Mongolia Brief April 10, 2014



”Mongolia Mining 2014” expo
April 9 (news.mn) The 4th edition of Mongolia Mining expo will be held at Buyant-Ukhaa Sports Palace for three days from April 10th – April 12th 2014.
This year the expo is expected to be larger than all previous editions with 120 exhibitors from 16 different countries.
At the expo, the Ministry of Mining of Mongolia, Mineral Resource Authority and Nuclear Energy Agency will deliver presentations on Mongolia`s mining development, and future perspective. And there will also be a business meeting by the Association of British Mining Equipment Companies with Mongolian businessmen. 
This most important technological event will be attended by global leading US firms “Joy Global”, “Caterpillar”, “Cummins Inc”, German manufacturing company “SEW Eurodrive”, Russian “Uralmashzavod”, Japan`s Mitsubishi subsidiary “Ryoko Sangyo”, Australian “Scantech”, Turkey’s “Sahinler metal” and Polish “Sempertrans”.
Mongolia Mining 2014 is held by its traditional organizer Minex Co., Ltd jointly with Expo Mongolia Co., Ltd and the International Expo Bureau of Mongolia. It is being supported by the Ministry of Mining of Mongolia, the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Mineral Authority of Mongolia and the Oil Authority and Nuclear Energy Agency.


Mongolia Should Allow Japan to Partake in Tavan Tolgoi Project, Notes Ambassador S.Khurelbaatar
April 10 (infomongolia.com) On April 09, 2014, the Economic Standing Committee of the State Great Khural (Parliament) held its regular meeting in the Government House, where a report on Mongolia-Japan economic cooperation, its current situation and vital questions was heard presented by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to Japan Sodovjamts KHURELBAATAR.
In his statement Ambassador S.Khurelbaatar noted, “Mongolia-Japan economic relations have been growing over 20 years since 1990s in terms of Japan Official Development Assistance and during this period, trade and commercial ties have not been developed well enough. Since the 2010s, Mongolia’s economy began to grow rapidly and this factor attracting Japan’s interest in the expansion of economic relations. Today, Japan ranks at 11th place as investor country by volume, as of fact, only 0.2% of Mongolia’s total export is made into Japan, where import estimates at 7% that show dissatisfactory outcome. Nevertheless, we have a chance to improve the numbers, if to cooperate more effectively in economic sectors in the years to come.
In recent years, Mongolia’s position and its geopolitical importance have been growing significantly in Japan’s foreign policy.
Therefore, we should lead Japan’s interest into practical collaboration and give opportunities to Japan as considered as the “third neighbor” by co-implementing some important projects that would impact positively to the development of Mongolia, moreover to stabilize the country’s balance in politics, foreign policy and economic security besides it enables to introduce new qualified technology from Japan into Mongolia.
In the first scale, it is necessary to negotiate with Japan on long-term cooperation in stable supply of large amounts of coal.
Before, Japan several times expressed its willingness to participate in Tavan Tolgoi project and also interests to partake in railway and power projects if connected with Tavan Tolgoi deposit. So, it is essential to involve Japan in road, railway and power plant projects surrounding Tavan Tolgoi. The first meeting on Mongolia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement was conducted in 2012 and now the 5th talk is ongoing, and the 6th is planned this April. If these talks conclude successfully, it foresees to set up the Mongolia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement in the second half of this year.
The total trade turnover between Mongolia and Japan was estimated at 454 million and 655 thousand USD in 2013, whereas Mongolia exported products of 10.5 million USD and imports were 444.1 million USD. The total trade volume with Japan is ranked 5th after China, Russia, South Korea and the United States. Mongolia’s low export volume is considered as poor competitiveness ability on Japan market and related to strong regulation of Japanese control system for food products.
By establishing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), it would ease Mongolia’s export products tariff, trade facilitation and non-tariff barrier issues, besides bilateral meetings and talks would be normalized.
Since 1990s, over 530 Japanese entities have been invested a total of 184 million USD and currently stands at the 10th place as investor country”.
Following the report, Ambassador S.Khurelbaatar noted that in order to broaden bilateral economic ties, there are several issues needed to implement shortly by the Government of Mongolia.
For instances,
- Sustainable implementation of medium-term programs and pay particular attention to the EPA;
- In order to provide its rapid economic growth in the near future, Mongolia should implement mega-projects such as in infrastructure, energy and industrialization, where Japanese funds to finance these projects, technology and know-how to get access to the active are open;
- To ratify debt management law;
- There are some barriers in Mongolia-Japan trade such as unfavorable transportation condition and high-cost. Ideas are exist to develop 10 corridors in Northeast region. Accordingly, we should intensify negotiations with our two neighbors on creating databanks, comprehensive researches and transit transportation.
- The 2020 Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo, in conjunction, the construction sector cadres are pretty needed in Japan. In this regard, Mongolia should use this opportunity by preparing their staff to train in Japan.
Related:


