Mongolia Brief April 18, 2014
Protection
Uvs Lake Basin considered
April 18
(news.mn) The Protected Areas Administration Department has decided to
administer protection to the Uvs Lake Basin in Uvs province.
In the scope of
the action a cooperation agreement was signed between the Provincial
Environment Department, the Police Department and the Local Emergency
Management Department, the Intelligence Department, the Institute of
Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment, the Protection Administration for Uvs
Lake and Tes River basins and the Border troop divisions in Uvs province.
Parties will
cooperate in order to put into effect environmental protection law, law on
protected areas and law on environmental zone to improve protection and
prevention efforts in the protected areas.
Related:
Authorities
to Cooperate in Conservation of Uvs Lake Basin – Montsame, April 18
Government
not to Be Dissolved, Affirms Prime Minister of Mongolia
April 18
(infomongolia.com) The "30 Minutes with Prime Minister" regular
meeting, which was postponed and cancelled (April 10 and 12) last week, was held
at the Government House on Thursday, April 17, where Premier N.Altankhuyag gave
details on current socioeconomic and political issues.
In his
statement, Prime Minister underlined, “In 2013, the Government worked on reducing
consumer prices. However current inflation performance is high, but compare to
2012 index is low. Compare to same period of 2013, inflation rate is at 12.4%
as of end of March 2014 and this caused mainly on a rise of foreign currencies since
Q3 2013 that impacted on imported inflation.
According to
International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank's forecast,
Mongolia’s economic growth would reach 11.5% in 2014 and last year the
performance was at 11.7%, which is higher compare to our two neighboring
countries”.
Following the brief
information delivered on world’s economy tendency and country’s priority issues
such as investment, inflation, state budget and foreign trade, Premier answered
on questions forwarded by journalists.
During the first discussion on amendments
to the Law on Government held at the today’s plenary session of the Parliament
(April 17, 2014), the bill initiated by President* on “double coat” was
ratified to be effective from July 01, 2014. Does this mean the ruling
Democratic Party failed to retain current Government composition?
This voting
does not mean to dissolve the Government, because many discussions and
processes are awaited further.
Probably,
following the ratification of this amendment, it looks like and is understood
the Government would be suspended at any time for those who in a hurry to do.
But this will not happen. Nonetheless, this amendment to the bill would
consider the some Constitutional issues, therefore, the parliamentary vote here
is not an ultimate result.
Minister of Industry and Agriculture,
Kh.Battulga stated that the Government is responsible for current economic
problems caused, what is your explanation?
Everybody sees
from different angles. I have just introduced you economic reality.
Recent days it has been argued that a China
invested bank is about to open its branches in Mongolia. How well the
Government did researches?
Parliament
shall make a final decision. But, authorities should evaluate considerably the
situation before to agree. For example, what problems to expect and potentialities
of our banks to compete. Though, decision will be made after complete analyzes.
* President
Ts.Elbegdorj initiated the bill to make amendments to the Law on Government on
removing “double coat”, initially effective from 2016, but Parliament adopted
earlier.
Defense
Minister of Mongolia Conducts Official Visit to Japan
April 18
(infomongolia.com) Mongolian Defense sector delegates led by Minister
Dashdemberel BAT-ERDENE are conducting an official visit to Japan upon the
invitation of Defense Minister Itsunori ONODERA on April 15-19, 2014.
On Thursday,
April 17, Mongolian Defense delegation visited the National Defense Academy of
Japan, where Minister D.Bat-Erdene was received by Academy President Ryosei
Kokubun, who introduced the facility activities. After which, Minister got
acquainted with studies of Mongolian officers and cadets studying at the
Academy.
On the same day
afternoon, Minister D.Bat-Erdene arrived at the Ministry of Defense of Japan,
where Minister I.Onodera welcomed his counterpart with an official ceremony
inspecting a guard of honor.
After the
ceremony, two Defense Ministers held an official meeting discussing some global
and regional security problems facing today, and exchanged views on defense
policies of the two countries, its relationship and partnership issues.
Also, parties
expressed their satisfaction on current accelerating ties between the two
Ministries focused on bilateral common interests in particular to deepen
friendly relations of the two peoples, to strengthen military trusts in the
region and world, peace in the region and preserve stability in the form of new
content based on the principles of enriched expansion.
Since 1995, the
defense relations between the Mongolia and Japan have been growing such as
reciprocal visits at all-level, conducting meetings concerning regional
security issues, exchanging information, organizing consultative meetings and
training of military personnel, moreover two parties are closely cooperating in
the forms of military engineers and military hospitals in recent years.
