Mongolia Brief June 27, 2014 Part III
Jockeys under seven not allowed to race horses during Naadam
June 27 (UB
Post) The State Specialized Inspection Agency is working to ensure safety of
child jockeys this year.
The State
Specialized Inspection Agency has issued a demand to the Federation of
Mongolian Horse Racing Sport and Trainers to take several measures to ensure
the safety of child jockeys this year.
The measures
include:
1. Ensure that
no child jockey participates in the race without protective gear and clothing.
2. Collaborate
with labor inspectors, Confederation of Mongolian Trade Union and Children’s
Organizations during the horse racing.
3. To remind
herders and related associations about their responsibilities in managing
risks.
4. Announce to
the public if the Federation of Mongolian Horse Racing Sport and Trainers and
Naadam Festival Organizing Committee fails to meet standards.
5.
Establishment agreement between jockeys and the Federation of Mongolian Horse
Racing Sport and Trainers.
6. Ensure that
no child jockey below the age of seven takes part in the race.
D.Gankhuyag: Wang Yi’s visit will strengthen Mongolia-China relation and cooperation
June 27 (UB
Post) Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister
Wang Yi visited Mongolia from June 24 to 26. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
D.Gankhuyag gave an interview regarding the visit.
How do you assess the importance of the
visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi to Mongolia? What’s the
significance of his visit?
The visit
is a response to the official visit of Mongolian Minister of Foreign Affairs
L.Bold in January. It will contribute in the two countries’ strategic
partnership and cooperation for all sectors, strengthen mutual trust and
understanding as well as enable international and regional cooperation. This
visit is very significant for bilateral cooperation. Both ministers of the two
countries will hold a formal meeting to discuss and exchange ideas about key
issues on bilateral collaboration in the fields of politics, economics, culture
and welfare. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they’ll discuss the status of
current cooperation and future prospects between the two ministries, and both
countries’ policies and positions for international and regional cooperation.
Furthermore,
the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs will have an audience with Mongolian
President Ts.Elbegdorj, Prime Minister N.Altankhuyag, and Deputy Minister
D.Terbishdagvad to interchange views on costly issues of the two countries.
They’ll also complete preparation work for near-future visits and exchange
opinions and information for developing cooperation between the two ministries
and other issues of mutual interest.
This year is the 65th anniversary of
Mongolia-China diplomatic ties. How do you see the prospects of the bilateral
relation?
This year marks
the 65th anniversary of Mongolia-China diplomatic ties, which was established
in 1949. It’s also the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the revised
friendly relations and cooperation agreement between Mongolia and China. To
commemorate these anniversaries, both sides announced this year as the Year of
Mongolia-China Friendly Exchanges and agreed to organize many events and
measures together. Most of them are being implemented step by step, including
events such as organizing cultural days and film festivals, displaying
photography exhibitions, holding art performances and implementing exchanges
for children and youths. Mutual visits of top leaders are included in these
measures. This visit of the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs will be
followed by a state visit of the Chinese President to Mongolia, and then, an
official visit by Speaker of Parliament Z.Enkhbold to China near the end of
this year.
In recent
years, every bilateral relation and cooperation has been successful. Visits of
top leaders have become frequent and mutual works for trade and economy are continuing
actively. The two countries are successfully working together within the
framework of regional and international cooperation mechanisms. The vital part
of strengthening friendship and understanding between the people of the two
countries is the strenuous cooperation in culture, education, science,
technology, health, and welfare sectors. The prospects of 2014 are getting
better as Mongolia-China relations and cooperation continues to intensify and
deepen.
Currently,
Mongolian and Chinese relations are in the most favorable time in history. The
Chinese side also has the same opinion. Strategic partnership, which is the
highest level of relations between countries, is being implemented. There
aren’t any problematic issues in political affairs or land and border related
matters, we’re constantly exchanging our opinions and positions which we’re
holding regarding international and regional issues. We’re cooperating to keep
world as well as regional peace and safety. Mongolian and Chinese borders have
been completely specified. In other words, it’s become a peaceful border.
For many years,
China has been the biggest partner and investor for Mongolian foreign trade.
During the 4th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Conference on
Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which took place
in Singapore in May, Mongolian President Ts.Elbegdorj met with the President of
China Xi Jinping and discussed bilateral relations and cooperation for a wide
range of issues. At the meeting, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s
official position by stating, “China respects Mongolia’s sovereignty, security
and territorial integrity, and respects the development path that Mongolia has
chosen for itself in accordance with its national conditions.” He also
mentioned that China will be more considerate to the interests of the Mongolian
side when cooperating in the future with Mongolia. This gives Mongolia
favorable conditions and opportunities to develop.
