and Energy Resource LLC Ranked Second in the TOP 100 Enterprises List
- Bank of Mongolia: Foreign Currency Reserves Increase to 5.2 Billion Dollars
- Foreign Currency Reserves Stand at 5.2 Billion USD
- Golomt Bank Publishes its 2024 Sustainable Development Report
- R. Munkhtuya: Financing Women Entrepreneurs Means Investing in the Country's Future
Diplomacy
- Draft Resolutions on Establishing Diplomatic Relations with All 192 UN Member States Discussed in the State Great Khural
- B.Battsetseg: With the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the Four Countries Discussed Today, Our Country Will Have Diplomatic Relations with All Nations in the World. There Are Very Few Such Countries Globally.
- The Emperor and Empress of Japan to Attend Naadam Opening and Visit Khustai Nuruu
Infrastructure
- Ondorkhaan Airport, Meeting International Standards, Opens for Operation
- Five Tender Packages Worth One Trillion MNT Announced for Selbe City Housing Project to Involve Domestic Companies
- Coal Transport to Be Carried Out with Combined Transport
- A Sludge Drying and Incineration Plant to be Established in Songinokhairkhan District
- The Road from Bagshiin Deed Intersection to Bokhiin Urgoo Will Be Closed and Renovated
Society
Environment
- L. Munkhbayasgalan: Under the Name of Implementing the 'Gold-3' Campaign, They Are Trying to Mine the Gold of Noyon Mountain
- 85 Violations Related to Use of Hazardous and Toxic Chemicals Detected
- The World's Largest Climate Fund Begins to Accelerate Investments
Innovation
- The Chinese Embassy Implements Electronic Visa System
- OpenAI to Rent Data Centers With Three Times the Installed Capacity of Mongolia's Power Grid
- Memorandum Signed to Develop Statistical Data Based on Mobile Network Data
Health
- O. Dashpagma: The Average Age of Confirmed Measles Cases is 12 Years, with the Youngest Being 17 Days Old
- Measles Cases Exceed 14,000; NCCD Issues Recommendations for the Naadam Festival Period
- About 90,000 People Have Been Exposed to Measles
- New Technology Introduced for Sequencing the Full Genome of HIV and Hepatitis B Virus
- FAO of the United Nations Strengthens Regional Capacity for Food Safety Risk Communication
Politics
Minister N.Uchral Is Confident to Work Together to Further Liberalize the Public-Private Partnership Law
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
It was reported that four participants have submitted proposals for the preliminary selection of a private sector partner for Ulaanbaatar’s TPP-5 thermal power plant project. On August 1st, the tender for the waste-to-energy plant will be finalized and a selection process will be conducted.
Regarding this, city governor Kh.Nyambaatar said: "Four companies participated in the public-private partnership tender for TPP-5. On August 1st, the tender for the waste burning plant will be finalized and a selection will be made. Since December last year until now, all procedures have been completed, and guidelines have been established. In an effort to implement the public-private partnership law, we have pushed our personnel at the capital and worked for over six months on two projects. The main point of the law is that it doesn't really allow public-private partnerships. I am confident that Minister N.Uchral will work together to further liberalize the Public-Private Partnership Law."
The following entities have submitted proposals for the project to build a waste-to-energy plant: - US-based "Nanovo Green Energy Mongolia" - "Eco UB" company - Sichuan Energy Investment Development Company - Shanghai "SUS Environment" company
The plant will be built at the Morin and Tsagaan Davaa central landfill sites and will have the capacity to burn 300,000-400,000 tons of waste annually and produce 24 MW of energy.
For the selection of the private sector partner to develop the project design, budget, construction, operation, and transfer contract for the TPP-5 thermal power plant (with a capacity of 340 GCal heat and 300 MW electricity, located in Bayangol District, 20th Khoroo), the following companies have submitted proposals: - "Pan-China Construction Group" JSC - "Shunkhlai Holdings" LLC - "Mitime International" LLC - "China Western Power Industrial" LLC
Notice: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social and Web pages) are strictly prohibited from reproducing or partially using our content in any form except with permission and must cite the original source (ikon.mn) if agreed.
6.7 Billion MNT to Be Allocated from Government Reserve Fund for Firefighting
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: gogo.mn
An emergency meeting of the Government was held.
It was decided to allocate 6.7 billion MNT from the Government reserve fund to cover the expenses necessary for fighting forest and steppe fires and for rapid response measures. This will fund the purchase of special equipment for the Emergency Management Authority, communication and information technologies, off-road vehicles, fire cause investigation toolkits, and also cover the fuel, food, and other expenses incurred by local authorities while extinguishing fires.
The Minister of Finance, B. Javkhlan, has been tasked to prepare and present to a Government meeting within the fourth quarter of this year a proposal on budgeting annual financial support from 2026 to strengthen the disaster response capacity, to standardize and expand Emergency Management units, and to update and improve special clothing, equipment, and tools. The proposal should also include options for acquiring large helicopters and off-road machinery and equipment using loans, aid from foreign countries, and financing from international projects and programs.
As of 2025, a total of 151 forest and steppe fires have been recorded in 65 soums of 12 aimags (provinces) and in three districts of the capital city, representing a 50.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Currently, two forest and steppe fires in Bayangol and Yeruu soums, Selenge aimag, have been contained. To extinguish five remaining fires—three in Yeruu soum, one in Khuder soum, and one in Mandal soum—a total of 417 personnel from the Emergency Management Authority and local professional teams, along with 38 vehicles, are at work.
Source: zasag.mn
Draft Law on Amendments and Changes to the Law on Ensuring the Safety of Food Products Submitted
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: montsame.mn
Today, Member of Parliament S. Lundeg, S. Zamira, D. Regdel, A. Ariunzaya, U. Otgonbayar, M. Sarnai, N. Batsumberel, and M. Mandkhai submitted a draft law on amendments and changes to the Law on Ensuring the Safety of Food Products to the Deputy Speaker of the State Great Khural, Kh. Bulgantuya.
The National Security Concept of Mongolia defines a strategy to ensure the quality and sanitary safety of food raw materials and products by improving the monitoring of food containers, packaging, fertilizers, and plant protection chemicals, and by conducting risk assessments.
Additionally, the action plan for the implementation of Parliamentary Resolution No. 36 of 2022 on some measures to ensure food supply and safety includes provision 1.1.4, which calls for the development and submission to Parliament of a draft law to amend and make additions to the Law on Ensuring the Safety of Food Products.
Within the framework of the stated goals and objectives in these legislative documents, the initiators believe it is necessary to improve the legal environment related to providing consumers with certified food.
With these amendments, the term “safety of food products” will be changed to “food certification,” and accordingly, the name of the law will be changed from the Law on Ensuring the Safety of Food Products to the Law on Ensuring Food Certification, with related modifications to provisions and articles for legal coherence between laws.
Moreover, in order to effectively implement the law, the amendments add regulations for optimizing the control system for food certification, providing professional management, and introducing policies and systems for food safety supervision and ensuring food certification.
Furthermore, the amendments prohibit the use of unregistered, expired, excessive, unauthorized, or unsuitable food additives in production, as well as the use of plant protection chemicals and fertilizers by non-technological methods. If such violations are confirmed by laboratory analysis, the responsible parties will be held accountable according to the law.
Parliament: Due to Political Circumstances, the Country Fails to Fulfill Its International Promises
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: itoim.mn
The State Great Khural (Parliament) is currently discussing 16 issues in its plenary session. These include the 2025 Sixth Conclusion of the Constitutional Court of Mongolia, a draft resolution related to the adoption of a law, and draft resolutions on establishing diplomatic relations with countries such as Barbados, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Republic of Botswana. Additionally, topics such as appointing a non-staff member to the Financial Regulatory Commission and a draft parliamentary directive to the government are being deliberated.
Discussion on the 2025 Sixth Conclusion of the Constitutional Court
The parliament is deliberating on the 2025 Sixth Conclusion of the Constitutional Court, which concerns whether Article 9.3 of the Law on State Registration of Property Rights violates the Mongolian Constitution. Constitutional Court member Ts. Tsolmon presented the Court's conclusion, while MP Kh. Baasanjargal reported on the conclusions of the Standing Committee on Law. During this session, MPs made statements.
MP A. Ariunzaya: I hope this decision will be accepted. The initial purpose of the law was to eliminate price manipulation aimed at avoiding taxes. There have been cases where individuals, with the intention of evading taxes, agree on a lower selling price. However, this should not infringe on the rights of other honest citizens. Collecting proper taxes is one thing, but on the other hand, citizens should not be forced to sell their property above a previous price or have their rights violated. Human rights must be fully ensured. I support the conclusion.
MP P. Sainzorig: The Law Standing Committee has discussed the Constitutional Court’s conclusion and set up a working group to implement the relevant changes. I ask MPs for their support. The main issue concerns citizens fairly selling their real estate. Sometimes, when people enter into subsequent contracts, the consequences of previously lowering the price excessively can be seen in actual examples. For instance, two contracts may be made to directly evade tax violations, with the property registered at the lowest rate. Additionally, disputes arise between sellers and buyers, and some people exploit the situation by canceling or reverting contracts at a lower price, which harms other citizens. Many spend years in court and with law enforcement and cannot reintegrate their real estate back into the market. When their property is affected by disaster or accident, its value declines. Such issues pose risks. For example, some properties are still being registered at 2 million MNT, a value not updated since 1990. This creates discrepancies.