Related:
Defense Minister visits
Japan – news.mn, April 18
Defense
Minister Visiting Japan – Montsame,
April 18
Agricultural
Training Gathers Farmers
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) A training themed “Equipment and Watering technology in
agriculture sector” ran among agricultural specialists and farmers on Tuesday.
The
co-organizers were the Ministry of Industry and Agriculture, the City Mayor's
Office, the Agriculture Production Support Fund and the city's Department of
Industry and Agriculture.
At the action,
much experienced professors and doctors shared their experiences and gave
methodological advice on how to plant vegetables to the participants.
Furthermore,
all participants also visited agricultural field to see operations of advanced
technologies and winter green house.
Local
NGOs to Cooperate with US Embassy
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) Delegation of the US embassy in the UB city worked in
Khovsgol province on April 16.
Training on
ways of studying in the USA with scholarship and information about the US
schools with scholarship program were given to local students.
After this,
heads of local non-government organizations /NGO/ met with the US delegation
team and the embassy side expressed readiness to cooperate with these NGOs in
projects and programs.
Premier Reports about Present Situation of Mongolian Economy
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) The Prime Minister N.Altankhuyag briefed about a present
situation of the economy in Mongolia at the weekly “PM’s 30 minutes” meeting on
Thursday.
A report on the
economic situation for the first quarter has been released by the Ministry of
Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Bank of Mongolia and the
National Statistical Committee (NSC). The cabinet aimed to work last year to
reduce prices of consumer goods.
“Although the
inflation rate has been increasing, it was lower than the 2012 year’s figure.
The inflation rate by the first quarter of this year went up by 12.4% against
the previous year, and it was due to a soar of currency rates against Mongolia
Togrog,” he said, adding that a condition has been created to restrict the
inflation and currency rates.
The Premier
said the cabinet rendered support to the construction sector last year
therefore its increase had an effect on a growth of the national GDP, and the
GDP growth also has been affected by the increases in agriculture, mining,
trade and service fields.
The export of
mineral products increased in first quarter of 2014 by about 30% against the
previous year, whereas the import of foods declined by 2.2%, the Premier said.
The import of alcoholic beverages and tobacco decreased by 32%, he added.
Pension Sharing Legislation goes to Parliament for discussion
April 18
(news.mn) During the discussion around the Pension Sharing Legislation in
Parliament, the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) caucus took a break. Due to the
break by the caucus, the majority of parliament members voted to discuss the
legislation in Parliament.
The Pension
Sharing Legislation allows a person who is the legal spouse or common-law
partner of a deceased contributor of social insurance to be paid the pension
after their spouses’ death, in the case that both halves of the couple should
have paid social insurance for at least 20 years uninterruptedly and have been
married for at least 10 years. The bill initiators also proposed several
versions where the pension sharing could be at 50, 70 or 100 percent.
Related:
Parliament
to Discuss Draft Law on Joint Pension – Montsame,
April 18
Local Governors Get Motorcycles
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) A governor of Gobi-Altai province O.Amgalanbaatar rendered
a total of 83 motorcycles to governors of all bagas /Baga - the smallest
administrative unit in the country/ of the aimag on last Monday.
A sum of 91
million 487 thousand MNT was spent for the procurement and supplied by a
tender-winner “Monobilka” company.
Related
officials say, it will bring state service closely and immediately to local
inhabitants.
Minerals Not to Be Transported on Capital City Roads
April 18
(infomongolia.com) Today on April 18, 2014, the Governor of the Capital City
and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, Mr. Erdene BAT-UUL issued a Decree No. A/293 that
temporary prohibits exploiting common minerals such as coal, stones and cement,
its transportation and strengthening control over the transport of heavy duty
vehicles on the city roads.
The Decree
cites all entities utilizing or operating above minerals shall construct hard
paved roads and establish logistics center on its own expenses, otherwise the
ban is effective, where the Capital City Auto Road Authority is responsible to
assist with professional and technical advices.
Moreover,
affiliated organs will evaluate the damages on city roads and obliged to
organize road rehabilitation works by license owners for up to 75% of damaged
roads, if not carried out on time, operating special licenses will be
suspended.
Also, cement
manufacturing factories and construction companies operating in the territory
of city should provide extra two spaces in their yards for cleaning tires of
concrete mixer trucks.
Related:
Municipality
Office Bans Minerals Exploration and Transportation – Montsame, April 18
Here to Be Built Canada-Tech Kindergartens and Schools
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) City Mayor E.Bat-Uul Thursday visited a kindergarten in the
city, the first on equipped with a Canadian technology.