China has the most neighboring countries in
its region. China expressed their new approach to redefine policies with
neighbor countries and realize common development. Can you comment on this?
In October
2013, China held a meeting on foreign policy issues for its neighboring
countries and made a decision to pay special attention to its neighbors and
enable renewed foreign relations. In accordance to this decision, few months
after the New Year, China’s relation with its neighbors intensified and
established free trade agreements as well as free zone agreements with several
countries. They also improved the current level of relations and are
cooperating actively to take a new step forward. The President of China also
expressed his interests to become good neighbors, good friends and good
partners, and support each other on issues of core interest and major concern.
Mongolia sees this as favorable for Mongolia-China bilateral relations as well
as for regional cooperation. In relation to this, during the official visit of
Minister L.Bold to China in January, Vice President of China Li Yuanchao
Keqiang welcomed him and introduced him to the above policy. Li Yuanchao said,
“China pays a particular importance to relations with neighboring countries
including Mongolia in pursuit for closer, open-minded, and mutually beneficial
policy.”
How is Mongolia-China relations and
cooperation in fields of trade and economy? How are major projects progressing?
Mongolia
established a strategic partnership with China in 2011. Prime Minister
N.Altankhuyag developed a medium and long term program for developing the
strategic partnership during his official visit to China in 2013. Based on
this, bilateral collaboration is progressing well in all sectors including
politics, economics, culture, and welfare sectors. Especially in the last few
years, we worked together in major projects for energy, mining and
infrastructure and we have a good outlook for getting actual results from
previous projects. The main pillars of Mongolia-China strategic partnership are
trade and economic cooperation. Business entities of both countries are
actively collaborating in mining, construction, road, transportation,
agriculture, bank and financial sectors. China has been the biggest partner and
investor for Mongolian foreign trade for the last 14 years.
During this
visit, counterparties of Mongolia and China will assess the progress of
Mongolia-China relations in recent years, confirm mutual interests to deepen
and develop bilateral relations further, and exchange ideas and opportunities
to widen cooperation. They’ll be discussing important agreements which the
presidents of both countries agreed on last year as well as measures to
implement the medium and long-term program to develop the Mongolia-China
strategic partnership which includes large scale projects for economic
cooperation, coal gasification, and railroad construction.
Mongolia plans
to build a 5,600 km long railroad and started the first stage to build 1,800 km
in 2013. Notable major corporations, banking and financial organizations are
welcome to participate in accordance to market regulations in this railroad
construction as well as other industrial development projects. With intentions
to intensify cooperation, we’re negotiating the extending of previously active
Mongolia-China Minerals and Energy Council and making it into a Cooperation
Council for Minerals, Energy and Infrastructure. Mongolia is interested in
co-establishing a coal-based power plant and exporting coal to China. We have
opportunity to continue this talk during visits of top country leaders and make
further progress. Coal gasification project is giving considerable amount of
result and we’re working to get actual outcome in the near future. This project
can be considered as one of the biggest projects in the history of Mongolia-China
cooperation in economics. It’s also very important for reducing air pollution
in Mongolia.
The public has little information and
understanding of Mongolia-China relations and cooperation. They have various
impressions and views regarding cooperation especially for railroad and mining
sectors. What are your reviews on this matter?
Countries
around the world are developing and changing very quickly. Regions are actively
developing and globalizing. They’re not losing any opportunities to develop and
are working together to create favorable and secure environment for safety and
foreign relations. Certainly, looking back and comparing the past would give
negative effects for development. The correct thing to do now is to keep moving
forward, use every opportunity for development and prosperity and focus on
creating secure environment for safety. Presently, there are all sorts of
debates about the type of rail road to build; wide or narrow gauge. Respective
agencies will discuss this issue and submit it to the government and
Parliament. In other words, we, Mongolians, will decide it by ourselves.
There’ll be no external interferences.
Development Bank of Mongolia to cooperate with foreign companies
June 27 (UB
Post) During the irregular governmental meeting on Wednesday, approval was
given to the Development Bank of Mongolia’s Board of Directors to establish a
75 million USD contract with Vnesheconombank of Russia, the Bank of Foreign
Economic Activity, in order to re-finance capital demanded for installing and
buying a 100 Megawatt turbine generator to improve the capacity of Thermal
Power Plant No. 4.
Vnesheconombank
has requested to adjust the financing terms granted to the Development Bank of
Mongolia with the term stated in the contract, “Financing project and managing
pay back”. If the term of pay back stated in the contract and Governmental
resolution No. 99 of 2012 is extended, financing can be granted from five to
eight years correlating to the term in the contract.