After the meetings of the Standing Committees on State Structure and Budget were completed, MPs returned to the chamber and, after a brief postponement for unified voting, proceeded to discuss the next issue.
Discussion on the Draft Resolution to Establish Diplomatic Relations with Barbados
Minister of Foreign Affairs B. Battsetseg presented the bill as its initiator. MP N. Batsumberel then presented the conclusion and opinions of the Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy. After this, MPs asked questions and made comments.
MP G. Luvsanjamts: It is good to establish diplomatic relations with this small island state in the Caribbean. But it should not end with simply allowing visa-free travel or limited relations. There is much to learn from this country. I have experience working as an international project consultant there. Its population is under 300,000, yet it welcomes 1.3 million tourists annually. They attract tourists by leveraging their location and lack of time difference with the US and UK. They have developed their own brands of liquor and products and paid attention to diversifying goat meat products, attracting foreign investment and recognition. As a result, their GDP is $11.5 billion, and their per capita GDP is 4-5 times Mongolia’s. A small population can live well. The internationally renowned singer Rihanna is from this country. They cooperate a lot in tourism, attracting many American tourists. Mongolia should improve its tourism services and develop its domestic tourism. Barbados has its own tourism strategy plan. Can we cooperate in this field?
Director of the Policy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, G. Byambasuren: The issue of establishing diplomatic relations with Barbados was discussed through our Permanent Mission in New York. After diplomatic ties are established, we plan to exchange experience in tourism and agriculture.
MP A. Ariunzaya: Though we are forming diplomatic relations and agreements with many countries, due to political situations we sometimes fail to fulfill our promises and backtrack. This greatly harms our country’s name. Therefore, MPs should honor the international pledges they make. For instance, the agreement with Kazakhstan was derailed for political reasons. The ratification process was delayed. The new minister conducted negotiations 19 times since 2018. The President of Mongolia even visited Kazakhstan and signed the agreement, but we failed to finalize it. This time it could not be included in the session either. Parliament will soon close for the summer session, and 2-3 months will pass before the autumn session. During this time, Mongolians living in Kazakhstan cannot receive the benefits they paid social insurance for. Since 1998, Kazakhstan has had a pension accumulation system—when you make payments, the money is saved in an account and, upon retirement, you can withdraw it all at once after paying tax, and it can be inherited as well.
MP P. Sainzorig: Mongolia should establish diplomatic relations with all UN member states, regardless of size. We need to change the criteria for assessing the work of our ambassadors. First, we should look at how they contribute to reviving investment and economic relations with Mongolia and strengthening the international standing of our passport. Out of about 200 UN member countries, the Mongolian passport ranks 69th. This means there are not enough countries where Mongolians can travel visa-free.
Call to Parliament Members to Urgently Annul the 'Communist' Law Violating the Right to Own Property
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: unuudur.mn
The Constitutional Court decided last month during its panel session that Article 9.9.3 of the Law on State Registration of Property Rights, which states, "Except for the cases specified in Article 9.1.5 of this law, the prices specified in Articles 9.1.3, 9.1.4 shall not be registered at a value lower than the most recently registered price," is unconstitutional and resolved to suspend the relevant provision. This provision was found to be in conflict with constitutional norms such as "ownership rights can only be limited on grounds established by law" and "Citizens of Mongolia have the right to lawfully acquire, possess, own, and inherit movable and immovable property," and severely restricted the ability to sell immovable property at a price lower than its acquisition value. Following complaints by certain citizens, the court reviewed and reached this decision.
Lawyer O. Batkhuu introduced this decision of the Constitutional Court to the public yesterday. He explained, "The provision was added to the Law on State Registration of Property Rights through amendments and changes adopted in 2023, along with the urgent adoption of the law to reduce traffic congestion in Ulaanbaatar and to provide housing for ger districts. This required citizens and businesses to only sell their immovable properties at higher prices. The Constitutional Court determined it was unconstitutional and infringed upon ownership rights. If Parliament accepts the Court's conclusion, the provision will be annulled. Otherwise, it will be discussed at the larger panel session of the Constitutional Court. The inclusion of such a provision in the law related to property registration was intended to increase tax revenue from citizens. As a result, people cannot even sell properties they are not using anymore. This is the largest human rights violation since 1992," he said, and urged members of parliament to work on urgently annulling the 'communist' law that infringes on ownership rights.
Economy
Press Conference Held Ahead of the Mongolia Economic Forum 2025
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
Now in its 16th year, the Mongolia Economic Forum is the country’s largest platform where the Government of Mongolia, businesses, citizens, and international investors meet, present effective projects and programs, and discuss pressing issues. Within the framework of the 2025 Forum program, which will take place on July 8–9 at the State Palace, Chairman of the Mongolia Economic Forum Board Ch. Ganhuyag and Minister of Economy and Development N. Uchral held a press conference.
This year’s Forum will involve more than 4,500 participants and feature: Plenary sessions on Governance and Business Environment, Infrastructure and Investment, New Economy, Mining and Strategic Resources, along with 12 sub-sessions and 8 roundtable discussions, covered by over 100 media outlets.
It is expected to include 500 government representatives, 900 from the private sector, NGOs, and academia, 700 international guests, 100 moderators and panelists, 100 representatives from sponsoring organizations, 100 volunteers, and over 2,000 youth participants.
Distinguished international guests traveling to the Mongolia Economic Forum 2025 under the slogan “Together for Tomorrow” include representatives from CNN, J.P. Morgan, Meta, TikTok, The Asia Group, the renowned Swiss brand Breitling, the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Asian Development Bank, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the UK Department for Transport, UK Export Finance, Korea Migration Research & Training Center, Global Dignity, The August Fest, CC Technology, The Gideon Group, MPP&E Capital, Redhill, and approximately 500 other decision-makers, investors, and sponsors.
Join the Forum: www.meforum.mn
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Mongolian Commercial Banks to List Shares on Foreign Stock Exchanges
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: itoim.mn
At yesterday's session of the Parliament of Mongolia, a draft on some measures to reduce loan interest rates was discussed and supported.
During the session, Member of Parliament Ts. Baatarkhuu stated, “Our approach is headed in the wrong direction. When we talk about reducing air pollution, we focus on chimneys, stoves, fuel, and indoor air filters. When it comes to reducing loan interest rates, we immediately start talking about the policy rate. The loan interest rate is a fundamental expression of the economy. Mechanically trying to solve this issue by passing resolutions does not produce results. It is difficult to maintain the balance between the policy rate and inflation. I asked the Bank of Mongolia what has been done to diversify Mongolian banks. Also, what has been implemented to improve transparency and governance in the financial and banking sector?”
Governor of the Bank of Mongolia, B. Lkhagvasuren, replied, “Our country adopted the Banking Law in 1991. With that law, both the central bank and commercial banks were regulated under one law. In 1996, separate laws for the Central Bank and Commercial Banks were enacted. Two years ago, a specialized law on investment banks was passed, creating a legal environment for operations in the securities market. However, up to this day, there have been no applications—domestically or internationally—for licenses to operate an investment bank.
Today, the 12 operating banks in Mongolia have similar operations. In other countries, there are specialized banks such as commercial banks, construction banks, and road banks. Therefore, the central bank sees an urgent need to update the legal environment. In 2021, an amendment was made to the Banking Law, requiring banks to operate as public joint-stock companies and limiting ownership of a single shareholder to 20 percent. As a result, in 2023, five commercial banks converted to joint-stock company status. While it is necessary to continue this reform, the opportunity to raise more capital from the domestic securities market has been exhausted since share prices have stabilized and there are no new requests to buy shares. Thus, our banks are now working on listing additional shares on foreign stock exchanges, such as those in New York, London, and Hong Kong. Foreign investors are critical of the 20 percent ownership cap. They argue that there is no point in acquiring shares in Mongolian banks if they cannot gain a controlling stake, which under the Company Law is defined as 33 percent. Therefore, they request amendments to the law to increase the permissible ownership share.”
Ulaanbaatar City Placed ₮1.7 Trillion Bonds at Seven Commercial Banks but Incurred a ₮5.7 Billion Loss
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
During a parliamentary session, discussions began on the 2024 consolidated budget execution report and the government's consolidated financial statements for 2024, based on the findings of the audit office. Here is how the audit office reported on the expenditure of bonds issued by the Office of the Governor of the Capital City.
In 2024, foreign municipal securities worth 1,707.5 billion MNT were newly issued. Due to exchange rate adjustments, this amount increased by 2.6 billion MNT, and accrued interest added another 14.7 billion MNT. As a result, the final balance at nominal value reached 1,724.9 billion MNT, accounting for 5.2% of the government's debt portfolio.
According to government resolution No. 265 on "Issuing Municipal Foreign Bonds and Guaranteeing Government Debt" in 2024, 500 million USD at an annual interest rate of 7.75% for 33 months was marketed on the international market. This was placed in the Bank of Mongolia on November 21, 2024, for the purpose of financing the "Selbe Subcenter" ger district housing project in Ulaanbaatar. Due to the project's delayed start, 400 million USD of these funds were converted into local currency at an exchange rate of 3,416.71 MNT per USD on December 13, 2024, and deposited as 1,329.1 billion MNT in seven commercial banks for 6-24 months at annual interest rates of 12.5-16.1%. The remaining 100 million USD was deposited in Trade and Development Bank for 24 months at an annual rate of 8.05% as a foreign currency deposit.
