Jun 13, 2025 68 min read Daily News Summaries

Mongolia News Summary for June 13, 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.

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President U. Khurelsukh presented the proposal to appoint G. Zandanshatar as the Prime Minister of Mongolia at the Parliamentary Session

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Standing Committee on State Structure held a meeting and supported the appointment of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister with 84.2% approval. The issue is also being discussed at the parliamentary session. During this session, the President of Mongolia, U. Khurelsukh, presented the proposal to appoint G. Zandanshatar as the Prime Minister of Mongolia. President U. Khurelsukh of Mongolia said: "Speaker of the Parliament, esteemed members, as a result of the 2024 regular parliamentary elections, the Mongolian People's Party, which secured the majority of seats in Parliament, nominated Gombojav Zandanshatar as Prime Minister and submitted this proposal to the President. According to Article 39.2 of the Constitution of Mongolia, the President is to submit to Parliament within five days the proposal to appoint as Prime Minister the candidate nominated by the party or coalition holding the majority in Parliament. Accordingly, I am presenting to Parliament the proposal to appoint Gombojav Zandanshatar as Prime Minister of Mongolia. Gombojav Zandanshatar was born in 1970 in Baatsagaan soum, Bayankhongor province. He is married and has four children. In 1987, he graduated from Secondary School No. 77 in the capital, and from 1985 to 1992 studied at the Russian University of Law and Economics, becoming a financial economist with a master's degree in economics. Gombojav Zandanshatar's career began as a teacher at the Higher School of Trade and Industry. From 1995 to 1998, he worked as an economist, department and branch director at the Agricultural Bank; from 1998 to 2000 was manager of the training center at the Bank of Mongolia and a plenipotentiary representative at the Agricultural Bank; from 2000 to 2003 was the Deputy Director at Khan Bank; from 2003 to 2004 was Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture; from 2005 to 2010 was President of the Mongolian Democratic Socialist Youth Union under the Mongolian People's Party; from 2004 to 2012 was a member of Parliament; from 2009 to 2012 served as Minister of Foreign Affairs; from 2012 to 2013 was Secretary General of the Mongolian People's Party; from 2013 to 2015 was a researcher at Stanford University’s Center for Development, Democracy, and the Rule of Law in the USA; from 2016 to 2024 was a member of Parliament; from 2017 to 2019 was a member of government, State Minister, and Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat; from 2019 to 2024 was Speaker of the Parliament; and since 2024 has served as Chief of Staff at the Office of the President. Since 1992, Gombojav Zandanshatar has accumulated public service experience at both legislative and executive levels in the fields of research, economics, and foreign relations. He is seen as having the leadership skills and ability to maintain policy stability necessary for the role of Prime Minister. Therefore, I am submitting, in accordance with the law, the proposal for his appointment as Prime Minister of Mongolia. I kindly request that the issue of appointing Gombojav Zandanshatar as Prime Minister be discussed and decided in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws of Mongolia."

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Establishing an Asian Model Center for Election Observation

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The General Election Commission, in collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, has signed a memorandum of understanding to establish an “Asian Model Center for Election Observation” in Mongolia. The signing ceremony took place at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance in Stockholm, Sweden. The memorandum was signed on June 10 by P. Delgernaran, Chairperson of the General Election Commission of Mongolia, and Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Attendees at the ceremony included Ts. Munkh-Olzii, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Kingdom of Sweden, Lina Rikila Taman, Director of the Asia and Pacific Program of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, as well as other officials. The purpose of the “Asian Model Center for Election Observation” is to serve as a regional center to disseminate principles and methodologies for observing democratic and fair elections, enhance the methodology for observation, introduce best practices based on research and analysis, build the capacity of observers, and improve the quality of election observation reports and recommendations, according to the General Election Commission.

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Prime Minister Appointment to be Discussed Today

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The proposal to appoint G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister was submitted to the State Great Khural (Parliament) this past Tuesday. Since Wednesday was a public holiday, the discussion was postponed and is scheduled to take place today. Specifically, the Standing Committee on State Structure of the State Great Khural will convene at 10:00, and the plenary meeting of the Parliament is scheduled to begin at 12:00. On Tuesday, the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) caucus in Parliament discussed and supported the nomination of G. Zandanshatar as the Prime Minister of Mongolia. However, the Democratic Party (DP) has not yet discussed or made a decision on the matter. Therefore, the DP caucus will meet before the standing committee and plenary sessions begin. L. Munkhbaatar, head of the MPP caucus in the State Great Khural, emphasized that since a new Prime Minister is being appointed, all five parties holding seats in Parliament should be included in the deliberation. Out of the 126-member Parliament, the MPP holds 68 seats, accounting for 53.06% of the total. Therefore, the newly appointed Prime Minister must first secure 100% support from their own party.

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Prime Minister Nominee G. Zandanshatar Attends Democratic Party Caucus Meeting and Answers Members' Questions

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

An extraordinary meeting of the Democratic Party faction in the State Great Khural (Parliament) was held today. G. Zandanshatar, the nominee for Prime Minister of Mongolia, attended the meeting and answered questions from members. After the faction meeting, the Standing Committee on State Structure and a plenary session of the State Great Khural will convene to discuss the appointment of the Prime Minister. Notice: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social and Web sites) are prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form, and may only use it with agreement, citing the original source (ikon.mn).

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State Structure Standing Committee Approves Nomination of G. Zandanshatar for Prime Minister with 84.2% Support

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Board of Directors and the General Assembly of the Mongolian People's Party have nominated G. Zandanshatar for the position of Prime Minister of Mongolia. The State Structure Standing Committee of the State Great Khural (Parliament) began deliberating the matter of appointing the Prime Minister. Subsequently, the State Structure Standing Committee supported the appointment of G. Zandanshatar, Chief of Staff of the President's Office, as Prime Minister with 84.2% of the votes.

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J. Bayarmaa: Mongolia Today Has a Facade of Elections and Has Entered a System of Electoral Authoritarianism

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Governing Council and the Congress of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) have nominated G. Zandanshatar as the Prime Minister of Mongolia. Today, the Standing Committee on State Structure of the State Great Khural (Parliament) has started discussing the issue of appointing the Prime Minister. During this session, Member of Parliament J. Bayarmaa asked questions to G. Zandanshatar, who has been nominated for Prime Minister, and received answers. Member of Parliament J. Bayarmaa: International organizations are evaluating how Mongolia is doing today. It is not only the opposition giving such evaluations. In the Press Freedom Index, Mongolia ranked 54th in 2015, but now it is in 109th place. The Corruption Index was at 72nd in 2015, but now has fallen to 121st. These are very important indicators. Is today's society more favorable to citizens or to officials? Of about 230,000 civil servants, nearly 20,000 hold managerial titles. Will you work towards reducing the number of these managerial positions? Between 1996 and 2000, when the Democratic Party was in power, the government operated with nine ministries including the Prime Minister. During that time, important political and economic reforms were successfully implemented. So, will you be able to make significant changes such as streamlining the civil service, reducing the number of officials with managerial titles, making state-owned companies more public or privatizing them, and selling off the vast assets held by the government? Most importantly, international organizations have already concluded that Mongolia is now under an election-based authoritarian regime. Our country has become a non-democratic state that just pretends to hold elections. What do you think about this very serious situation? Today, 100,000 citizens have proposed within a week to reduce the Personal Income Tax to one percent. Members of Parliament have initiated a bill and submitted it to the government. The government did not support it. How will you respond to these proposals coming from the people? G. ZANDANSHATAR: PRESS FREEDOM INDEX HAS DROPPED BECAUSE POLITICIANS OWN THE MEDIA Prime Minister nominee G. Zandanshatar: The 2019 amendments to the Constitution were aimed at advancing parliamentary democracy. That is why, in order to strengthen a competitive democratic system, we have established an electoral system involving multiple parties, not a single-party dominance, and provided for more gender equality. Therefore, parliamentary democracy is moving forward today. From a gender perspective, having 32 female members of parliament is seen as progress. The civil service needs to be compact and skilled. We are aiming to start reforms to streamline the civil service using artificial intelligence. The indices for corruption and media have fluctuated over time. The decline in the Press Freedom Index is attributed to politicians owning media outlets. Legal regulation is necessary in this regard. I think reforms should be made to reduce the number of state-owned companies by half, make them more public, and more open to the people. The right to make decisions in consideration of the 100,000 citizens' proposal will remain with the parliament. In order to be open and responsive to the people, we have initiated D-parliament. I aim to be a Prime Minister who acts, not just talks, and faces the truth, so I avoid making promises.

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LIVE: President U. Khurelsukh attends the Parliament Session and Presents the Proposal to Nominate G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

The plenary session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) has begun. In total, 113 members are participating in the session, which constitutes a 90% attendance rate. At today's session, the issue of nominating G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister is being discussed. President U. Khurelsukh is personally attending the session and has presented his proposal to nominate G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister to Parliament.

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Standing Committee on State Structure Supports the Nomination of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The Standing Committee on State Structure of the State Great Khural convened today to discuss the proposal to appoint the Prime Minister of Mongolia. The Deputy Chief of the Presidential Office, A. Uilstuguldur, presented the proposal for appointing the Prime Minister. According to the results of the 2024 regular parliamentary elections, the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), which secured the majority of seats in the State Great Khural, on June 10 nominated G. Zandanshatar as the candidate for Prime Minister to the President. Article 39.2 of the Constitution stipulates that the President must submit the proposal to appoint a Prime Ministerial candidate, nominated by the party or coalition that has won the majority, to the State Khural within five days. In accordance with this, the nomination of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister of Mongolia was presented. G. Zandanshatar was born in 1970 in Baatsagaan district of Bayankhongor province. He is married and has four children. In 1987, he graduated from School No. 77 in Ulaanbaatar, and from 1987 to 1992, he studied at Irkutsk State University of Economics in Russia and earned a degree as a finance and economics specialist. He holds a master's degree in economics. He began his career as a teacher at the University of Commerce and Industry; from 1995 to 1998, he worked as an economist and division/department director at the Agricultural Bank; from 1998 to 2000, he was manager at the training center of the Bank of Mongolia and a plenipotentiary representative of the Bank of Mongolia at the Agricultural Bank; from 2000 to 2003, he was deputy director of Khaan Bank; in 2003-2004, he was Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture; from 2005 to 2010, he was a board member, vice president, and then president of the Democratic Socialist Youth Union associated with the MPP; from 2004 to 2012, he was a Member of Parliament; from 2009 to 2012, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs; from 2012 to 2013, he was Secretary General of the MPP; from 2013 to 2015, he was a researcher at Stanford University's Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law in the USA; from 2016 to 2024, he was a Member of Parliament; from 2017 to 2019, he was a member of the Government of Mongolia, a Minister of Mongolia, and Chief of Cabinet Secretariat; from 2019 to 2024, he was Speaker of the State Great Khural; and since 2024, he has been serving as Chief of the Presidential Office of Mongolia. Since 1992, G. Zandanshatar has accumulated professional experience in the fields of research, economics, foreign relations, and at the legislative and executive branches of government. He is viewed as a public servant with experience, public trust, political leadership, and the capacity to ensure stable policy, and has therefore been proposed for appointment as Prime Minister of Mongolia. Members of parliament asked questions and expressed their views concerning the issue under discussion. After this, a vote was held, and the majority of the attending members supported the proposal to appoint G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister. It was decided to present the standing committee's conclusion to the plenary session.