Therefore, the
opportunity has been created to receive long-term financing under conditions to
be paid back in 2022, amending the contract and extending the loan term.
The capital
required for improving the capacity of Thermal Power Plant No. 4 is being
granted through the Development Bank of Mongolia, in compliance with the
contract “Financing project and managing pay back” and other relevant
construction and installation contracts and agreements. So far, financing of
48.5 million USD has been issued to the project.
Also, approval
has been granted to the Board of Development Bank of Mongolia to make relevant
agreements, and it has allowed banks and financial organizations to open loan
lines equivalent to up to 10 percent of their own capital in order to raise
financing sources for equipment and facilities required for implementing
projects within the program to promote exports.
In accordance
with an order of the Government of Mongolia, a total of 1,151 projects were
received for the program to select industrial projects to replace imports and
improve exports. Some 599 projects which require financing of less than two
billion MNT have been transferred to the Fund to Develop SMEs at the Labor
Ministry. It has been left to the authority of the Development Bank to provide
for the 286 projects that require financing of more than two billion MNT. Some
161 of these 286 projects are planning to import facilities and equipment
valued at 2.43 trillion MNT from overseas, and the Development Bank of Mongolia
is to cooperate with ExIm banks of the United States, South Korea, China,
Turkey, Japan, Russia and Italy.
Renovations in
Soum Centers Project introduced
Working with
the relevant local professional organizations, the Ministry of Construction and
Urban Planning has developed general planning and infrastructure sketches for
16 soums which will undergo renovations.
With the
implementation of the project, the 65 thousand residents of these 16 soums will
be supplied with fresh drinking water and sewage systems, and conditions will
be created to live and work in a pleasant environment connected to a central
heating system.
High capacity laboratory opens for better food safety in Mongolia
June 27 (UB
Post) Newly constructed extension of the Central Food Laboratory of SAMO
Scientific Food Research and Manufacturing Institute opened on Wednesday with
the aim to improve food safety in Mongolia.
The extension
was built as part of a Mongolia-Korea bilateral contract on “Strengthening
safety monitoring on agriculture-based food products in Mongolia” project,
which is financed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Total cost of
the establishment was one million USD. According to reports, 600,000 USD was
used for equipment purchase and installation, while 400,000 USD was spent on
training specialists and researchers. The researchers of Korea Food Research
Institute, who executed the laboratory project, are currently teaching
Mongolian staff the operations of the laboratory equipment.
The new
laboratory is fully equipped with required modern equipment and is capable of
conducting extensive research on any type of food product.
At the opening,
Deputy Minister of Industry and Agriculture Ts.Tuvaan said, “The Food Safety
Law of Mongolia was approved last year and we faced an urgent need to establish
a high capacity laboratory to enforce the law. The newly opened laboratory can
detect content and origin of all types of food products that include meat,
dishes, vegetables and flour, using nano-technology.”
“Detailed
research can also be conducted on samples of food that caused food poisoning,
on meat with possible antibiotic content, or wheat with pesticide content for
clarification at this laboratory,” he noted.
Acting chief of
SAMO Institute G.Maral commented, “Calories, quality statistics, amino acid,
fat acid compound, pesticide, antibiotic content, food coloring and flavoring
substances, as well as food preservation substances will be detected with our
equipment in the laboratory.”
She also
highlighted that their previous equipment required extensive time and manual
operations, while the new laboratory will save time and increase efficiency.
“Previously, we conducted researches on around ten samples, now we will do
studies on 50 to 60 samples per day.”
“Our researches
will not be limited by only samples which inspectors brought. We will conduct
our research based on requests of individuals and organizations for a certain
amount of fee.”
Evaluations by
SAMO Institute will be valid throughout Mongolia.
New milk factory to produce 45 million liters of dairy products per year
June 27 (UB
Post) Yesterday, APU LLC opened a new milk factory capable of producing 45
million liters of product annually. This becomes the ninth project the company
has implemented in the past six years. Equipment and facilities from renowned
companies from eight countries, such as GEA Group of Germany, are installed in
the factory capable of fully supplying Mongolian milk and milk product demands.
The factory is built in conformity with European Union milk plant standards.
During the
opening ceremony of the factory, Minister of Industry and Agriculture
Sh.Tuvdendorj said, “Milk is a sacred symbol. Private enterprise has made a
huge investment, and as a result, Mongolia – which has 50 million livestock –
is becoming capable of processing its raw milk by itself and delivering fine products
to its citizens. This will also support herders.” The Chief Executive Officer
of APU, Ts.Erdenebileg, said, “With 90 years of experience, APU is Mongolia’s
oldest beverage manufacturer. Research for the project began in 2011.
