AGREEMENTS SIGNED ON U.S ASSISTANCE OF 6.2 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia /MONTSAME/ On Friday, a ceremony took place to sign amendments to agreements between the governments of Mongolia and the USA on granting targeted non-refundable aid. The agreements have been inked by S.Bayartsogt, the Minister of Finance; Jonathan Addleton, the U.S Ambassador to Mongolia, and Chuck Howell, the USAID country representative. In accordance with the amendments, additional money of USD 6.2 million will be granted to Mongolia in frames of the U.S developmental assistance. Four million and 338 thousand U.S dollars will be given to Mongolia in accordance with the #9 amendment to the agreement on a strategic non-refundable aid for ensuring economic growth, in a scope of a project on support for business initiative. The money will be spent for supporting the economic strategy of Mongolian government by intensifying a role of Mongolia's private sector. Pursuant to the second amendment--the #16 amendment, a "Strengthening transparency and governance" project will be implemented with money of the second part. This project aims to improve the governmental transparency and responsibilities through administrative reform, combating a corruption and strengthening a court sector. Noting that the U.S Administration has been supporting Mongolia's democracy, the Finance Minister S.Bayartsogt underlined that the U.S assistance and support significantly contribute to the socio-economic reform in Mongolia. He added that USD 626 thousand, which were granted on September 22 of 2011 through the last amendment, will be spent for encouraging citizens' participation in the parliamentary election and for supporting the government of Mongolia within a presidency of the Community of Democracies. Some part of the money will be used for projects on renovating the sanitary system of special schools for the disabled children as well. The Minister said a total of 124 million 741 thousand 540 U.S dollars have been granted Mongolia in frames of the strategic targeted assistance.

B.Khuder