Mongolia News Summary for July 26, 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

• Has the Cost of Bribing a Parliamentarian by the Government Reached 15 Billion MNT?
• Inspection and Audit of Customs and Border Checkpoints Operations Commence
• Kh. Baasanjargal: A New Candidate Has No Fair Chance Competing Against Someone Who Has Secured 15 Billion MNT Investment for Their Constituency
• B. Javkhlan: Members of Parliament have the duty to make proposals to the budget and convey citizens' requests. The government will treat this with respect.
• B. Javkhlan: The Government is Obligated to Seek Budget-Related Proposals from Members of Parliament, Ministries, and Citizens

Economy

• Russia to Impose Two-Month Ban on Gasoline Exports
• The FRC Grants Permission for Tenger Financial Group LLC to Merge with XacBank JSC
• EVENT: The Development Bank Will Provide an Update on Current Issues
• Euromoney Names Golomt Bank as Mongolia's 'Best Bank for SMEs' for 2025
• Z. Narantuya: The Development Bank is Working with a Plan to Repay 448 Billion MNT in Loans in the Past Six Months
• 1,222 Square Meters of the 'Baruun Selbe' Service Center's J Block to be Auctioned on the 25th of Next Month
• Mongolian Business Delegation Gets Acquainted with the Operations of "Gulistino Dushanbe" Garment Factory
• Mongolia exports a total of 136 thousand USD to Tajikistan

Diplomacy

• Required Documents for Hosting Foreign Nationals
• B.Battsetseg: Mutually Beneficial Cooperation That Fosters Each Other, Not Merely Asking from One Another, Will Be Established
• E.Odbayar: With the State Visit to Tajikistan, Mongolia's Foreign Policy Towards Central Asia Is Becoming Fully Realized
• Cooperation Documents Signed
• Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar Met with the Ambassador of Canada
• Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of Tajikistan, Idizoda Faizali, pays a courtesy call on President U.Khurelsukh of Mongolia

Infrastructure

• The Following Major Projects in the Capital Will Be Carried Out by Chinese Companies
• First Ring Road and the $220 Million Loan We Will Pay if It Fails
• An Open Tender for the Contractor of the First Ring Road Will Be Announced Next Month
• Cable Car Transport to Reduce Traffic Congestion by 15 Percent
• Road Closures and Renovations at Three Locations
• Selbe River Flood Protection Retaining Wall Construction to Be Completed by August 20
• If You Just Install a Drain, There Will Be No Need to Replace the Curb Twice a Year, Mayor
• 559 schools in 203 soums now have modern sanitary facilities

Society

• MIAT Named One of the World's Top 10 Most Improved Airlines by Skytrax
• Is the 'Go Mongolia' Initiative Starting to Show Results?
• In the Past Year, Authorities Seized Enough Narcotics to Intoxicate 85,334 People Once
• Warning Issued to Avoid Traveling to Thai Provinces Bordering Cambodia: Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buriram, and Ubon Ratchathani

Environment

• 624 people and 37 vehicles are working to extinguish forest fires
• 7,000 to 10,000 International Guests Expected to Participate in COP17
• Strong Winds Last Night Cause Damage in Tuv Province: 58 Gers Destroyed, 13 Fences Down, 16 Car Windshields Broken
• Forest and Steppe Fires Occurring Due to Drought

Innovation

• Introducing: 2025-2026 Scholarship Programs

Health

• The Central Province's Delgerkhaan Soum Health Center to be Renovated with Japanese Government Grant Assistance

Arts

• Uvurkhangaï: Foreign Tourists Observe Mongolian Felt Art Festival

Politics

Has the Cost of Bribing a Parliamentarian by the Government Reached 15 Billion MNT?

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: itoim.mn

Main budget governors are submitting their 2026 investment proposals to the Ministry of Finance in accordance with the guidelines for preparing the budget project. This process is bound by legal deadlines, and the period for accepting proposals ends today. During this process, the government and the Ministry of Finance have reportedly organized efforts to "bribe Members of Parliament" by collecting investment proposals worth 15 billion MNT from each of the 78 MPs elected from districts, as reported on social media by M. Narantuya-Nara, who became an MP through the quota of the Civil Will Green Party.

M. Narantuya-Nara is not the only whistleblower on this issue. MP Kh. Baasanjargal, who became an MP via the list of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), was the first to write about district budget information in the group chat for all MPs, thus revealing the collusion regarding district budgets, Narantuya-Nara clarified.

Although there is no specific provision or term called “district MP budget” in the state budget, the government has traditionally gathered proposals from each district MP and included them in the investment expenditures when preparing the budget draft. However, in recent years, the concept of a district budget was said to be non-existent, with former Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene making such statements several times.

Now, it seems that the Zandanshatar Government is bribing MPs using the district budget, with the apparent intent of extending the lifespan of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

It is said that the concept of the "district budget" started in the 2000s, during the tenure of then-Prime Minister N. Enkhbayar, who proposed and passed a bill allocating 10 million MNT for MPs to use in their districts. Later, former Prime Minister Ts. Elbegdorj increased this to 100 million MNT, and MPP leader M. Enkhbold, while Prime Minister, raised it to 500 million MNT. Subsequent governments even proposed projects raising it to 1 billion, then 4 billion MNT.

Under Zandanshatar's government, it now seems the district money has reached a historic high of 15 billion MNT. As of today, the state budget balance is in deficit by 1 trillion MNT, and coal export revenue—the main income of Mongolia—has decreased by 2.5 billion USD. Nonetheless, while the government publicly says “the budget situation is tough, we will economize,” it has secretly started a scheme to allocate 15 billion MNT to each district MP.

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Inspection and Audit of Customs and Border Checkpoints Operations Commence

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The Government Monitoring and Implementation Agency has launched a 14-day inspection and audit at the General Customs Office.

Initiated by a decision of the task force established under the order of Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar to "Increase Exports and Promote Trade," this inspection will include the General Customs Office, the Central Customs Laboratory, and other relevant entities as needed. The inspection will examine the procedures for monitoring goods and vehicles passing through customs borders, analyze regulatory compliance, and oversee activities such as sampling, model collection, and assessments related to coal. The evaluation will also check smart gate infrastructure and the customs automated clearance system at selected border checkpoints.

B. Batsetseg, head of the Government Monitoring and Implementation Agency, stated that the inspection aims to reduce the bureaucracy, duplications, delays, and economic losses faced by citizens and businesses in the process of customs and border operations. Furthermore, any bureaucratic issues attributable to individuals will be addressed in accordance with the law, and the inspection hopes to collaboratively improve systematic problems.

The results of the inspection will be presented to the task force, and relevant measures will be continued and implemented.

As a side note, citizens and business owners are encouraged to send their suggestions or feedback to info@ags.gov.mn as part of this initiative.

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Kh. Baasanjargal: A New Candidate Has No Fair Chance Competing Against Someone Who Has Secured 15 Billion MNT Investment for Their Constituency

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

It has been discussed that 15 billion MNT will be allocated to the constituencies of the 78 members elected from regional districts in the 2024 regular parliamentary elections. Kh. Baasanjargal, Member of Parliament and listed as number 18 on the MPP’s party list, wrote about this on her social media page.

She said, "Today is the last day for MPs to submit investment proposals to the Government. However, this only relates to district MPs, with amounts up to 15 billion MNT. Since a message reminded about this in the MPP group chat on Monday, I have written from multiple perspectives: that we must end the practice of the Government’s excessive spending, the MP’s role, the Constitutional separation of powers, and the creation of unfair advantages by abusing authority. Yet, my fellow district MPs insisted it is something that ‘should be’, and explained it simply as fulfilling their obligation to ‘relay’ their constituents’ requests.

Later, it was told to governors (without notifying us at all) that list MPs may submit investment proposals of up to 2.5 billion MNT, and now we have received numerous proposals and requests from them. Therefore, yesterday, I wrote about this in the general MPs’ group, and as MP M. Narantuya-Nara put it, I blew the whistle.

However, both M. Narantuya-Nara and I were criticized, told to understand things correctly, that these are just proposals, that only by working like this can we address citizens’ issues, and to speak out on major theft instead, regardless of parties. Rather than blame us, today is the last day to submit 1.2 trillion MNT worth of investment proposals. I cannot tolerate such wasteful use of taxpayers’ hard-earned money.

Let me leave several reasons why I disagree (Constitution and political science experts may write more scientifically grounded arguments):

Budget efficiency. As the budget revenue falls short and there is a plan to tighten belts by trimming 9% of civil servants, we must stop decisions without planning or unified policy that have proven to be inefficient over many years. Should the government not decide where to build schools and kindergartens and prioritize investments?

MPs should not represent only the interests of their district electorate. We take an oath to uphold national interests and public interest, and our constitutional mandate is to legislate and oversee law enforcement.

The separation of powers is undermined. This is a "collusion" that blurs the constitutional boundaries between Parliament and Government, weakening Parliament’s oversight of Government.

This is an unfair action that strengthens electoral “bribery.” It encourages clientelism. Politicians and officials use their power and office to gain the privilege to implement projects and investments, thus fostering unfair politics and a form of corruption.