Customer Rights Officer Works at "11 11" Center
Ulaanbaatar, April 10 (MONTSAME) A Chief of the Authority for Fair Competition and Consumer Protection O.Magnai worked Wednesday at the "11 11" Center of the Government.
As a significant number of consumers have been accessing to the Center to complain about a violation of consumer rights since the establishment of the center, its staffers decided to host a relevant officer to get responses to all the complaints. On Wednesday, five thousand appealed to the Center via phone or Internet to get informed on consumer rights matters.
Mr Magnai informed customers about a ‘1284.mn’ website where they can deliver complaints and requests concerning unfair competition and violation of consumer rights. A noteworthy percentage of claims sent to the Authority have been about a quality and prices of apartments, he noted. "Having revealed a dishonesty of some construction firms in calculation of apartment sizes, the Authority has made the guilty construction companies compensated over one trillion togrog to the flat buyers suffered," he said.  
Mr Magnai also said his Authority has been receiving a great amount of complaints about violation of customer rights taking place at pawnshops. In order to ease disputes on the matter, the Authority has developed a law on pawn-broking, he said. "It prohibits pawnbrokers activities such as deliver of misleading information about their operations, depositing of real estates and legal documents, offering of secured loan to minors, and operating at nighttime," he explained.


Concession Agreement to Produce Energy from Recycled Water Signed
April 10 (infomongolia.com) The Cabinet of the Government of Mongolia issued a Resolution No.403 dated on December 07, 2013 entrusting Minister of Economic Development N.Batbayar to establish a concession agreement with “Morit Impex” LLC on developing “Tuul Songino Water Reserve Complex” project.
Accordingly, the concession agreement signing ceremony was held today, April 10, 2014, where the Government was represented by Minister N.Batbayar and contracting part by “Morit Impex” LLC General Director G.Ganbat.
In the scope of the project, it would enable to produce energy from wastewater in terms of water treatment and the concessionaire company is obliged to construct the facility on its own fund.
The first phase of the project is to build a water treatment plant with capacity of cleaning 200 thousand cubic meters of sewage comes from Ulaanbaatar Central Waste Water Treatment Plant.
The second phase is to construct a 100MW Pumped Storage Power Plant that will work from recycled water.
The concession agreement is effective under build-operate-transfer condition for the period of 23 years, where the concessionaire has to complete the construction of the facilities within the first three years and in the rest of 20 years will own and operate the plant.
The Government of Mongolia will not perform any financial supports and will not guarantee, but obliged to buy electricity produced, according to agreement.
Related:
Sewage Waters to Turn into EnergyMontsame, April 10


"New Soum" Program to Run in Khovsgol
Ulaanbaatar, April 10 (MONTSAME) Tsetserleg soum of Khovsgol province will be involved in a "New Soum" program being carried out by the government of reforms.
On Wednesday, a chairman of the Budget Standing Committee and MP Ts.Davaasuren presented a development certification of the program to A.Erdenebaatar, a governor of the aimag.
In frames of the program, five billion togrog's construction will run in this soum. When everything is completed, nice living and working conditions will be created for the inhabitants and a migration will lessen to the UB city.


“Human Rights Protection Not Only for MNCHR”
Ulaanbaatar, April 10 (MONTSAME) A draft law has been worked out to change the law on Mongolia’s National Commission for Human Rights (MNCHR) into a law on human rights. The draft was openly discussed at the Civil Hall at the President on Wednesday.
The previous law--on the MNCHR--was adopted by parliament in 2001.
An advisor to the President on human rights and law policy Ch.Onorbayar addressed the discussion’s opening. He said that a programme on judicial reform was approved by the previous cabinet at initiative of the President, and that laws and regulations on court have been altered in frames of this programme. Now, the cabinet for reform is continuing this work within reforms in the system of protecting justice, he said.
“Previously, we passed laws on rights for specific organizations, but since these state bodies are and must be dedicated to human rights and freedom protection, the law on MNCHR should be changed into the law on human rights. This bill has been drawn up in frames of the ‘From a Big Government to a Smart Government’ initiative of the President," Mr Onorbayar highlighted.
Since adoption in 2001, the law on MNCHR has not been amended. Mongolia has gained some achievements in protecting human rights within the law, but it hardly meets nowadays requirements, and sometimes it takes forms of a declaration or a promise, even the MNCHR comes to the deadlock in abolishing the human rights violation, Onorbayar went on.
Duties such as correcting such a situation and protecting the human rights are not imposed upon the MNCHR only, "so the new bill mostly focuses on creating a national system for this and on setting up a mechanism of having state bodies and servants participate in the matter within their functions," he said. Awaiting their approval draft laws on police, on law enforcement and court and other bills must be correlated with the bill on human rights, he added.  