At the end of the year, 11.6 billion MNT of interest income was accrued from commercial bank deposits. However, due to 14.7 billion MNT in accrued bond interest and a 2.6 billion MNT exchange rate loss, a total loss of 5.7 billion MNT occurred because the bond's principal was not utilized.
The National Audit Office noted in its 2024 risk assessment for the government's debt guarantee projects that the plan might pose risks to financial stability. Although issuing the 500 million USD in foreign bonds and placing them in commercial banks increased the inflow of foreign currency into Mongolia, it also added to the debt burden.
These municipal-issued foreign securities were not included in the borrowing plan for financing budget deficits, and trading government foreign securities for purposes other than refinancing is inconsistent with section 6.4.230 of the Law on Debt Management.
The audit office concluded that to ensure fiscal discipline, strict control over debt usage is necessary, and policies to limit debt increases alongside a deficit budget structure should be implemented.
In 2024, local governments also issued 798.3 billion MNT worth of domestic securities, paid 33.4 billion MNT in interest, and the accrued interest increased by another 1.6 billion MNT, with the final nominal value reaching 799.9 billion MNT, making up 2.4% of the government’s debt portfolio. Of the 798.3 billion MNT raised by the Office of the Capital City Governor through domestic securities, 56.8% (453.6 billion MNT) was used for financing 65 projects, while 43.2% (344.7 billion MNT) remained unused as cash balances.
Issuing short-term (1-5 years) domestic securities with annual interest rates of 5.7-13% to finance road repair, maintenance, and battery storage plant construction projects did not comply with sections 6.4.328 and 6.4.429 of the Law on Debt Management, undermining the principle of efficient management of assets generated by debt.
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Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi sells 26.3 million tons of coal through the stock exchange
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: unuudur.mn
Due to the decline in the price of mining raw materials and slowing sales, the amount of coal sold through the stock exchange has sharply decreased, and recently there have been more unsuccessful announced trades. However, in recent days, the number of participants in coal trading has increased, and "Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi" JSC has successfully sold its coal, according to the Mongolian Stock Exchange.
For instance, just yesterday, the company successfully sold five batches, or 32,000 tons, of coking coal through the stock exchange to be delivered to China’s Gantsmod port. Five participants registered for this trade, and the deal was concluded at a price of $87 per ton. A week earlier, a similar amount of thermal coal was sold at auction for $44.7 per ton.
Since the beginning of selling “Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi” coal through the stock exchange, there have been a total of 136 trades, selling 26.3 million tons of product valued at $2.9 billion.
Audit of the Government's Consolidated Financial Statement Reveals a Discrepancy of ₮9.2 Trillion
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
During the session of the State Great Khural (Parliament), discussion began on the "2024 Consolidated Budget Execution and the Government's 2024 Consolidated Financial Statement" as prepared by the Audit Agency. At this time, the Chief Auditor of Mongolia, S. Magnaisureen, presented the findings of the audit conducted on the Government's 2024 consolidated financial statement.
The audit covered the government's consolidated financial statement for 2024, the Social Insurance Fund, the Health Insurance Fund, the consolidated financial statements of 61 main budget administrators at both the national and local levels, and a total of 6,832 financial reports from their subordinate entities. The audit of the consolidated financial statements of the main budget administrators resulted in 33 "Unmodified" opinions, 29 "Qualified" opinions, and 1 "Adverse" opinion.
According to the Government's 2024 consolidated performance report, there was a positive total result of 17,336.7 billion MNT. This included: - State and locally owned or involved legal entities had a profit of 8,465.9 billion MNT; - Projects and funds generated 3,228.9 billion MNT; - The State Treasury posted a positive balance of 22,504.5 billion MNT (income exceeding expenses); - Budgetary organizations had a negative total result of 16,862.6 billion MNT (expenses exceeding income).
The audit revealed discrepancies totaling 9,292.1 billion MNT in the Government's consolidated financial statement. While these discrepancies are significant, they are not widespread, but as they exceeded the materiality level established by the auditors, a "Qualified" opinion was given.
Through the audit, one issue was presented to Parliament, and recommendations were sent: 6 to the Prime Minister, 3 to the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development, and 3 to the Minister of Finance.
AUDIT FINDINGS ON THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND MAIN BUDGET ADMINISTRATORS:
The audit covered the government's consolidated financial statement, the Central State Treasury, Social Insurance Fund, and Health Insurance Fund, and the financial statements of 6,832 budget administrators, state and locally owned or involved legal entities, and project units. Out of these, 3,486 financial statements received audit opinions (2,783 - Unmodified, 659 - Qualified, 25 - Adverse, 19 - No Opinion), and 3,332 financials were partially audited; 14 entities were not audited.
A total of 5,832.1 billion MNT of accounting and reporting errors were detected in the audit, of which 6,501 errors totaling 5,820.9 billion MNT were corrected, and recommendations were given to correct the remaining 212 errors worth 11.2 billion MNT.
The financial statement audit revealed 13,220 violations amounting to 3,253.9 billion MNT. These resulted in 2,362 payment orders for 13.9 billion MNT, 4,681 official demands for 2,170.2 billion MNT, 6,001 recommendations for 999.3 billion MNT, disciplinary recommendations for 164 officials responsible for 60 billion MNT of violations, and 26 issues valued at 10.2 billion MNT were decided to be referred to law enforcement agencies.
Compliance review revealed 4,201 violations totaling 6,634.3 billion MNT. As a result, there were 127 payment orders for 0.6 billion MNT, 1,198 official demands for 3,936.1 billion MNT, 2,791 recommendations for 2,310.0 billion MNT, disciplinary recommendations for 87 officials responsible for 386.7 billion MNT, and 10 issues worth 0.9 billion MNT were referred to law enforcement agencies.
The audit revealed that public entities under the authority of national and local main budget administrators had a total of 15,719.9 billion MNT in errors and violations, an increase of 7,582.5 billion MNT or 93.2% from the previous year. Of this, errors and violations identified through financial audit increased by 2,941.9 billion MNT (48%), and those identified through compliance audit increased by 4,623.0 billion MNT (229.9%).
Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements of Main National Budget Administrators:
Audits were conducted on the consolidated financial statements of 39 national main budget administrators, the Social Insurance Fund, and the Health Insurance Fund, resulting in 22 Unmodified and 19 Qualified opinions (for agencies including XXXÜS, BOUAÖS, ZTS, NDSÜZD, EHS, MUSHS, GHS, EMS, HBBOSS, SEHD, GBHNHCS, SCAJZS, BS, EZHS, TsKHHHS, KHEÜKD, TsAUZBUKD, AÜEBS, MUSHÜÜHD).
The audit covered 4,212 financial statements from budget administrators, state-owned and state-involved legal entities, and project units. Of these, 2,322 received audit opinions (1,987 - Unmodified, 313 - Qualified, 14 - Adverse, 7 - No Opinion), 1,885 were partially audited, and 5 organizations were not audited due to inactivity or dissolution.
A total of 4,319 errors worth 4,595.8 billion MNT related to accounting and reporting were found, of which 4,157 errors worth 4,588.3 billion MNT were corrected and recommendations were given to correct the remaining 162 errors totaling 7.5 billion MNT and to prevent recurrence.
In total, the financial statement audit revealed 8,623 violations amounting to 2,875.0 billion MNT. Payment orders were issued for 10.3 billion MNT (1,536 cases), 2,848 violations for 1,963.0 billion MNT received official demands, disciplinary measures were recommended for 84 officials responsible for 57.6 billion MNT, and 4,146 recommendations were given for violations amounting to 837.4 billion MNT. Additionally, 12 issues totaling 6.7 billion MNT were referred to law enforcement agencies.
Compliance audit revealed 2,883 violations totaling 5,434.1 billion MNT. There were 42 payment orders for 0.1 billion MNT, 736 official demands for resolving 3,739.7 billion MNT worth of violations, disciplinary measures for 48 officials responsible for 39.3 billion MNT, and 2,059 recommendations for 1,655.0 billion MNT in violations.
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The Monetary Policy Council to Discuss Adjusting the Debt-to-Income Ratio for Pension Loans Back to 70/30
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: isee.mn
On Monday, the Monetary Policy Council will meet to discuss setting the debt-to-income ratio for pension loans to 50/50 and removing them from the category of consumer loans.
Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar, Minister of Family, Labor, and Social Protection T. Aubakir, and President of the Bank of Mongolia B. Lkhagvasuren met and reached a consensus to revert the debt-to-income ratio on pension loans from 50/50 back to 70/30. In connection with this, the Monetary Policy Council of the Bank of Mongolia is scheduled to convene next Monday to formalize this decision.
Regarding this, Central Bank President B. Lkhagvasuren stated, “The 50/50 debt-to-income ratio applied to pension loans is the standard currently set for consumer loans. This standard has been in effect since 2024. If the 50/50 debt-to-income ratio for pension loans is considered too strict, the bank can make its own decision. The issue can also be resolved by removing pension loans from the consumer loan category. The Monetary Policy Council of the Bank of Mongolia will meet this coming Monday. I met with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Family, Labor, and Social Protection. The Prime Minister instructed us to examine issues related to pension loans that concern senior citizens.”
Under the current regulation, with a 50/50 debt-to-income ratio for pension loans, senior citizens who use their pension as collateral for a loan must use 50 percent of their pension for loan repayment, leaving the other 50 percent as a source of livelihood.