It erodes public trust in justice. It creates unequal starting conditions, making it impossible for a new candidate to fairly compete against someone who has secured 15 billion MNT for their district. This means the same few people will keep winning elections. We lose trust in elections, think of leaving Mongolia, and lose hope for a good life in our homeland.

Finally, although voter education has a strong influence, politicians themselves have made it such that an MP’s work is measured by the buildings they build and secure. I hope the new 126-member parliament will work to eliminate the Government’s bad practices, which is why I am sharing this with the public."

Furthermore, former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and MP Ch. Nomin wrote on her social media page, "I do not support giving MPs 15 billion MNT to distribute in their constituencies. The Government should do its budgeting and spending. Parliament should enact laws and exercise oversight."

Warning: Media organizations (TV, radio, social, and web pages) are prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form, and may only do so with agreement and by citing the original source (ikon.mn).

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B. Javkhlan: Members of Parliament have the duty to make proposals to the budget and convey citizens' requests. The government will treat this with respect.

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

In connection with the ongoing process of planning the 2026 budget draft, Finance Minister B. Javkhlan gave an update today at the State Palace.

He stated, "The process of planning the budget for a given year starts as soon as the previous year’s budget is approved. Every year, Parliament passes the next year’s budget framework statement on June 1. After that, the main period of budget planning begins. Ministries submit their proposed budgets for the next year from June 1 to July 25. Based on these proposals, the Ministry of Finance compiles them and presents it to the government by August 15, and then submits it on September 1. Today, before the end of the working day, the General Budget Governors of the ministries are working to submit their proposed budgets for next year to the Ministry of Finance.

The recent budget revision was very important. The reason for not making a revision in the first half of the year and postponing it was due to external conditions and the economy’s dependence on mining. There will be no idea of reinstating the expenditures that were cut in the budget revision into next year’s budget. The budget to be submitted on September 1 will be considerably tighter. The plan is to keep next year’s budget within the limits set by the recently approved budget revision.

Our budget follows three stages. Planning the budget is the government’s role, approval is by Parliament, and execution is done by the government. In the stage of planning the 2026 budget, it is essential to gather feedback from citizens and members of Parliament. Members of Parliament are the people responsible for making proposals to the budget and conveying the requests of citizens. Therefore, the government has the duty to respectfully receive and study the proposals coming from members. However, when planning the budget, the government constantly sets 5-6 requirements, and these must be met. Proposals from members of Parliament and General Budget Governors do not go directly into the budget draft. Members of Parliament have the right to make proposals at any stage of the budget process," he said.

Warning: Media outlets (TV, radio, social media, and websites) are prohibited from fully or partially using our information in any form, except by agreement with us and citing the original source (ikon.mn).

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B. Javkhlan: The Government is Obligated to Seek Budget-Related Proposals from Members of Parliament, Ministries, and Citizens

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: itoim.mn

Minister of Finance B. Javkhlan provided an explanation regarding the issue of whether proposals are being received to allocate 15 billion MNT to constituency members.

Minister of Finance B. Javkhlan: On September 1st, the budget framework statement will be introduced in a more compact form. In other words, the base of next year's budget will be based on the amended budget approved in 2025. This means that the 2026 budget draft will be submitted within this framework, without exceeding it, or possibly even reducing it further.

By the Constitution, the budget process goes through three stages. The government is legally responsible for drafting the budget. The main authority and responsibility to approve the budget rests with the State Great Khural (Parliament). Once the parliament has approved and enacted the budget as law, the government is responsible for its implementation and execution.

Currently, the drafting stage of the 2026 budget is underway. At this stage, the government is obligated to receive proposals from members of parliament, ministries, and citizens. With the amendments made to the General Budget Law in 2024, Article 281 now includes a provision requiring public participation in the budget drafting stage. According to this provision, during the 14 days before the budget is submitted on September 1st, the government is tasked with introducing the drafted budget to the public and collecting their proposals.

Therefore, it is not only parliament members but also the general public who have the opportunity to submit proposals during this period. In particular, parliament members are responsible for submitting proposals to the budget and conveying the requests and needs of their constituents. That is why this government respectfully considers and reviews proposals received from members. However, it is also important to understand the legal criteria that these proposals must meet.

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Economy

Russia to Impose Two-Month Ban on Gasoline Exports

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: itoim.mn

Russia is planning to impose a two-month restriction on gasoline exports in order to stabilize rising fuel prices, according to international media reports.

Currently, the export restrictions affect only a very small segment of intermediaries, while large oil companies are still allowed to sell fuel abroad. However, the updated ban is expected to be expanded to cover more exporters.

"All issues related to the ban have been resolved, and it will be implemented in August and September," one source said. Another source reported that the ban would officially come into effect on July 28.

This planned ban will not apply to fuel supplied to member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia), where Russia is a leading player. Additionally, countries like Mongolia, which have an intergovernmental agreement with Russia for fuel supply, are also expected to be exempt, sources highlighted.

Over the past two years, Russia has implemented several temporary bans on gasoline exports to regulate domestic fuel shortages and price increases. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated earlier this month that the government is conducting a detailed review of the fuel market and is working to determine whether further measures are needed.

Since the beginning of last week, wholesale gasoline prices on the St. Petersburg Mercantile Exchange have been rising continuously. The price of the widely used AI-95 type gasoline reached a historic high of 76,293 rubles per ton (approximately USD 962.69).

Russia produces over 40 million tons of gasoline annually. In the first five months of 2025, Russia's gasoline exports increased by about 25% compared to the same period last year, reaching 2.51 million tons.

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The FRC Grants Permission for Tenger Financial Group LLC to Merge with XacBank JSC

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

At its regular meeting, the Financial Regulatory Commission granted permission for the restructuring of Tenger Financial Group (TFG) LLC, the parent company of XacBank, by merging it into XacBank JSC. This includes amending the securities registration. As a result of this decision, the shareholders of TFG will become direct shareholders of XacBank JSC, and their shareholdings will be recorded and certified in the "Central Securities Depository."

With this, XacBank becomes the first bank among the system banks to officially meet the requirement that no single shareholder owns more than 20% of shares, in compliance with the Law on Banking.

Notice: Media organizations (television, radio, social and websites) are prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form, and may use it only with permission and by citing the source (ikon.mn).

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EVENT: The Development Bank Will Provide an Update on Current Issues

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam Judo Tournament is starting at the "Steppe Arena." At the Development Bank building, at 10:30 AM, there will be a briefing about the operations of the Development Bank, its project financing policies, tools, and other current issues.

Notice: Media organizations (television, radio, social and web pages) are strictly prohibited from fully or partially using our information in any form, and may only use it by indicating the source (ikon.mn) with prior agreement.

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Euromoney Names Golomt Bank as Mongolia's 'Best Bank for SMEs' for 2025

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The prestigious international journal in the banking and finance sector, Euromoney, announced the winners of its 2024 “Euromoney Awards for Excellence.” Golomt Bank was named Mongolia’s "Best Bank for Supporting SMEs" for 2025.

In 2024, Golomt Bank continued its mission of promoting stability while expanding its operations. Notably, it successfully issued 450 million US dollars in bonds on the international market, reviving Mongolian business participation in global finance after more than a decade and bolstering investor confidence.

Euromoney highlighted Golomt Bank’s contribution to the SME sector in Mongolia, stating:

"Golomt Bank has strengthened its support for small and medium-sized enterprises through a growth-focused strategy and has expanded its services with sector-specific offerings. In 2024, its SME loan portfolio increased by 43%. At the same time, its non-performing loan (NPL) ratio dropped from 14.42% to 3.84%, and the overdue loan ratio decreased from 13.77% to 1.89%."

Moreover, Golomt Bank rapidly increased the number of its SME clients in 2024 and introduced new loan products tailored to their needs, such as short-term digital POS-collateralized loans for small businesses. It also extended supportive loans to sectors like tourism, aviation, and the food and agriculture industries, providing comprehensive support to these businesses.

Furthermore, the number of SMEs actively using Golomt Bank’s internet banking has risen sharply. The introduction of international payment solutions such as Apple Pay, WeChat Pay, and Alipay—pioneered among Mongolian commercial banks—has played a role in this rise. These solutions make domestic and international payments easier and safer for SMEs.

Golomt Bank’s support programs and training for SME operators, especially efforts to empower and support women entrepreneurs, have distinguished the bank. Notably, in 2024, the portfolio of loans supporting women entrepreneurs increased ninefold.

These initiatives underscore Golomt Bank’s strategic commitment to the SME sector, its positive impact on society, and its reliability as a partner for Mongolia’s SMEs.

As one of the leaders in Mongolia’s financial sector and with the vision to be a global benchmark for Mongolian banks, Golomt Bank recognizes that its achievements are the result of the dedicated efforts and collaboration of customers, investors, partners, and employees. The bank pledges to remain a pioneer and leader in its sector going forward.

Financing the Good – Golomt Bank

Euromoney has honored Golomt Bank as Mongolia’s “Best Bank for SMEs” for 2025. This recognition celebrates Golomt Bank’s bold strategic focus, sector-driven innovation, and outstanding results in empowering Mongolia’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Euromoney stated:
"Golomt Bank has strengthened its support for Mongolia’s small and medium-sized enterprises through a focused strategy of growth, innovation and sector-specific services."