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STANDING COMMITTEE: 84.2% Support for Appointing G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

At today's meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on State Structure, the issue of appointing G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister was discussed, and the members of parliament finished expressing their opinions. A vote was held, and 84.2% supported the appointment of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister. The conclusion and proposal of the Standing Committee will be presented to the plenary session of the Parliament by Member of Parliament J. Bat-Erdene. The Standing Committee meeting has ended. The appointment will now be discussed at the plenary session of the Parliament.

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Parliament to Discuss Appointment of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister at 14:00, Session Temporarily Adjourned

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

The issue of appointing G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister will be discussed at 14:00, and the parliamentary session has been temporarily adjourned. The Standing Committee on State Structure and the plenary session of the State Great Khural will discuss and make a final decision today on whether to appoint G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister. President U. Khurelsukh had nominated G. Zandanshatar for the position, and the State Great Khural and the Standing Committee had scheduled to review the proposal last Tuesday. However, the Democratic Party caucus proposed to postpone the session to Thursday, resulting in today's scheduling of the session. Accordingly, the issue will be discussed in today's session, and after the meetings of the Standing Committee on State Structure and the Democratic Party caucus, it has been decided to discuss the matter at 14:00, so the session was temporarily adjourned. LIVE:

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Training Held on Governance of State-Owned Enterprises, International Experience, and Future Trends

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

In order to effectively implement the policies, decisions, goals, and objectives set by the State Great Khural and the Government, and to bring the governance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in line with international standards, the Government of Mongolia, in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), organized a training entitled “Governance of State-Owned Enterprises, International Experience, and Future Trends” on June 12, 2025. This training was arranged under the Technical Assistance Project, which supports the implementation of the Wealth Fund and the reform of state property, in cooperation between the Ministry of Finance, the State Property Policy and Regulation Agency, and ADB. A total of 84 executives from 21 organizations in government administration, SOEs, and factories participated in the training. In his opening remarks, B. Tsengel, head of the State Property Policy and Regulation Agency, emphasized that SOEs account for over 35% of Mongolia's Gross Domestic Product and more than 20% of budget revenues, highlighting their significant position in the national economy. Although the total return on assets of SOEs improved from 0.4% in 2020 to 9.6% in 2024, indicating positive progress, he stressed the need to sustain these improvements, enhance governance and transparency, and increase the efficiency and productivity of SOEs. He also pointed out that the "Vision 2050" long-term development policy of Mongolia and the "New Recovery Policy" aim to establish the foundational conditions for effective implementation. The 2024-2028 Government Action Program also sets targets to improve SOE governance, increase efficiency, ensure unified management of state and local property, and develop an independent, open, and market-based operating system away from political influence. The government is implementing these reforms in stages, and shared updates on legislative and regulatory reforms affecting SOEs during the training. The training was delivered by Mr. Christopher Raschle, external advisor from the Asian Development Bank and an expert in SOE reform and governance and PPP partnerships. The training covered five modules: Board diversity and effectiveness, roles and responsibilities of board members, what is public service obligation in state property, selection and evaluation of board members and executive management, and future trends in SOE governance. This training is particularly significant as it establishes the foundation for continuous professional development of SOE board members and executives, and for training trainers in the future.

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Parliament: Proposal to Appoint G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister to Be Discussed

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: news.mn

The State Great Khural (Parliament) will hold its plenary session today at 12:00. On Monday, the Secretary General of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), Ya. Sodbaatar, submitted a proposal to the President to appoint G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister. In accordance with Article 39.2 of the Constitution, President U. Khurelsukh has submitted the proposal to appoint G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister to the parliament. The 7th General Assembly of the MPP decided to nominate G. Zandanshatar, a member of the party's Governing Council, for the position of Prime Minister. Accordingly, the Secretary General Ya. Sodbaatar submitted the above proposal to the President. Following this, an extraordinary session of the parliament was scheduled for Monday at 20:00 to discuss the proposal to nominate G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister of Mongolia. However, the Democratic Party faction decided on Thursday, i.e. today, that it would be more appropriate to discuss and resolve this issue today. Since the issue must be discussed at the plenary session of the parliament as prescribed by law, it was decided to hold a meeting of the Standing Committee on State Structure (TBBKh) at 10:00 today. After the Standing Committee meeting, the parliament will discuss and decide on the appointment of the Prime Minister. At today's plenary session, in addition to discussing the appointment of the Prime Minister, the following issues will be discussed: - The draft law to ratify the loan agreement between Mongolia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for implementing the "Energy-3 Project" (submitted by the government, for ratification, ongoing)
- The draft law on amendments to the Law on Urban Development (Revised version) and related bills (submitted by Member of Parliament J. Aldarjavkhlan, for consideration, 120 minutes Q&A)
- The draft law on amendments and additions to the Criminal Procedure Law and related bills (submitted by the government, first discussion, 90 minutes Q&A). These bills and issues will be discussed at the session.

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G.Zandanshatar Attends the Democratic Party's Parliamentary Group Meeting as Candidate for Prime Minister

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: news.mn

The Democratic Party's parliamentary group began its meeting today at 10:00 am. On Monday, the Secretary General of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), Ya. Sodbaatar, submitted the proposal to the President to appoint G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister. On the same day, the parliamentary groups discussed the issue connected to the Prime Minister candidate, and the MPP group expressed full support for G. Zandanshatar. However, the Democratic Party's group in parliament decided that there was no need to consider the President's proposal to appoint G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister on the same day and requested a one-hour break from the Standing Committee on State Structure. After that, the Democratic Party group met again, maintained their decision, and postponed the discussion to Thursday. Now, the Democratic Party's group is currently discussing the President's proposal to appoint G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister. After the Democratic Party's group meeting, the issue will be discussed at the Standing Committee on State Structure and then submitted to the plenary session of the State Great Khural (parliament).

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G. Zandanshatar Announces that the Law on the Structure and Composition of the Government Will Soon Be Submitted to Parliament

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Governing Council and Conference of the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) have nominated G. Zandanshatar as the Prime Minister of Mongolia. Accordingly, G. Zandanshatar, who has been nominated for the position of Prime Minister, today attended the meeting of the Democratic Party (DP) caucus in the State Great Khural (Parliament) and answered questions from its members. During the meeting, some members of the DP caucus asked G. Zandanshatar whether the government would be formed under a coalition structure, but he did not give a definitive answer. However, he stated that the law on the structure and composition of the Government would soon be submitted to Parliament.

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Mongolian People’s Party May Form Government Alone Without Coalition

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

G. Zandanshatar, the nominee for Prime Minister, attended an extraordinary session of the Democratic Party (DP) caucus in Parliament and answered questions from its members. Additionally, 84.2% of the members of the Standing Committee on State Structure have expressed support for appointing G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister. During this meeting, when members of parliament asked Zandanshatar whether he would form a coalition government, he did not provide a clear answer. However, some sources indicate that the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) may form the government by itself. For example, it is rumored that L. Munkhbaatar, the head of the MPP caucus in parliament, may be appointed as a government minister, and in his place, J. Bat-Erdene, the head of the Standing Committee on State Structure, may be elected as the head of the MPP caucus. Such indications suggest that the ruling MPP has already decided on the structure of the next government. Meanwhile, G. Zandanshatar, who is nominated for Prime Minister, stated during the DP caucus meeting that, if appointed to the position, he would promptly submit the law regarding the structure and composition of the government.

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Will the Executive Branch Be the Puppet of the Head of State?

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP) has decided to nominate G. Zandanshatar, the Chief of Staff of the President's Office, as the 34th Prime Minister of Mongolia. Out of over ten candidates, the party's leadership chose him and submitted his candidacy. During the party's caucus, Member of Parliament G. Temuulen nominated himself from the floor, making for a rare scene of intra-party competition in the otherwise unanimous and controlled MPP—an unusual occurrence, representing a breath of democratic change while also exposing rifts within the party. Since the nominee was chosen by majority vote, the legal processes began: an emergency parliamentary session was scheduled for 8:00 PM on Tuesday, rushing to conclude matters before Wednesday, a national holiday. This urgency displeased the newly designated opposition, who argued that making decisions on a public holiday would be illegal and demanded a more measured and thorough discussion. As a result, the question of appointing the new Prime Minister is being considered today. "A PUPPET?" G. Zandanshatar, the nominee, became a target of criticism even before his appointment. Many are against the President pushing his right-hand man and office chief into the position of Prime Minister, seeing this as an attempt to install a loyal puppet at the head of government. Zandanshatar has been elected to Parliament four times, served as Speaker of the Parliament for six years, and held other high offices, boasting considerable experience and a relatively unblemished reputation. He is described as soft-spoken and neutral, but many doubt his ability to make tough, independent decisions. Some even predict that, as the President’s puppet, Zandanshatar’s government won't last long. His stated intent to continue the policies of outgoing Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene—whose tenure saw unpopular decisions like tax increases and other burdens on citizens—has also caused concern. Furthermore, despite not yet being confirmed by Parliament, his supporters have already begun promoting him on social media, leading to fears that he might continue his predecessor’s negative PR strategies. There are also criticisms that he is not a sitting MP and failed to win his election district. However, some argue that continuing the major development projects initiated after the previous government’s gridlock would ensure governmental continuity and stability. Since the President officially submitted Zandanshatar’s nomination to Parliament, party caucuses have convened to discuss it. The MPP caucus will follow the party’s decision, while the opposition HUN Party is supportive because they expect to be included in government. The Democratic Party (DP), however, wants the issue considered more seriously and opposes the forced and rushed process, refusing to participate in a late-night session. If the full quorum of the MPP is not achieved today, the nominee may not be approved. Will the executive branch fall under the control of the Head of State? "THE SECOND WAVE" Zandanshatar reportedly stated during the caucus that he would form his cabinet independently. Although circumstances may change, speculation is rife, with many would-be ministers waiting their turn for power. It is rumored that few, if any, current ministers will be retained—a principle many see as positive, as ineffective political figures who have clung to office despite little accomplishment must step down. After the recent fatal explosion at Power Plant No. 3, which highlighted dangerous cuts in the labor safety and health budget, questions of responsibility arose, notably with Energy Minister B. Choijilsuren, who failed to express any condolences and seems to be leaving office without accepting responsibility. After criticism, he promised a personal donation of 100 billion tugriks to the plant’s repairs—a populist gesture rather than a proper fulfillment of ministerial duties. Other ministers likely to keep their posts include S. Delgersaikhan (Transport), J. Enkhbayar (Food, Agriculture and Light Industry), S. Byambatsogt (Defense), and B. Javkhlan (Finance), although such predictions are always uncertain in politics. Among new contenders is MP Ch. Undram, despite previous ethical controversies, who answered modestly that she would "consider it if offered." Behind the scenes, some agreements may already be made. Former President N. Enkhbayar is reportedly seeking a cabinet seat for his son, E. Batshugar. Of the rumored candidates, only the new MP D. Bum-Ochir stands out as having a completely clean reputation. Constitutionally, the Prime Minister must first be confirmed by Parliament, after which he will form the cabinet, subject to intricate political negotiations and possible changes to ministerial posts depending on whether the government is formed singly or via coalition. However, some individuals have seemingly already secured their positions. The process of selecting Zandanshatar highlights President U. Khurelsukh's strong influence over the MPP. Many compare this to Russia’s example, where Presidents Putin and Medvedev have alternated offices, suggesting that, despite different faces, one person effectively controls the state. President Khurelsukh, who earlier proclaimed he would not run for another term or seek constitutional changes during his mandate, now seems to be positioning his close ally as Prime Minister, potentially paving the way for Zandanshatar to run in the 2027 presidential elections and perhaps facilitate further constitutional changes. In this way, the executive branch appears to be falling fully under Presidential control. While some acknowledge that the current nominee is superior to his predecessor in education and state experience, Zandanshatar tends towards excessive self-promotion. As Speaker of Parliament, he became known for introducing his accomplishments via short videos—a form of harmless PR. The hope is that, unlike his predecessor, he won't resort to aggressive negative PR and further divide the public. Ultimately, government is about real work, not publicity. For ordinary Mongolians, the critical question is not whose loyalist becomes Prime Minister, but whether the policies will actually address their hardships and improve their lives, and whether the government will act transparently and openly. Time will tell if these expectations are met.