The World is Accumulating Gold—Time for Mongolia to Increase Its Output
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: news.mn
In 2024, gold prices in the global market reached a historic high, surpassing $3,100 per ounce, driven primarily by central banks increasing their purchases. Factors such as heightened geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and expectations of declining returns on the US dollar have created the underlying conditions for the consistent rise in gold prices. According to researchers, gold prices are likely to remain high in the near future.
For Mongolia, there is an opportunity to turn this situation into economic benefit. In recent years, the Bank of Mongolia has purchased an average of about 20 tons of precious metals annually, generating around $900 million in revenue. However, as alluvial gold reserves are dwindling and extraction rates decreasing, it is essential to have policy support to increase gold supply during these times of high prices.
During the previous "Gold-2" campaign, the Bank of Mongolia purchased a total of 67.3 tons of precious metals between 2020 and 2022, and provided miners with concessional loans amounting to 505 billion MNT. Therefore, urgently implementing the "Gold-3" campaign as its continuation would have significant importance in increasing export earnings, boosting the foreign currency reserves of the Bank of Mongolia, and ensuring economic stability.
The government, the Bank of Mongolia, and the private sector are now presented with a real opportunity to increase gold production in the short term by supporting the gold industry through legal, financial, and tax regulations while prices are high. As the world increases its gold reserves and prices rise, Mongolia should not miss the opportunity to boost its output and grow its economy.
Foreign Exchange Reserves Reach 5.2 Billion US Dollars
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: news.mn
Mongolia's macroeconomic indicators have generally declined, showing downward trends. Over the past few years, due to the rise in prices of mining products, especially coal, macroeconomic indicators were positive, which led to the expansion of the state budget from 27 trillion to 33 trillion MNT this year. In economics, there is the concept of a saturation point for growth and decline. Unfortunately, policymakers, who wrongly believed optimistic growth indicators would continue forever, ignored the warnings and cautions of sector researchers and academics that "the price of mining products will fall and revenues will decrease."
Today, the price of mining products, especially coal, has fallen by 40-50% compared to projections, national budget performance has slowed, and the balance of payments has shown a deficit. Total exports for the first five months of 2025 reached 5.4 billion US dollars, a decrease of 15% or 931 million dollars compared to the same period last year; total budget revenue for the first five months of 2025 was 11.4 trillion MNT, down 11% or 1.3 trillion MNT from the same period last year. In particular, coal, the main export product, averaged 72 USD in the first five months of 2025, according to official statistics from the General Customs Office, representing a decrease of about 40% compared to the same period last year. This makes it clear that Mongolia’s mining-dependent economy is facing difficulties and challenges.
As economic indicators are not positive, it is important for Mongolia to adopt policies aimed at at least maintaining, if not increasing, its official foreign exchange reserves. This would help the country avoid many economic hardships. According to preliminary results for the first six months of the year, the balance of payments deficit is expected to reach about 470 million US dollars, as reported by the Bank of Mongolia. This means the balance of payments deficit has increased by about 8% compared to the same period last year. If the prices of raw materials continue to fall, the balance of payments deficit will likely grow further.
At the beginning of this year, i.e., at the end of 2024, the official foreign exchange reserves reached a historic high of 5.5 billion US dollars, but since the start of the year, falling commodity prices have led to a declining trend. However, by the end of June, Mongolia’s official foreign exchange reserves had increased by 0.24% from the previous month to reach 5.2 billion US dollars, which is enough to cover 6-7 months of imports. This represents an increase of 7.59% compared to the same period last year but a decrease of 5.51% compared to the beginning of the year.
As previously noted, the balance of payments deficit is expected to reach about 470 million US dollars in the first six months, according to the Bank of Mongolia. In other words, compared to the same period last year, the balance of payments deficit has increased by about 8%. If export revenues continue to decrease due to the fall in raw material prices, there is a risk that the balance of payments deficit will worsen. Increasing gold deliveries can help reduce this pressure, as the Bank of Mongolia currently holds about 15% of its foreign exchange reserves in gold. Therefore, for Mongolia, which keeps a portion of its foreign reserves underground (in the form of gold), it is important not to miss the current opportunity presented by higher gold prices. Some politicians note that the price of gold, which had hovered around 2,000 dollars for many years, has now risen by 60-70% to 3,450 dollars. This has sparked proposals at the government and parliamentary levels to intensify the "Gold-3" program and increase foreign exchange reserves.
The government previously implemented the "Gold Program" from 1992-2000, the "Gold-2000 Program," and the "Gold-2" program in two stages between 2016-2020. The newly announced "Gold-3" program aims to boost gold production, strengthen national foreign exchange reserves, and help maintain the stability of the tugrik.
The Bank of Mongolia supplied 480 million US dollars to banks at either single or differentiated exchange rates via foreign exchange auctions during June. This helped ensure that businesses could meet their obligation for payment of goods and services denominated in foreign currencies without interruption.
Oyu Tolgoi LLC Ranked First and Energy Resource LLC Ranked Second in the TOP 100 Enterprises List
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
The Government of Mongolia and the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry have jointly announced and honored the "TOP-100 Enterprises" that have made a tangible contribution to social and economic development. The list is led by the following:
First: Oyu Tolgoi LLC
Second: National Private Sector's Energy Resource LLC
Third: Mongolyn Alt (MAK) LLC
In 2024, the TOP 100 enterprises alone constituted 28% or 7.64 trillion MNT of the 27.4 trillion MNT state tax revenue, and 69% (54.9 trillion MNT) of the national GDP. The TOP 100 companies employ 87,500 people, which is 6.5% of the country’s total workforce. The leading sectors among the 2024 TOP 100 companies are mining and extraction, followed by trade, manufacturing, services, and banking and finance.
We extend warm congratulations to the TOP 100 companies, which lead the country in sales, taxes paid, insured employees, profit and assets, significantly pushing forward the country's development and progress.
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Bank of Mongolia: Foreign Currency Reserves Increase to 5.2 Billion Dollars
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: itoim.mn
The Bank of Mongolia has clarified that Governor B. Lkhagvasuren misspoke in yesterday’s session of the State Great Khural (parliament) when he said that the foreign currency reserves had reached 2.5 billion USD. In fact, as of the end of June, Mongolia’s official foreign currency reserves had reached 5.2 billion USD, which is a 0.24% increase from the previous month and 7.5% higher than the same period last year. In other words, Mongolia’s reserves are at an adequate level, sufficient to cover 6-7 months of imports. The misstatement happened as the Governor was answering questions.
In recent months, risks have arisen for foreign currency reserves to decrease due to declining coal prices affecting export revenues, and growing consumer demand. However, the Bank of Mongolia is firmly managing the reserves at an appropriate level and, over the past half year, has focused on boosting gold submissions. Gold is an important contributor to foreign currency reserves. Taking advantage of rising gold prices in global markets, Mongolia is preparing to implement its "Gold-3" campaign. If the parliament passes the resolution to implement the campaign, gold deposits with more than 3 tons of reserves will be brought into economic circulation. This is expected to significantly increase gold submissions. If the Bank of Mongolia is able to purchase an average of 20 tons of gold annually, it would be possible to raise reserves by 2 billion USD.
Foreign Currency Reserves Stand at 5.2 Billion USD
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: gogo.mn
The official foreign currency reserves of our country amount to 5.2 billion US dollars.
These reserves are managed by the Bank of Mongolia, which is responsible for ensuring fast execution of foreign transactions. The state foreign currency reserves at the Bank of Mongolia consist of the following types of assets:
- Monetary gold held in foreign banks and financial institutions;
- Freely convertible foreign currencies in cash and non-cash forms;
- Bills of exchange payable in freely convertible foreign currency;
- All types of securities issued or guaranteed by the governments, central banks, or international financial institutions of foreign countries, denominated and payable in freely convertible foreign currencies;
- Other assets deemed as foreign currency reserves according to international standards.
In the previous December, the foreign currency reserves reached 5.5 billion US dollars.
Golomt Bank Publishes its 2024 Sustainable Development Report
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
Within the framework of its Sustainable Development Strategy and Responsible Banking Principles, Golomt Bank has included its policies and best practices in the fields of Environment, Society, and Governance in the 2024 Sustainable Development Report.
Highlights of Sustainable Development and Green Financing in 2024:
In the reporting year, a total of MNT 390 billion was allocated to sustainable and green financing, creating more than 4,700 jobs and MNT 99 billion in added value through its portfolio of green loans.
The bank calculated greenhouse gas emissions from both its own operations and its financed activities according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) methodology, covering scopes 1, 2, and 3 (totaling 1.8 million tCO2e), and received verification from its internal audit department.
Emissions from the bank's own operations were reduced by 56% compared to 2023. The bank has set targets to further decrease greenhouse gas emissions generated from its operations and financing activities by 30% by 2030 and by 50% by 2050.
Golomt Bank was named the 2024 Best Bank for Sustainable Financing and recognized as the leading supporter by the Billion Trees Foundation. Additionally, the bank's headquarters building received the "GOLD" level LEED O+M certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Regular training and events on sustainable and green financing are organized for clients and staff (21 organizations, 386 sales managers), supporting initiatives for transitioning to a green economy.
We are making a real contribution to Mongolia's sustainable development efforts by aligning our bank's strategies and goals with international standards such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the UNEP Finance Initiative Principles for Responsible Banking, and more.
You can read the 2024 Sustainable Development Report by CLICKING HERE.
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R. Munkhtuya: Financing Women Entrepreneurs Means Investing in the Country's Future
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: gogo.mn
We spoke with R. Munkhtuya, the CEO of Khaan Bank, about the first Gender Bond to be offered to the public on Mongolia’s domestic capital market.
