Mongolia Brief July 9, 2014 Part V
Minister
S.Oyun at High Level Forum in NY
Ulaanbaatar,
June 9 (MONTSAME) The Minister of Environment and Green Development Ms S.Oyun
is taking part in the Second meeting of the High-level Political Forum on
Sustainable Development, which kicked off June 30 in New York, USA.
A chair of the
United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), Oyun is participating in the forum
also as the key speaker. She has already introduced to the gathered results of
the first UNEA meeting. "This action brought together governmental
delegates from 159 countries and commenced a historical step to realize
decisions of the Rio+20 Conference. We carried out high-level discussions
dedicated to 'Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015 Development
Agenda including sustainable consumption and industry' and 'Illegal trade of
wild animals and plants', and approved 16 resolutions, two decisions and a
final document of Ministers," she said.
She introduced
to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) a necessity
considered by the UNEA for designing possible sustainable developmental goals
that focus on reducing poverty rate, protecting environment and supporting
environmentally-friendly economy.
After this Ms
Oyun ran several meetings--with Mr Martin Sajdik, the ECOSOC president, and
heads of delegations Environment Ministers of Japan and Romania--to share views
on related matters. She also met with regional chairs of Asia, Latin America,
Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Africa to discuss the UNEA’s results and
measures to be taken.
Under auspices
of the ECOSOC, the second meeting of the High-level Political Forum on
Sustainable Development will last until July 9.
Committee
Chair Meets Japanese Delegation
Ulaanbaatar,
July 9 (MONTSAME) A head of parliamentary Standing committee on security and
foreign policy Ts.Oyunbaatar received Wednesday a Japanese delegation led
by Takamatsu University Professor Shigefumi Maruyama.
Pleased with
the meeting with the delegation, Mr Oyunbaatar said Mongolia has been
cooperating with Japan for attracting intellectual investments in recent years,
intending to increase a number of students majoring in engineering and
technology in Japan.
He also talked
about approval of an agreement by the Mongolian Government to prepare a group
of one thousand engineers and technological staffers in Japan, for which the
Japanese part will finance USD 75 million. He expressed a pleasure with
enhancing cooperation in every field.
In response, Mr
Maruyama said that a cooperation between engineers of Mongolia and Japan has a
long-year history, and that Japan wants to launch businesses based on these
ties, "and that is why I am being accompanied by representatives of
construction, commerce, and industrial companies, as well as
technologists".
He also
contributed the successful cooperation to proper information-sharing and
collaboration aiming at development of the nations, and underlined his
willingness to increase opportunities for Mongolians to study business
management in Japan.
Mr Oyunbaatar
noted vast chances of cooperation between the two sides, taking examples of
exporting the camel milk to the world market and making the Mongolian
sea-buckthorn a world-known brand.
Finance
Minister Submits Draft Amendment to Law on Credit Guarantee
Ulaanbaatar,
July 9 (MONTSAME) The Minister of Finance Ch.Ulaan MP Tuesday submitted to the
Speaker Z.Enkhbold a draft amendment to the law on fund for credit guarantee.
It is time to
amend the current law on fund for credit guarantee because there are
requirements to augment sources for the fund of credit guarantee, to broaden
its actions, to support small- and middle-sized businessmen in localities, Mr
Ulaan said.
He added that
the amendment aims to promote local businessmen initiatives for development, to
deliver the credit guarantee fund’s services to localities, and to create a
legal opportunity for them to get the services.
Special
Rule Approved to Explore and Exploit Minerals
Ulaanbaatar,
July 9 (MONTSAME) The regular cabinet meeting on Wednesday approved a special
rule for exploration and exploitation of widely-spread mineral resources in
biggest auto roads, railways and great construction projects.
The permission
to explore and exploit these minerals will be given by the government. A
license owner must spend own money for exploiting the minerals, which must be
used for selected project and programmes only.