This
Canada-tech building was constructed with a financial support of the World
Bank, four year ago. The director of the kindergarten says that the
kindergarten building has many advantages for usage including low cost and
earthquake resistant design. City Mayor E.Bat-Uul underlined a possibility to
expand this kindergarten building to upgrade into a complex of a kindergarten
and an elementary school.
A total of 16
kindergartens and eight school complexes are planned to be constructed in the
city within this year.
Here to Launch Bicycle Regular Tour
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) An opening of ‘Regular tour with bike’ is planned to take
place at the National Park this Saturday morning.
Under an
initiative of a ‘Biking Ulaanbaatar’ project of the Mongolian Youth
Confederation, this regular tour event is expected to run at weekends. This
Saturday, bikers are planning to travel 12.2 km of roads from the National Park
to a mountainside in the Bogd Khan Mountains, famous for its rock paintings. The
Bogd Khan Mountains overlooks the nation's capital, Ulaanbaatar, from a height
of 3000 feet (914m) above and to the south of the city.
Tour Operators Offer 400 Jobs
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) A tourism job fair was held at ‘Ulaanbaatar Business
Development Center’ on Friday.
Organizers of
the event were Municipal Tourism Authority, Labor Authority, Tourism
Sustainable Development Center and Association of Tourism Teachers and
Researchers.
This year,
nearly a thousand students are expected to graduate from tourism-related
faculties of national universities. ‘Tourism and Employment’ fair offered them
almost 400 jobs at nearly thirty tour operators and other tour agencies, with
almost 80% of jobs offered being seasonal, and the remaining 20% - permanent.
The Municipal
Tourist Authority is striving efforts to develop winter tourism in the nation
in order to provide tour workers with permanent jobs. Authority chair
E.Battulga explained to visitors their trainings for tour guides and operators.
Mongolia to Host Muay Thai Boxing Match
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) A meeting of Asian Professional Muay Thai Association has
decided to hold a 57kg championship match in Ulaanbaatar this June. The match
will be between B.Gantogtokh of Mongolia and Nguyen Tang Quyen of Vietnam.
As part of the
Championships, Muay Thai Boxing fights for the 57 kg class will be held in
Ulaanbaatar in June. Mongolian B.Gantogtokh (18) is a silver medal winner at
the 4th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Incheon, Korea and two bronze medals
at the World Muay Thai Boxing Championships in 2013 and 2014. He has won 11 out
of 14 professional fights so far, in five of which he defeated competitors with
heavy blow. Vietnamese fighter Tang (19) has thus far won 14 of 20 his
professional fights.
T.Batchimeg Achieves Second Draw at Chess Grand Prix
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) Mongolia’s T.Batchimeg achieved Thursday her second draw so
far at the fourth tournament of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2013-2014, taking
place in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia on April 7-22.
She had drew
with Russia’s Tatiana Kosintseva at the third round to earn 0.5 point. This
time, she played against Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria to reach her second
draw and another 0.5 point.
At the Grand
prix tournament among 12 best chess players of the world, our T.Batchimeg has
two draw and four loses so far after eight rounds. Hou Yifan of China is leading
the tournament with 5 points, and is followed by Anna Muzychuk of Slovenia with
3.5 points.
Twelve players
are competing in the round robin tournament. The event is organized by the
Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug, FIDE, Russian Chess Federation and Ugra Chess
Academy.
The Women’s
Grand-Prix 2013-2014 will give qualification to the Women’s World Championship
match 2015. The previous three tournaments were held
in Geneva, Dilijan and Tashkent.
Mongolian Fighters Win at Muay Thai Matches
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) Three Mongolians won at Muay Thai boxing matches held
Tuesday in celebration of a Thailand national festival.
Renowned
Mongolian boxer N.Bat-Erdene knocked out his opponent in the second round,
while S.Myadagmaa won her contender in the first round. B.Gan-Togtokh of
Mongolia competed against his opponent in five rounds to win over by a scoring
margin. With these wins, our fighters have marked up their rankings.
Muay Thai is a
combat sport from the muay martial arts of Thailand that uses stand-up striking
along with various clinching techniques. This physical and mental discipline
which includes combat on foot is known as "the art of eight limbs"
because it is characterized by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees, shins
and feet, being associated with a good physical preparation that makes a
full-contact fighter very efficient. Muay Thai became widespread
internationally in the twentieth century, when practitioners defeated notable
practitioners of other martial arts. A professional league is governed by the
World Muay Thai Council.
