Mongolia Brief April 9, 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.


Health Minister visited China
April 9 (news.mn) Health Minister Mongolia, N.Udval paid and official visit to China upon Chinese Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Li Bin between April 2-4th.
Health Minister Mongolia N.Udval had talks with her counterpart Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, Li Bin and exchanged views on bilateral cooperation on health sector. 
At the official talks Health Minister N.Udval introduced reform policy on health sector implemented by the government of Mongolia suggesting to exchange experiences over traditional science of medicine, involve public in health insurance system and first aid service and cooperate for joint research of infectious diseases. 
Parties agreed to encourage bilateral cooperation of inter-organizations associated with health service, broaden activity against infectious diseases, conduct joint scientific studies, and support mutually each other to exchange medical specialists. 
Related:
Health Minister Visits ChinaMontsame, April 9


Tax reform
April 9 (Mongolian Economy) There is a Mongolian proverb: “Taxes exists for the state.” Everyone has heard this saying, but some have never taken it to heart. Perhaps it is because the tax system was not introduced until 1992, and the system here is immature compared to other countries. But some progress has been made since then.
It was very difficult to communicate with tax officers before 2000. Back then it was a challenge to file your taxes if you did not know anyone who worked at one of the local tax offices. The few large tax payers that existed then were state-owned companies such as Erdenet Mining Corporation, APU and Mongolia Telecom as well as some private companies. 
Things have changed quite a bit since then. Much of the old red tape within tax departments has been cut and receiving tax services is now easier than ever now that online filing is available.
“This year, 70 percent of all entities in Mongolia are to be transferred to the e-reporting system. E-receipts are also expected to be launched for value-added tax,” said Finance Minister Chultemiin Ulaan. 
The mining sector makes up 90 percent of total exports, and copper and coal make up the largest portions of those minerals. The government plans to launch the second phase of its tax reform from 2014 to 2017. This second phase will be used to encourage investment to have the added benefit of supporting people in business, small businesses, and employment.
The first phase, which aimed to ease tax pressures and provide tax exemptions, was launched from 2006 to 2012. This included the principle of four 10s. The result was Mongolia had some of the lowest taxation in Asia, which helped attract foreign investment and increase tax revenue.
For example, tax department statistics show that the number of corporate tax payers rose 13 to 18 percent on average every year after the new tax scheme was introduced by the end of 2012. The tax they pay comprised 12 to 20 percent of total tax revenue for Mongolia last year, largely due to the booming mining sector.
The second phase of tax reform will see more than 10 tax codes amended. The Ministry of Finance submitted to the State Great Khural last February amendments to the General Law of Taxation, the Personal Income Tax Law, the Corporate Income Tax Law and the Value-Added Tax Law. The State Great Khural is expected to vote on these amendments in the coming spring session.
The Khural also received amendments proposed for the Special Income Tax Law and the Minerals Law last month.
The Minerals Law currently has the provision that specific tax and licensing fees are to be paid in US dollars. The Finance Ministry has proposed that this be changed so that the exchange rate has less influence on the amount of tax collected.
Amendments proposed for the Corporate Income Tax Law and the Personal Income Tax Law also aim to benefit small business and employment. A 90 percent refund is available to any company earning less than MNT 1.5 billion a year, with exception to companies operating in mining, mobile telecom, tobacco and alcohol, or banking and finance.
The developers behind the amendment to Mongolia’s regulations for value-added tax (VAT) realised the threshold for tax payment needed to be higher. Companies have had to pay VAT if they earned more than MNT 10 million a year since 1998. Meanwhile inflation has grown by some 10 percent each year since then. If adjusted for inflation, that threshold should have increased to MNT 42 million.
Deputy Director of the fiscal affairs department at the International Monetary Fund Michael Keen and former professor at the University of Toronto Jack Mintz have proposed a new threshold of MNT 50 million for VAT. The amendment includes a provision that a company may voluntarily pay tax if earnings range between MNT 10 million and MNT 50 million as well.
The endless complaints about VAT have proven that submitting tax forms is difficult for small companies under the current scheme. Raising the minimum payment threshold would remove the need for them to pay at all. 
Corporate income tax falls under two brackets: those who earn less than MNT 3 billion pay 10 percent on earnings and those that earn more pay 25 percent. The government is also to move forward so all these taxes can be paid online.
More of these kinds of reforms will likely boost tax payments and prevent accidental infringements against the tax code.