– Could you elaborate on the features and objectives of the Gender Bond being presented to the public?
Khaan Bank, as a leader in sustainable development, is implementing a medium-term goal to increase finance in this direction. In 2023-2024, we successfully issued the country's first Green Bond domestically and on international markets, followed by our first Social Bond abroad in 2024. Now, our main goal with this publicly offered Gender Bond is to generate a source of financing to support women entrepreneurs.
Women are the most responsible borrowers. In terms of loan quality, the most important metric is overdue rate, which is only 1.5–2% for female borrowers.
That is, the funds raised through this bond will be dedicated to increasing financial access for women entrepreneurs and to supporting gender equality by creating secure jobs, and especially, to sponsor projects focused on promoting women's entrepreneurship, economic participation, and leadership. Furthermore, since this bond is traded openly on the capital market, it comes with tax incentives and can be resold by investors at any time. I would like to emphasize that Khaan Bank’s shares and bonds are among the most actively traded on Mongolia’s capital market.
– As the issuer, how much funding do you plan to raise?
A total of 300,000 bonds, each with a nominal value of 100,000 MNT, is being offered to the public, aiming to raise 30 billion MNT. The term is 36 months with an annual interest rate of 16%, payable every six months. Preliminary orders have started, and the primary market trading is officially scheduled to begin on July 7th. The underwriter for the introduction and the first trading of this Gender Bond on the Mongolian Stock Exchange is "Ulzii & Co Capital Securities LLC."
– Why specifically focus more on women?
One of the main challenges women entrepreneurs face is access to finance. For example, some do not meet collateral requirements when applying for loans, or their borrowing amounts are small because most run small-to-medium-sized businesses. So, by making financing more accessible, we serve as a catalyst for women to expand their businesses, create new jobs, and ultimately contribute more to the national economy.
The primary goal of the Gender Bond is to generate financing to support women business owners.
When women are financially empowered, it positively affects not just household economics but the national economy as well. Increasing women's participation in business and the economy not only boosts GDP but also strengthens social responsibility. A working, financially strong mother in the family leads to better education, health, and ethics for her children. Internationally, such bonds are common, but this is a first for our country. Recently, there has been much global discussion on gender equality. Some question why these bonds offer women preferential terms; however, each country has its context. Traditionally here, males tend to dominate—businesses or real estate often get registered under the husband’s name, even if the wife is actively involved, and all paperwork is in the family head’s name. It’s not about awarding preference to women, but about providing equal opportunity and support in business for both genders.
– What proportion of Khaan Bank’s total loans go to supporting women entrepreneurs?
By the end of 2025, Khaan Bank plans to reach a total loan portfolio of 14.5 trillion MNT, of which 1.9 trillion MNT, or around 15%, will be loans to support women entrepreneurs. These loans are tailored for women; for example, collateral requirements are eased, and interest rates are 0.6–1.2% lower compared to standard loans. This not only improves access to credit but also provides real support for expanding their business.
– How is the loan quality and repayment among women borrowers?
Women are the most responsible borrowers—their overdue rate is only 1.5–2%. In comparison, the average overdue rate at Khaan Bank is 4.3%, and the sector average is about 6%.
– How does the Gender Bond align with sustainable development goals?
Following the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries began implementing concrete policies and actions toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Our Gender Bond aligns with the 5th SDG (gender equality) and the 8th SDG (decent work & economic growth). This bond is not just a financial tool but a real mechanism for implementing SDGs.
– What has been investor response to the launch of this new bond?
Social bonds have always had a positive reception from investors. Even if they do not run businesses themselves, by investing in such bonds, investors feel that they are contributing to social progress. By holding bonds of a leading open joint-stock company with strong financials, not only do investors receive a steady yield, but they also support projects designed to aid women entrepreneurs—giving them a chance to make a socially responsible investment.
Diplomacy
Draft Resolutions on Establishing Diplomatic Relations with All 192 UN Member States Discussed in the State Great Khural
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: unuudur.mn
The State Great Khural's 2025 spring regular session convened today at 10:10 AM, with 72 parliament members registered for attendance. Sixteen items were scheduled for discussion. The session began with a review of the Constitutional Court's June 2025 decision, presented by Constitutional Court member Ts. Tsolmon. The Court, during its mid-level session on June 6, 2025, resolved a dispute concerning whether Article 9.3 of the Law on State Registration of Property Rights violated the Constitution of Mongolia. Parliamentarian Kh. Baasanjargal represented the State Great Khural during this review.
The Court found that the clause in Article 9.3—prohibiting registration of a transaction price lower than the most recently registered price except as specified in Article 9.1.5—violated Articles 1.2, 5.3, and 16.3 of the Constitution (ensuring contractual rights, legal principles, and property rights). However, it decided that this provision did not violate other specific articles regarding state guarantees and legal protections for human rights. The Standing Committee on Legal Affairs, as presented by MP Kh. Baasanjargal, agreed with the Court’s conclusions during their July 3, 2025 session. MPs A. Ariunzaya and P. Sainzorig expressed support for the Standing Committee’s stance, highlighting that while the state should collect proper taxes, it must also respect individual rights to sell property. MP P. Sainzorig explained issues of crime arising from manipulative contracts to evade taxes and subsequent legal and insurance risks. MPs stressed the importance of Parliament adopting balanced policies to protect all parties' interests in real estate transactions.
After statements were made and positions expressed by members, a vote was to be held, but due to ongoing Standing Committee meetings, this was postponed. The session then discussed the "Resolution on Measures Related to the Adoption of the Law."
MP P. Sainzorig presented proposals and conclusions from the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs regarding the Criminal Procedure Law amendments submitted by the government on December 27, 2024. The Parliament held its initial review on June 20, 2025, and sent it to the Standing Committee for final assessment. The Committee’s June 25 meeting supported the removal of provisions on digital case files and digital evidence from the bill, per Article 45.2 of the Law on Parliamentary Procedure. Therefore, a draft resolution on measures following the law's adoption was prepared and reviewed. MPs deemed further questions and statements unnecessary, so the related vote was also postponed due to ongoing committee meetings.
Subsequently, draft resolutions on establishing diplomatic relations with foreign countries were discussed. First, the draft "Resolution on Establishing Diplomatic Relations with the State of Barbados," submitted by the government on June 27, 2025, was presented by Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg. Based on Mongolia's National Security and Foreign Policy Concepts, a 2013 Parliamentary Standing Committee decision set the goal of establishing diplomatic relations with all UN member states. Since then, Mongolia has gradually built relations with previously unconnected UN member states, establishing such ties with 25 countries by 2018.
In line with a 2019 standing committee directive, Parliament began considering diplomatic relations with all UN members as a collective matter after relations were initiated with all remaining states. Joint communiqués establishing relations were signed with Eswatini in 2018, Barbados in 2019, Trinidad and Tobago in 2021, and Botswana in December 2023, thus meeting the goal of establishing diplomatic relations with all UN members. Each resolution was introduced individually, and Minister Battsetseg detailed the importance of relations with Barbados—a Caribbean island nation, independent since 1966 and a republic since 2021. She highlighted Barbados’ active role in regional and international organizations and the mutual benefits of cooperating in multilateral forums like the UN and WTO.
Standing Committee conclusions, presented by MP N. Batsumberel, indicated majority support for the resolution. MPs asked about Barbados’ tourism industry and development strategies. It was explained that after establishing relations, cooperation, especially in tourism and agriculture, was planned, and experience would be exchanged.
MP A. Ariunzaya commented that while the Foreign Ministry was carrying out its tasks, foreign relations results often depended on the political climate. She suggested evaluating diplomats' performance based on the economic benefits developed with the host country.
Next, the draft resolution on establishing diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Eswatini was discussed. Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg and MP G. Khoosbayar presented on behalf of the Standing Committee. Mongolia and Eswatini signed a joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations on November 21, 2018. Eswatini became independent from British rule in 1968 and joined the UN. It is a landlocked, middle-income country with a diverse economy based on agriculture, manufacturing, and services, much like Mongolia. Establishing relations would allow mutual support and cooperation in various international mechanisms.
The standing committee, at its July 1, 2025 meeting, supported the resolution. MPs B. Beisen and D. Ganbat asked further questions and received answers from the Foreign Minister. The vote was postponed.
Then, the draft "Resolution on Establishing Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago" was discussed. The government submitted this on June 27, 2025, and Minister Battsetseg introduced it, with Standing Committee input from MP N. Naranbaatar. Mongolia and Trinidad and Tobago signed a joint communiqué on February 24, 2021. This two-island Caribbean state, independent since 1962, is a leading LNG exporter and active in international organizations. Minister Battsetseg emphasized the advantages of cooperation in multilateral forums. The committee supported the resolution. MPs asked further questions, and the vote was postponed.
Next, the draft "Resolution on Establishing Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of Botswana" was discussed. Minister Battsetseg and MP Kh. Zhangabyl presented the details. Mongolia and Botswana signed a joint communiqué on December 6, 2023. Botswana, independent since 1966, has regional political stability and is a leading resource-exporting, landlocked country with similarities to Mongolia. Establishing relations will allow for mutual support in international mechanisms, especially for landlocked developing countries. Achieving diplomatic ties with all 192 UN member states was highlighted as a significant success for Mongolia’s foreign policy.
