Mongolia Brief August 15, 2014 Part V
N.Ulziibat:
Nobody will buy products if they don’t include the latest technologies
By B. Dulguun
August 17 (UB
Post) The following is an interview with
N.Ulziibat, founder and CEO of ThemeTon LLC, about the company and other
relevant issues in the IT sector.
ThemeTon sells its own products at Envato
Marketplace, the world’s biggest cyber market for digital products including
website template, photographs and paintings, music, and films. Some 3,400
companies from every corner of the world trades in this market and just last
week, the company had over 4.1 million customers.
CEO N.Ulziibat finished high school of
Yesunbulag soum in Govi-Altai Province and entered the School of Computer
Science and Management (SCSM) of the Mongolian University of Science and
Technology (MUST) to pursue his interests in computers. He graduated as a web
designer in 2003 and founded ThemeTon together with some of his university
friends in 2008.
You founded ThemeTon shortly after
graduating. What sort of demands in the cyber world did you foresee that nudged
you to establish a company to address them? Can you share on how you started
off?
I was more
interested in designing rather than programming when I was studying at the
SCSM. This probably directed me towards my current job. I enjoyed imitating
photoshop lessons on the internet at the school laboratory. The only
opportunity to combine designing and programming was to become a web-designer
at the time and I began developing my skills for it. At first, I created
websites for clients and surveillance software with my friend, and worked for
some time in the domestic market. Due to lack of experience and financial issues,
our works didn’t succeed in the market.
Mongolia’s
domestic market was too small and IT recognition was poor. We even worked in a
basement after establishing the company and went around to companies with our
printed prospectus. Some would welcome us and some would chase us away. Then
one day, a company director of one of the places we visited said that we
reminded him of his younger self when he was starting off and gave us an order
worth 80,000 MNT, which gave us a lot of support and encouragement. We mainly
did commissions but worked very hard to produce our own products. We understood
that we should sell our products to foreign markets.
When did you start selling your own
products in foreign markets?
We expanded
operations of the company, got experience in producing new products and
increased staff members. As this was happening, the National Information
Technology Park (NITP) contributed to us greatly in setting foot in foreign
markets. By developing ourselves in their incubator, we started marketing
considerable amounts of products and entered foreign markets in 2011. ThemeTon
entered foreign markets by selling website templates for 12 USD at first.
Despite being the first product, over 100 were sold a week. When it made around
1,000 USD, it became one of the market’s top products. We reduced our work
commissions and spent more time on products that were sold at the market.
How many products has your company
introduced so far? Can you briefly explain what they are?
People
frequently ask us what sorts of products we create and if we can show their
picture. Basically, we create products with new designs and modern approaches.
People who purchase these products, they can function a website by inputting
desired photographs and data. Currently, ThemeTon is marketing some ten
products. Overall, we made over 20 products but some of the technologies were
advanced so their sales were stopped.
What’s the criterion at Evanto Marketplace?
Can anyone sell their products there?
Its criterion
is high since it’s the biggest market for digital products with over four
million users. You’ll realize how famous it is when you consider that some 20
millionaires were born from the market globally. Our products were rejected
several times by their inspectors but our team didn’t get discouraged. Instead,
we improved product designs. A product made through an order will be used only
once but if you enter a decent product into the market, it can be sold to many
customers for many years. It’s like getting a dairy cattle if we can sell our
products by exceeding Evanto Marketplace’s criterion and standards.
In the last
three years, our revenue was around 250,000 USD in total. If a company can get
over 70,000 USD a month, they’re promoted to Elite Authors. ThemeTon has
fulfilled this requirement. Out of the 3,400 teams in the market, our team is
the 120 to 140th regular member. The market has the advantage of being open to
everyone.
Mongolia’s
universality obstructs our team as well as language barriers. Toys may seem
easy to make when made in our own way but if you’re asked to make it according
to a certain standard, it’s difficult. Foreign markets only demand standard
products.
How many staff does ThemeTon have?
Currently, we
have three permanent Mongolian staff members. We worked with many young people
who learned from us and became independent later. Now, I’m working with the two
permanent staff that experienced all of the company’s hardships and worked with
me since the start of ThemeTon. There are also three members from America,
Israel, and Switzerland in charge of the after sales-service and customer
services consultation. After sales-service is a crucial part of this business.
Foreigners who are well-acquainted with official language excel at this job.
Foreigners are easy to work with as they complete their tasks within their
deadline.