Speaker of Myanmar Parliament Thura Shwe Mann to Conduct Official Visit to Mongolia
April 9 (infomongolia.com) According to the Foreign Ministry of Mongolia, a delegation of the Myanmar Parliament led by Speaker of the Lower House Thura U Shwe Mann is conducting an official visit to Mongolia on April 12-15, 2014.
The Assembly of the Union (Parliament) is the national-level bicameral legislature of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar established by the 2008 National Constitution.
The Assembly of the Union (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) is comprised of Upper and Lower Houses, the House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw) and the House of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw).
Mongolian delegates led by the President Ts.Elbegdorj conducted a three-day state visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on November 18-20, 2013, and during the visit President Ts.Elbegdorj held an official talks with the Speaker of the Lower House Thura U Shwe Mann discussing to broaden bilateral relations and cooperation at the Myanmar Parliament Palace.
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Nuclear Energy Agency to Propagandize Proper Use of Safe Nuclear Technology in Mongolia
April 9 (infomongolia.com) The Academic Council affiliated the Nuclear Energy Agency of Mongolia held its regular meeting in Ulaanbaatar on April 08, 2014.
During the meeting participants exchanged views on world experiences how leading uranium miners allocate monetary fund in their State Treasury, its standard and volume, after which attended scholars issued recommendations relied on Mongolia’s Nuclear Energy Law based on Article 28.9*.
Also, the meeting was purposed to give public understandings that proper using of safe nuclear technology would bring economic benefit. However there is a common understanding among public that uranium exploration is toxic, but scientists are trying to deny and concluded this misunderstanding is needed to fix.
Moreover, meeting attendees mentioned it is not a time to debate whether yellow powder and uranium are toxic or not, instead should introduce its radiation dose rates on consumption and promote public education to adequate information about safe uranium exploration in terms of ecology and environment compare to international standards.
Head of the Nuclear Energy Agency N.Tegshbayar emphasized, “Our Agency conducts an activity to commercialize the radioactive minerals into economic circulation”.
Where Academician B.Chadraa added, "The one kg of uranium can produce energy equivalent to 2,100 tons of gasoline.
Therefore, we should give correct understandings to public, how it is significant and Mongolia will develop if to consider how important energy resources we have”.
Following the meeting, direct-reading and alarming electronic personal radiation detector “Dose RAE 2” were handed to authorities of National Emergency Management Agency, Police Department, Central Intelligence Agency, General Staff of the Armed Forces, National Cancer Center, Nuclear Diagnostic Section of the Hospital No.1, Nuclear Research Center of the National University, University of Science and Technology, National Institute of Forensic Science, National Influenza Center and the State Central Veterinary Laboratory.
From the Nuclear Energy Law of Mongolia
Article 28.9. The license holder shall allocate monetary fund in the State Treasury as a guarantee of implementing his liabilities on protection of environment and prevention from nuclear and radiation accident.


Deputy Foreign Ministers of Mongolia and Russia to Meet in Moscow
April 9 (infomongolia.com) Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia D.Gankhuyag will attend a consultative meeting between Foreign Ministries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation at the Deputy Ministers' level in Moscow on April 10-11, 2014.
During the consultation, Deputy Minister D.Gankhuyag will meet Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russia Federation Igor Vladimirovich Morgulov to exchange views on bilateral issues concerning political, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations, also on regional and multilateral cooperation and discuss further measures to implement.
The previous Deputy Foreign Ministers’ level consultative meeting between D.Gankhuyag and I.V.Morgulov was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on August 29, 2013.


Mongolia-Russia Consultative Meeting to Be Held
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs D.Gankhuyag will take part in a Mongolia-Russia consultative meeting between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs on April 10-11 in Moscow, Russia.
Within the upcoming event, Mr Gankhuyag will hold a meeting with his Russian counterpart Mr I.V.Morgulov to exchange views on the bilateral relations in the politics, economics, culture and humanitarian sectors. They also will consult on measures to be taken for the sake of the ties.