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G.Zandanshatar: If appointed Prime Minister, I will discuss joining and cooperating with other parties

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: gogo.mn

J.Bayarmaa: There are about 20,000 people holding leadership positions in the civil service. Will you make meaningful changes to streamline the civil service and sell off the vast assets owned by the government? Do you accept that Mongolia has become an authoritarian regime with elections? Do you support the issue brought by 100,000 citizens to set the personal income tax at 1%? G.Zandanshatar: Through the constitutional amendment, we have established a parliament that is not dominated by a single party, but ensures the participation of multiple parties. Gender equality has improved, and the proportion of female members in the State Great Khural (parliament) has reached 32%, improving representation of the people. By privatizing state property and other such measures, the number of state-owned enterprises will be reduced by half. Technological advances will be utilized to make the civil service smaller and more efficient. The figure of 100,000 is not a number that came out of nowhere. Decisions will be made not only based on citizens’ proposals but also on scientific grounds and in line with policies. The session started around 12:00, and members began asking questions and receiving answers from the nominees. N.Nomtoibayar: The proposal to appoint the Prime Minister of Mongolia was submitted by the MPP's (Mongolian People's Party) small council. They collected the council members’ phones. Only one person's candidacy was submitted to the Executive Board without any choice. This does not conform to the principles of democracy and transparency. Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene told me that he no longer had presidential support. Does this mean you have the support now? G.Zandanshatar: I am running to implement the constitutional amendments passed in 2019 and 2023. In the current unstable international political climate, I have not withdrawn from the trust shown by my party colleagues. I am not the party leader or executive, so I cannot answer on behalf of the small council. When foreign conditions get colder, we should remain warm internally. When we fell out, we divided; when we came together, we multiplied. E.Boloramaa: When forming the next government, will you cooperate with other minor parties? Has this been discussed at the party leadership level? G.Zandanshatar: Now we must look forward and work ahead. Personally, I think Oyun-Erdene’s government worked well enough, initiated many mega projects, and delivered effective results. I have not been appointed as Prime Minister. If appointed, I will join with other parties and work together. The Standing Committee on State Structure of the parliament is about to discuss the appointment of G.Zandanshatar as Prime Minister. Before this committee meeting, nominee G.Zandanshatar attended the parliamentary caucus of the Democratic Party (DP) and answered the members’ questions.

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A Proposal to Change the Prime Minister's Information Hour to the 'Parliamentary Question Hour' Has Been Submitted

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

A draft law to amend the Law on the State Great Khural (Parliament) and the Law on Parliamentary Procedure was submitted to Speaker D. Amarbayasgalan last Tuesday. The draft law was initiated jointly by Members of Parliament representing all parties in the State Great Khural: Kh. Temuujin, L. Munkhbaatar, O. Tsogtgerel, B. Batbaatar, A. Ariunzaya, B. Bayarbaatar, N. Nomtoibayar, A. Undraa, B. Jargalan, J. Zoljargal, and B. Enkhbayar. According to the initiators, the Prime Minister of Mongolia leads the government and is responsible for enforcing state laws before the State Great Khural, as stipulated in Article 38.1 of the Constitution, which states that the Government is the highest executive body. The Prime Minister is appointed by the State Great Khural and runs the government under its direct oversight, which is highlighted as a core expression of parliamentary democracy. Additionally, Member of Parliament Kh. Temuujin stated: "The concept and regulation of the Prime Minister's 'Information Hour' is currently provided in the Parliamentary Procedure Law. However, the Prime Minister introduces information of his choosing to Parliament, which has become a PR opportunity for the Government and does not serve as an effective or meaningful process for Parliament to discuss or engage. Parliament should be a place for debate, ensuring citizens' right to know, and discussions that lead to well-founded solutions. Therefore, we are submitting a law aimed at changing the Prime Minister's Information Hour to the 'PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION HOUR', where members can ask questions, and the Prime Minister responds. This would allow citizens to exercise their right to know the information and realities the Government might otherwise hide or avoid—a standard of parliamentary democracy." Note
Media organizations (television, radio, social and web pages) are strictly forbidden from copying or using our information in any form, in whole or in part, without permission. Only after agreement and by citing the source (ikon.mn) may our materials be used.

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Bill Submitted to Change the Prime Minister's Report Time to Question Time in Parliament

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

Eleven members, representing all parties with seats in Parliament, jointly initiated a draft law to amend the Law on the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia and the Procedure Law of the Parliamentary Session. They submitted this bill to D. Amarbayasgalan, the Speaker of Parliament, the day before yesterday. The main change proposed in this bill is to turn the Prime Minister's report time into a designated question time for Parliament. According to the current procedure law, "the Prime Minister gives a report on legislation, the government's activity program, the implementation of the budget and plans of the given year, the state of the country’s society, economy, and other matters at the afternoon unified session of the last Friday of each month, or answers questions from minority members in Parliament." By law, the Prime Minister’s report at the unified session must last no longer than 25 minutes. Consequently, the total time for members to ask questions, get answers, and make remarks is limited to three minutes each. The initiators of the bill believe that, in order to make this session more effective, open, and based on the principle of debate, it is necessary to turn it into a parliamentary question time. In other words, rather than the Prime Minister giving a report and incompletely answering only a few questions, it is important for Parliament members to have the opportunity to openly ask questions and to receive comprehensive, accurate information regarding the government's policies and actions. Some Parliament members have criticized that the Prime Minister's report time has become a PR session for the government. In addition, the bill includes provisions to make the government more accountable, to prevent the submission of false information to Parliament, and to ensure legal liability if such violations occur.

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The government structure may be approved tomorrow and handover of duties may happen in the evening

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

More than 80 percent of the members of the Standing Committee on State Structure supported the appointment of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister. Meanwhile, the issue of appointing G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister is currently being discussed at the plenary session of the State Great Khural, and a final decision has not yet been made. It is expected that G. Zandanshatar will be appointed as Prime Minister today. Tomorrow morning, the structure of the Government will be submitted to the State Great Khural. By the evening, it is possible that a handover of duties with the previous ministers may take place.

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LIVE: The Standing Committee on State Structure Meeting, Candidate for Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar Asked Questions

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Democratic Party (DP) caucus in the State Great Khural (Parliament) met this morning to discuss the issue of G. Zandanshatar being nominated for Prime Minister. Currently, the Standing Committee on State Structure is considering this issue. Last Monday, the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) convened its conference and nominated G. Zandanshatar for Prime Minister. Subsequently, last Tuesday, the DP caucus was scheduled to discuss the matter but decided that it was inappropriate to deliberate during night hours or on a rest day, and instead proposed to the Speaker's Council to discuss it on Thursday. Accordingly, both the plenary session of Parliament and the Standing Committee meeting were scheduled for today. Now, the Standing Committee on State Structure is holding its meeting, focusing on the candidacy of G. Zandanshatar for Prime Minister. Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, nominee for the Prime Minister of Mongolia, is present at the session and responding to questions from the committee members.

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Members of the Standing Committee on State Structure Support the Appointment of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister with 89.4% Vote

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The selection of the Prime Minister was discussed at the meeting of the Standing Committee on State Structure. During the meeting, the members asked questions and received answers from the nominee for Prime Minister, after which a vote was held. Out of the 19 members who participated in the committee meeting, 17, or 89.4%, supported the appointment of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister. Thus, the meeting of the Standing Committee on State Structure concluded, and the appointment will now be discussed at the plenary session of the Parliament. Note: Media organizations (TV, radio, social and web pages) are prohibited from copying or using our information wholly or partially in any form, and may only use it by referencing the source (ikon.mn) with prior agreement.

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A Bill to Remove the Prime Minister’s Seat from the Rear Podium of Parliament Submitted

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Members of the Mongolian Parliament H. Temuujin, Ch. Lodoisambuu, J. Bayasgalan, S. Erdenebold, S. Tsenguun, B. Jargalan, D. Batbayar, B. Batbaatar, and G. Ganbaatar submitted a draft law to the Speaker of the State Great Khural D. Amarbayasgalan to amend the Law on the State Great Khural of Mongolia. The initiators of the bill emphasized that parliamentary democracy is defined by open, equal, and free debates and competition of ideas, while parliamentary practice means that the prime minister is appointed, monitored, and held accountable by the parliament. Although the State Great Khural of Mongolia is the highest governing body with 126 members, the fact that, in addition to its members, the Prime Minister has a special seat at the presiding officer’s level in the chamber is considered inconsistent with the fundamental principles of the Constitution and the basic tenets of parliament’s operation. Therefore, in order to ensure parliamentary democracy, where parliament sessions proceed with open and equal debate between majority and minority and where members can freely express their views and opinions on behalf of their constituents—and to guarantee the full and inviolable exercise of parliament’s legislative and oversight powers—amendments to this law have become necessary, the bill’s submission explained. The initiators highlighted that the seating arrangement in the public chamber of parliament is an expression of majority power and minority oversight and accountability and thus directly impacts political culture and decision-making procedures. Forty members of parliament have signed on to this draft law, according to the Press Office of the State Great Khural.