Over the review period, its SME loan portfolio expanded 43% to ₮1.77 trillion ($493 million). At the same time, credit quality improved markedly: its NPL ratio fell from 14.42% to 3.84%, while the past-due loan ratio dropped from 13.77% to 1.89%.

The bank also grew its SME client base to 96,005 enterprises, adding 5,999 new borrowers in 2024 (7.6% of its total clientele). It rolled out sector-tailored products, such as the Digital Loan Secured by POS and specialized financing for tourism, airlines, and agriculture.

On the digital front, more than 20,000 SMEs now use the bank’s e-banking channel. Apple Pay, WeChat, and Alipay support were rolled out on the platform to facilitate imports from China.

Strengthened by mentorship programs and procurement policies favouring women-owned businesses, the bank’s integrated approach was a distinguishing feature. Its Women Entrepreneurs Loan program, for example, saw ninefold growth over the research period.

This recognition follows a milestone year for Golomt Bank. In 2024, the bank successfully issued $450 million in bonds on the international market, restoring Mongolia’s access to global capital after more than a decade. This effort bolstered investor confidence and demonstrated Golomt Bank’s ability to connect Mongolian businesses with global financial opportunities.

To further strengthen the SME ecosystem, Golomt Bank launched a suite of innovative financing solutions tailored to industry-specific needs. These included: - Digital POS-collateralized loans for short-term working capital
- Targeted loans for tourism, aviation, agriculture, and food production sectors
- Digital banking tools adopted by 20,000+ SMEs, including first-in-Mongolia integrations of Apple Pay, WeChat Pay, and Alipay

Additionally, the Bank’s inclusive growth agenda produced measurable impact. Its Women Entrepreneurs Loan Program grew ninefold in 2024, backed by dedicated support and training initiatives. The number of active small and medium-sized enterprises using Golomt Bank’s digital platforms also surged, reflecting the Bank’s commitment to digitization and access.

All the achievements of Golomt Bank are the result of the hard work of all our customers, partners, shareholders, and employees. We will maintain our leading position in the banking and financial sector, and work diligently further to strengthen our achievements and operations.

Mongolia’s global benchmark bank – Golomt Bank

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Z. Narantuya: The Development Bank is Working with a Plan to Repay 448 Billion MNT in Loans in the Past Six Months

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The management team of the Development Bank of Mongolia presented the current state of its operations to media organizations. The bank has planned to transition to normal operations, achieve the government's policy goals and economic stability, and raise necessary financial resources, including planning to issue a $500 million bond internationally. Based on the decision of the bank's Board of Directors, the first tranche of the bond, called “DBM-2028,” worth $350 million with a 3-year term and an 8.5% interest rate, has been successfully traded. Z. Narantuya, the CEO of the Development Bank, reported about this and the first half-year operational plan for 2025.

CEO Z. Narantuya said: "In January this year, the bank was faced with severe difficulties in terms of financial solvency and legal environment. Over the past six months, the financial situation has improved. The most important measure is that we are successfully ensuring sufficient equity. The government has decided to increase the bank's equity by 1.5 trillion MNT, and we are working to complete this by July. In addition, new sources of funding were needed to ensure continuous operations. In 2023, to meet bond payments, we raised $200 million from foreign markets and $32 million from the domestic market, but it was still a burden. We have now successfully issued an overseas bond to reduce this debt pressure.

The cost of our previous funding sources was very high, so we have managed to reduce interest expenses by 1.5–2%. We extended the maturity of our debt due in March 2026 by three years, thus eliminating short-term pressure. Previously, the sustainable financing ratio had declined due to lack of sources, but now it is stabilizing, allowing us to operate normally going forward.

In financing, we are adhering to two main principles:
First, to avoid the creation of non-performing or bad loan portfolios, we pay close attention to loan approvals and project financing. To this end, we follow international standards in lending policy and thoroughly analyze the success prospects of each project. More than 10 projects from various sectors have been submitted in this direction.
Second, instead of individual economists evaluating loans, we work as a team on each project. Significant innovation and changes have been implemented operationally, and our project financing department now has four units. To prevent accumulation of bad loans, we are developing detailed risk assessment methodologies for every project.

The role and participation of the Development Bank are crucial in establishing a system in Mongolia capable of implementing and financing mega-projects without placing a financial burden on the government. We aim not to finance projects that are basically government spending but rather focus on economically viable projects.

Regarding non-performing assets, we have developed a detailed repayment plan for bad loans. There are 7-8 projects, valued at a total of 907.9 billion MNT, whose construction or production has finished but cannot be sold. When attempting auction, some projects are either over- or undervalued in the market, leading to valuation issues. Selling all such loans through enforcement could take 5–10 years. Internationally, projects get a real valuation first, but our country currently only values tangible assets such as buildings and land.

Therefore, we are working with international organizations to make real valuations for these 7–8 projects totaling 907.9 billion MNT. Once the valuations are complete, we can determine the amount of refinancing needed to make a project viable. If investors are interested, we will also set precise sale and discount prices. If we can do this before next year, we can collect repayments on these bad loans. Otherwise, we risk a net loss of 500 billion MNT.

A second category is loans to businesses that have completely stopped operating. If these are sold at auction, the Development Bank will incur over 200 billion MNT in losses. To avoid this, we are seeking additional collateral or new sources of income.

A third category involves loans to businesses that are still generating income. We are assessing cash flows and evaluating whether these businesses can continue over the long term. Some contracts may need amendments to allow for expansion, supporting continued operation.

To date, we have recovered over 200 billion MNT in loans through payments and asset takeovers. For the remaining half year, our plan is to collect repayments on loans worth 448 billion MNT.

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1,222 Square Meters of the 'Baruun Selbe' Service Center's J Block to be Auctioned on the 25th of Next Month

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The process of legally reclaiming lost city properties is being organized in stages. As part of this, 1,222 square meters located in the east wing of the 'J' block of Chingeltei District's 5th subdistrict, at the 'Baruun Selbe' service center (formerly Narny Titem), was returned to city ownership last April.

Now, this property of 1,222 square meters will be auctioned on the 25th of next month. The starting bid for the auction is 1,920,014,738.00 tugrik, and the deposit is 192,001,473.80 tugrik. The proceeds from the auction will be used to fund the construction of schools and kindergartens that lack funding and for development projects.

For your information, the 'Baruun Selbe' center was first opened for use as a trade center in 1991. In 1999, through Parliamentary Resolution No. 29, it was transferred to city ownership and registered in the city asset's balance. Since 2004, the leased areas of the center began to be privatized to lessees, with 14 individuals and organizations receiving ownership. However, the 1,222 square meters previously held under lease priority by "Ulaanbaatar Radio" LLC was returned to city ownership after the court invalidated its privatization, according to the Public Relations Department of the Capital City Administration.

Notice: Usage of this information in any form (fully or partially) by media organizations (TV, Radio, Social Media, or Websites) is prohibited unless authorized and citing the source (ikon.mn).

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Mongolian Business Delegation Gets Acquainted with the Operations of "Gulistino Dushanbe" Garment Factory

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: montsame.mn

As part of the state visit of President U. Khurelsukh of Mongolia to the Republic of Tajikistan, more than 50 Mongolian entrepreneurs became acquainted with the operations of the country's "Gulistino Dushanbe" garment factory.

The "Gulistino Dushanbe" factory in Tajikistan has been in operation since 1993 and is considered a symbol of the country's industrial modernization, with the capacity to produce over two million items in more than 250 varieties annually. The factory manufactures men's, women's, and children's clothing, formal suits, and specialized workwear, utilizing equipment from Japan, Italy, and Russia, and complies with the ISO 9001:2015 quality standard.

Currently, the factory employs around 470 people and has the capacity to hire up to 1,200 workers. It serves as a production center for both domestic and regional markets.

"Gulistino Dushanbe" plays an important role in producing goods needed for the market, supporting employment, and expanding export opportunities, establishing itself as a key entity in the domestic light industry sector.

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Mongolia exports a total of 136 thousand USD to Tajikistan

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Within the framework of the state visit of the President of Mongolia, U. Khurelsukh, to the Republic of Tajikistan, the "Tajikistan-Mongolia Business Forum" was held. The forum was opened with speeches by the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia, S. Amarsaikhan, and the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, Hokim Kholikzoda. Additionally, Ch. Davaabayar, Advisor to the President of Mongolia on Industrial and Service Policy, and B. Javkhlan, Advisor to the President on Project Coordination and Civil Society Policy, gave presentations on the activities of the national movements "Food Revolution" and "White Gold."

Ch. Davaabayar, Advisor to the President of Mongolia on Industrial and Service Policy, highlighted that the Tajikistan-Mongolia Business Forum was being organized during the highest-level state visit with the goal of expanding trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, increasing investment, establishing new business partnerships, expanding markets, and facilitating agreements. He noted that Tajikistan, utilizing its domestic raw materials and resources, produces the majority of its electricity through hydropower plants. Mongolia, on the other hand, is implementing mega development projects in the field of hydropower and renewable and distributed energy sources, with foreign investments and public-private partnerships.

By the end of 2024, trade between Mongolia and Tajikistan amounted to a total of 207.0 thousand USD. Mongolia exported a total of 136.0 thousand USD worth of goods to Tajikistan, of which 132.0 thousand USD was sheep and goat meat. Mongolia imported 71.0 thousand USD worth of food products and packaged medicines from Tajikistan.