Agenda Fixed to Discuss
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) The Chairman of the State Great Khural (parliament) Z.Enkhbold Tuesday issued an order on fixing agenda that will be discussed by the spring session. 
The considered will be an implementation of the 2013 basic guidelines for social-economic development of Mongolia; the 2015 budget framework report for the master budget, a draft law on 2016-2017 budget assumption; a draft resolution of parliament on approving the 2013 budget performance, the 2013 financial master report of government; draft resolutions of parliament on giving directions to government on some measures for activating the economy, on approving the 2015 basic guidelines for social-economic development and on approving a list of projects and programmes to be financed by the Development Bank of Mongolia (DBM); a draft amendment to the law on government; bills on legal status of law enforcers, on investigation service, on restricting activities of state-run entities, and on “glass” account.
Others are draft new wordings of the laws on land, on state registration of legal person and on weapons; a draft resolution of parliament on green development concept and approving a middle-term programme; draft amendment to the law on rule of maintaining the law on banning mineral exploration and exploitation near water sources, protected areas and forests; draft laws on index-based insurance, on joint pension and on criminal procedure; and a draft resolution of parliament on approving a state policy on auto road transportation.
In the next part, the session is to discuss bills on trade and on rendering mercy; draft amendments to the laws on pre-school education, on education and on state service; and others.
Other bills, amendments and resolution, which are not reflected in the order, will be considered at the session after discussing them at relevant councils. Obligations were given to heads of the Standing committees and the Parliamentary Office chairman to ensure a preparation for the discussion of the documents.


“Let’s Reform and Solve” Meeting Takes Place
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) This weekly meeting introduced some reforms made in the citizenship and migration matters on Tuesday.
In accordance with the law on border checkpoints adopted late 2013, the Foreign Citizen and Citizenship Agency has changed into the General Agency of Citizenship and Migration (GACM), transmitting into new functions and structure. It was a main focus of the meeting.
"The GACM is to create new services and to introduce new rules and culture in our works. The legal environment, human resources, budget, services and border checking and all functions have transferred into a ‘smart’ regulation. The budget has become more transparent, so we intend to make our agency a corruption-free environment," the GACM head D.Purevdorj said.
Four key laws on regulating the sector’s actions have been amended, and 86 rules reduced to 44, cutting down many burdens. “This is one of good examples of the best exploitation of human resources and capabilities," Purevdorj emphasized.
Issuing of the Mongolian visa has become faster after authorizing border inspectors to issue the visa and transmitting into a new system of responsibility, he said. “As the result of decentralizing visa-related authority, 2,000 visas have been issued since May 1 of 2013 at the Altanbulag border checkpoint. This number was 320 in 2012,” he added.
The GACM has taken up extra functions to protect Mongolians abroad and to ease the procedure of having foreigners pass the state borders. The capability of passing foreign people through the borders has doubled after starting to register their fingerprints at the border checkpoints, Purevdorj said.
Moreover, the GACM is collaborating with the diplomatic missions of Mongolia abroad to prevent violation of Mongolian citizens’ rights in foreign countries, and intends to finish the “E-immigration” project by 2016 with a purpose to establish a general data system of citizenship and migration registration and control, Purevdorj emphasized.  


Defense Secretary to Discuss Here Regional Security Matters
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) The US Secretary of Defense Mr Chuck Hagel is to pay a visit to Mongolia on Thursday.
Mr Chuck Hagel is on his fourth official trip to the Asia-Pacific region to convene a meeting with counterparts in Japan, China and Mongolia.
Arriving in Mongolia, Mr Hagel will meet with Mongolian government and military leaders to discuss regional security matters and ways to enhance the U.S.-Mongolian cooperation. This is the second U.S. Defense Secretary's visit to Mongolia, and the first since 2005.


Ambassador Meets Economic Development Minister
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) Before heading for Germany, a newly-appointed Ambassador of Mongolia to Germany Ts.Bolor met with Economic Development Minister N.Batbayar.
Earlier, the Ambassador had asked the Minister to meet to get advice on line of activities.
The Minister gave directions to Mr Bolor, advising him to endeavor for successful realization of a coal liquefaction project that has been considered within the cooperation of the two countries. He also told the Ambassador to explore opportunities to transport through Mongolia the goods circulation from Europe to China, for Europe-Asia foreign trade circulation has been increasing year by year.
The Minister proposed presenting to the German companies the Mongolian Government’s road projects that have been planned to be implemented through concession agreements, as Germany has great experiences in road and bridge engineering.
Mr Batbayar also requested the Ambassador to explore opportunities for introduction of pension system of Germany to Mongolia and chances of meat exports and washed coal sales from Mongolia to Germany.