Construction of the factory began last year and was completed within a year.
The project became a comprehensive project that successfully contributed to
improving the collaboration of milk production, milk product transportation,
logistics, producers, farmers and herders. Consumers now can buy milk products
that are produced in conformity with the latest standards and meet food safety
standards.”
Approaching its
90th anniversary, APU invested 46 billion MNT in its new milk factory and
created about 100 jobs. The company established 12 milk accumulation points
throughout Tov aimag, and will buy 60-80 tons of milk from farmers and herders
daily, and will manufacture 21 types of milk products.
Currently, the
company is manufacturing its Maamuu and Sain brand products with Sweden’s innovative
packaging solution, Ecolean. The package is resistant to odor, light and is
lightweight.
Safe search engine provides national security
June 27 (UB
Post) The following is an interview with
T.Bayarjavkhlan, CEO of Moogol Cloud LLC, which is working to make the first
Mongolia search engine, Moogol.
Compared to other countries, the
development of Mongolian information technology (IT) is relatively weak. What
is different about the newly developed search engine?
We have 20
years of experience working in IT and we’ve made many programs. For many years,
we were thinking about having our own independent search engine. With this aim,
we resolved to make this system two years ago and worked on its survey for a
year. In Mongolia, technological prospects are open, and content makers are
working hard. All soums are connected to fiber optic cables and internet use in
rural areas is increasing. So it is important to find a way to use internet distribution
effectively.
What benefits will we have through the
Mongolian search engine?
We have spent
some time on using information and technological systems. Although we are still
using foreign search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Index. Honestly, since
Mongolia is an independent country, it should have its own data base and
systems that allows data sharing and updating in order to ensure their
information safety. It will be mutually beneficial to individuals and
businessmen, if a nationwide information system can be set up.
For example,
residents of southern regions are planning to plant vegetables in five hectares
of field to supply their needs. In addition, researchers conducted a survey
that shows plantation potential in the region. Moogol will give these people a
chance to exchange their information, cooperate and make the survey more
accurately.
In this way, a
good business environment and collaborative surveys, investigations and data
bases will be established.
Furthermore, if
children in rural area want to learn English, a feed that says “how to learn
English online” will be included in the Moogol. It is very unique since we can
manage demand and reach of information.
You said that having our own search engine
is advantageous for press and business sectors. What is the difference between
Google and Moogol?
It is hard to
request to Google that we need that kind of information and we want to
distribute it because there is no representation of Google in Mongolia. So our
site has to deal with it and make data entering the system and information
distribution of private and information companies clearer.
Soon we will
have a program that fixes misspelling. Consequently, users can search for
information accurately and the targeted information will be found easily and
fast.
So why exactly do we need our own search
engine? Maybe users prefer Yahoo, Google, or Index more since they have already
gotten used to using them.
The point is
national security. Mongolian companies are using their Facebook actively instead
of developing their own website. This is becoming a key issue which decelerates
this sector’s development. Moreover, the point is that we are becoming more
dependent on foreign search engines. When the internet network is off, the
internal e-mail system has to be working.
Even though it
seems that using foreign sites is not an issue at present, If we look at our
future, having our own search engines is safer.
If we don’t
develop this field ourselves, in five to 10 years, maybe we will not even be
able to create a website on our own.
What kind of information will be included
in this search engine?
All Mongolian
content and information will be submitted to it and companies will have to
upgrade their information on it.
Google defines
their goal as the world brain, but we will set our goal as the Mongolian brain.
For consumers, they can find information from Moogol, same as Google.
We are aiming to promote our national
producers mostly through a cyber network.
It was noted by
foreigners that information about Mongolia in English is quite poor, during a
recent international expo. So it is essential for tour companies to enrich
their websites and publish their information in many languages.
In addition,
research works of scholars will also be added to the search engine. This way,
it is useful for students and researchers who will conduct this sector’s
survey.
Also,
Mongolians’ knowledge on searching information and choosing the right key words
is quite poor. So we need to train them in this area. If Mongolia supports its
national search engine by using it to find information, Moogol will improve
itself quickly.
We will launch
our website on July 1.
How should the state support this project?
The state has
to show support by establishing a network system such as Facebook and Twitter.
For example, our southern and northern neighbors have their own search engines
and they are the most used search engines in their nation. In order to take
care of national information and technological security, the state has to take this
into account.
Source:
http://www.shuudan.mn/page/newsmore/640
Link
to interview
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