G.Battamir Defeats Second Rival at Youth World Boxing Championships
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) A Mongolian boxer G.Battamir beat his opponent Nasim Sadik
from Afghanistan at the second bout in the men’s 52 kg contest on Thursday.
Another
Mongolian D.Tormandakh beat a rival from Germany Vladislav Varyshnik in the
men’s 60 kg contest in the first bout. E.Tsendbaatar (men’s 56 kg), G.Dalai (64
kg) and B.Nyamdorj were defeated at the first rounds.
Two women
D.Nandinsuvd (51 kg) and G.Uuriintuya (60 kg) left their contests after they
defeated by opponents from the Netherlands and Nigeria.
By the
tournament schedule, two Mongolians will perform their first fights.
Women Judokas Having Training in Japan
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) Female judokas of the Mongolia’s national selected team are
having a 10-day joint training in Japan.
They are
exercising together with Japanese top judokas including Kaori Matsumoto, an
Olympic and World champion, and other judokas from the Tokyo’s Judo Academy and
Tokyo University.
The group of
Mongolian judokas comprised M.Urantsetseg, a State Honored Sportswoman and
World champion; M.Bundmaa, a State Honored Sportswoman and bronze medalist of
World championship; international masters of sports B.Monkhtuya,
Ts.Naranjargal, A.Tsolmon, Ts.Tserennadmid and B.Mongonchimeg; and their
coaches Kh.Erdenet-Od and Ts.Tsevelmaa.
Meanwhile, male
judokas are having a joint training in Germany with counterparts of Germany,
Georgia and Austria.
UB City to Host First Ever Asian Championship of Folklore
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) The Asian Championship of Folklore is planned to run in the
UB city on this June 11-15, for the first time.
Initiated by
the World Folklore Academy and the World Association of Folklore Festivals,
this competition is to be co-organized by non-government organizations /NGO/ of
“ArtLar Culture and Art” and “Tuurgatan Yazguur Mongolia” with a support of the
National Commission for the UNESCO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Organizers say,
it is expected to be one of the important art measures in Asia.
The best
participants will award a certification to participate in the World Folklore
Festival which will be held in Bulgaria, this August.
International Contest of Throat Singing to Run Here
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) An international contest of throat singing is scheduled to
run in western Khovd province on this July 22-23.
On Thursday, a
working group, led by B.Chinbaatar, a deputy governor of the province, held a
meeting to talk about organization of the competition.
As expected,
the first day program will include many activities for participants such as
awareness-raising travel of province, a local throat singing concert of respect
and an international scientific research meeting of throat singing and contest
will start in the second day.
The meeting was
attended by Mongolian famous throat singers N.Sengedorj and B.Tserendavaa.
The throat
singing tradition known as hoomii is perhaps the best-known musical form of the
Mongols. It is sung differently than traditional vocals. This unique type of
singing involves the production of two distinctively audible pitches at the
same time, including a low pedal note, or drone, derived from the fundamental
frequency of the vocal cord vibrations, and higher melodic notes that result
when the singer's mouth acts as a filter, selecting one note at a time from
among the drone's natural overtone series pitches.
Opera Singer Takes 2nd Place in Int’l Contest
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) A 2nd grade student of the Gnessin Russian Academy of
Music Ch.Badral has taken 2nd place in the 6th all-Russian Nadezhda
Obuhova Young Vocalists´ Festival and Competition.
Held in
Lipetsk, Russia on April 6-9, the international contest attracted 217 singers
of Mongolia, Russia, USA, Great Britain, France, China, South Korea, Japan,
Ukraine, Belarus and Cuba.
Apart of
Ch.Badral, Mongolia was represented at the contest by B.Mongolkhuu, a
5th grade student of the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts.
The second
place winner Badral received a diploma and a cash prize, and he is also winner
of the Grand Prix of the 8th International Competition of Vocalists named
after A. Ivanov.
Here Comes ‘Sochi-2014’ Photo Exhibition
Ulaanbaatar,
April 18 (MONTSAME) Photographer Ch.Ganbat is planning to open on April 23 an
exhibition event themed Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.
Blue Moon art
gallery will host the event until April 27, the exhibition is organized by the
Association of Mongolian Sports Journalists, in sponsorship of the Culture,
Sports and Tourism Ministry. Representing his nation, Ch.Ganbat worked as
photographer in the 2014 Winter Olympics held in Sochi, Russia on February 7–23
of 2014.