“German House 2014” Exhibition to Be Mounted
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) In frames of the 40th anniversary of the Mongolia-Germany diplomatic relations, an exhibition named “German House 2014” will be mounted April 11-13 in the “Misheel Expo” center in Ulaanbaatar.
The exhibition is to show quality and standards of Germany-made construction materials. It will be participated by representatives of Germany’s Oventrop, Kermi, Wilo, Haro and Wuerth brands.
Some 30 companies engaged in construction materials, tools, electric facilities, plumbing and interior design will advertise their products and materials. 


Province Freezes Vodka Production
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) Dornogovi Governor P.Gankhuyag has recently informed the President Ts.Elbegdorj on the locality’s vodka production freezing since April 3.
The province administration also sent a letter to Industry and Agriculture Minister Kh.Battulga, appealing to cancel licenses of alcoholic beverage production granted to two local manufacturers--Dornyn Govi LLC and Business Shand LLC--and not to allot any new licenses to the provincial producers.
This action of the province leader supports an earlier initiative of the President Ts.Elbegdorj and sets a fine example of ongoing alcohol abstinence movements in communities.


Reconciliation Center Established to Mediate Business Disputes
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) A business dispute reconciliation center has been established within the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
To render international reconciliation services, the center has established employment contracts with 15 reconcilers, after a selection process held in cooperation with the Reconcilers Council of Mongolia.
The center will mediate business disputes in an international level, an officer says. Before the establishment of this non-governmental independent body, Mongolia passed a law on reconciliation to create legal environment of providing such services.


Rare Quintuplet Goats Born in Dornogobi
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) A red goat of a herder G.Purev in eastern Dornogovi province gave birth to quintuplets on March 31.
It usual for goats to give birth to twins, but delivering quintuplets is extremely rare. Prior to this occasion, Mr Purev had received overwhelming multiple births from their goats in 2012.
A survey says that the biggest factor influencing multiple births in goats is pre-breeding nutrition.
The Mongolian goat is a beneficial livestock that has high effectiveness and independent capabilities. Since 1990, numbers of oxen have increased substantially, horses increased a little, sheep decreased, camel stayed the same but goats increased by leaps and bounds. In 1990 there were 5 million goats, the present day this number has reached 19 million and accounts for almost 40% of livestock.


“Inclusive Insurance-2014” Int’l Forum to Run
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) The Financial Regulatory Commission (FRC) of Mongolia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will host an international forum on "Inclusive Insurance-2014" on April 16-17 in Ulaanbaatar.
This jointly organized forum will be a first for the financial sector in Mongolia. International delegates will come from some ten countries, including South Korea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Bangladesh and Philippines. Moreover, it will be participated by Mr Ch.Ulaan, the Minister of Finance; Mr D.Bayarsaikhan, a chairman of the FRC; and by Ms Sezin Sinanoglu, the UNDP Resident Representative to Mongolia.
An important objective of this forum is to encourage sharing the knowledge and experiences on inclusive insurance from international and local speakers. The forum will bring together international insurance experts, international insurance regulators, technical insurance experts and development agencies, Mongolian political and business leaders, Mongolian insurance companies and financial sector stakeholders. The Insurance Association of Mongolia will organize an expo of insurance services in Mongolia during the Forum.
2014 is an important milestone year for Insurance in Mongolia. 2014 is the 80th year of Insurance in Mongolia and the 20th year of operations for FRC. The 5 year UNDP supported project funded by Luxembourg Government "Capacity Development for Micro-Insurance Market in Mongolia" will be completed in May of this year. In April as a result of this project new and easy to access insurance products for gers and small houses at an affordable premium will be available in the market. A number of insurance companies have been actively designing these new products with assistance from the UNDP project team. The product will be available to a significant proportion of the Mongolian population for the first time.
The forum organizers see the forum as an ideal platform to launch the next stage of development of the insurance industry in Mongolia.


Students Play Basketball for Ambassador’s Cup
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) The Mongolian Embassy in Singapore organized an "Ambassador’s Cup" basketball tournament among students living in Singapore and Malaysia on April 5.
The Ambassador of Mongolia to Singapore B.Delgermaa opened the tournament, then all sung a song about the motherland.
Last year, the first edition of this tournament ran to select a basketball team to represent Singaporean Mongolians in the Asia regional tournament of in the “Universiade 2013”, the third Mongolian students sport festival. This time, the tournament aimed to expand into a regional competition.
Representing the Mongolian youth residing in Singapore and Malaysia, a total of eight teams played matches in two categories of men and women. The best men team was awarded a Cup named after the Ambassador, while the leading women received a gold medal and pecuniary awards.