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Economy

PetroChina Dachin Tamsag LLC Fined 300 Million and Ordered to Pay 2.2 Billion MNT

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

On Tuesday, the Inter-Soum Court of Dornod Province reviewed and decided on the case involving PetroChina Dachin Tamsag LLC—a company with Chinese investment—and its legal representative, Huo Hanfeng. The case, related to activities in Oil Fields XIX and XXI located in the Khalkhgol and Matad soums of Dornod province, was submitted by the City Prosecutor's Office to the aforementioned court in summer 2024 along with an indictment. A preliminary hearing was held on October 16 of the same year and the case was returned to the prosecutor for additional investigation. Prosecutor N.Önörbayar objected to this decision and appealed to a higher court, resulting in the case being heard again at the lower court. The Supreme Court rejected the complaint filed by B. Bilguun, the lawyer for PetroChina Dachin Tamsag LLC, allowing the lower court’s review to proceed. The Product Sharing Agreement signed between PetroChina Dachin Tamsag LLC and the Government of Mongolia included an obligation to build a 58.5 km paved road connecting the Oil Field XXI in Khalkhgol soum, Dornod, to the Bayankhoshuu checkpoint. However, the company failed to fulfill this obligation; its heavy-duty trucks created multiple new roads, damaging the environment. Furthermore, in the process of cleaning up oil-contaminated areas in Field XIX from 2016 to 2020, unpaved roads were used for transportation, resulting in the formation of 8–20 separate roads spanning 58.5 km in length and over 80 meters wide in Khalkhgol, leading to soil degradation and dust formation. As a result, environmental pollution increased and ecological balance was disrupted, causing damage to 443.4 hectares of land. Analysis determined that the environmental damage caused amounted to 2.2 billion MNT. Additionally, hazardous waste produced by oil processing—listed as dangerous waste—was dumped in unauthorized locations, contaminating the soil to a depth of 70 cm over an area of 2,800 square meters since August 2021, causing further ecological damage estimated at 5.4 million MNT. Therefore, the prosecutor charged PetroChina Dachin Tamsag LLC under Article 20.11-3 of the Criminal Code for illegal disposal of hazardous waste harmful to human health on behalf of the legal entity, and Article 24.9-2 for disrupting ecological balance for the benefit of the legal entity. State prosecutor N.Önörbayar, representing the state, provided evidence of the company’s crimes and upheld the indictment, leading the court to find the company guilty. The court ruled to suspend certain business activities for two years, impose a fine of 300 million MNT, and order the company to pay 2.2 billion MNT in environmental damages, to be collected from the Chinese-invested company.

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G. Zandanshatar: There was no decline in foreign investment due to the law enacted in 2012 and later repealed

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

Today, the Standing Committee on State Structure (TBBH) is holding a meeting to discuss the nominee for Prime Minister, during which members are asking questions and receiving answers from G. Zandanshatar. Afterwards, this issue will be presented to the parliamentary session. During this time, Member of Parliament J. Zoljargal stated, "The indicator of foreign investment has dropped significantly in recent years. On the other hand, although we talk about the concept of a 'third neighbor,' there is no money or economy, and it has just become a slogan. So, what is your opinion on attracting foreign investment, especially investment from third countries? Mongolia has an active foreign policy. What are your thoughts on working with ambassadors?" he asked. Prime Minister-nominee G. Zandanshatar replied, "It is clear that supporting not only foreign investment but also domestic investment is necessary for economic growth, job creation, and reform. The 2012 foreign investment law was, at that time, aimed at ensuring that Mongolia’s wealth would not be sold abroad without restrictions, meaning it required specific approval from Mongolia. This law was drafted and submitted based on the Australian legal model. Of course, as it was an election year, some provisions were changed due to populist demands from certain members. First of all, this law was not implemented in practice. Secondly, the law was later repealed. But the decrease in foreign investment was not caused by this law being repealed. It was due to many factors such as absence of legal stability, pressure and constraints at all levels, and more," he said.

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G. Zandanshatar: Taxes on Luxury Consumption and Very High-Income Citizens Will Be Increased

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

During the parliamentary session to discuss whether to appoint the Prime Minister, candidate G. Zandanshatar commented on tax policy, stating: "My goal will be to ensure that economic growth is inclusive and reaches every citizen. As of 2022, the poverty index shows that 27.1% of the population, or 913,000 citizens, live below the poverty line. Since 2025 began, the level of inflation has been high. Therefore, to ensure equal and inclusive economic growth, we will implement structural reforms. For this, tax reform will be carried out. We will work to reduce the tax burden on ordinary citizens, increase taxes on luxury consumption and on citizens with very high incomes, create fair conditions, and implement policies that support the middle class," he expressed his position. The regular spring session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) has started at the State Palace. Today's agenda includes discussion on whether to appoint G. Zandanshatar as the Prime Minister of Mongolia. The President U. Khurelsukh introduced his biography and career to the Parliament's session.

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The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Mongolia to Decide on Increasing the Policy Rate Beyond 12%

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Mongolia last convened on March 6-7, 2025, and decided to increase the policy rate by 2 percentage points to 12%. The committee also revised the upper limit of the debt-to-income ratio for consumer loans to 50% and enacted new regulations for pension loans. At that time, the Governor of the Bank of Mongolia, B. Lkhagvasuren, stated, "When making these decisions, we took into account the economic situation and outlook. For example, the policy implemented by the United States is projected to negatively impact commodity prices in the international market. The ongoing slump in China's real estate sector and weak demand for steel are also contributing to declines in the prices of coal and iron ore. One major objective of the Bank of Mongolia is to keep inflation low. However, inflation has risen in recent months, reaching 9.6% nationwide and 9.7% in Ulaanbaatar in January 2025. Factors such as the rising prices of electricity, meat, public transport, and tuition fees—which are services regulated by the government—have pushed inflation close to the double-digit level, creating a risk that it may reach 12%. Therefore, it was necessary to adjust policy settings." The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Mongolia will convene again tomorrow, June 13, 2025, to decide whether to raise the policy rate above 12%. The lack of foreign investment and foreign currency inflow in recent months has prompted the convening of the MPC.

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The Bank of Mongolia to Collaborate with the Swiss “Better Gold Association” and Gold Refinery

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: gogo.mn

At the World Gold Council meeting held in 2024, the Bank of Mongolia, together with the central banks of Colombia, Ecuador, and the Philippines, joined the "London Principles" initiative. The aim is to formalize the practice of buying gold from artisanal miners, promote responsible small-scale mining, and integrate these activities into the official supply chain. In this context, the Bank of Mongolia has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Swiss "Better Gold Association" and the Argor Heraeus SA gold refinery. This will allow both parties to work together to supply responsibly mined gold from small and medium-sized producers and artisanal miners as raw material to international jewelry companies. Within this cooperation, the first phase of the project will include small and medium-scale gold mining operators and artisanal miners operating in Bulgan province. Organizations such as the Darkhan-Uul branch of the Bank of Mongolia and the Precious Metal Assay Office of the Agency for Standardization and Metrology will collaborate in this work. Supplying fairly mined gold, produced in accordance with Mongolian laws and regulations, to the international jewelry market not only demonstrates that Mongolia's gold production and supply chain are transparent and reliable, but also provides bonuses to artisanal miners for every kilogram of gold they deliver. Source: Bank of Mongolia

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G.Zandanshatar: We plan to submit the budget amendment next week

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The Parliament plenary session has started discussing the appointment of the Prime Minister of Mongolia. Members of Parliament are asking questions and receiving answers from the nominee for Prime Minister, G.Zandanshatar. MP B.Beisen:
"The budget of the health sector is insufficient, and the salaries of doctors and medical staff are inadequate. As a result, this sector is facing a shortage of qualified professionals. Therefore, I want to ask G.Zandanshatar, who is about to be appointed as Prime Minister, whether the salaries of health sector employees will be doubled." Prime Minister nominee G.Zandanshatar:
"Firstly, regarding the financing of health insurance and healthcare in general, the WHO recommends that the total healthcare budget should reach 6% of GDP, 10% of the unified government budget, and at least 1% of GDP should be allocated to primary care. However, I must honestly say that it is not possible to double the salaries of health sector employees. We plan to submit the budget amendment next week. If we do not reduce budget expenses by 2.3 trillion MNT, budget revenues will significantly fall short. It has become absolutely necessary to make an amendment. The budget amendment will be a budget-saving amendment. We have implemented a strategy to reduce loan interest rates, bringing them down to an annual 6-8%. Unfortunately, due to external circumstances, it is currently not possible to further reduce interest rates. Today, the Bank of Mongolia is increasing the policy rate. Therefore, together with the Bank of Mongolia, we will align loan interest reduction with budget policies." Note:
Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social, and Web pages) are prohibited from using our information in any form, in whole or in part, unless agreed upon, and when agreed, must cite the source (ikon.mn).

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O.Shijir: Even Though Budget Revenues Have Tripled, Citizens' Incomes Have Not /VIDEO/

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

The Standing Committee on State Structure held a meeting and supported the appointment of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister with 84.2% of the votes. The issue is also being discussed at the plenary session of the State Great Khural (parliament) today. During this time, Member of Parliament O. Shijir said: “A person with experience working in politics, private organizations, and government institutions is being appointed as Prime Minister. In the last 10 years, the Mongolian People’s Party has been in power continuously. In 2019, when you were appointed as Speaker of the Parliament, the state budget for 2020 was 11.5 trillion MNT. Today, six years later, it has increased to 33.4 trillion, which is almost a fourfold increase. Even though the budget has tripled, citizens’ incomes have not increased threefold. As the budget expands, operating expenses also rise. We have become a country where the income barely matches the expenses—the money we earn is just enough to cover our spending. We are living with daily price increases. If we look at the average annual growth since 2020, the prices of main goods and products have risen by 55%. On the other hand, there is a risk that our main raw material income, which is the main source of our earnings, could decrease. Inflation is at 8.3% and there is a risk it could reach double digits. Government debt is at a historic high. The exchange rate of the Mongolian tögrög to the US dollar has weakened by 800 tögrög. You are taking office in these circumstances. Citizens should not be summoned by police simply for expressing their opinions, and media organizations should not be called in for publishing information. Therefore, I want to get either a question or a promise from you. During your tenure as head of government, can you promise not to transfer any citizens, media organizations, or journalists to law enforcement for expressing their opinions? This is a fundamental principle of democracy.” Prime Minister nominee G. Zandanshatar said: “We strive to be a practical government, not one that just makes promises. Promises come in many forms. To be specific, anyone can say anything about G. Zandanshatar. Criticizing G. Zandanshatar, however, should not violate human rights or target families and children or punish innocent people. I will uphold the law. As a high-ranking government official, I accept policy debates and constructive criticism. Therefore, it is very important to work in a manner that upholds the reputation of the state and the trust of the people. Most importantly, upholding the law is the highest priority.”

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Inflation Is Out of Control and at Risk of Rising Further

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: news.mn

Mongolia is facing a difficult economic situation. The budget expenditure has reached historic highs as salaries, pensions, and welfare payments have all increased. The Bank of Mongolia has set a goal to reduce inflation to six percent by 2025. However, by February 2025, inflation had already exceeded nine percent. Specifically, the National Statistics Office reported that the inflation rate, or the price of consumer goods and services, was 6.3% in February 2024 but increased to 9.6% by February 2025, up by 3.3 percentage points compared to the same period the previous year. As of May, the inflation rate stands at 8.3%, which is also a 3.2% increase compared to 2024. According to statistics, the factors influencing national inflation are as follows: - Prices of imported goods excluding gasoline and fuel increased by 29.9% - Prices of domestic goods excluding meat and solid fuels increased by 61.3% Looking at the main domestic goods and services influencing price statistics: - Food, beverages, and water group prices increased by 5.6%, with non-alcoholic beverages up by 12.5% - Clothing, textiles, and footwear group prices increased by 9.0% - Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels group prices increased by 21.5% - Household furniture and goods group prices increased by 6.7% - Hotels, restaurants, and dormitory services group prices increased by 14% - Education services group prices increased by 18.2% From these statistics, it is clear that the most significant impact on the 8.3% inflation rate is due to the rise in housing prices, which increased by 21.5%. Inflation is often described as the average of average prices. Unlike the United States, Mongolia cannot measure the prices of each individual item. Therefore, inflation is calculated based on a basket of commonly used goods. As of May, the inflation rate in Ulaanbaatar has reached 9.4%, with prices rising for about 130 key goods and products. For example, the average price of one kilogram of beef in Ulaanbaatar in May 2025 was 23,379 tugriks, which is 9.2% higher than in May 2024 and an increase of 2% (or 450 tugriks) from the previous month. Additionally, the average price of one liter of AI-92 gasoline rose by 49 tugriks to 2,439 tugriks. Although meat and dairy prices typically drop and inflation reaches its yearly low during the summer, this year such a trend is not observed. As economists had warned, high government spending has now manifested as price increases for citizens. Political interests inevitably enter Mongolia's economic decisions. Therefore, political interests should be set aside, budget expenditures reduced wherever possible, and measures taken to lower inflation and improve citizens' livelihoods.