If it’s alright, can you reveal how much
salary your team members get each month? What percentage of Envato
Marketplace’s sales do you make?
Revenue varies
a lot. At the beginning, it was around 700 USD. Now, we get more than 10,000
USD a month. Obviously, salaries are distributed after deducting expenses.
Expense includes rent and purchasing fee for templates bought from the
internet, which costs three USD for each template. Over 20 templates need to be
made in order to produce a product. The market is responsible for marketing our
products, and in return, they charge us 30 percent premium.
When selling products on international
markets, how reliable is the environment for protecting intellectual property?
Do you sell products in Mongolia?
We don’t sell
in Mongolia because anyone can get their hands on products made from someone’s
hard work and effort. On top of that, digital intellectual property issues
aren’t discussed at all. Even if intellectual property theft is discovered,
Mongolia doesn’t have the legal environment for charging culprits. In foreign
markets, this type of business has expanded and its value is high, meaning it’s
very reliable. A customer purchases our product for 40 USD to use it for
something. The next time they need it, they have to pay again. This concept is
installed in the mentality of foreigners. In Mongolia, Windows XP software are
utilized for free even to this day. There are many Mongolians who don’t even
know that these programs are worth 100 to 200 USD.
Which country purchases your products most?
America
purchases our products most, followed by, European countries, India, Israel and
other countries from every corner of the world.
Can you name the most successful product?
Currently, our
SquareGrid product, which we launched at Envato Marketplace in April 2012, has
been purchased 1,220 times so far. SquareGrid became our most successful
product with total sales of approximately 40 million MNT. Comparatively, this
is a tiny achievement. There are dozens of opportunities waiting.
For Mongolians, is it possible to find
sufficient amount of funds by producing products in a team and having it
compete in markets?
It is. Envato
Marketplace is a mass market. For example, a member of ThemeForest, who earns
the most profit, gets an income of 40,000 USD a week, which is equivalent to
75.3 million MNT. To use this amazing opportunity, Mongolian young people must
labor and strive incredibly hard. You don’t have to work for this market; there
are so many available jobs if you search through sites like freelancer.com.
Even for housewives at home, there are all sorts of work they can do on the
internet, including typing texts, doing translations, and organizing documents
on [Microsoft] Word and Excel.
Where do you get ideas for your designs?
In general, we
get inspirations from foreign design sites. This sector is very competitive.
Nobody will buy products if they don’t include the latest technologies and
developments.
How many hours do you work a week?
At the moment,
we don’t have a permanent schedule. On average, I work five to six hours a day
and rest on the weekends. Sometimes, we have a lot of workload and sometimes,
we have few. There are times when I need to visit blogs and social media due to
work demands.
What are your near-term and long-term
goals?
My near-term
wish is to work for the biggest IT center, Silicon Valley, in San Francisco,
USA. Life of people working in the IT sector just sear there. Billionaires rise
from there. Astonishing ideas are developed in Silicon Valley and introduced to
our daily lives. It doesn’t matter whether I can find success because my dream
can be fulfilled only there. As for future goals, I want to implement a major
project. I can’t reveal what sort of a project it is as it’s still a secret.
O.Gundegmaa
becomes national champion
By B. Tungalag
August 17 (UB
Post) The Mongolian Shooting Sport Federation and Ministry of Culture, Sports
and Tourism are jointly organizing the National Shooting Championship at
Technique Sports Center.
Some 170
shooters from 20 organizations are competing in 10 different events. On August
13, champions of the 25 m pistol event were announced. Labor Hero and State
Honored Athlete O.Gundegmaa won a gold medal in the women’s division, followed
by International Sports Masters U.Ulziinyam and Ts.Munkhzul. The National
Shooting Championship will end on August 16.
Mongolia’s
first metal festival to rock at UB Palace
By B. Tungalag
August 17 (UB
Post) Mongolia’s first ever international metal festival Noise Metal Fest 2014
is about to take place at the UB Palace, Ulaanbaatar on August 23.
Mongolian metal
rock bands Aysiin Salkhi, Nisvanis, Bulsara, Metronome, Motorway, Silent
Scream, Aadar, Shugam, Purgatory and Destroyers will participate in the
festival. Canadian band Mongol, which plays music in folk death metal genre,
and Inner Mongolian band Nine Treasures, will take part in the festival.
Two members of Mongol arrived in Mongolia on August 11.
The following
is a brief interview with members of Mongol, guitarist Thomas Quiring and solo
guitarist Luke Barry.