Agriculture in Tajikistan is a key sector of the economy and is growing rapidly. Tajikistan's economy is mainly based on state-owned enterprises, with more than 1,000 registered state enterprises, of which the government holds the majority stake in more than 600. Critical sectors such as mining, energy, and communications are state-controlled, and the ten largest state-owned companies hold 97% of the total assets of all state enterprises. The textile and garment industry is also expanding, with an increase in both domestic consumption and exported products.

More than 150 business representatives from both countries participated in the business forum, during which the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and business representatives from both sides signed memorandums of understanding and started new cooperative ventures.

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Diplomacy

Required Documents for Hosting Foreign Nationals

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Citizens and organizations accepting foreign nationals must prepare the following documents:

In relation to issuing a visa or visa approval for a foreign national, the official source has advised that proof of the address where the person will stay in Mongolia must be prepared and submitted to the relevant authorities in the following ways:

• If staying at a hotel, resort, camp, or guesthouse: a reservation confirmation page and payment receipt are required;
• If an individual is providing accommodation: an address confirmation letter, a copy of the citizen’s ID card (and a copy of the foreign citizen’s passport), and documents confirming ownership of the address (such as a property certificate, rental agreement, etc.) are required;
• If coming through a travel agency: details of the travel itinerary, addresses, and locations of lodgings or camps must be provided in an official letter;
• For foreign nationals working in rural areas: the inviting organization must include detailed information about the accommodation location (such as worker housing, camp location, house, container number, etc.) in an official letter.

If the above requirements are not met, or if a request is made using a false address registration, the issuance or approval of the visa may be refused or canceled.

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B.Battsetseg: Mutually Beneficial Cooperation That Fosters Each Other, Not Merely Asking from One Another, Will Be Established

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The state visit by President U. Khurelsukh of Mongolia to the Republic of Tajikistan continues. Within the framework of the state visit, both sides signed 11 documents yesterday to expand relations and cooperation. Tajikistan is a country rich in rivers, lakes, and water resources. Sixty percent of Central Asia's water resources are in these rivers, making Tajikistan rank eighth in the world for fresh water reserves. Tajikistan supplies 98% of its electricity needs from hydropower stations, aiming for energy independence, and the importance of studying Tajikistan's experience was emphasized during the visit.

On the Mongolia-Tajikistan bilateral relations and cooperation, Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg provided the following information. She stated: “One of the main goals of Mongolia’s foreign policy is to strengthen relations and cooperation with the countries of Central Asia. In the past three years, we have had very active engagement with all five Central Asian countries. State visits are the highest pinnacle of relationships. They are prepared and studied for many years by both sides. The joint declarations and statements at the Presidential level, and the documents being signed, provide a legal framework that will further facilitate bilateral relations. With the establishment of this legal framework, people-to-people exchanges will improve, and both countries will learn more about each other and establish regulated relations according to law.”

She continued: “We have signed a very important 10-14 documents with each of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. We must open doors for the business sector, provide opportunities to enterprises, and create favorable conditions. For instance, over 10 Mongolian companies have already started operations in Kyrgyzstan. There are great opportunities for Mongolian cosmetics, food products, and IT sector companies to enter rapidly. For our entrepreneurs, Tajikistan is becoming a new frontier. This country is developing very quickly.

A feature of the region is that the five countries of Central Asia have very integrated relations with each other. The five Central Asian countries collaborate with China, the United States, the European Union, Africa, and Arab countries. Mongolia, meanwhile, is a landlocked democratic country developing between two great powers. Our interests perfectly align with those of the Central Asian countries. There are solid opportunities and conditions for Mongolia to play a key and more pronounced role in regional security and peace efforts. Secondly, we must strive to develop friendly and cooperative relations with all countries of the world and pursue a peaceful and balanced foreign policy. Within this policy, we have established very good relations with Central Asian countries. This will not be about simply asking something from each other, but about building mutually beneficial cooperation that fosters each other.

What goods and products do we have? What goods and products do they have that we don’t? What can we exchange with each other? Should we develop tourism, or exchange products? There are many things to work on.

The specifics of Tajikistan: 91% of its area is mountainous, and 60% of Central Asia's fresh water resources are concentrated in Tajikistan. Hydroelectric plants are built in every mountain valley, fully providing them with energy. Being a mountainous country, transportation costs for petrol and oil are very high, making them heavily dependent.”

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Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social media, and Web pages) are prohibited from using our content, in part or in whole, in any form without permission. Use is only allowed by agreement and must cite the source (ikon.mn).

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E.Odbayar: With the State Visit to Tajikistan, Mongolia's Foreign Policy Towards Central Asia Is Becoming Fully Realized

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The President of Mongolia, U.Khurelsukh, is paying a state visit to the Republic of Tajikistan from the 23rd to the 26th of this month. Mongolia and Tajikistan established diplomatic relations in 1992. President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan made a state visit to Mongolia in 2009. This time, it is the first official visit by our country's President to the Republic of Tajikistan. During the state visit, the two sides signed 11 documents to expand relations and cooperation. These include important areas such as energy, agriculture, tourism, international relations, and regional security.

Regarding the significance of the visit, we asked E.Odbayar, the Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia, for further information:

"We must establish mutually beneficial and friendly relations that are advantageous for our peoples."

The signing of 11 documents during the visit was a highlight. In essence, it means the two sides mutually identified sectors in which they can work together. For example, there are opportunities for cooperation in: - Digital development - Culture and education - Academy of Sciences - Energy sector - Food and agriculture

What is observed behind the legal instruments established during the visit? Both sides have jointly identified the sectors with full potential for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. Work that was previously unclear or progressing slowly due to mutual reluctance has been clarified within the framework of this state visit.

The visit has raised bilateral relations to a high level and laid the foundation for cooperation in other sectors. Henceforth, this visit creates the opportunity for active and beneficial cooperation. The state visit to Tajikistan is making Mongolia’s foreign policy towards Central Asia comprehensive.

From now on, our sectoral ministries, government agencies, private sector, and wealth creators must use the legal documents signed during this visit to establish mutually beneficial, fruitful, and close friendly relations for the good of our people. Such an opportunity has been created.

Tajikistan ranks high in Central Asia for its number of snowy mountains and water sources. It is a country that has developed hydropower to a high degree. Tajikistan has gathered much experience in building the legal environment for infrastructure development, operating renewable and clean energy like hydropower plants, and using these in an environmentally friendly manner. This creates a field of cooperation and partnership where Mongolia can learn from Tajikistan’s experience and share knowledge to develop its own legal environment.

In the context of foreign policy directed towards Central Asia, issues of transport and logistics are particularly important. All five Central Asian countries, like Mongolia, are landlocked. The challenges they face are similar. We must join international road transport agreements. Landlocked countries should raise their united voice and discuss both tariff and non-tariff barriers at the infrastructure level. Our country is proposing this to the five Central Asian countries.

At the same time, we are discussing with all countries the development of a trade and transport logistics corridor from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, passing through Bishkek, and on the Urumqi-Ulaanbaatar route. Everyone understands this together.

Landlocked developing countries must cooperate and negotiate with their major neighbors on their beneficial corridors. Additionally, developing domestic transport logistics corridors and harmonizing infrastructure development with the legal environment is most important.

The recent visit to Kyrgyzstan from the 20th to the 23rd of this month was also of high importance because the country is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, said E.Odbayar, Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia.

Note: Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social and Web pages) are prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form, except in cases of agreement, stating the original source (ikon.mn).

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Cooperation Documents Signed

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: news.mn

The state visit of President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh of Mongolia to the Republic of Tajikistan is ongoing. During the visit, the two parties signed 11 documents to expand their relations and cooperation.