In view of
this, the cabinet obliged the Minister of Road and Transportation, the Minister
of Mining, the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, and governors of aimags to control a
realization of the rule.
Direct
Transportation Chances Open for Mongolian Carriers
Ulaanbaatar,
July 9 (MONTSAME) A meeting of the Cabinet approved Wednesday an
intergovernmental agreement on international auto-transportation relations
between Mongolia and Latvia.
The agreement
was signed in Ulaanbaatar on June 12.
Under the
agreement, Mongolian transporters have become able to make direct freights to
the European countries through a new transition point in Latvia. Before,
Mongolia had to make this transportation through Russia, Belarus and
Poland due to absence of related agreement with the latter.
Issues
regarding Asia-Europe trades, transports, customs, taxation and insurance will
be solved easier thanks to this agreement.
Since 1993,
Mongolia has established similar agreements with Russia, China, Kazakhstan,
Ukraine, North Korea, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus.
Cabinet
Meeting in Brief
Ulaanbaatar,
July 9 (MONTSAME) At its meeting on Wednesday, the cabinet approved a
Mongolia-Latvia intergovernmental agreement on exempting the diplomatic and
official passport holders from the visa requirements, which was signed this
June in Ulaanbaatar.
In accordance
with the agreement, the holders of these passports can stay in another country
up to 90 days without visa.
- The cabinet
did not back a bill on supporting families with children, orphans and youths.
It was initiated by D.Oyunkhorol and other 11 MPs.
- The cabinet
discussed draft amendments to the laws initiated by J.Batzandan and A.Bakei MPs
on combating corruption, on the Constitutional Court, on National Commission
for Human Rights, on central body of elections, on statistics, on Bank of
Mongolia, on state audit, on legal status of the Finance Regulatory Committee
and on state service. Related proposals will be conveyed to the draft
initiators.
Stock
Exchange News for July 9
Ulaanbaatar,
July 9 (MONTSAME) At the Stock Exchange trades held Wednesday, a total of 59
thousand and 413 shares of 30 JSCs were traded costing MNT 46 million 504
thousand and 727.00.
"Remikon”
/31 thousand and 982 units/, "Nako tulsh” /10 thousand and 100 units/,
"Hai Bi Oil” /4,492 units/, "Tavantolgoi” /3,008 units/ and
"Makh impex” /1,564 units/ were the most actively traded in terms of
trading volume, in terms of trading value--"Tavantolgoi” (MNT 15 million
033 thousand and 475), "Sharyn gol" (MNT five million 693 thousand
and 370), "Remikon” (MNT four million 798 thousand and 428), "Makh
impex” (MNT four million 746 thousand and 050) and "Nako tulsh” (MNT two
million 727 thousand and 500).
The total
market capitalization was set at MNT one trillion 721 billion 092 million 941
thousand and 746. The Index of Top-20 JSCs was 16,854.67, increasing by MNT
274.07 or 1.65% against the previous day.
AF
Releases Its Fourth USAID-Funded Study
Ulaanbaatar,
July 9 (MONTSAME) The Asia Foundation (AF) and the Sant Maral Foundation
Tuesday released the fourth Study of Private Perceptions of Corruption (STOPP)
as part of the Strengthening Transparency and Governance in Mongolia (STAGE)
project at the Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel.
The project,
funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims
to strengthen democratic governance by building a more transparent and
accountable regulatory and legislative environment while promoting principles
of checks and balances.
Implemented
since December 2012, the STOPP survey has captured data on the experiences of
the business community to find out how corruption debilitates the business
environment. The fourth survey interviewed 330 senior-level managers of
Mongolian businesses in Ulaanbaatar in April 2014. The STOPP surveys are
envisioned to inform critical debates between state actors and the business
sector to promote good governance in their exchanges which in turn will foster
the business-enabling environment.
Additionally,
the STOPP survey is complemented by the Foundation’s other survey on perception
and knowledge (SPEAK) which is designed to capture data on perceptions and
knowledge of administrative practices and grand corruption. Together, the surveys
provide a broad picture of the level of corruption in Mongolia.