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Budget Revenue Falls Short by 2.5 Trillion

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: itoim.mn

As of the first six months of 2025, budget revenue has fallen short by 2.5 trillion. From the beginning of the year, coal prices plummeted sharply, causing budget revenues to start falling. Later, as the issue of dismissing the government arose, both coal exports and subsequently coal mining sharply decreased. Some coal mines have even begun to operate at reduced capacity or halt operations. According to the 2025 budget law, the average coal price was forecast to be 105 USD, with a planned export volume of 83 million tons. However, the price has continuously fallen and has now dropped by 44%. Previous government ministers had stated that as long as export volumes could be increased, the budget would not fall short even if prices dropped, but now exports have also stagnated. In particular, "Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi," which accounts for 40% of Mongolia's coal exports, has seen a decline in export volumes. In response to a question at the parliamentary session, Ganbat J., State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, stated, "As of April 2025, the state budget revenue has fallen short of the balanced revenue by over 800 billion tugriks. Compared to the same period last year, this is a shortfall of 1.2 trillion. In the first four months, 25 million tons of coal were exported — the same volume as last year, but with lower prices. Since the beginning of the year, coal prices have dropped by 44%. This is the main reason for the significant decrease in budget revenues. If prices do not recover by year-end, the budget may decrease by 2.3 trillion tugriks. However, if exports can be increased, this decrease could be mitigated." After coal prices dropped, the government headed by L. Oyun-Erdene established a working group chaired by Finance Minister B. Javkhlan to support exports, which subsequently led to an increase in coal exports. However, the government's collapse has caused coal exports to stagnate. Therefore, if a new government is not urgently formed and started, coal exports will halt and, as a result, budget revenue will decline. G. Zandanshatar, who is about to be appointed as Prime Minister, has announced he will revise the budget. It seems that the new government's first task will be to start with a budget adjustment.

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Invitation for Bids

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: gogo.mn

Name of selection: Selection of Contractor for Assembly Work JCDecaux Mongolia LLC invites interested and qualified parties to participate in a sealed selection process for the assembly and installation of “Bus stop facilities and street information facilities in Ulaanbaatar city.” Participants must meet the following financial and experience requirements: - Detailed company profile - Copy of special permits in construction and road works - 2024 financial report - Copies of company state registration and VAT payer certificates - Workforce and experience: - Copies of diplomas, professional licenses, certificates, and identification cards of engineers and electrical engineers - Copy of Health, Safety and Environment certificate (HSEE) - Essential equipment and machinery: - Vehicle registration certificate copy - Electronic copy of technical inspection certificate - Certificate for labor safety equipment - For example: Document certifying the safety check of a ladder - Related photos - Approved labor safety rules, guidelines, manuals, and other necessary support documents Special Permit Requirement: Must have a relevant permit for construction and assembly works as well as for city beautification works. Bid documents must be submitted by 17:00 on June 27, 2025, to the address below. Late or unsealed submissions will not be accepted. Interested parties can receive bid documents and additional information at the address below:
JCDecaux Mongolia LLC, Sukhbaatar District, 1st khoroo, Peace Avenue-17, Blue Sky Tower, Office 407. Tel: 7007-7707, 9990-2257, 9990-7543 Additional information: - Submitted documents will not be returned. - The company is not obliged to provide explanations to parties who are not selected. - Technical requirements and specifications related to the assembly work will be provided to the participating parties.

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Mortgage Loan Financing Increased by 1.4%, but Number of Households Covered Decreased by 5.8%

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

The continuous increase in housing prices in recent times is cited by officials at the Bank of Mongolia as one of the reasons for the declining number of households able to purchase homes through mortgage loans. This year, it is planned to allocate 1.3 trillion MNT from the Central Bank, commercial banks, and the Savings Fund for the financing of this program. Currently, more than 4,200 households have received mortgage loans amounting to 521.9 billion MNT from these sources. While financing has grown by 1.4% compared to the same period last year, the number of households covered by the loans has decreased by 5.8%. This situation is explained by the fact that housing prices have increased by about 13% compared to 2024. In the first half of this year, 62%—or more than 2,600—of the households participating in the mortgage program are from the capital city, while 1,600 are from rural areas. In terms of total financing weight, an average household in Ulaanbaatar received about 131.5 million MNT, while those in the countryside received 112.5 million MNT, which also illustrates the price difference between urban and rural housing.

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G.Zandanshatar: The Togrog Lake deposit will be inspected and moved to the National Wealth Fund

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

During today's session of the Parliament, the issue of appointing G.Zandanshatar as Prime Minister is being discussed. At this time, Prime Minister nominee G.Zandanshatar stated: "Foreign policy issues are very clear. The government will implement the policy framework approved by Parliament. The current situation is very unclear. Therefore, every Mongolian needs to be resilient. Instead of touching the pockets of the people, I will choose to reduce the state's wasteful spending and tighten our belt. Secondly, regarding the uranium issue, I have met and discussed with environmental NGOs. On this issue, it is necessary to monitor and assess the environmental impact, and based on this, make a collective conclusion. If a new government is formed, after submitting and approving the law on the structure and composition, we will introduce the corresponding government action program. Regional development is also important. In general, the issue of reducing the urban-rural divide should be addressed by increasing local investment, improving access to services, and developing industry and tourism as a coherent regional development policy. We are also investigating the recent explosion at the third thermal power plant. My position on strategic deposits is clear. I will ensure the implementation of the National Wealth Fund Law. For example, regarding the Togrog Lake deposit, as with the Salkhit silver deposit, I will work to ensure every illegal act is made transparent and that such deposits are brought under state control and included in the National Wealth Fund."

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"World Small and Medium Enterprise Day 2025" begins at Central Square

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: news.mn

An exhibition and trade fair titled “World Small and Medium Enterprise Day 2025”, aimed at supporting small and medium manufacturers, expanding their sales and market, and promoting their products to the public, has opened today and will run for four days at the Central Square. More than 300 manufacturers from the nine districts of the capital and 21 provinces are presenting their products at the exhibition. Opening the exhibition, City Council Representative and Deputy Mayor L. Khosbayar stated: “Over 50 percent of our country's total population works and lives in Ulaanbaatar city. The foundation for becoming a manufacturing nation is for every household to be a producer. The basis for economic stability, improvement of livelihoods, and growth of the middle class lies in household production. SMEs are providing clear answers to questions such as: What are we capable of producing? Can we make import-substituting products? Do we have a sufficient market? If consumers desire to make patriotic purchases, this sector has full potential to develop. Therefore, companies, businesses, and individuals who host foreign and domestic tourists are invited to visit the Central Square, spend some time here, and support domestic manufacturers by shopping. In addition to products that represent Mongolian traditions and are crafted with skills, please also choose from food products grown in our homeland.” According to statistics, more than 60,000 enterprises and over 900,000 citizens across Mongolia work in the small and medium enterprise and service sector. Products such as cashmere, wool, leather, food, ready-made clothing, and various handicrafts are being sold at factory prices. The exhibition and sales event will be held for four days.

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Diplomacy

US Visa Applicants Can Continue to Submit Applications. Consular Departments Regularly Adjust Their Schedules to Ensure Thorough Checks

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Previously, it was reported that the United States has given instructions to its embassies to temporarily suspend student visa interviews. In connection with this, during his participation in the opening of the English Language Excellence Center, we clarified with Molik Berkana, Head of the Public Affairs Office of the US Embassy in Mongolia, about the current situation regarding the issuance of visas to Mongolian students. He stated, "The Trump administration upholds the highest standards of national and public security through the visa process to protect the country and its citizens. Every visa decision is a decision made within the framework of national security. Everyone who plans to travel to the US undergoes interagency security checks. It is crucial to prevent individuals who could pose a threat to US national or public security from entering the US to protect the American people. The scheduling of non-immigrant visa interviews at the State Department is dynamic. The capacity of an embassy or consular section is based on the time needed to fully process the applications on site according to law, and this aims to ensure that no security or risk issues arise concerning the US. Since 2019, the State Department has required both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants to provide general information about their social media accounts on application forms. We use all available information about applicants and constantly screen them, regardless of the type of visa or location. Security checks begin with the application process and continue through the validity period of the visa to ensure the person is still eligible to travel to the US. Visa applicants can continue to submit their applications. The consular department regularly adjusts its schedule to allow sufficient time to thoroughly check each application." Notice: Media outlets (TV, radio, social media, and websites) are prohibited from using our information in any form, either fully or in part, unless agreed upon, and must cite the original source (ikon.mn) if used.

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TODAY: The Asia-Pacific Region “Aspac-2025” Summit Begins

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Overview of today's events The plenary session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) will be held at the State Palace. 09:00 am: The consultative meeting "Strengthening the System for Monitoring Child Labor" will take place at the Ulaanbaatar Gallery. 09:10 am: The opening of the "English Language Development Center," organized jointly by the Embassy of the United States in Mongolia and the Government of Mongolia, will be held at the National University of Mongolia library. 10:00 am: The Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) will organize the "Chamber Day" event.
Contact phone: 99077127 - The Asia-Pacific Region "Aspac-2025" summit will begin in Ulaanbaatar.
- The Ulaanbaatar Biennale Art Festival will continue until the 20th of this month. Local News:
- The "Nature Up Close" temporary exhibition at the Arkhangai Province Museum will run until July 28. International News:
- The World Rapid and Blitz Chess Team Championships are ongoing in London, England, until the 16th of this month.
- The international exhibition "Chinggis Khaan" is on display at the National Museum of the Czech Republic until June 22.

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Asia-Pacific Region 'Aspac-2025' Summit Begins in Ulaanbaatar

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

This summit was previously organized in Ulaanbaatar in 2017 by the City Governor’s Office and JCI Mongolia. At that time, it is reported that around 3,600 representatives from 51 countries participated. This year, the summit is being organized again in Ulaanbaatar. Preliminary estimates suggest that about 5,000 representatives from approximately 70 countries will participate. The Asia-Pacific region "Aspac-2025" summit will take place from the 12th to the 15th of this month. L. Khosbayar, coordinator of finance, economics, and development acceleration projects and programs at the City Governor’s Office, said: "By hosting the World Youth Summit in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and its capital city have the opportunity to gain international promotion. Following this, there will be many positive changes in tourism and the economy."