President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh of Mongolia and President Emomali Rahmon of the Republic of Tajikistan signed the "Joint Declaration on the Development of Friendly Relations and Multilateral Cooperation between Mongolia and the Republic of Tajikistan." The heads of state confirmed their intention to continue developing traditional friendly relations and cooperation, agreeing to further strengthen and expand relations in politics, trade, economy, industry, agriculture, renewable energy, transport, logistics, education, culture, and tourism.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan" was signed by Mongolia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Batmunkh Battsetseg and Tajikistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Mukhriddin. The ministries will expand and develop their cooperation by holding consultative meetings, exchanging information and experience, and strengthening coordination between ministries and organizations from other sectors.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Energy of Mongolia and the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan" was signed by Mongolia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Batmunkh Battsetseg and Tajikistan's Minister of Energy and Water Resources Dzhuma Dalera Shofakir. The two sides established opportunities to cooperate in project and program implementation regarding water energy use, increasing human resource capacity, providing short-term and long-term training, exchanging experts, and implementing joint projects. The Mongolian government aims to strengthen water resource projects in the energy sector and views Tajikistan's experience in ensuring its energy independence with 98% of electricity supplied by hydropower as highly important.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan" was signed by Mongolia's Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Jadambyn Enkhbayar and Tajikistan's Minister of Agriculture Hakimzoda Kurbon. The sides expressed their intention to develop mutually beneficial cooperation considering their experience and capabilities in agriculture and agreed on specific cooperation areas such as plant breeding, livestock, agricultural mechanization, introducing advanced technologies in seed production, plant disease and pest control, land reclamation, joint research in irrigation and soil systems, and improving plant health and veterinary controls. Opportunity was created for joint experience sharing, establishing joint factories, training professionals, and exchanging experts.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism between the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth of Mongolia and the Tourism Development Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan" was signed by Mongolia's Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Chingbat Undram and the Chairman of the Tourism Development Committee of Tajikistan, Dzhumakhonzoda Dzhamshed Dzhurakhon. Both sides considered natural and cultural heritage as future wealth and emphasized the importance of both conservation and the effective, content-rich promotion and development of this heritage. The parties agreed to mutually support smart tourism initiatives based on investment and technology, and to expand the relations between tourism professionals and relevant business entities.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Digital Transformation between the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Communications of Mongolia and the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technology under the President of Tajikistan" was signed by Mongolia's Minister Enkhbayar Batshugar and the Director of the Agency Mirzo Khurshed Faizullozoda. Knowledge and experience will be exchanged to improve regulatory systems in the digital economy, and experience will be shared to develop state digital services and digitize state institutions.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Emergency Prevention and Disaster Relief between the National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia and the Emergency Commission under the Government of Tajikistan" was signed by Major General Ariunbuyan Gombojav, head of Mongolia's Emergency Agency, and Colonel General Rajabali Rakhmonali, head of Tajikistan's Emergency Commission. The two sides will exchange experience in managing emergencies caused by natural and human factors and reducing disaster risks. Joint projects and programs will be implemented to strengthen emergency notification systems for the public and introduce modern technologies. Joint training and exercises will be organized to train and specialize experts and improve disaster protection.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science and Technology between the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan" was signed by Demberel Sodnomsambuu, President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, and Kobiljon Khushvakhtzoda, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, officially launching cooperation between the academies. Knowledge and information will be exchanged, and joint research projects, programs, conferences, and seminars will be organized. New types of joint research will be sustainably developed through the exchange of scientists and researchers, especially in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, agricultural sciences, fruit farming, and food technology.

The "Memorandum of Understanding between Mongolia's 'E-Mongolia' Academy and Tajikistan's 'Center for Encryption, State Services, and Digital Software Development'" was signed by Bavuujav Myagmarnaran, Director of the "E-Mongolia" Academy, and Mirzo Khurshed Faizullozoda of the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technology under the President of Tajikistan. Both sides will cooperate in jointly researching issues related to international relations, regional security, economic and social sustainable development, sharing experience and organizing joint academic conferences, discussions, and seminars.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Institute for Security Studies of Mongolia and the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan" was signed by Ganbold Gankhuyag, Head of the Institute for Security Studies of Mongolia, and Usmon Khayriddin Usmonzoda, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan. Opportunities were established to share the results of research in international relations, global and regional security, economic and social development issues, organize academic conferences, seminars, round-table discussions and carry out regional and international events together.

The "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Chinggis Khan National Museum of Mongolia and the National Museum of the Republic of Tajikistan" was signed by Sampildondov Chuluun, Director of the Chinggis Khan National Museum of Mongolia, and Ibrokhimzoda Zafarsho Safo, Director of the National Museum of Tajikistan.

SOURCE: Office of the President of Mongolia

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Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar Met with the Ambassador of Canada

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

Prime Minister of Mongolia, G. Zandanshatar, received Sandra Shufani, the Ambassador of Canada to Mongolia, in connection with her completion of duties and permanent return to her home country. In recognition of her contribution to raising the bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries to the level of a Comprehensive Partnership and strengthening them, she was awarded the "Friendship" medal by decree of the President of Mongolia U. Khurelsukh. The Prime Minister personally presented the medal to Ambassador Shufani.

In recent years, relations between Mongolia and Canada have reached the level of a Comprehensive Partnership. The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the ambassador's dedicated efforts and wished her success in her future endeavors. Ambassador Shufani noted the broad opportunities for developing cooperation between Mongolia and Canada in the fields of mining and energy. She also expressed deep gratitude for the support provided by the Government of Mongolia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other partner organizations.

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Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of Tajikistan, Idizoda Faizali, pays a courtesy call on President U.Khurelsukh of Mongolia

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: montsame.mn

While on a state visit to the Republic of Tajikistan, President of Mongolia U.Khurelsukh received Idizoda Faizali, Chairman of the lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of Tajikistan’s supreme legislative assembly, the Majlisi Oli. President U.Khurelsukh emphasized that Mongolia attaches great importance to the development of relations and cooperation with Tajikistan. He also highlighted that Tajikistan is regarded as an important partner country with whom Mongolia shares traditional friendly relations in the region.

During the state visit, more than 10 documents were signed to promote cooperation in fields such as economy, agriculture, industry, digital development, culture, and tourism. The President also expressed satisfaction with the issuance of a joint statement with President Emomali Rahmon outlining the prospects for future cooperation.

Chairman Idizoda Faizali emphasized that the state authorities, government, and Parliament of Tajikistan attach great importance to the President’s first state visit to Tajikistan, and underlined their special focus on deepening the friendship and partnership between the peoples of the two countries. He also noted that this year, the Tajikistan-Mongolia Parliamentary Friendship Group was established in the lower house of Parliament, which is a significant contribution to strengthening inter-parliamentary relations and cooperation.

The Majlisi Oli, Tajikistan's supreme legislative body, is bicameral with 96 members serving five-year terms. The upper house (Majlisi Milli) has 33 members, and the lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) has 63 members.

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Infrastructure

The Following Major Projects in the Capital Will Be Carried Out by Chinese Companies

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The Ulaanbaatar City Governor’s Office has announced that 24 major projects are planned to be implemented in Ulaanbaatar in the coming years. Currently, the projects for which tenders have been announced and contractors have been determined are all set to be carried out by companies from the People’s Republic of China. For example, tenders for the Tuul Expressway, the Selbe sub-center development, and the waste-to-energy power plant project have all been won exclusively by companies from the neighboring country to the south.

Within the framework of the Selbe sub-center development, a project will be carried out to build apartment complexes for ger (yurt) district residents on a 158-hectare area covering parts of Chingeltei and Sukhbaatar districts. Of a total planned 10,063 households in 113 apartment blocks, a contractor has already been selected for the construction of housing for 4,362 households. The tenders for Package I and II of the five packages were announced, and Chinese companies won both packages.

In Package 1, for a tender worth 373 billion MNT, CSMC LLC submitted a proposal for the same amount and won. In Package 2, worth 453 billion MNT, China Construction Sixth Engineering Bureau Corp Ltd LLC submitted a proposal for 448 billion MNT and won. The contractor companies plan to hand over roughly 4,400 apartments, as well as schools, kindergartens, and hospital facilities by April 2027.

For the 32-kilometer Tuul Expressway, which will stretch from the western to the eastern edge of Ulaanbaatar, Hong Kong's "HaoYuan Group" won the tender and will begin work next week. The total cost of the Tuul Expressway is over 600 million US dollars, or about 2.3 trillion MNT. In the 2025 Ulaanbaatar city budget, 500 billion MNT has been allocated for the Tuul Expressway project, meaning that the initial funding will be provided from the budget. Financing is planned to be included in the city’s budget each year in line with the progress of the construction. If work proceeds according to plan, the Tuul Expressway will be commissioned in the first half of 2028.

During negotiations for building a waste-to-energy plant in the 12th khoroo of Khan-Uul district, three companies—"Naanova Green Energy Mongolia" LLC, "Sichuan Energy Investment, Energy Saving, and Environmental Protection Investment" LLC, and "Shanghai SUS" LLC—submitted their proposals, with the Chinese company remaining in the final round, according to the Governor’s First Deputy T. Davaadalai.

This plant will have a capacity to produce 35 MW of electricity and is also planned to be financed from the city budget.

Furthermore, the Governor’s Office is preparing to announce the tender for the New Ring Road project to be carried out soon. The feasibility study for the project was conducted by a Chinese company, and it is likely that Chinese companies will also win the contractor’s tender. The project’s financing is planned to be implemented via a loan from "The Export-Import Bank of China" with government guarantee. Legal approval has been given to obtain a guarantee for a $260 million loan from the government to secure the initial financing for the project. From next week, tenders will be announced to select the project contractor.

From the above, it is clear that major projects being implemented by the capital city are being carried out by companies from the People’s Republic of China, and as a result, the number of imported workers from China is expected to increase.

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First Ring Road and the $220 Million Loan We Will Pay if It Fails

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Projects are being discussed with the goal of enabling people to swiftly reach their destinations without congestion by utilizing ring and express roads in the city center.

For example, the construction of an expressway that starts from Bayanzurkh checkpoint, follows the Tuul River, and exits to the western provinces through the 22nd checkpoint, will begin next week. The next project is the First Ring Road. This first ring road will be more than 26 km long, connecting southwards from Naadamchdyn Road to the Chinggis Khaan International Airport expressway, and northwards to the Öner residential area, Bayankhoshuu, Selbe, Dari-Ekh sub-centers, and further to the Tuul express road through the Chuluun Ovoo roundabout.