Mongolian Freestyle Wrestling Federation Announces Names to Compete in 2014 Senior Asian Championship
April 9 (infomongolia.com) The International Federation of Associated Wrestling Style (FILA) has entrusted the Kazakhstan Wrestling Federation to host the 2014 Senior Asian Championship in Greco-Roman, Freestyle and Female Wrestling to take place in the Sports Complex “Daulet” in Astana on April 23-27, 2014.
Accordingly, Mongolian Freestyle Wrestling Federation has announced the team composition to participate with one wrestler per weight category in Freestyle and Female Wrestling styles under coaches Ts.Tsogtbayar, O.Purevbaatar, B.Batbayar, D.Batnyam and T.Ekhtuya.
Just to recap the history of Mongolian freestyle achievements in the Senior Asian Championships, male wrestlers grabbed a total of 84 medals: 23 Gold, 25 Silver and 36 Bronze, where female wrestlers took 48 medals: 4 Gold, 19 Silver and 25 Bronze medals so far.
The latest Gold medals were achieved by International Master of Sports (IMS) Ch.Ganzorig in the Men’s freestyle category in 2006 and by Merit Athlete O.Nasanburmaa in the Women’s freestyle in 2013 respectively.
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‘Mongolian Fluorspar’ Program Discussed
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) The Mining Ministry, together with the Mineral Authority and the Mongolian Fluorspar Association held Wednesday a discussion on the ‘Mongolian Fluorspar’ program.
‘Mongolian Fluorspar’ is one of a few sub-programs that have been approved to be carried out within the State Policies on the Minerals sector - with others being ‘Mongolian Gold’ and ‘Mongolian Coal’.
At the meeting, the gathered consisting of policy makers and representatives of professional associations discussed facing issues and prospects of fluorspar production in the nation.
The representatives of the Mongolian Fluorspar Association said standard prices and taxation have become the most complicate issues of fluorspar production, and noted this program should aim at growth of exploration and profits. They also said that prices should be set according to an agreement between buyer and seller.
Fluorspar is not among top export items in Mongolia, but it is playing an increasingly important role in the country’s economy. Total fluorspar production of 43 operational mines and 17 enrichment plants of the nation measured at 330 thousand tons in 2013, making it one of top five producers in the world.


Inner Mongolian Cultural Days to Be Organized in Arkhangai Aimag June 20-25, 2014
April 9 (infomongolia.com) The People’s Government representatives of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the PR of China have conducted a two-day official visit to Arkhangai Aimag of Mongolia on April 07-08, 2014.
The delegation was led by Director of Propaganda Division at the People’s Government Press Department N.Batjargal and aimed to organize cultural days of Inner Mongolia in Arkhangai Aimag on June 20-25, 2014, and study opportunities for further cooperation in social sector.
Before, such cultural days were organized in Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan and Erdenet cities and this is first event planned to be hosted in provincial region. 
In conjunction, authorities of Arkhangai have paid an official visit to Khukh Khot (Hohhot), Inner Mongolia last March, where parties exchanged notes to collaborate in health and press fields.
During the upcoming cultural events in Arkhangai, Inner Mongolian officials plan to got au fait with the Aimag Museum, Children’s Book Palace, “Tamir” and “AB” TVs, besides to conduct free medical examinations by traditional medicine physicians and to host photo exhibit, concert and book fair.


Stock exchange news for April 9
Ulaanbaatar, April 9 (MONTSAME) At the Stock Exchange trades held Wednesday, a total of 27 thousand and 962 shares of 32 JSCs were traded costing MNT 42 million 007 thousand and 271.00.
"Remikon" /8,206 units/, "Moninjbar" /5,773 units/, "E-trans logistics” /5,340 units/, "State Department Store” /2,507 units/ and "Material impex” /1,078 units/ were the most actively traded in terms of trading volume, in terms of trading value--"Material impex" (MNT 14 million 714 thousand and 700), "UB-BUK" (MNT six million and 210 thousand), "Gutal" (MNT five million 686 thousand and 050), "Gobi" (MNT three million 082 thousand and 955) and "Moninjbar" (MNT one million 726 thousand and 900).
The total market capitalization was set at MNT one trillion 608 billion 602 million 347 thousand and 932. The Index of Top-20 JSCs was 15,976.48, increasing by MNT 12.87 or 0.08% against the previous day.

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