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Mongolia-China Joint Border Commission Holds Its 6th Meeting

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The sixth meeting of the Mongolia-China Joint Border Commission was held in Ulaanbaatar on June 10 and 11. The meeting was chaired by J. Soyolmaa, Director of the Treaty and Legal Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, and Sun Honglian, Counselor of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing their respective sides. The delegation at this meeting included representatives from border protection agencies, customs authorities, port administration, water agencies, forestry departments, and local representatives. The participants discussed a wide range of issues regulated by intergovernmental agreements. The meeting covered the following topics and reached mutual agreements: - Border control and law enforcement cooperation in border areas; - Preparations for the third joint inspection of the Mongolia-China state border; - Prevention of forest and pasture fires in border regions; - Matters related to the border rivers, Kherlen and Shariljiin; - Discussions on new types of cross-border infrastructure, including smart multi-modal transportation such as 5G and AGV technologies; - Discussions on new access points at the Bichigt-Zuunkhatavch and Khavirga-Arakhashaat road border crossings for freight transportation, as well as issues regarding the intersection point of cross-border infrastructure lines at the Zamiin-Uud-Eren economic cooperation zone. The parties also agreed to organize the 7th meeting of the Mongolia-China Joint Border Commission in China in 2026. This meeting serves as a cooperative mechanism to ensure the implementation of the "Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Border Regime."

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Permanent Representative D.Gerelmaa Attends the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Permanent Representative D. Gerelmaa is attending the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference A delegation led by Ambassador and Permanent Representative D. Gerelmaa is participating in the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference, taking place in Geneva from June 2 to 13. On June 5, the head of the delegation gave a speech at the plenary session of the conference where she introduced the government policies and actions being implemented to support decent work in Mongolia, to reform the legal environment, and to improve occupational safety and health. She highlighted that the Government of Mongolia, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO), has conducted a comprehensive assessment of the country's labour legislation, worked actively to strengthen the labour inspection system, modernize laws on occupational safety and health, and eradicate all forms of forced labour. In addition, she informed about efforts to support a just transition to a green economy by balancing environmental sustainability with decent work, by investing in the renewable energy sector, and by implementing programs to develop green skills. She also reported on reforms launched by the Government of Mongolia to increase the accessibility of social protection, digitalize the benefits system, update the pension system, and make the social insurance system more inclusive and efficient. She emphasized that tripartite social dialogue is the cornerstone of labour policy, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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The proposal to recall Ambassador A. Tumur has been submitted to the President for consultation with the State Great Khural and is scheduled to be discussed soon

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

The wife of Ambassador A. Tumur of Mongolia to the Kingdom of Thailand, L. Orkhon, tragically passed away after falling from the 17th floor of a high-rise building in the Khlong Toei district of Bangkok, Thailand. The incident is currently under investigation by the Thai police, and as of now the exact cause of death has not been conclusively determined. However, the police have reportedly concluded that L. Orkhon died as a result of an unfortunate accident. For this reason, the deceased's sister, L. Onon, is demanding that A. Tumur be stripped of his diplomatic immunity and thoroughly investigated under criminal procedures. In connection with this incident, and the expiry of A. Tumur's term as Ambassador to Thailand, a proposal has been made to recall him. Specifically, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a proposal to the President in May to recall A. Tumur. Subsequently, the President has forwarded this proposal to the State Great Khural (the Parliament) for consultation, and according to sources, it is scheduled to be discussed soon. Additionally, the deceased's sister, L. Onon, has started collecting signatures and has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia to conduct an immediate, transparent, and fair investigation into the suspicious death of Ambassador Tumur's wife in Bangkok, Thailand.

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Infrastructure

“Bio Ergel Khairkhan” LLC, with over 10 years of experience in the reinforced concrete products sector, opens branch factory in Nalaikh district

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Bio Ergel Khairkhan LLC, which has over 10 years of experience in the reinforced concrete products sector, has opened its branch factory in the Nalaikh district, located in the eastern part of Ulaanbaatar city, to better serve consumers and clients in the eastern region. Our branch factory covers a total area of 4 hectares, including a factory building, a raw material storage area, and a finished product storage area, and is capable of producing 60,000 cubic meters of concrete products annually. We manufacture and deliver the following reinforced concrete products to you, our clients, using the latest advanced technology in accordance with the quality and technical standards in force in Mongolia. These include: hollow core slab panels, basement wall blocks or foundation blocks, well structures such as rings, well covers, well bases, well extension rings or collars, reinforced concrete poles for overhead power lines, heating channel trays (lotki), standard and reinforced heating channel covers, storm water pipes, and other such products. Clients and consumers from the eastern districts of Ulaanbaatar and the eastern provinces of Mongolia can now connect with our Nalaikh branch without having to go to the city center, saving time and money. Nalaikh branch sales phone: 90072939, 91922939
Biokombinat branch sales phone: 99093354, 90093354, 89693354 If you would like to know more about our company, please visit our Facebook page.
Watch a video about our company's experience: https://www.facebook.com/bekh.mn/videos/1062372718645302 Notice
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Society

Received the Government of Mongolia's Resolution No. 279 on the Regulation of Working and Rest Time

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

L. Enkh-Amgalan, Acting Minister of Family, Labor, and Social Protection, and O. Altangerel, Acting Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, handed over the Government of Mongolia's Resolution No. 279, "On the Regulation of Working and Rest Time," approved on June 4, 2025, to Colonel B. Nandinbolor, Head of the General Executive Agency of Court Decisions. This resolution stipulates that, due to the National Naadam Festival and the anniversary celebration of the People's Revolution falling on a Saturday and Sunday (July 12 and 13, 2025), government members, governors at all levels, and leaders of state and locally owned legal entities must ensure that employees are given days off on Wednesday and Thursday, July 16 and 17, 2025. Additionally, it is required that arrangements be made for employees to compensate for these days off within 2025.

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62 Students from 12 Universities Will Assist Tourists

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Within the framework of ensuring the safety of tourists and preventing crimes and violations, the Capital City’s Crime Prevention Council, the Ulaanbaatar City Police Department, and the Mongolian Student Association have jointly launched the "Student Police-2025" program. This time, 62 students from 12 universities and colleges in Ulaanbaatar city will work throughout the summer to provide foreign tourists with information, ensure their safety, prevent crimes and violations, and supply them with necessary news and updates. With the significant increase of tourists during the summer season in Mongolia, this program, which began in 2014, aims to quickly deliver essential information, support, guidance, and advice to tourists, and inform them about tourism-related locations and service points to help prevent crimes and violations. The student police officers have been selected based on their level of foreign language proficiency. Starting from today, these student police will work in eight-hour shifts each day for two months, until August 10.

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Environment

The "Battle" Between Environmental Protectors and Resource Extractors

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: unuudur.mn

Tsagaan Del Cave Collapses Amidst the shadow of rocky mountains lie wild goats, Pallas’s cats slink through at midnight, and the argali sheep, owners of the vast golden steppe, wander the land peacefully, as if proclaiming their rule. Ibex, lammergeiers, vibrantly colored snakes and lizards—all exist in the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve. Wherever you look, you see majestic rocky hills of various shapes and shimmering grasslands. Truly, it seems the saying that steppe people are calm and open-hearted comes from such landscapes. Unlike us city-dwellers, always surrounded by buildings, the people of these steppes find peace in endless, wide-open nature. Although many are unfamiliar with Ikh Nart, it is a vital area not only for Mongolia, but for the world’s ecological balance. More than just a desert, it is a sanctuary for Mongolia’s rarest animals and plants. Endangered creatures like argali sheep, wild goats, ibexes, and deer, which are rare in the world, are found within Ikh Nart reserve. Both domestic and foreign researchers have called Ikh Nart the last refuge for Mongolia’s native wild animals. Because of this, around 200 tourists a year travel thousands of miles to observe the coldest desert and its wildlife up close. The Ikh Nart Nature Reserve spans the territories of Dalanjargalan and Airag soums of Dornogovi province, covering a total of 66,790 hectares. Though it comprises less than 0.05% of Mongolia’s total land area, it is home to a quarter of the country’s animal species, making it an ecologically unique area. One in three animals here are listed as endangered or threatened nationally. Facing intense aridity and harsh climates, temperatures can drop to minus 45 degrees Celsius with knee-deep snow in winter, and soar to plus 45 degrees in summer. Lying at the intersection of steppe, desert, and mountain zones, both forest and desert species coexist here. The country’s largest population of the endangered lammergeier is found only here. Additionally, snow leopards were recorded in 2021. DAMAGING THE SOIL OF TSAGAAN DEL CAVE UNDER SPECIAL LICENSES One of the reserve’s jewels is Tsagaan Del Cave. The reserve administration prefers to preserve its pristine environment rather than promote mass public access for tourism. To prevent rare animals and plants from being damaged by poaching and tourism, this is their main method. However, the cave, once known as Mongolia’s largest, is now near destruction due to mining companies granted exploitation licenses. Each time a mining company blasts in the nearby areas, the cave gradually collapses and is now inaccessible, poised to fall completely. Indeed, just two kilometers from the cave, five companies actively mine and use explosives to extract fluorite. Though local residents and rangers protest, they are silenced by the phrase “we have special permits” as the companies ravage the land. Historically, a cave entrance collapsed in 1968 due to mining explosions. In the early 2000s, illegal miners set up 200–300 gers near the cave, extracting fluorite and devastating the surroundings. The government declared special protection status in 2019, but the relevant government resolution is still pending. As a result, there are now 16 companies with licenses operating around the cave. Environmental guardians, locals, and regional authorities warn against blasting above the cave, but with little effect on miners. Despite extracting valuable minerals, the companies try to offset their impact by offering a few bales of hay, which is lamentable. While the mining sector is vital to Mongolia’s economy, they should contribute to substantive environmental research and restoration rather than token gestures like offering hay. At minimum, the cave shouldn’t be further degraded. When asked about the possibility of restoration or stricter protection, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and the Environment could only say, “We cannot do anything about companies with special permits. A multi-party discussion is planned for this month.” Once again, it seems these endless meetings and discussions serve merely to feign action. With the cave’s destruction imminent, is another roundtable really the correct solution? It is unfortunate that decision-makers continue to treat this as just another meeting rather than an urgent call to action. A local resident living near the cave said, “Every day, vehicles and equipment come and go. Mining and blasting occurred even at night, although it has somewhat decreased lately.” “ARE THEY SECRETLY EXTRACTING MINERALS?” Recently, many dead bats have been found in the cave. O. Rentsen, a research specialist, said, “Dr. Ariunbold from the Mongolian National University of Education is leading the bat research. This year, numerous dead bats have been found. Bats are not birds, although people often think so—they are mammals and nurse their young. This cave needs urgent research. Is toxic gas accumulating here, possibly because of mining? Are the mining companies extracting minerals by methods other than blasting? Bats used not to die in such numbers; just this month, over 40 bats died. We don’t yet know the cause. The winter was relatively mild, so they didn’t freeze. Even entering the cave in winter, it is always warm. We need to investigate whether disease pathogens are present or if other mining methods are being employed.” The area called Baruun Tsagaan Del, where the cave is located, is rich in fluorite, making it highly desirable for licensing. Viewing the entire cave takes 4–6 hours; it is renowned for beautiful cave formations and connects underground to another cave called Shar Khaan. NO CAVE RESEARCHERS IN MONGOLIA According to local residents, the "Tavan Baatar" company is exploring and extracting gold using explosives just two kilometers from the cave. When asked to comment, their representatives refused to provide information. Researcher Dr. E. Avirmed studied the cave in 2008 and wrote the book “Caves of Mongolia.” The book describes the cave as having stunning internal formations, crystal structures, a freshwater lake, ice chambers, and ancient animal bones collections. Tsagaan Del Cave consists of two large halls and four main galleries, with surveyed length of 607.5 meters, average tunnel width of 5.9 meters, and height of 9.5 meters. However, this measures only to the points they could access. Since 2008, little further research has been done. Local officials want a full study, but there are only a handful of cave researchers in the country. Tsagaan Del Cave is not only a pride of Dornogovi but of all Mongolia. Yet, due to unregulated mining and irresponsible official actions, this globally significant geo-ecological site is on the brink of vanishing. IKH NART IS HOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST LAMMERGEIER POPULATION Ikh Nart contains the world’s largest lammergeier breeding population—over 500 known nests, a unique site in Mongolia. The lammergeier weighs between 11 and 45 kg and has a wingspan of up to three meters. It does not hunt live prey but feeds on carrion, acting as nature’s cleaner. Interestingly, researchers believe modern aircraft design may have been inspired by the lammergeier, since most birds can take off vertically, but lammergeiers must run before flight. Of over 500 nests, about 115 currently have eggs or chicks. In 2011, lammergeiers in Ikh Nart were fitted with metal rings containing their identification, confirming their migration to South Korea. According to T. Anandpurev, director of the reserve administration, “We discovered lammergeiers from here migrate to Korea as of 2012, and tracked them using solar-powered satellite transmitters. The first bird overwintered on the border of North and South Korea, then returned here in spring. Over 90% of lammergeiers migrate until they pair and rear chicks, after which they usually stop migrating. The birds always return here to nest.” For Mongolia’s nomadic livestock economy, the lammergeier is essential. The hides of dead cattle are too tough for foxes or corsacs to eat until the lammergeier tears into them with its beak, at which point other scavengers can feed. Without the lammergeier, carcasses burst, rot, and breed diseases. As an example, in India, after the sacred cows died and vultures were killed off, carcasses contributed to severe disease outbreaks, so the government had to spend a year’s budget to reintroduce the birds. Furthermore, local misconceptions lead some to believe lammergeiers attack livestock, prompting them to burn nests—yet, they only eat dead animals, never hunting live ones. “WE WILL NEVER ACCEPT HAY FROM THE MINES” The winters of 2022–2023 were severe, and many wild and domestic animals perished. Yet, according to one ranger, this is natural selection—those capable survive, others perish, helping maintain wild populations. Providing food and hay artificially would undermine their wild instincts. At times, a little hay is spread, but not in large quantities. Many mining company owners offer hay, but the rangers refuse, stating, “We will never accept hay from mining companies. A few bales are not a substitute for environmental protection.” Around 80 herder households live in Ikh Nart, working within four nature protection groups. Rangers train and inform locals on nature protection, emphasizing the importance of public involvement. To study diseases in wild animals, up to 10 animals are fitted with satellite transmitters each year. While partnerships between the government and private sector bring benefits for conservation, there are downsides. For example, rangers here, not being government employees, are paid roughly 70% of the state ranger salary. The local budget allocates 18 million MNT per year for fuel, which is far from enough to conduct patrols with 4–5 rangers using cars and motorcycles. RISK OF DISEASE TRANSMISSION FROM LIVESTOCK TO WILDLIFE VIA ARTIFICIAL POOLS In recent years, more artificial ponds have been built in protected areas. However, Ikh Nart’s staff are cautious, stating that such man-made pools can transmit diseases from domestic livestock to wild animals, especially if infected animals drink there. Flowing water never results in such risk, but stagnant, human-made pools can spread diseases easily. In wild animal habitats, such stagnant pools are uncommon. Currently, there are around 500 argali sheep, over 200 wild goats, and about 400 lammergeiers in Ikh Nart, an increase of over 70% since the reserve was established. However, rainfall has lessened in recent years, and with climate change, marmot populations have also declined. While the area once thronged with marmots “like the ground was alive,” by 2018, only 7–8 remained. Following a compensation plan with local mining companies, 50 marmots were imported from Khustai National Park. As of last October, 27 new dens and 79 marmots had been registered.