The total cost to build the new First Ring Road (26 km) is estimated at $918 million. Of this, $260 million will be spent on compensating for 3,800 plots, land clearance, VAT, customs, and labor costs, which will be borrowed from a Chinese bank at 3% interest over 16 years. A guarantee is required to obtain the loan.

Revenue estimations for the project may have been set optimistically high in terms of traffic flow. Therefore, the risk level has been classified as average.

A request has been sent from the Ulaanbaatar City Administration to the Ministry of Finance to have the government guarantee $220 million of the $260 million (85%) to be borrowed from the Chinese bank. The Ministry of Finance developed a risk assessment and had the National Audit Office conduct an independent audit, which concluded that the requirements to repay the loan could be met, but the project's source of financing has not been finally approved. Revenue estimations might have been overly optimistic regarding traffic flow; thus, the risk level was classified as average.

As for how the loan will be repaid: the Tuul Expressway and the First Ring Road are expected to be operational in 2028. There will be about 180,000 vehicles using these roads daily. A toll of 5,000 MNT will be charged per vehicle. This is projected to generate 900 million MNT per day or 328.5 billion MNT per year in revenue. Therefore, it is expected that the loan from the Chinese bank can be repaid over the 16-year period.

However, if the estimates are wrong and they are unable to repay the borrowed money, they will have to deal with the Government of Mongolia, which issued the loan guarantee. The condition is that a government that issues a guarantee bears responsibility for repayment. The assumption that 30% of all vehicles in Ulaanbaatar will use this ring road is considered an optimistic estimate. However, the Minister of Finance, B. Javkhlan, emphasized during the parliamentary session that, from a guarantee perspective, the project carries little risk.

The Ministry of Finance's conclusion that the forecasts are optimistic is well-founded. If 180,000 vehicles pay a 5,000 MNT fee every day, the cost of the road could be recovered in 10 years. However, it is doubtful that 180,000 out of around 500,000 vehicles in daily traffic will consistently use the same road. If drivers avoid the toll and use alternative routes, the projections may not be fulfilled, turning the loan guarantee into a real issue and possibly leading to taxpayers shouldering the burden.

A debt guarantee means that if a company or government agency cannot repay a loan, the government becomes the borrower. The lender gets repaid from the state budget, which is funded by taxpayers. Thus, by backing the debt, all taxpayers bear collective responsibility. Nevertheless, the efforts to address congestion by making such calculations and starting work are commendable.

The total cost of building the new 26 km First Ring Road is $918 million. The government has provided a loan guarantee for $260 million. How will the rest of the funds be secured? They have decided to use an “EPC+F” or "turnkey contractor finances" tender condition, where the construction company finds its own financing. The contractor will select its bank and determine the interest on spent funds. For this, a further government guarantee is also planned, and it is estimated the project will repay its costs in 10-12 years.

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An Open Tender for the Contractor of the First Ring Road Will Be Announced Next Month

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The capital city is implementing 24 mega projects to develop Ulaanbaatar. One of these is the New Ring Road project, and preparations are underway to announce an open tender next month to select the contractor for the construction of the First Ring Road. According to the plan, the First Ring Road will be 24.7 kilometers long with six lanes, feature multi-level intersections, include 8.9 kilometers of bridges, and more than 2 kilometers of tunnels. The planned speed for the road will be 100 km/h. It will connect with the Tuul Speed Road and other outbound roads, becoming a key infrastructure node that will elevate the organization of Ulaanbaatar’s road traffic to a new level. By implementing the Tuul Speed Road and New Ring Road projects, traffic congestion in the city center will be alleviated by distributing flows around the city through high-speed roads, creating conditions for the development of the capital’s outlying districts and sub-centers, and aligning with the “20-minute city” planning strategy.

The First Ring Road project is planned to pass through several areas, including the TETS-4 road, Enkhtaivan Avenue, Tolgoit, Ard Ayush road, Bayankhoshuu intersection, the territories of 10 khoroos of Songinokhairkhan District, Denjiin Myanga road, Khailaast Street, Doloon Buudal road, Baruun Altan-Ulgiin Street, Da Khuree Street, Khilchnii Street, Police Academy Avenue, and Dunjingarav Street. The project aims to increase the average speed of road traffic by up to 25%.

The feasibility study for the New Ring Road project, including both the first and second ring roads, was prepared by CSCEC Aicom Consultants LLC. The technical and economic feasibility of the "First Ring Road" project was discussed and reviewed in stages by the Science and Technology Council and the Road Subcommittee of the Ministry of Road and Transport Development. Feedback and evaluations were also received from relevant government bodies such as the Ministry of Economy and Development, Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, the National Audit Office, the Capital City Citizens' Representatives Hural (NITH) and its committees, and the project has received policy-level approval. As a result, the government session decided to submit the issue of providing a government guarantee for the project's implementation to the State Great Khural (Parliament), which approved the decision, according to a report from the Public Relations and Communications Department of the Capital City Governor’s Office.

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

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Cable Car Transport to Reduce Traffic Congestion by 15 Percent

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: news.mn

At the Government Cabinet meeting, it was announced that 24 mega projects and programs will be implemented between 2025 and 2028. One of these is the "Cable Car Transport" project's first line, with 33 percent of the construction and assembly work completed. Specifically, the cable car transport will be constructed in two zones: one route will connect Yarmag to Öner khoroolol, and another will run from the National Cultural Recreation Park to the National Park. The project will connect the two largest boulevards in two districts of Ulaanbaatar city. More specifically, the cable car line from Yarmag to Kharkhorin in Khan-Uul District will span 4.2 km, have two stations, and feature 98 cabins.

Each cable car cabin will have a capacity of 10 passengers, and the line will be able to transport 2,320 passengers per hour. The travel time will be 11 minutes, the supporting columns will be 6.45 to 42 meters high, and the transportation speed will be 21 km/h. When this construction is put into operation, it will share the traffic load during peak hours and reduce congestion in the Yarmag and Nisekh areas by 15 percent, as well as increase the average road speed by four percent.

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Road Closures and Renovations at Three Locations

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: montsame.mn

As part of the road renovation work in Ulaanbaatar, certain roads in the city will be partially closed. For instance, the road from the Camel Statue intersection to the Zaisan Bridge will be partially closed and is scheduled to reopen at 6:00 AM on August 4.

Additionally, in connection with repairs and upgrades to the Sharhad road, the road section from the Gazarchin intersection to the Tsaiz 16 intersection will be closed at 11:00 PM and is expected to reopen on the 29th of this month.

Furthermore, as part of the repair and renovation work on the road at the east end of the Infectious Diseases Hospital, the road from Namyangju Street east to the hospital's end will be closed at 11:00 PM on the 28th of this month and is expected to reopen on the 31st of this month.

The Ulaanbaatar city authorities advise citizens and drivers to use alternative routes during these times.

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Selbe River Flood Protection Retaining Wall Construction to Be Completed by August 20

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The construction of the Selbe River flood protection retaining wall is currently 95% complete. Today, T. Davaadalai, the First Deputy Governor of the capital city, instructed the contractors to finish the retaining wall before schools and kindergartens open, by August 20, and visited the site.

The 'Bilguun Mongol Construction' LLC is carrying out the work on the Selbe River flood protection embankment, with the Capital Investment Agency overseeing technical supervision. The construction of the 1.4 km long, 4-4.5 meter high reinforced concrete retaining wall began on June 20 last year.

As of today, about 70 meters of retaining wall assembly is temporarily on hold due to network and utility line work, while riverbed adjustment and reinforcement works are underway. Although the contract with 'Bilguun Mongol Construction' LLC is set to conclude in January 2026, the company plans to finish by August, according to manager R. Damba.

For the riverbed regulation, a 3-meter stone reinforcement will be built on both sides and a 50 cm thick stone cap will be placed inside the riverbed. Detailed leveling of the retaining wall and installation of stone panels will begin next week. After the retaining wall construction is complete, relevant departments will carry out landscaping.

As part of this, a 2.5-meter-wide pedestrian walkway is planned along both banks of the Selbe River, constructed with metal-edged stone. First Deputy Governor T. Davaadalai gave a direct order to 'Bilguun Mongol Construction' LLC to finish the retaining wall before schools and kindergartens reopen, i.e., by August 20. The company stated that utility works, like reburying cables, are taking up much of the project time. Main stormwater pipeline installations are also underway next to the west retaining wall, requiring extensive excavation.

They emphasized that construction conditions can vary due to such factors. In preparation for building the flood protection embankment, over 3,000 cubic meters of silt and sludge were completely cleared from a 700-meter section last year, according to the City Mayor's Press and Public Relations Department.

Warning: Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social and Websites) are prohibited from fully or partially using this information in any form unless previously agreed, and must credit the source (ikon.mn) if used.

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If You Just Install a Drain, There Will Be No Need to Replace the Curb Twice a Year, Mayor

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

No matter if it rains a lot or a little, there are many spots in the capital where water always accumulates, almost as if it is a tradition. One such place is the western exit of the bus stop in front of the 28th khoroo in Bayangol district, 10th microdistrict. For over ten years now, water has been collecting at the intersection of this only road into the residential complexes, forming a lake-like puddle every time it rains. After rain, residents have no choice but to walk around the flooded area, and the overflow makes it hard even for cars to pass. The local khoroo and district leadership have done nothing to solve the issue—no drains or pipes have been installed all this time. As shown in the photo, there is not a single trench or channel to drain the water at the affected area, so the puddle lingers for days.