Members P. Sainzorig, J. Zoljargal, and A. Undraa asked questions regarding Botswana’s mining strategies. Minister Battsetseg said initial high-level exchanges had begun and Mongolia was eager to learn from Botswana’s experiences, especially in legal frameworks, mining, banking, and investment. She added that Mongolia planned to prioritize learning successful models from new diplomatic partners and was exploring opening an embassy in Africa. The vote on the draft was postponed.
Afterward, the Parliament continued its session by addressing the seventh agenda item concerning the appointment of a non-staff member to the Financial Regulatory Commission, as reported by the Parliament's Press Office.
B.Battsetseg: With the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the Four Countries Discussed Today, Our Country Will Have Diplomatic Relations with All Nations in the World. There Are Very Few Such Countries Globally.
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
The session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) is ongoing. At today's meeting, Vice Chair H.Bulgantuya introduced that 16 agenda items would be discussed. Among these issues:
- Draft resolution of the State Great Khural on establishing diplomatic relations with Barbados
- Draft resolution on establishing diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Eswatini
- Draft resolution on establishing diplomatic relations with the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
- Draft resolution on establishing diplomatic relations with the Republic of Botswana
These drafts were scheduled for discussion. At the beginning of the session, the draft resolution on establishing diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Eswatini was reviewed. During this time, Minister of Foreign Affairs B.Battsetseg provided the following information:
She stated, "Our country aims, in its foreign policy, to establish diplomatic relations with every country in the world. The foreign policy concept specifies that we will maintain friendly relations with all UN member states, pursue a multi-pillar foreign policy, and not fall out with anyone. With the establishment of diplomatic relations with these four countries discussed today, our country will now have diplomatic relations with all nations in the world. There are few such countries globally. Therefore, this is one of the achievements of our foreign policy. By establishing diplomatic relations with all countries, we will not be exposed to any risk," she said.
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The Emperor and Empress of Japan to Attend Naadam Opening and Visit Khustai Nuruu
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
With special permission to use photographs from the MPA Agency.
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are scheduled for a state visit to Mongolia from July 6 to July 13, 2025. In preparation for this visit, the Embassy of Japan provided a briefing to journalists today. The embassy emphasized the historic significance of the Emperor’s first-ever visit to Mongolia, noting that this is an event that will be engraved in "golden letters" in the history of relations between the two countries, and that both sides are working diligently on the preparations.
According to the planned program, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will meet with Mongolia’s President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh and attend the opening ceremony of the national Naadam festival. They will also visit the Khustai Nuruu nature reserve. It is worth mentioning that a joint Mongolian-Japanese program on pastureland protection is being implemented in Khustai Nuruu. The embassy has clarified that this visit will be of friendship and goodwill only. According to the Japanese Constitution adopted in 1946, Article 1 of the chapter titled “The Emperor” states that "the Emperor is the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people,” thus clarifying the nature of the visit.
As for the visiting delegation, the embassy stated that representatives from the Imperial Household Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, security, and related staff, totaling about 60 people, will be included in the group.
About the Japanese Imperial System
According to Japanese legend, the country’s first Emperor, Jimmu, is considered to be a descendant of the sun goddess "Amaterasu" and ascended the throne in 660 BCE. It is said that the Imperial line has been unbroken for over 2,600 years. The 2,685th anniversary of Emperor Jimmu’s accession, which coincides with the founding of Japan, was celebrated on February 11, 2025. Throughout most of history, the Japanese Emperor’s power has been limited and mostly symbolic. However, military rulers (shoguns) have always recognized the Emperor as the head of state.
Following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, military rule was overthrown and a centralized state around the Emperor was established, and Japan adopted a constitutional monarchy in 1889. Japan’s 125th Emperor, Akihito, abdicated voluntarily on April 30, 2019, and on May 1, 2019, Crown Prince Naruhito ascended the throne, marking the start of the "Reiwa" era, which means "Beautiful Harmony."
Chronology of Modern Japanese Imperial Eras since 1868: 1868 – 1912: Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito), the Enlightened Rule
1912 – 1926: Emperor Taisho (Yoshihito), the Great Righteousness
1926 – 1989: Emperor Showa (Hirohito), the Enlightened Harmony
1989 – 2019: Emperor Heisei (Akihito), the Achieving Peace
2019 – present: Emperor Reiwa (Naruhito), the Beautiful Harmony
Purpose and Duties of Imperial Overseas Visits
The Emperor’s main purpose in foreign relations is to develop friendly relationships with other countries as a symbol of Japan. These visits are considered “symbolic diplomacy,” and typically include the following: - Meeting with state leaders (such as Kings, Presidents) - Participating in official ceremonies and receptions - Observing the history and culture of the host nation - Promoting Japanese culture and deepening mutual understanding between the peoples of both countries - Participating in cultural events related to Japanese tradition - Meeting Japanese nationals residing in the host nation - Giving lectures on Japanese history and environmental issues - Participating in international conferences and academic symposia
Biography of Emperor Naruhito
Emperor Naruhito was born on February 23, 1960, in Tokyo, and is currently 65 years old. He graduated from Gakushuin University in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in history, and then attended Oxford University in 1983 to study hydrology (the study of rivers and water resources, river transport). After a year at Oxford, he traveled in Europe and North America and returned to Japan in 1985, eventually completing a master’s degree at Gakushuin University in 1988. He is highly proficient in English and French.
His father, Emperor Akihito, abdicated on April 30, 2019, allowing Naruhito to ascend to the throne as the 126th Emperor of Japan on May 1, 2019, marking the start of the Reiwa era. As Crown Prince, Naruhito had previously visited Mongolia in July 2007, where he performed Saint-Saëns’ “The Swan” on viola together with Mongolian Philharmonic and Morin Khuur Ensemble musicians at an honorary concert held at the State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet.
Biography of Empress Masako
Empress Masako was born on December 9, 1963, in Tokyo, and is now 62 years old. She graduated from Belmont High School in the U.S. in 1981, the Department of Economics at Harvard University in 1986, and Oxford University in 1990. She worked at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1993. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako publicly announced their engagement on January 19, 1993, and married on June 9, the same year.
As Crown Princess, she accompanied the then Crown Prince to more than 30 countries. Empress Masako is fluent in English, German, and French and has served as the Honorary President of the Japanese Red Cross Society since 2019. Her father, Hisashi Owada, has served as a judge at the International Court of Justice, as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and as Japan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
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Infrastructure
Ondorkhaan Airport, Meeting International Standards, Opens for Operation
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: gogo.mn
A newly rebuilt complex of the "Ondorkhaan" airport located in Khentii province was officially opened today.
The Ondorkhaan Airport was originally established in 1958 on the site of the Soviet aviation detachment, and operated with only seven staff members. Today, it has been completely revitalized with new infrastructure that meets international standards.
This new development is the result of the "Ondorkhaan Airport Reconstruction Project," which was implemented with $3.5 million in non-refundable aid under an agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.
Starting in 2020, the project was successfully carried out in three phases, and has now been fully completed and opened for use.
This facility meets the requirements of category 3C of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and has the capacity to accommodate 50 passengers per hour.
Currently, the new airport will receive general purpose flights, which include special, emergency, and tourism charter flights. There are also plans to expand to regular domestic flights and add new flight routes in the future.
Five Tender Packages Worth One Trillion MNT Announced for Selbe City Housing Project to Involve Domestic Companies
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
Last week, officials announced that the tenders for packages 3 and 4 of the Selbe City housing project would be divided and released as five separate tenders. On July 3, these five tender packages were officially announced. The packages include various project works such as engineering infrastructure, residential buildings, and comprehensive developments with green spaces, all forming the main components of Selbe City.
Prior to announcing the tenders, the preparatory work, including fencing the site, was fully completed. Cleaning, disinfection, and engineering infrastructure work is nearing completion. By expanding tenders 3 and 4 into five packages, the project aims to support domestic producers and construction companies.
Although dividing the tenders into five packages results in changes to project organization, officials from 'Selbe 20-Minute City Corporation' LLC stated that the overall timeline would not change, and efforts would be made to make up for lost time and complete all five tender packages by 2026 as scheduled.
The plan is to build 6,000 apartments in Selbe City with an announced budget of 400 to 600 billion MNT. The tenders for packages 3 and 4 were restructured into five, and a new tender was announced for about a month-long period to optimize management.
Source: Media and Public Relations Department of the Capital City Governor's Office
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Coal Transport to Be Carried Out with Combined Transport
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: montsame.mn
A delegation led by the Minister of Road and Transport, B. Delgersaihan, visited the headquarters of China Energy Group yesterday and met with senior officials. Within the framework of the intergovernmental agreement between Mongolia and China on cross-border railways at the Gashuunsukhait-Ganqimod checkpoint, coal trade, and increasing the capacity of the Tavantolgoi coal mine, "Mongolian Railway" JSC, as the implementing organization for the Tavantolgoi-Gashuunsukhait railway operations, signed and certified a "long-term coal transport agreement" with "China Energy Coking Coal (Tianjin)" LLC. This agreement was officially certified at the Mongolian-Chinese border zone of the Gashuunsukhait-Ganqimod checkpoint on May 14, 2025, and official coal transport operations began last month.
At this meeting, Minister B. Delgersaihan discussed the implementation of the long-term coal transport agreement and exchanged views on ensuring the timely and scheduled transport of coal. According to the long-term cooperation agreement on coal transport, Mongolia will transport 247 million tons of freight over 16 years, making a significant contribution to the country's economy and generating an estimated economic benefit of 3.7 billion USD at current prices.