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6 Percent of the Country Faces Extreme Risk of Forest and Steppe Fires

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: montsame.mn

According to the situation in May, 23.1 percent of Mongolia's territory is at low risk, 7.4 percent at medium risk, 5.4 percent at high risk, and 6 percent at extremely high risk of forest and steppe fires. To create this risk map, data from hotspots between 2000 and 2024, fire frequency maps, hazard classifications, land cover maps, and the dryness index of May 2025 were used. About 7.9 percent of Mongolia's total land area is covered by forest, which is approximately 12.9 million hectares, mainly concentrated in the northern provinces such as Khuvsgul, Selenge, Bulgan, and Khentii. Mongolian forests mostly consist of coniferous species like larch, pine, cedar, and spruce. These forests play an essential role in maintaining ecosystem balance, regulating the climate, and protecting the soil.

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Mongolia Recycles 29.2 Percent of Its Plastic Waste

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: news.mn

On average, Mongolia generates 3.5 tons of waste annually. While over 80 percent of this waste is recyclable, less than 10 percent is actually being recycled. Over the past 10 years, Mongolia has imported around 40 million units of plastic. Of these plastic containers, 90 percent are imported from China, and 10 percent from South Korea, the USA, and Russia. Out of a total of 2,610,300 tons of solid waste, plastic waste accounts for 188,600 tons. Of this amount, 55,800 tons, or 29.2 percent, is recycled. Using plastic containers that are not suitable for food use or do not meet standards for a long period of time can have negative health effects. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that such containers can be a cause for diabetes, skin diseases, infertility, and even cancer. Depending on their composition, plastic water bottles can take between 100 to 1,000 years to decompose, polluting the environment. Plastic, being a product of molten gas compounds, is highly toxic to soil, water, and air. Specifically, it increases the ozone layer and greenhouse gas emissions, causing significant harmful effects. There are 24 factories processing plastic waste in Mongolia, but fewer than 10 of these are currently operational in recycling. About 45 percent of the products from these factories are semi-processed goods. In recent years, businesses have started to sort and recycle their waste. Citizens are also being encouraged to separate their waste. For example, in South Korea, there are special trash bins for sorting, and fines are imposed for not sorting waste properly. If we learn to recycle plastic waste and reuse it in a healthy way, we can protect both our environment and public health.

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Mongolia Organizes Parallel Event on “Water and Desertification”

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: isee.mn

For Mongolia, initiating and organizing the special event "Water and Desertification" is an important diplomatic step towards successfully preparing for the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to be held in Mongolia in 2026. This effort aims to attract the attention of international partners, expand investment, technical assistance, and strategic partnerships.

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Innovation

EVENTS: Opening Ceremony of the English Language Proficiency Center to Take Place

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

At the library of the National University of Mongolia at 09:15 – The opening ceremony of the English Language Proficiency Center will be held. At the National Emergency Management Agency at 10:30 – The opening event for the building of the Agency's affiliated Rapid Command and Notification Center - Unit 119 will take place. At the Government Palace at 12:00 – The regular spring session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) will convene. Notice: Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social and Web pages) are prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form except by agreement, and only then with attribution to the source (ikon.mn).

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English Language Proficiency Center Officially Opens Aimed at Improving English Teaching Methodologies

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

In 2023, Mongolia revised its General Education Law, declaring English as the primary foreign language. As a result, embassies from Anglophone countries have placed special emphasis on strengthening English teaching methodologies and expanding capacity-building programs for teachers in Mongolia. A significant step reflecting this is the official opening of the English Language Proficiency Center at the National University of Mongolia (NUM). Since March of this year, the center has been operational, implementing a bilingual English and Mongolian script program for special service and emergency personnel. The center offers training to improve English teachers’ skills and teaching methods, runs programs targeting students who wish to become English teachers, and provides face-to-face and online courses for government employees. Moreover, the center is noted for its collaborative programs with English-speaking countries such as the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada. At the opening ceremony, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs B. Batsetseg highlighted that the English Language Proficiency Center plays a vital role in strengthening mutual trust and people-to-people understanding between Mongolia and the United States. She expressed gratitude to all partners involved in launching the center successfully, especially the trainers and volunteers from the US Peace Corps and other English-speaking countries, and wished them success in their future endeavors. Richard Buangan, US Ambassador to Mongolia, stated, "The English Language Proficiency Center is a joint initiative between Mongolia and the United States. Its purpose is to improve English teaching methodology and support English language education. The center is open not only to educational institutions, universities, and students but also to government agencies. I am confident that the center, which officially opens today, will play a significant role in raising English education standards in Mongolia and ultimately enhance the country's human resources, making Mongolians more competitive in the international labor market. I would like to thank all our foreign and domestic partners for their steadfast support." Andy Batson, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Mongolia, added, "Learning English, being an international language, opens up many opportunities. The UK strongly supports English language education and is initiating programs across Mongolia, not just in Ulaanbaatar, in collaboration with UNICEF, the World Bank, and the Ministry of Education. For example, together with UNICEF, a program is ongoing to strengthen the capacity of 326 English teachers in the provinces of Sukhbaatar, Bayan-Ulgii, and Bayankhongor. For the UK, supporting English language learning remains a top priority, and we will continue our support." D. Otgontuya, head of the English Language Proficiency Center at NUM, noted, "Trial trainings started in March. English teachers from general education schools, vocational and training centers, universities, those training to become English teachers, and public servants nationwide have participated in these programs. Currently, there are 285 English teachers in universities and about 2,000 in secondary schools. We have developed online course programs to improve their teaching methods and capacity." Molik Berkana, Director of Public Affairs at the US Embassy, said, "We welcomed Mongolia's declaration of English as its second official language in 2023 and look forward to supporting and expanding this move. One of several ongoing English language initiatives nationwide is the 'Access' program, which is continuing across five locations with about 200 students. Recognizing the need for closer work and improved skills among English teachers, we've established this center in collaboration with the embassies of Australia, the UK, and Canada, as well as with support from private companies like Google supplying equipment and digital platforms. This center is a project for those wishing to learn English and aims to build teaching capacity, with the embassies of Anglophone countries working together. We are pleased to collaborate with this excellent university and are confident in the center's success. The American Council for International Education launched and manages this project, and we hope the center will become an important place for many people to access information, participate in training, and open up future opportunities." It is important to note that there is no limit on the number of teachers and government employees who may participate in programs at the English Language Proficiency Center. In other words, any ministry, agency, or personnel regularly interacting with foreign institutions, as well as peacekeeping officers, can take advantage of English language training at the center. Teachers may also take methodology courses through the General Department of Education.