When residents lodge complaints, only then does the khoroo rent a pump to remove the water. Strangely enough, this is the only action they take, and they seem to have gotten used to this arrangement, never considering any other measures. This road floods even during a brief rain, yet instead of addressing the issue, they keep replacing the curb over and over again. This time, the curbs are once again being prepared for replacement.

If just one or two simple drainage pipes were installed in this spot that frustrates so many residents, there would be no need to change the curb twice a year, Mr. Mayor.

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559 schools in 203 soums now have modern sanitary facilities

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: gogo.mn

In the Government Action Program of Mongolia for 2020-2024, the goal was set to "equip no less than 100 schools, kindergartens, and dormitories with pit latrines each year in the education sector with modern sanitary facilities." This objective is also included and being continued in the Government's 2024-2028 Action Program.

With the decision to allocate 160.0 billion MNT from "Erdenet Factory" SOE as part of their social responsibility, work on this initiative commenced.

Under Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Culture, Science, and Sports Resolution No. 01 of 2024, a working group was established to support the project "Replacing pit latrines in state kindergartens, general education schools, and dormitories with modern sanitary facilities." In April, the working group visited some soums in Tuv, Selenge, and Khuvsgul aimags to directly inspect the project's progress, results, and use.

Within this framework, meetings and discussions were organized in May with 79 organizations, including 27 companies selected for project design consulting, and 52 firms chosen for installation work.

Since these meetings, 11 facilities have come into operation, and as of today, a total of 559 facilities in 203 soums across 17 aimags have been equipped with modern sanitary facilities. Additionally, 57 facilities in 27 soums are ready for commissioning, and work is ongoing at 153 facilities in 53 soums.

Source: General Department of Education

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Society

MIAT Named One of the World's Top 10 Most Improved Airlines by Skytrax

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Skytrax, an international air transport consulting and rating company based in London, UK, has been operating since 1989. Each year, it evaluates the world’s airlines based on passenger client feedback and awards ratings from 1 to 5 stars. The company has officially announced the ten airlines that have made the most significant improvements for 2025. Leading this list is Taiwan’s Starlux, which operates more than 650 aircraft. Following Starlux are Italy’s ITA Airways, Hong Kong’s HK Express, and Germany’s Eurowings—airlines known for their extensive flight networks and sizeable fleets.

In 7th place on the list is MIAT Mongolian Airlines, the national flag carrier of Mongolia. According to information released by Skytrax, MIAT has made it possible to offer more comfortable long-haul flights to destinations like Istanbul and Frankfurt after acquiring a Boeing 787-9 aircraft. In addition, the number and scope of domestic and international flights have grown, resulting in rapid expansion and swift progress.

The report also states, “Once considered a small airline, MIAT has now begun its step towards becoming a major recognized player on the world stage.”

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Is the 'Go Mongolia' Initiative Starting to Show Results?

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: news.mn

The Government of Mongolia declared the years 2024-2028 as a period dedicated to tourism. Within the framework of the “Go Mongolia” program, efforts are being made to host 2 million foreign tourists in the country. For example, the renowned American influencer Ashton Hall announced on his social media that he would be visiting Mongolia, and he arrived after July 14th. He visited Mongolia for tourism purposes, toured the Chinggis Khaan Museum collection, and posted videos of himself wearing Mongolian traditional attire, racing horses and high-performance jeeps in the countryside.

In April of this year (2025), the famous American YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed, or Darren Watkins Jr., came to Mongolia at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture. IShowSpeed, who has more than 38.5 million subscribers on YouTube, visited Mongolia for the first time and viewed the Golden Statue featured at the Chinggis Khaan Museum and live-streamed from Sukhbaatar Square, with 10 million people watching. On the day of his arrival, he also visited the Chinggis Khuree camp in Khan-Uul district.

In 2024, four South Korean models and fashion icons traveled around Mongolia, toured the Gobi, and had a photoshoot at the scenic Tsagaan Suvarga site in Dundgovi province. The Minister of Environment and Tourism, B. Bat-Erdene, met with them and presented gifts. The same South Korean models returned again, this time bringing other friends along for another trip.

The famous South Korean K-pop singer and actor "Rain" performed in Mongolia in September 2024 and subsequently toured several of Mongolia's scenic destinations. Alongside him, 2NE1’s singer Dara and other artists also traveled around Umnugovi province.

Korean singer-actor Kim Hyun Joong and artist Bloo arrived in Mongolia on February 17, 2024. The Korean artists remarked, "This is our first time in Mongolia. We are welcomed by your warm and kind hearts. This amazing memory will remain in our hearts forever. I promise I will return for a solo concert."

Actor Heo Sung-tae, who starred in the globally successful Netflix series "Squid Game," visited Mongolia. While in Kazakhstan, he announced on social media he would soon travel to Mongolia. He toured the Gobi Desert and the Altai Tavan Bogd mountains.

In August 2023, Nuseir Yassin, the founder of the famous global content creator “Nas Daily,” visited Mongolia at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture. He has more than 70 million followers online. Nuseir Yassin plans to organize the international content creators’ event "Nas Summit" in Mongolia.

World-famous influencers DJ SODA and DJ SHAUN visited in March 2025, traveling around the country, including the beautiful natural sites of Arkhangai province.

In recent years, many influential foreign artists and influencers have been coming to Mongolia, which has positively impacted both tourism and the economy. The arrival of foreign influencers, content creators, singers, and actors has led the domestic tourism sector to earn $1.2 billion in revenue—the highest figure in its 70-year history. As of July 25, 2025, 440,276 foreign tourists have entered Mongolia. Since the start of the "Go Mongolia" program, positive sentiment toward Mongolia has increased by 82%, and the tourism sector has grown by 18% compared to the same period last year, according to official reports.

The countries that travel to Mongolia the most are China, Russia, South Korea, Japan, and the United States. In 2024, most visitors to Mongolia came from South Korea, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Japan.

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In the Past Year, Authorities Seized Enough Narcotics to Intoxicate 85,334 People Once

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

According to official sources, over the past year, the police have seized psychoactive substances with a total value of 5 billion 201 million tugriks, equivalent to an amount sufficient to intoxicate 85,334 people one time each. The figure “enough to intoxicate 85,334 people once” is a statistic derived by dividing the total quantity of seized substances by the average single-use dose.

Specifically, over the last year, the police registered 254 cases related to narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances, investigating 221 suspects. Of these suspects, 197 are male and 27 are female, ranging in age from 13 to 56 years old. As a result of narcotic drug use, 10 people have died and 204 individuals have been sentenced and are currently serving time.

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Warning Issued to Avoid Traveling to Thai Provinces Bordering Cambodia: Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buriram, and Ubon Ratchathani

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Yesterday, at 08:20 on July 24, 2025, an armed conflict broke out when gunfire was opened from the Cambodian side towards a military base in Surin Province, Kingdom of Thailand. Authorities in Bangkok have reported that 12 people have been killed as a result of this conflict. Due to this incident, many citizens have lost their lives or have been injured, and the Thai authorities have begun relocating residents from the affected area.

Therefore, the Embassy of Mongolia in Bangkok has issued a warning to avoid traveling to the Thai provinces that border Cambodia—Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buriram, and Ubon Ratchathani—as well as to take precautions against any potential risks. The emergency phone number of the Embassy is +66 06-1026-9692.

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Environment

624 people and 37 vehicles are working to extinguish forest fires

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

As of 11:00 today, there are 22 forest fires nationwide. Of these, 7 fires have been contained: 4 in Yeruu district and 2 in Khuder district of Selenge province, and 1 in Omnodelger district of Khentii province.

Efforts are underway to extinguish 16 fires: 4 in Khuder district, 5 in Yeruu district, and 7 in Mandal district of Selenge province. In total, 624 people and 37 vehicles are involved in the firefighting operations, including 302 emergency service personnel with 13 vehicles and 322 members of professional teams with 24 vehicles.

Since the beginning of the year up to today, there have been 204 cases of forest and steppe fires recorded in 71 districts of 13 provinces and 3 districts of the capital city, which is a 56% increase compared to the same period last year.

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7,000 to 10,000 International Guests Expected to Participate in COP17

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar reviewed the preparations yesterday for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Conventions to Combat Desertification, which will be held in Ulaanbaatar next year. He instructed the relevant officials to improve coordination and intensify preparations. COP17 is planned to be organized at the National Park, and preliminary estimates indicate that 7,000 to 10,000 guests from abroad, including government representatives from various countries and international organizations, are expected to attend.

The National Committee, responsible for overall management and coordination between sectors for the conference, is headed by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, B. Batbaatar. The head of the preparation office is Special Envoy and Ambassador N. Chimguundari. The Prime Minister tasked these officials with presenting detailed budgets and addressing urgent issues at the Government meeting without delay to ensure immediate resolution.

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Strong Winds Last Night Cause Damage in Tuv Province: 58 Gers Destroyed, 13 Fences Down, 16 Car Windshields Broken

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Due to strong winds last night, 58 households’ gers and 13 fences in Tuv province collapsed, and 16 car windshields were shattered.