The Ministry of Road and Transport has started the construction of the cross-border railway at the Gashuunsukhait-Ganqimod checkpoint, with plans to put it into operation within 700 days. During this period, coal will be transported by rail, road, and combined transport.
Under the long-term coal transport agreement, "Mongolian Railway" JSC, as the transporter, is required to transport five million tons of cargo this year, necessitating more than 800,000 tons per month. Accordingly, nine trains with 58 wagons each, and 260 vehicles for export transport, have commenced operations as planned.
At the meeting, Zhang Yansheng, Chairman of the Board of the E-commerce Company, said, "We have currently received 30,000 tons of coal at Tavantolgoi station. Since the work is just starting, there are pressing issues that need to be resolved from both sides. For example, there are cases where coal cargoes are delayed for 1-2 days, and trucks are unable to access the mine entrance, which causes waiting and delays in coal transport. This may result in not being able to meet the planned transport schedule."
Furthermore, China Energy International company plans to send 30% of its workforce this year and needs to establish a company in Mongolia within this month.
A Sludge Drying and Incineration Plant to be Established in Songinokhairkhan District
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: news.mn
For residents of the capital city, the issue of safely drying, disposing of, recycling the sludge produced by the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, and eliminating the persistent unpleasant odor in the western part of the city is repeatedly discussed. Among the 23 mega projects to be implemented in the capital, the feasibility study for the Sludge Drying and Incineration Plant has been completed. Officials have announced that it will be presented for discussion at the upcoming regular session IV of the City Council on the 8th and 9th of this month and introduced it to the representatives.
It is planned to build the plant for drying and incinerating the sludge produced by wastewater treatment plants in the territory of the 20th khoroo of Songinokhairkhan District. The process will include stages of inputting sludge, dewatering, drying, incineration, and will also generate electricity and heat as byproducts.
The Road from Bagshiin Deed Intersection to Bokhiin Urgoo Will Be Closed and Renovated
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: isee.mn
As part of the partial repairs and renovation work on Enkhtaivany Avenue, the road from Bagshiin Deed intersection to Bokhiin Urgoo will be closed and renewed. The closure will start today, July 4, at 11:00 PM and the road will reopen at 6:00 AM on July 6, 2025. Citizens and drivers are reminded to use alternative roads during this period.
Society
"There is no shelter for teenage girls who are expelled from home after having children"
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: gogo.mn
Prime Minister of Mongolia, G. Zandanshatar, met with representatives from NGOs such as the National Center Against Violence, MONFEMNET National Network, Princess Center, Cute Heart, as well as the Mongolian Youth Federation, Amnesty International Mongolia, and representatives of the UNFPA.
During the meeting, the civil society representatives shared information about pressing social issues. Specifically, they noted, "As of 2025, 19% of the total population will be girls aged 0-18.
When talking about violence, especially issues related to gender-based violence, one of the most affected groups is girls. Among unreported crimes, most victims are younger girls and teenagers. In cases of reported crime, victims are mostly adult women, since they have the knowledge to seek help. Sadly, many girls remain victims behind closed doors.
Globally, since 2012, the UN General Assembly has declared that special attention must be paid to girls' rights, and as a result, many countries have begun to treat the issue of girls' rights as one requiring special attention. However, in our country, this issue is mostly addressed only at the NGO level.
One of the sensitive issues relating to girls’ rights is family and sexual violence. Adolescent pregnancy is also a major concern. There is no policy to reduce the number of births among girls, nor is there a specialized government body to provide services.
There are statistics on girls who became pregnant and gave birth as a result of sexual violence. Among all adolescent births, 3-5%, and in some years up to 8%, are cases where girls gave birth after becoming pregnant due to sexual violence.
This is a very vulnerable and special group that urgently needs attention. I hope the Prime Minister and other officials will pay attention to this.
For example, if a teenage girl gives birth and is then expelled from her home and left with nowhere to go, there is no governmental organization or state-run shelter that will take in and protect her and her child together."
Environment
L. Munkhbayasgalan: Under the Name of Implementing the 'Gold-3' Campaign, They Are Trying to Mine the Gold of Noyon Mountain
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: gogo.mn
The plenary session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) is discussing the budget amendment.
Member of Parliament L. Munkhbayasgalan appealed to the President and asked to veto the decision. The reason is that during yesterday's unified session of Parliament, the draft resolution "On Some Measures to Implement the Gold-3 Campaign" was considered.
Member of Parliament Kh. Gankhuyag stated, "This resolution does not comply with the fundamental principle in Article 6.2 of the Constitution, which says that the exploitation of strategically important mineral deposits must ensure that natural resources remain under the control of the people. The Minerals Law's Article 47 stipulates that 30% of the payment for the use of mineral resources should be allocated to the budgets of the provinces, capital city, sums, and districts where the deposit is located. The Law on Budget specifies that up to 30% of the payment received from the extraction and sale of mineral resources in a particular region must be distributed to the local budget. The sub-clause included in the draft resolution should be brought into line with the law, and I propose this as a fundamental difference that needs to be resolved."
Member of Parliament L. Munkhbayasgalan said, "The information deficit among parliament members is being exploited by the gold mining companies. Some people became ministers just to implement the 'Gold-3' program. I oppose this resolution. If this resolution is passed, it will make it possible to mine the gold in Noyon Mountain. This mountain was placed under state protection and special local protection. However, now the boundaries of the protected zone are being changed to enable gold mining. There have been 60 court cases related to Noyon Mountain already."
85 Violations Related to Use of Hazardous and Toxic Chemicals Detected
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: montsame.mn
The Ministry of Environment, Nature, and Climate Change has initiated a preventive inspection of 113 enterprises involved in the use and import of hazardous and toxic chemicals. During initial inspections, a total of 85 violations and deficiencies were identified, of which 35, or 41 percent, have been rectified. Additionally, formal deadlines were issued to 10 enterprises, monetary fines were imposed on seven enterprises according to the Law on Violations, and corrective actions were taken to eliminate the consequences of the violations and to prevent potential hazards and risks. Furthermore, the violations of six enterprises found to be using chemicals without a special license were transferred to the Environmental Police Department.
Within the framework of the new “Regulation on the Export, Import, Transboundary Transportation, Production, and Sale of Hazardous and Toxic Chemicals,” which was updated and approved by Ministerial Order No. A/113 on March 10 of this year, online and in-person trainings have been organized for concerned citizens, enterprises, and organizations, and methodological guidance and recommendations have been provided. The inspection work is ongoing.
The World's Largest Climate Fund Begins to Accelerate Investments
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: itoim.mn
The world's largest multilateral climate fund, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), has announced that it plans to make the largest investment in its history to support poor and developing countries in responding to global warming, and that it intends to accelerate the pace of agreements.
According to a decision approved this week by donor countries, including the United States, the fund will allocate a total of $1.2 billion to 17 projects primarily focused in Asia and Africa. This decision comes at a time when development aid is decreasing and political tensions are rising.
According to a June report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), official development assistance, which fell by 9% in 2024, is projected to decrease by another 17% in 2025. The main reason for this decline is cuts to US aid initiated during President Donald Trump's administration.
GCF Co-Chair Seyni Nafo said:
"At a time when united climate action is more important than ever, the GCF is actively working to fulfill its mandate."
Among the new investments being made by the GCF are the following major projects:
- $227 million: An initiative to expand green bond markets in 10 countries. (Green bonds are designed to finance projects that mitigate climate change or have a positive environmental impact.)
- $200 million: For India's Green Finance Program, supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency.
- $150 million: To support food systems in East Africa, aiming to assist approximately 18 million people.
With the addition of these new projects, the GCF’s total investment will reach $18 billion across 133 countries. To date, countries have pledged $29.9 billion to the fund, of which $21 billion has been paid.
"ADAPT" Project
With Green Climate Fund financing, the UN Development Programme, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry are jointly implementing the project "Improving the Adaptation Capacity and Risk Management of Rural Population in Mongolia" (ADAPT). The project, which runs from 2021-2028 in the provinces of Khovd, Zavkhan, Dornod, and Sukhbaatar, aims to enhance the climate adaptation capacity of herders who are highly dependent on natural resources.
Various successful adaptation efforts have been implemented in the four target provinces, increasing resilience to climate-related risks, with herders, government organizations, and citizens seeing tangible results.
Innovation
The Chinese Embassy Implements Electronic Visa System
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: news.mn
The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Mongolia held an opening ceremony for the issuance of visa applications via the "Chinese Consul" electronic application system at its premises. During the ceremony, Shen Minzhuan, the Ambassador of China to Mongolia, delivered a speech.
He said, "Citizens of Mongolia can travel to China without a visa. This time, we are implementing the electronic visa system for students studying in China and businesspeople. Applying for visas through the electronic system will save time for applicants, and they can submit their relevant documents online. Currently, 121 countries worldwide use the electronic visa system to apply for Chinese visas. Additionally, China has granted unilateral visa-free travel rights to citizens of 47 countries. Furthermore, citizens of 55 countries are allowed to transit through China for up to 10 days without a visa. These measures are making it easier to travel to China. For our part, we carefully review and check the documents submitted by each visa applicant. We are pleased to introduce this electronic system, which saves time for people applying for visas," he emphasized in his speech.
OpenAI to Rent Data Centers With Three Times the Installed Capacity of Mongolia's Power Grid
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
The artificial intelligence technology company OpenAI has reportedly reached an agreement to rent massive data centers from Oracle for its Stargate project, which is being implemented with support from the US administration, according to sources yesterday. These data centers are said to have a total power capacity of 4.5 gigawatts, according to sources close to the project. This is three times the total installed capacity of Mongolia. One gigawatt of power is equivalent to what a single nuclear reactor can produce and can supply electricity to approximately 750,000 households.
