Mongolian delegation take steppes to trade links

IT is an area best known for being one of the most remote places in the world, once ruled by Genghis Khan and home to the Gobi Desert.

Now Mongolia is to send its first official delegation to Scotland in a bid to forge trade links and cement political relations between the two countries.

Two of the central Asian nation’s top diplomats will fly from the London embassy to meet politicians at Holyrood and get a taste of Scottish culture.

Bulgaa Altangerel, Mongolia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and Bat-Erdene Chinuukhei, the First Secretary of Political Affairs, will be in Scotland for three days, during which they will tour Glasgow, Stirling and Edinburgh, as well as the Scottish countryside.

The trip was suggested by David Scott, 37, an expedition organiser from Newton Mearns, near Glasgow, who has built excellent relations with the Mongolian Government during a decade of work there.

He first organised tourist trips to the Mongolian steppes and Gobi Desert, before falling in love with the country and embarking upon a series of charitable projects.

Mr Scott said: “There are a lot of similarities between the two countries. Both have outstanding natural beauty. Both have a large rural population as well as friendly, welcoming traditions. They make their own spirit – Gengis Khan vodka – and we make whisky.”

Mr Scott has held several meetings with the Mongolian diplomats in London and hit upon the idea of bringing them north of the Border.

He added: “After working closely with the embassy in London and attending meetings at Westminster, it seemed logical to arrange similar meetings in Scotland. During this visit, the aim is to set up bilateral relations between the two countries and increase trade.”

The diplomats will arrive in Glasgow on March 9. They will meet the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bob Winter, before visiting a whisky distillery and a Highland Cattle farm.

“Agriculture is a shared point of interest,” Mr Scott said. “Due to the sheer size of the country, it is full of herdsmen who keep goats, camels and cattle. The Mongolians are very keen to visit a Scottish farm.”

On March 10, the delegation will go to Edinburgh and visit the Scottish Parliament, where they will receive an official greeting from the Deputy Presiding Officer. They will attend First Minister’s Questions and spend the afternoon meeting various politicians in order to hammer out trade deals. They will also pay a visit to Stirling.

Although Mr Scott is not involved in politics directly, he is one of the best-known Scots in Mongolia because of his charity work.

He is currently overseeing the construction of a school for the deaf, which has been partly funded by Barrhead Rotary Club. Through his work with the Yama Trust, a Scotland-based charity, he has also helped to build several homes for orphans.

In recognition of the growing popularity of football in the country, Mr Scott has built a team made up of both Rangers and Celtic fans called Gobi United to play Mongolia’s top side, Mazaalai FC, in September.

He added: “Both sides are up for the game. Our guys look pretty handy, so I hope they will win.”

Bat-Erdene Chinuukhei said the ambassador was looking forward to his visit to Scotland.

He said: “I have met a few Scots and we found them close to our heart, as they are friendly, welcoming and hospitable. We wish to develop co-operation between our two countries and encourage trade. We have the best vodka in the world and we would like pure Scottish whisky to trade in our country.

“Also, we are interested in agriculture of Scotland, as animal husbandry is a large industry in our country. Scotch beef is famous and we are interested to see the places where it is farmed.”