Mongolia at Asian Young Leadership-2014
Ulaanbaatar, April 10 (MONTSAME) Representing Mongolia, the Vice Minister of Environment and Green Development B.Tulga is participating in the Asian Young Leadership Program-2014 which is running in Seoul of S.Korea until April 11.
The action has been attended by more than 40 delegates from Asia-Pacific countries. At the meeting, the participants are exchanging views and sharing experiences on how to reflect sustainable development and climate change issues in the economic and social development policies.
The delegates will also visit the Korea Institute of Construction Technology /KICT/, “Cheonggyecheon” green city and Seoul Transport Operation and Information Service /TOPIS/.
A theme for this year's meeting is "Sustainable development and Climate change".


“Premier’s 30 Minutes” Meeting Postponed
Ulaanbaatar, April 10 (MONTSAME) Information and media service of the cabinet Thursday reported the “Prime Minister’s 30 minutes” weekly meeting has been postponed until Saturday.
It was due to a coincidence of a plenary meeting of the parliamentary spring session. A regular meeting of the cabinet also has been scheduled at 10.00 am on Saturday.


Mongolia to Be Assisted in Renewable Energy
Ulaanbaatar, April 10 (MONTSAME) The State Secretary for the Energy Ministry D.Delgertsogt received Wednesday a delegation led by Nandita Parshad, the EBRD’s director for Power and Energy.
Ms Parshad asked him about the Ministry’s policies and directions on projects of Salkhit wind farm and Central Power Plant-5 that have been implemented under a funding of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
In response, Mr Delgertsogt introduced to her actions planned by the Ministry within goals to enhance the financing mechanism of the first privately-owned wind farm. Noting that the Ministry is ready to cooperate with EBRD, he briefed about the Ministry’s other projects in need of financing.
Ms Parshad said EBRD is open to render technical assistance to the Mongolian Government in development of the regulatory framework for renewable energy.
The Energy Ministry will consider this proposal in near time to give a prompt reply to EBRD.


Ulaanbaatar Railway to Cooperate with Inspection Agency
Ulaanbaatar, April 10 (MONTSAME) The Professional Inspection Agency (PIA) has agreed to cooperate with the Ulaanbaatar Railway joint venture (UBJV).
A memorandum of cooperation between the two organizations was signed Tuesday by PIA acting chair D.Batmonkh and UBJV acting director G.Sereenendorj. Thus, the sides will collaborate in conducting specialized inspections on railway transports of UBJV, and a department responsible for inspection of health, education, culture, sciences at PIA will provide UBJV with professional methodology.
On the eve of this agreement, six officers of UBJV have become certified inspectors of the State.


S.Korea Proposes Cooperating in Energy
Ulaanbaatar, April 10 (MONTSAME) Hyundai Corporation of South Korea is interested in cooperating with Mongolia in an energy project, informs the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
The proposal was put during a meeting of ERC Chairman S.Otgonbayar with a delegation of Hyundai heavy Industries Co in Ulaanbaatar Tuesday. Officials of ERC will present the proposal to the Energy Ministry and other relevant agencies of Mongolia.
Hyundai Heavy Industries has earned a worldwide reputation as the best business partner in the power industry by manufacturing and supplying the highest quality electric equipment, including Transformers up to 800 kV, GIS up to 800 kV, Low & Medium Voltage Switchgear, Circuit Breakers, Motors, Generators, Power Electronics, and Integrated Control & Monitoring System. Sale of power plants including Packaged Power Stations (PPS) has increased dramatically in markets including Cuba, Brazil, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and many Asian countries.


Mongolia to Cooperate with Austria in Education Sector
Ulaanbaatar, April 10 (MONTSAME) The Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism and the Austrian University of Applied Science have established a cooperation document of confidence here.
On Tuesday, this document was inked by the Minister Ts.Oyungerel and by Mr Christian Kropfitch, a director of the University. The sides intend to develop tourism sector, to protect environment, to conduct joint research in fields of trash and sewage management, and to create eco-friendly heating system.