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AND Global Becomes One of the First Microsoft AI Partners in Mongolia

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

AND Global successfully launched its Mindox product on the Microsoft Azure platform. AND Solutions, a subsidiary of AND Global, aims to optimize and increase the efficiency of businesses in the Asia-Pacific region through products deployed on Microsoft cloud environments. AND Solutions has become one of the pioneers in Mongolia by successfully integrating its AI-based technology solutions with Microsoft Azure. Their intelligent document processing platform, Mindox, which is fully compatible with Microsoft Cloud infrastructure, provides real support for organizations to streamline and enhance their operations. The platform has started being marketed via the Microsoft Azure Marketplace to the Asia-Pacific and other target markets. As a Microsoft AI Partner, AND Global has continually expanded its strategic partnerships on the international stage and has successfully introduced fintech solutions to increase financial inclusion in the Asia-Pacific region. The company is a leading figure in Mongolia’s fintech sector, positioning the country as a significant player in the international technology arena. Mindox, the AI-powered smart document processor available on Azure Marketplace, can quickly convert disorganized documents into structured, accurate data. It increases the accuracy and efficiency of organizational operations, enabling users to extract information from reports, texts, forms, and financial documents. Renowned banks and financial institutions in the Philippines, such as Esquire Financing Inc., TRBank, Inc., and Unicapital Finance & Investments, Inc., have begun successfully implementing the Mindox platform. For example, TRBank, which previously processed account statements manually for four hours, now uses Mindox to complete the task in less than a minute, resulting in an 800% increase in productivity. Regarding this new collaboration with Microsoft, AND Global CEO Kh. Khos-Erdene said: “This agreement marks a major milestone for AND Global, and we are proud to showcase Mongolian technological capability on the international stage. By becoming a Microsoft AI Partner, we have made significant progress towards our goal of expanding financial inclusion not just in Mongolia, but also across the Asia-Pacific region with our AI-driven innovative solutions.” AND Solutions CEO D. Basandorj added: “Utilizing the reliability of Microsoft Azure, we are delighted to now be able to bring our smart document processing platform, credit scoring, credit deployment solutions, and comprehensive loan systems to the international market. We are also excited to have the opportunity to learn from and work with the global Microsoft community on successfully marketing and deploying our fintech solutions internationally.” Andrew Boyd, General Manager for Startups, Investment, and Program Development at Microsoft Asia, stated: “We are pleased to see the successful migration of the Mindox platform to Microsoft Azure. By integrating AND Global’s robust, comprehensive solution with Azure, we will help improve the efficiency of financial organizations and foster innovation.” About AND Global:
Founded in 2017, AND Global is Mongolia’s leading fintech company, having successfully established numerous innovative businesses with a focus on innovation. The company’s goal is to increase financial inclusion and expand technological capabilities in the Southeast Asia region. AND Global provides innovative technological solutions to improve productivity and time management for financial organizations. With offices in Mongolia, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand, the company operates in 11 countries with 13 subsidiaries and over 250 employees. For more information, visit: and.global About AND Solutions:
AND Solutions is a fintech company that develops solutions utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to simplify financial operations. A subsidiary of Mongolia’s leading fintech company, AND Global, AND Solutions delivers verified and comprehensive financial solutions to over 30 prominent businesses in 11 countries including the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia. For more information: andsolutions.net Notice: Media outlets (TV, radio, social, or web platforms) are not permitted to use our information in any form (fully or in part) without prior agreement, and may only do so by explicitly referencing the source (ikon.mn).

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A Comprehensive Digital Solution to Measure Employee Psychology Introduced to the Market

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Both in our country and around the world, employee mental health is increasingly seen as an integral component of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. However, many organizations still wonder how to integrate and measure this data to improve decision-making at the policy level. To address this issue, Optimal N Max LLC has launched its mindXplus product with the aim of increasing well-being through innovation, enabling organizations to measure employee psychology and make data-driven decisions. For example, at the "Employee Well-being for All" event, the mindXplus platform was introduced to the public, practically demonstrating how organizations can systematically support and measure psychological health. The participation of around 300 attendees—including organizational leaders and human resources specialists—highlighted that organizations are now genuinely paying attention to employee well-being. Employee psychological data – the foundation for smarter decisions
Ensuring employees are sustainably and satisfactorily engaged is not just a matter of intuition, but depends on quantitative data, situational evaluations, and appropriate interventions. MindXplus was created precisely to facilitate and optimize these processes. This advanced platform is based on eight years of research and enables scientific measurement, diagnosis, and reporting of psychological states at the organizational level. According to a study by Optimal N Max LLC covering over 2,600 employees, 2 out of 5 workers have lost their sense of well-being and 4 report experiencing job burnout, indicating that organizations risk losing capable employees and face potential HR shortages due to psychological issues. However, with the digital solution offered by mindXplus, organizations can assess and proactively address psychological health, opening a new path in the labor market. If you want to support not only your employees' mental health but also advance your organization's development, we recommend trying the mindXplus platform. By measuring employee psychology, it can contribute to increased productivity and help build a healthier, more sustainable organizational culture. Notice:
Media organizations (TV, radio, social and web sites) are prohibited from using our information in whole or in part without permission; it may only be used with explicit agreement and by citing the original source (ikon.mn).

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Arts

170 Artists from 11 Countries to Participate in the Asia Folk Art and Handicraft Festival Lasting Two Days at the Central Square

Published: 2025-06-12 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Photographs used with the special permission of the MPA Agency. The Asia Folk Art and Handicraft “Asia Folk 2025” festival will be held in Ulaanbaatar from June 13 to 15. For this event, 170 artists from 11 countries—including Japan, South Korea, India, Vietnam, China, Uzbekistan, and the Sakha Republic—have registered to participate. Within the framework of the festival, from June 13 to 15 at Sukhbaatar Square, there will be joint performances by foreign and Mongolian folk artists, a parade featuring national costumes of Asian countries, a fashion show displaying traditional attire. In addition, there will be a handicraft exhibition, a market, workshops, and many other activities organized. Celebrating its seventh year, the Asia Folk 2025 Asian Cities Folk Art and Handicraft Festival was first held in Ulaanbaatar in 2019 under the name "Asian Folk Art Festival" and was held online between 2020-2022 due to the pandemic. Since 2023, it has been organized under the patronage of the Mayor of the Capital City and co-hosted by the Capital City Governor's Office, the City Department of Culture and Arts, the Center for Small and Medium Enterprises and Services, the "Artlar Culture and Arts" NGO, and the World Association of Folk Art Festivals. The festival provides a unique opportunity for both foreign tourists and Mongolians to experience the cultural heritage and folk art of Asian nations in one place. It has become a major cultural production and tourism brand event associated with Ulaanbaatar, held annually. The official opening ceremony of the festival will be at Sukhbaatar Square on June 13 at 19:30. Source: Capital City Governor’s Office Media and Public Relations Department Notice: Media organizations (TV, radio, social and web pages) are strictly prohibited from using our information in whole or in part in any form without permission. It may only be used with the source (ikon.mn) cited after agreement.

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Politics

President U. Khurelsukh presented the proposal to appoint G. Zandanshatar as the Prime Minister of Mongolia at the Parliamentary Session

Establishing an Asian Model Center for Election Observation

Prime Minister Appointment to be Discussed Today

Prime Minister Nominee G. Zandanshatar Attends Democratic Party Caucus Meeting and Answers Members' Questions

State Structure Standing Committee Approves Nomination of G. Zandanshatar for Prime Minister with 84.2% Support

J. Bayarmaa: Mongolia Today Has a Facade of Elections and Has Entered a System of Electoral Authoritarianism

LIVE: President U. Khurelsukh attends the Parliament Session and Presents the Proposal to Nominate G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister

Standing Committee on State Structure Supports the Nomination of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister

STANDING COMMITTEE: 84.2% Support for Appointing G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister

Parliament to Discuss Appointment of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister at 14:00, Session Temporarily Adjourned

Training Held on Governance of State-Owned Enterprises, International Experience, and Future Trends

Parliament: Proposal to Appoint G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister to Be Discussed

G.Zandanshatar Attends the Democratic Party's Parliamentary Group Meeting as Candidate for Prime Minister

G. Zandanshatar Announces that the Law on the Structure and Composition of the Government Will Soon Be Submitted to Parliament

Mongolian People’s Party May Form Government Alone Without Coalition

Will the Executive Branch Be the Puppet of the Head of State?

G.Zandanshatar: If appointed Prime Minister, I will discuss joining and cooperating with other parties

A Proposal to Change the Prime Minister's Information Hour to the 'Parliamentary Question Hour' Has Been Submitted

Bill Submitted to Change the Prime Minister's Report Time to Question Time in Parliament

The government structure may be approved tomorrow and handover of duties may happen in the evening

LIVE: The Standing Committee on State Structure Meeting, Candidate for Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar Asked Questions

Members of the Standing Committee on State Structure Support the Appointment of G. Zandanshatar as Prime Minister with 89.4% Vote

A Bill to Remove the Prime Minister’s Seat from the Rear Podium of Parliament Submitted

Economy

PetroChina Dachin Tamsag LLC Fined 300 Million and Ordered to Pay 2.2 Billion MNT

G. Zandanshatar: There was no decline in foreign investment due to the law enacted in 2012 and later repealed

G. Zandanshatar: Taxes on Luxury Consumption and Very High-Income Citizens Will Be Increased

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Mongolia to Decide on Increasing the Policy Rate Beyond 12%

The Bank of Mongolia to Collaborate with the Swiss “Better Gold Association” and Gold Refinery

G.Zandanshatar: We plan to submit the budget amendment next week

O.Shijir: Even Though Budget Revenues Have Tripled, Citizens' Incomes Have Not /VIDEO/

Inflation Is Out of Control and at Risk of Rising Further

Budget Revenue Falls Short by 2.5 Trillion

Invitation for Bids

Mortgage Loan Financing Increased by 1.4%, but Number of Households Covered Decreased by 5.8%

G.Zandanshatar: The Togrog Lake deposit will be inspected and moved to the National Wealth Fund

"World Small and Medium Enterprise Day 2025" begins at Central Square

Diplomacy

US Visa Applicants Can Continue to Submit Applications. Consular Departments Regularly Adjust Their Schedules to Ensure Thorough Checks

TODAY: The Asia-Pacific Region “Aspac-2025” Summit Begins

Asia-Pacific Region 'Aspac-2025' Summit Begins in Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia-China Joint Border Commission Holds Its 6th Meeting

Permanent Representative D.Gerelmaa Attends the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference

The proposal to recall Ambassador A. Tumur has been submitted to the President for consultation with the State Great Khural and is scheduled to be discussed soon

Infrastructure

“Bio Ergel Khairkhan” LLC, with over 10 years of experience in the reinforced concrete products sector, opens branch factory in Nalaikh district

Society

Received the Government of Mongolia's Resolution No. 279 on the Regulation of Working and Rest Time

62 Students from 12 Universities Will Assist Tourists

Environment

The "Battle" Between Environmental Protectors and Resource Extractors

6 Percent of the Country Faces Extreme Risk of Forest and Steppe Fires

Mongolia Recycles 29.2 Percent of Its Plastic Waste

Mongolia Organizes Parallel Event on “Water and Desertification”

Innovation

EVENTS: Opening Ceremony of the English Language Proficiency Center to Take Place

English Language Proficiency Center Officially Opens Aimed at Improving English Teaching Methodologies

AND Global Becomes One of the First Microsoft AI Partners in Mongolia

A Comprehensive Digital Solution to Measure Employee Psychology Introduced to the Market

Arts

170 Artists from 11 Countries to Participate in the Asia Folk Art and Handicraft Festival Lasting Two Days at the Central Square

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