Earlier this week, Oracle announced that it had signed an annual $30 billion data center services contract with an unnamed company. This revenue will begin to appear on the company’s financial reports starting in the 2028 fiscal year. The rental agreement with OpenAI is presumed to be part of this contract.
In January, soon after President Trump’s inauguration, OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank announced the start of the $500 billion Stargate project to develop artificial intelligence infrastructure at a ceremony held at the White House. Since then, Oracle has begun construction of a major data center for OpenAI in Abilene, Texas. There are also reports that multiple such centers will be built across the US to meet OpenAI's needs. The Abilene center alone has a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts and is planned to be expanded to 2 gigawatts soon.
After this news broke, Oracle’s stock price rose about 5 percent, reaching a record high of $229.98 per share. Originally known for its database software, the company now provides cloud-based data center services to businesses. Oracle's share price has risen by 38 percent since the beginning of this year, partly due to its involvement in the Stargate project. The $30 billion contract is actually larger than the size of Oracle's existing cloud infrastructure business.
Source: Bloomberg
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Memorandum Signed to Develop Statistical Data Based on Mobile Network Data
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: gogo.mn
Mobicom Corporation LLC, the National Statistics Office, and the Communications Regulatory Commission have signed a memorandum to launch a pilot project for statistical calculations based on data analysis.
Within the framework of this collaboration, Mobicom will contribute to enabling the use of data and detailed numerical information to study internal population migration more accurately and to inform government policy making.
Koji Kurushima, CEO of Mobicom Corporation, said:
"This project is part of an initiative to use Big Data. Nowadays, making decisions based on actual data is more important than relying on experience and assumptions. Therefore, using mobile phone data in statistics will help make accurate and optimal decisions. As part of our strategy to become a technology company, not just a telecommunications company, we aim to create new values based on data for the market in the future."
D. Oyungerel, Head of the Data Research Department of the National Statistics Office, stated:
"Currently, we derive internal migration data based on the General Authority for State Registration and household registration information. However, there are cases where citizens do not register their moves, so calculations based on mobile network data can be more accurate.
In the framework of the project, the data will be securely stored at the National Data Center and processed in an environment that protects personal information. We will estimate how and how many people move between provinces, districts, and sub-districts, and test the possibility of developing statistics based on international methodologies. If the trial is successful, we will not only use this data for migration statistics, but also for other telecommunications statistics."
The Communications Regulatory Commission participates in the memorandum as a third party and will monitor data confidentiality and security as per laws and regulations. The introduction of mobile phone data into statistical applications will have a significant policy-level impact.
Furthermore, the Head of the Research and Analysis Department of the Communications Regulatory Commission, J. Oyungerel, emphasized that this will make it possible for Mongolia to produce its indicators more quickly and accurately at the international level.
Once the information on the memorandum is submitted to the World Bank and permission is received to participate in the project, the trial will officially commence. The results are planned to be released in December 2025.
Health
O. Dashpagma: The Average Age of Confirmed Measles Cases is 12 Years, with the Youngest Being 17 Days Old
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
With the current situation regarding measles, immunization efforts have intensified. Today, the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) provided information on this issue.
O. Dashpagma, Head of the Immunization Department at NCID, said: "The first confirmed case of measles in the country was registered on February 18, and since then the total number of cases has reached 11,429. Of all confirmed cases, 70.8% had not received any vaccine (had not gotten the first dose), while 5.3% were not yet of age for immunization. Furthermore, 8.5% had received only the first (incomplete) dose, and 15.5% had received two doses. In terms of incidence rates, Ulaanbaatar city has 50.3 cases per 10,000 people, Dundgovi has 37.7, Umnugovi 29.9, and Uvurkhangai 13.4.
In the 25th week of 2025, there were 1,534 new cases of measles recorded, which is a decrease of 137 cases compared to the previous week. The average daily number of confirmed cases was 219.1, a reduction from the previous week. On June 18, 2025, the highest single-day number of confirmed cases was registered at 301. By age group, there are 143.5 cases per 10,000 infants aged 0–8 months, 145.8 per 10,000 children aged 9 months to 2 years, and 125.7 per 10,000 individuals aged 10–14 years. The average age of all confirmed cases is 12.4 years, with the youngest being 17 days old and the oldest being 70 years old.
The first dose of the measles vaccine is administered at 9 months of age, with the second dose at 2 years. If, for any reason, a child has missed a vaccine dose, catch-up immunization campaigns are ongoing nationwide. Even if a child is fully vaccinated, but the immunization record is not registered in the system, parents should visit and have it recorded.
Therefore, catch-up immunization for children aged 0–15 is underway at family health centers in all 21 provinces and 9 districts. The campaign is open and free of charge to the public, regardless of residence. By being fully covered in this campaign, it is possible to prevent and limit the spread of this dangerous disease. As of now, over 40% of people needing catch-up immunization have been vaccinated within this campaign."
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Measles Cases Exceed 14,000; NCCD Issues Recommendations for the Naadam Festival Period
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: gogo.mn
During these days of celebration, festivals, and vacations, the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) has issued health advice and warnings to the public.
As of early July this year, the number of confirmed measles cases nationwide has reached 14,129. Of the confirmed cases, 70.8% were not vaccinated, 5.8% were under the eligible age for vaccination, 8.5% had received incomplete doses, and 15% were vaccinated but still contracted the infection.
Therefore, children under the age of 15, regardless of their residence, are now being offered free supplemental vaccinations at all family health centers, district, and soum hospitals. Parents are urged to take their children to the nearest medical facility to have them vaccinated.
Additionally, since intestinal infectious diseases tend to increase during the summer, citizens are advised to pay attention to food safety during the Naadam festival period and to protect young children from excessive heat.
Experts warned that symptoms such as diarrhea, headache, and abdominal pain during heatstroke may be mistaken for intestinal infections. As this poses a serious health risk for children, they urge caution.
About 90,000 People Have Been Exposed to Measles
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: news.mn
According to information from the National Center for Communicable Diseases, as of July 4 of this year, the total number of confirmed measles cases has reached 11,429. Of these, 10,076 people have recovered, while 554 people are currently hospitalized. Among those hospitalized, 446 are in moderate condition, 69 are mild, 37 are severe, and 2 are in critical condition, according to the center. There are 792 people receiving treatment at home. A total of 7 people have died from this disease, and 89,855 people have been exposed to the infection.
When looking at the age distribution of cases, the highest number is in the 10-14 age group with 4,591 cases, followed by the 0-4 age group with 2,336 cases, and 1,492 cases in the 15-19 age group.
Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease that can be prevented by vaccination. If someone has been exposed to a confirmed case of measles and has not previously had the disease, it is recommended to get vaccinated against measles within 72 hours to protect yourself and others from the disease.
Health authorities are urging everyone to be responsible for their health, take precautions against the infection, and get immunized.
New Technology Introduced for Sequencing the Full Genome of HIV and Hepatitis B Virus
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: unuudur.mn
The staff of the Integrated Laboratory of the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD), in collaboration with specialists from the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS), have successfully piloted and introduced a new NGS technology. This technology enables the sequencing of the full genomes of HIV and hepatitis B viruses, determining viral genotype variants, identifying mutations, detecting drug resistance, and monitoring treatments.
For instance, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) mutates very quickly, so by sequencing its genome, it is highly significant to "track" how it evolves, identify which strain is most dangerous or with the highest prevalence.
Previously, specialists at this laboratory had also localized the technology for full genome sequencing of the COVID-19 virus and determination of its genotype variants.
The NCCD is the national reference center for the screening, diagnosis, and confirmatory testing of HIV and hepatitis viruses.
FAO of the United Nations Strengthens Regional Capacity for Food Safety Risk Communication
Published: 2025-07-04 | Translated from: ikon.mn
Ulaanbaatar – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is organizing a Food Safety Risk Communication training in Ulaanbaatar from July 4-6, 2025. Over 30 international and Mongolian participants, including officials and specialists from countries such as Vietnam, Laos, Tanzania, and the United States, are attending the training. The goal is to strengthen the capacity of national and regional organizations to effectively deliver scientific communication and information to the public and related parties during both routine and emergency food safety incidents.
"Food safety risk communication is an essential tool for protecting public health and building trust in food systems," said Chinyun Diao, the FAO resident representative. "This training makes a vital contribution by enhancing the ability of countries to respond promptly and appropriately to urgent food safety issues and to provide accurate and comprehensible information to the public."
Determining food safety risks correctly, applying science-based assessment, communicating based on information, and increasing public understanding and trust are critical challenges of our time. Thus, "risk communication" is not just about transferring information but also about creating mutual understanding and trust, and it is a key tool for policymaking, stated T. Jambaltsreren, State Secretary of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, in his opening remarks.
During the training, international experts will present on topics such as risk-based approaches, strategic communication planning, developing public-oriented messaging, and tackling misinformation. Participants will also present real cases from their countries and engage in practical exercises.
Within the training framework, attendees will familiarize themselves with Mongolia's dairy and meat supply chains and have on-site opportunities to study traditional and modern food safety regulations.
This training is part of FAO’s "One Health and Food Safety" and "Action to Support Codex Standards Related to Antimicrobial Resistance (ACT)" projects, aiming to integrate the One Health approach into the policies and actions of participating countries.
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