Director of the
SMF L. Sumati said: “Observations of the business environment from 2004 until
now show that for the business community in Mongolia the biggest obstacle
remaining is corruption. Nevertheless, the latest screening from 2012 to 2014
showed a visible progress comparing to previous years. Regretfully, some
indicators are also showing reverse trends from the good start in 2012. It also
overlaps with a very difficult general economic situation in the country.
It is evident that urgent measures are necessary to improve the situation in
the private sector."
American
Corner Holds First Ever Country Training
Ulaanbaatar,
July 9 (MONTSAME) The American Corner at the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar has
held its first ever Country Training, the US Embassy website reported
Wednesday.
Embassy IRO Ms
Bolormaa led the training, with the overall theme “Managing American Spaces,”
using the new manual for American Spaces. It was participated by four staff
from the American Corner, the Khovd province host organization director Ms
Erdenetuya; IT staff Mr Gantulga; and the Foreign Relations and Information
Officer from the Ulaanbaatar Public Library Mr Erdene.
On first day of
training, Bolormaa gave an overview of American Spaces with new information and
discussed the Five Core Programs and standards for American Spaces.
Trainees worked
with the trainer to develop Standards Matrices for their own centers, and they
shared experiences and lessons learned about their programs, Center management,
and Physical Spaces. Mr Gantulga presented the latest best practices regarding
social media, iPads, and Kindles.
Participant
feedback about the training showed that overall the trainees found the material
valuable and were impressed by what they learned.
Mongolian
Wins Gold Medal in Powerlifting World Cup
Ulaanbaatar,
July 9 (MONTSAME) A serviceman at the General Authority for Implementing Court
Decisions Captain M.Batbayar grabbed a gold medal in a World Cup tournament for
power lifting held July 2-6 in Novosibirsk, Russia.
The competition
was attended by some 1,000 athletes from 25 countries, Mongolia was represented
by 21.
M.Batbayar, an
international master of sports, has been practicing power lifting for nine
years. Thanks to winning this "gold, he has been qualified to compete in
the Power lifting World Championship that will take place August 20-24 in
Moscow, Russia.
Who
Became Bestseller Last Week?
Ulaanbaatar,
July 9 (MONTSAME) About the June 30-July 1 sell said the "Internom"
bookstore on Tuesday.
"Mongolians:
Beginning of 17-20th centuries" by S.Chuluun topped the bestsellers,
followed by first volume of the "1Q84" by a Japanese Murakami Haruki,
which had been third earlier. The "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to
Lead" by Sheryl Sandberg was listed third.
Other
bestsellers were “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson;
"Sorghaghtani" historical roman both by B.Sarantuya; “Magic” by Bern;
“Incantations for success” by T.Badamzul; “Fires on steppe” by Yo.Otgonbayar;
Textbook for Photographers by K.Gaktum; and "The Man Who Laughs" by
Victor Hugo.
Opening
held for new Dinosaur Museum
July 9
(news.mn) The “T.Bataar and the Amazing Dinosaurs” exhibition opened last
night, July 8th, at the new Dinosaur Museum, located in the building of the old
Lenin Museum.
In this
exhibition, Tarbosaurusbataar and other priceless fossils will be on show.
Visitors will be able to see rare and famous Mongolian fossils such as
Saichania (an armored dinosaur), Gallimimus (a bird like dinosaur), Oviraptor
(meaning an “Egg Thief”) and Protoceratops (meaning “First Horned Face”).
The Minister of
Culture, Sport and Tourism Ts.Oyungerel cut the ribbon opening the exhibition
and enjoyed seeing the famous T.Bataar fossil in its new home.
The museum will
also be offering educational programs for children, students and families to
learn about the dinosaurs in the exhibition and about paleontology.
The museum is
located next to Tengis Cinema on Freedom Square, Ulaanbaatar.
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