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:
About
Mongolia-Japan Economic Cooperation These Days – Montsame, April 10
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 Energy – Montsame,
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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