Prior to this
event, he had also displayed his photographs from the 2012 Summer Olympics that
took place in London, United Kingdom from 25 July to 12 August 2012.
Insurance – what is missing?
April 18
(Mongolian Economy) Mongolia hosted the “Inclusive Insurance” international
forum for the first time from April 16-17. The forum focused on topics such as
inclusive insurance, micro insurance, and opportunities for the sector.
The insurance
sector contributes only 1 percent to the financial sector, which makes up five
percent of the economy. Its development is slowed by its small range of
products, an excess of insurance companies relative to its market, government
intervention and a lack of market knowledge.
“The financial
sector, including insurance, accounts for only five percent of the economy,
while other service sectors contribute 44 percent. The financial sector
is dominated by the banking sector with more than 96 percent, while insurance
only shares one percent of this sector” says, Nyambaa.B, Head of Debt
management department, Ministry of Finance. These figures are telling of the
small insurance sector in Mongolia.
Insurance
Department head of Financial Regulatory Committee (FRC), Ganbold.S told
participants that the insurance sector cannot move forward when there is nobody
to insure.
In Mongolia,
insurance companies developed institute insurance products. But, the new
products companies bring out do not really speak to the middle and low-income
residents – majority of the country’s population.
Inclusive
insurance refers to personal insurance available to middle and low-income
residents. Forum participants agreed that the inclusive insurance concept is a
way to further develop the sector.
Too many players in a small market
There are 13
banks in the banking sector of Mongolia. But the insurance sector – equal to
only one percent of GDP – has more than 17 insurance companies. “Too many
players in a small market are dragging development downward. They share this
small capital,” says,CEO of TenGer Financial Group Bold.M.
The banking
sector of Mongolia went through 90 years of development and is equivalent to
119 percent of the Country’s GDP, while the insurance sector, with an 80-year
history, accounts for just one percent of GDP.
He also said,
“Meanwhile, the government has brought in the new player itself named National
Insurance Corporation, which has not made its role and involvement of the
market clear. If It is started working commercially, it may cause the insurance
sector to fall.”
A realistic database is needed
According to
the FRC, the profit for 17 insurance companies was MNT 2-3 billion in 2013.
Meanwhile, reimbursements to people and entities were approximately MNT 6 billion.
Bearing in mind that only10 percent of the population has insurance. “To
increase this figure, information will play major role,” says a relevant
expert.
“It is hard to
tell how many Mongolians are covered by insurance due to a lack of statistics and
research. For t further development, we need an insurance institute analysing
statistics and supplying information,” says Ganbold, FRC.
“For inclusive
insurance, life insurance product needs to be promoted and developed,” said
Mongolhuu.G, CEO of National Life insurance company.
More than one
year of life insurance is usually taken. The long term insurance products allow
insurance companies to invest in mid- and long-term projects and programs as
well as mortgage packages and government bonds.
As well as
Government intervention, Bold.M mentioned income tax as the one of the barriers
to developing the sector.
Like all
industires, insurance companies need fair competition and business environment
encouraging of trade. As the economy improves here and individual wealth is
created, there will be more demand for insurance products. The sector needs to
have in place the right products and policy to cater to this expected
demand.
Mongolian Peacekeepers Rescue 10 Staff Members of Oil
Company in South Sudan
April 18
(infomongolia.com) On April 15, 2014, a mob of armed civilians have captured
the Russian "Safinat" oil company in Bentiu, South Sudan, who forced
their way into the facility and opened fire on displaced persons sheltering
inside, they issued an ultimatum to shut down production and evacuate workers.
Gordon Koang
Chuol, a former militia commander in South Sudan, who fought for the Sudan
People's Liberation Army (SPLA), urged oil companies operating in government
controlled areas to immediately begin closing down oil production and evacuate
staff within a week. He said a failure to comply would risk the forced shutdown
of oil facilities and threaten the safety of staff there.
During the
attack to the Russian “Safinat” company, U.N. peacekeepers from Mongolia
rescued 10 staff members from the Safinat, where five wounded were in critical
condition.
The event
turned into, where South Sudanese youths attacked the United Nations Mission in
South Sudan (UNMISS) base in order to harm members of an ethnic minority
sheltering inside and the peacekeepers were forced to fire warning shots.
According to
latest news, gunmen have killed at least 20 people and wounded 70 others when
they stormed a United Nations base in South Sudan and more than 9,000 civilians
are now seeking refuge in the U.N's Bentiu base, and two Indian peacekeepers
have been injured.
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