"Altain Bars" Loses to Philippines Team
Ulaanbaatar, April 10 (MONTSAME) "Altain Bars" volleyball team of Mongolia lost to the PLDT Home TVolution of the Philippines in three sets 25-13, 25-23, 25-16, on Tuesday.
This was the first of Group A matches of 2014 Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championships in Pasay city of the Philippines. The Mongolian team was bracketed in Group A with host Philippines, Iraq and Kuwait, which eventually withdrew in the last minute, leaving that group with just three teams.
The other teams are Iran, Japan, Lebanon and Vietnam in Group B, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Oman, Hong Kong and Turkmenistan in Group C, and the United Arab Emirates, India, Papua New Guinea and Chinese Taipei in Group D.
Altain Bars had a rest on Thursday, while the Philippines clashed with South Gas Club Sports (Gas Al-Janoob) of Iraq at the Mall of Asia Arena and lost in straight sets 22-25, 19-25, 18-25.
The last match of Group A will be played between Mongolia and Iraq on Saturday.
The 2014 Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship was supposed to be held in Vietnam but later withdrew from hosting. The tournament is continuing in Pasay, Philippines this April 8-16. The champions of the tournament will qualify for 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship in Belo Horizonte, Brazil as Asia's representative.


Us-Based Mongolians Run Bowling Championship
Ulaanbaatar, April 10 (MONTSAME) Mongolian nationals living the United States have organized the sixth bowling championship in Las Vegas.
This year, the events were organized by in cooperation of bowling clubs of Washington DC, Chicago and Denver, and attended also by teams from Utah and Seattle.
Among 14 men teams, a "Chicago American Taxi" topped others, followed by "Team DC 1" and "Team Chicago".
In men individual contest, Sh.Baatar, one of top six bowling players of Mongolia, led others, while E.Enkhbold from Denver and Ts.Perenlei from Washington DC came second and third, respectively.
The best women teams became "DC" of Washington, "Hawk strike-1", "Hawk strike-2" of Denver.


“Justice” Coalition Requests to Postpone “Double Coat” Bill Discussion for another 5 Days
April 10 (infomongolia.com) At the morning Plenary Session of the State Great Khural (Parliament) held today, April 10, one of the issues to discuss was a bill submitted by the President Ts.Elbegdorj to make amendments to the Laws on Government and Parliament.
This was to be first discussion of the bill, but postponed due to “Justice” Coalition (MPRP-MNDP) having 11 seats in the Parliament has requested a 5-day postponement.
The bill to amend the Laws on Government and Parliament refers to “double coat” or whether a member of the Parliament can hold another post simultaneously.
Following the decision, Chairman of “Justice” Coalition N.Battsereg said, “The coalition needs to meet in order to express its general position, therefore we asked to postpone this issue for 5 days, which is allowed by a Parliament bylaw”.
Nevertheless, the opposition party MPP placed several standings at the hall door with photos of politicians who hold double posts.


Official Visit of U.S. Defense Secretary Charles Hagel to Mongolia Started
April 10 (infomongolia.com) Today on April 10, 2014, Mongolia authorities led by Prime Minister N.Altankhuyag received the United States Secretary of Defense Charles Timothy Hagel, who has recently conducted a working visit to Japan and the People’s Republic of China.
During the meeting Premier N.Altankhuyag expressed his satisfaction noting that Mongolia and the United States have been developing comprehensive partnership cooperation and the key factor is in the defense sector.
In response, Defense Secretary Ch.Hagel appreciated that Mongolia’s armed forces role in the peacekeeping operations is highly praised by international communities and the UN.
Also, addressing the Minister of Defense D.Bat-Erdene, Secretary Ch.Hagel noted further broadening cooperation in the fields of defense and Prime Minister N.Altankhuyag assured that the Government of Mongolia will support successful implementation of the objectives between defense sectors of the two states.
The U.S. Defense Secretary Ch.Hagel for the first time visiting Mongolia and it is recorded as the second visit at Defense Secretary-level.
According to www.heraldtribune.com, Ch.Hagel's visit is expected to be a bit warmer than his visit to China, where he spent much of his time talking about the need for increased openness by Beijing about its military growth and intentions.
Further the source said, Mongolian troops have been a visible and frequent force in Iraq and Afghanistan, often providing security at U.S. facilities.
All the commanders who led Mongolian troops during the Iraq and Afghanistan deployments went through U.S. training programs, the Pentagon said. There are about 10,000 active duty Mongolian troops, and to date 9,500 have served in Iraq, Afghanistan or another peacekeeping mission around the world.
The U.S. provides about $2 billion in foreign military sales annually to Mongolia, and another $1 billion in military education and training.

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