According to NEMA, during the past 24 hours, winds across most of the country reached 5-10 m/s, with the Altai mountain range and steppe regions experiencing winds of 14-21 m/s. In places with brief summer showers, wind speeds surged to 24-33 m/s just before the rain. As a result, reports of weather-related emergencies were received from some soums of Sukhbaatar and Tuv provinces and from the capital.

In detail: In Khalzan soum of Sukhbaatar province, 27 households’ gers, 20 fences, roofs of 3 houses, playground equipment, and a greenhouse were destroyed. The windshield of one car was broken, a flood levee broke, 5 households were flooded, and 15 cars were stuck in mud. The professional team of the soum responded and ensured safety. In Uulbayan soum, 11 gers and 1 portable house collapsed, while in Tumentsogt soum, a portable house collapsed and 2 car windshields shattered. Work is ongoing to assess the extent of damages.

In Tuv province, between 21:00 and 22:00, heavy rain fell in the territories of Argaglant, Bayankhangai, Lun, and Erdenesant soums. Winds reached 25-33 m/s before the rain. As a result, 7 gers in Argaglant, 36 in Bayankhangai, 13 in Lun, and 2 in Erdenesant soum—a total of 58 households—lost their gers, 13 fences collapsed, and 16 car windshields broke. Local emergency, police, and specialized teams responded to these incidents, and work teams from the province and local authorities are assessing the total damage.

Around the capital, strong rain and high winds caused the roofs of 5 houses (1 in Sukhbaatar district and 4 in Songinokhairkhan district) to be ripped off. Additionally, 31 gers collapsed (28 in Songinokhairkhan, 1 in Chingeltei, 2 in Khan-Uul), and one person was trapped in a ger in Songinokhairkhan, with emergency units coming to their aid.

Furthermore, the Geodesy and Engineering Structures Department’s rapid response teams worked to pump and drain water after reports of flooding at three sites: near Sapporo intersection in Bayangol district, outside building 28 in Sukhbaatar district 1st khoroo, and around Nisekh circle in Khan-Uul district 8th khoroo, according to information from the National Emergency Management Agency.

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Forest and Steppe Fires Occurring Due to Drought

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: news.mn

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provided information about fires. As of today at 11:00 am, a total of 22 fires have been recorded across the country. Specifically, in recent days, with some regions experiencing no rain and increasing drought, the risk of forest and steppe fires has risen, according to relevant organizations. In provinces and districts, soil moisture has decreased and grass has dried up, which has greatly increased the conditions for fires to ignite and spread. In areas suffering from severe drought, the likelihood of forest and steppe fires has increased.

As a result, as of 11:00 am today, there are currently 22 forest fires nationwide, with four in Yeröö Soum and two in Khuder Soum of Selenge Province, and one in Ömnödelger Soum of Khentii Province, totaling seven fires that have been contained. In Selenge Province, firefighting operations are underway for four fires in Khuder Soum, five in Yeröö Soum, and seven in Mandal Soum, totaling 16 fires being extinguished.

According to Lieutenant Colonel B. Battuvshin, Senior Specialist at NEMA’s Firefighting Department: "Since the beginning of the year, a total of 204 forest and steppe fires have been recorded in 71 soums of 13 provinces and three districts of the capital. As of today, 22 forest and steppe fires have been recorded nationwide, mainly occurring in Khuder, Yeröö, and Mandal soums of Selenge Province and Ömnödelger Soum of Khentii Province. Of the 22 fires, seven have been contained and 15 are under control. About 620 personnel from the Emergency Management Agency and local volunteer professional teams are working to extinguish the fires. Although the period of the highest fire danger specified in the forest law has officially ended, the risk of drought in Selenge Province remains very high."

"Therefore, we strongly urge all citizens who are traveling or camping to strictly follow fire safety rules and comply with the guidelines and recommendations issued by the emergency and professional agencies."

Furthermore, one example of Mongolia’s active involvement in addressing climate change and desertification on the international stage is the country’s hosting of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in 2026. Every year on June 17, the world observes the "World Day to Combat Drought and Desertification." On this occasion, global public awareness is raised and multilateral activities are organized to prevent and address desertification and land degradation.

Mongolia was among the first 50 countries to ratify the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in 1996. Hosting COP17 in 2026 reflects Mongolia’s commitment and participation on the international stage.

In connection with this, the staff of the Desertification Research Division of the Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Academy of Sciences, organize multilateral activities in cooperation with organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), National Library of Mongolia, Institute for Intellectual Development, and Tavan Bogd NBFI, on the occasion of the "World Day to Combat Drought and Desertification."

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Innovation

Introducing: 2025-2026 Scholarship Programs

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: news.mn

Registration for international scholarship programs for 2025-2026 is ongoing. Opportunities remain available for students wishing to pursue undergraduate, master's, or doctoral degrees in countries such as China, South Korea, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, so don't hesitate thinking you might be too late. It's still not too late for students aspiring to study abroad to begin preparing.

China's "Xinjiang Regional Scholarship" is accepting applications for undergraduate, master's, and PhD levels until August 10. To be eligible for the scholarship, requirements include test scores such as "IELTS" or "HSK," an essay, recommendations from teachers, and a study plan.

South Korea's government "Global Korea Scholarship" (GKS) or "KGSP" program is a fully funded scholarship available to international students for undergraduate, master's, and PhD degrees. Registration for the undergraduate level starts in September, while master's and doctorate levels begin in February, with the Embassy in Mongolia accepting documents. The "GKS 2026 graduate track" for Mongolia is scheduled to accept applications from February 14 to 29, 2026.

Germany's prestigious "DAAD" scholarship currently accepts applications for two types of programs. The "Helmut-Schmidt" program is open for young people wishing to study for a master's degree in public administration, and registration runs until July 31, 2025. Another DAAD program will begin accepting applications in stages from August 20 to November 15. Therefore, make sure to prepare your IELTS/TOEFL or German language scores, essays, and other required materials.

Japan's Hokkaido University is accepting applications from international students interested in master's and doctoral degrees until December 20, 2025.

The Netherlands' University of Twente will accept applications for its undergraduate and master's scholarship programs until August 10. Admission requires an "IELTS 6.5+" or "TOEFL iBT 90+" score.

The "Wellcome Early Career Awards" scholarship in the UK is open until September 30 for researchers wishing to conduct research there. The primary requirement is to have a doctoral degree or, if not, at least 4 years of work experience.

Additionally, international foundations such as "RMLA" and "Cyber Safety & Education" are announcing scholarships at the master's and PhD level. Registration deadlines for these are August 15 and 19, respectively.

In general, to be considered for these scholarships, students must have proof of English language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL), essays, recommendation letters, and other such documents. Some scholarships also require specific work experience, so it is advisable to pay attention to and prepare for the registration deadlines.

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Health

The Central Province's Delgerkhaan Soum Health Center to be Renovated with Japanese Government Grant Assistance

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Mongolia, M. Igawahara, and the Governor of Tuv Province, L. Tumurchudur, today signed an agreement for the "Renovation Project for the Health Center of Delgerkhaan Soum, Tuv Province," which will be implemented under the Japanese Government's "Grassroots Grant Assistance for Human Security" program.

Under this project, the interior renovation, electrical wiring, heating system, and ventilation system of the Delgerkhaan soum health center in Tuv province will be repaired, and wooden doors will be replaced. Upon implementation of this project, the environment and conditions of the health center will improve, providing local citizens with opportunities to receive medical care in a healthier and safer environment.

The Government of Japan has been implementing the “Grassroots Grant Assistance for Human Security” program in Mongolia for 35 years since 1990. This project is the 614th under the Grassroots Grant Assistance and the 25th to be implemented in Tuv Province. The maximum financial support for this project amounts to 131,411 US dollars.

The "Grassroots Grant Assistance for Human Security" program was launched by the Japanese Government in 1990 and works with local governments, educational, and healthcare organizations in developing countries to carry out collaborative projects. The program funds projects that citizens in those communities can directly benefit from, with overseas Japanese diplomatic missions playing a key role in supporting and implementing these projects.

Source: Embassy of Japan

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Arts

Uvurkhangaï: Foreign Tourists Observe Mongolian Felt Art Festival

Published: 2025-07-25 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The regularly organized event, the "Mongolian Felt Art Festival," was held for the 13th year in Khujirt soum, Uvurkhangai province. The festival showcases traditional nomadic felt-making techniques, features exhibitions and sales of felt products, and highlights cultural traditions such as boiling milk, slicing dried curds (aaruul), promoting heritage, and organizing Mongolian wrestling competitions, horse races, and contests to select the best couples and children in national dress. The event was jointly organized by the province's Department of Culture and Arts, the Khujirt soum administration, "DMD" LLC, and "Mongigital Tour" LLC.

This year, herder residents from Ovor Modot's first bag and Uujim's second bag in Khujirt soum were the main participants, but the governor of the soum, J. Oyungerel, stated that from next year, more soums in the region will be included.

Around 100 foreign tourists attended and enjoyed the felt art festival. This event is important for preserving traditional felt-making methods, passing them on to future generations, promoting them, attracting foreign tourists, and increasing the income of local households. Participants noted the need to expand and enhance the festival's quality in the future.

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