Have you ever visited Mongolia before? How
do you feel?
Luke: It’s my
first visit to Mongolia. I like Mongolia. We received a very friendly welcome.
I decided to come to Mongolia when we received an invitation to participate in
Noise Metal Fest 2014. Thomas and I came here before the other members. We want
to know about Mongolian culture.
Thomas: The
land of Mongolia is so vast. I am very happy that we came to the homeland of
Chinggis Khaan. We hope we can make many good memories in Mongolia.
What about the other members? When will
they arrive?
Thomas: Our
band has six members; drummer Kenton Barry, keyboardist Dayton Barry, bass
guitarist Josh Blackburn and singer Brandon Knott.
Luke: They will
come here on August 15.
Did you guys travel around the countryside?
Luke: We
haven’t gone to the countryside yet. We went to Chinggis Square, Bogd Khaan
Palace Museum and the National Garden Park.
Thomas:
Yesterday we went to Urgoo Cinema and watched a film. We are planning to go to
the countryside after other members arrive.
Why did you name your band Mongol?
Luke: Our band
was established in 2009, but with a different name. We have been playing folk
death metal since 2010. Then we changed the name of our band. We chose Mongol
after thinking for a long time. We know about the history and conquests of Chinggis
Khaan. We know about his empire. That is why we named ourselves Mongol.
How many albums have you released so far?
Luke: Our band
has two albums currently. Our first album was released in 2012 and it was
titled “The Altan Urag”. Second album was released this year with the
name“Chosen by Tengri”.
How have you come to learn about Noise
Metal Fest 2014?
Thomas: I heard
that this kind of festival hasn’t been organized here. The organizers of the
festival decided to invite bands from abroad and contacted to us. We accepted
the invitation.
Why did you choose to play rock?
Thomas: Such a
hard question. It is very hard to explain. Just fell in love with it.
Luke: It’s very
nice to show people what I can do and I think live music, especially rock,
music can express emotions.
Will you be visit Mongolia again?
Luke: Maybe. We
are interested in Playtime festival. If we have a chance to participate in
Playtime, we will come back here.
’108
Faces of Mongolia’ shares a rare history
By L.
Nandintsetseg
August 17 (UB
Post) The “108 Faces of Mongolia” exhibition opened at Zanabazar Fine Art
Museum on August 13 and is on view through the end of this month.
The exhibition
features selections from the private photo archive of Czechoslovakian
archaeologist Lumir Jisl, and is supported by the History Institute of the
Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the Czech Embassy. Lumir Jisl took many
historical and rare photos while he was working in Mongolia between 1957 and
1963.
Lumir Jisl was
born on April 18, 1921. He studied Mongolian, Tibetan, and Japanese cultural
history. Books he wrote about Mongolia have been translated to German and
English. His film “Way to Tibet” was awarded at the Venice Film Festival.
A
Mongolian-Czechoslovakian joint expedition led by Lumir Jisl found the
fossilized head of Turkic General Kul Tigin. In addition to the research
in Mongolia, Lumir Jisl took some nice shots of the Mongolian lifestyle at that
time.
Only 108 of
2,000 photographs are displayed in this exhibition. Most of the photos are
related to religion. Head of the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism
Ts.Oyungerel, representatives from the Czech Embassy in Mongolia, Ya.Vatsek PhD
and scientists from Charles University of Prague attended the opening
reception.
Historian and
Professor from the Central Asia Institute of Charles University, Veronika
Kapishovskaya was interviewed about the rare collection of photographs.
How did you come across these rare and
historical photos?
Lumir Jisl
wrote a few books about Mongolian culture and Buddhism. To get information
about his research, I met his two daughters. We decided to exhibit his
collection.
How did you choose the 108 photos on
exhibit? Will the remaining photos be displayed later?
We chose the
best qualified photos. His daughters would be able to display their father’s
complete archive.
Lumir Jisl
wrote this note after his first visit to Mongolia in 1958: “My aim is done, and
it’s time to return home. But it feels like everything was a miracle. Gifts
from friends, photos, the fresh smell of wormwood assures me that it’s not a
miracle. Green valley, blue sky, golden sands, amiable nation… Oh, my beloved
Mongolia. I’m not satisfied even though my dreams came true. How deeply I love
you, Mongolia. You will be always on my mind.”
The “108 Faces
of Mongolia” exhibition will open in Prague next month.
Source: Unuudur
More
torment for drivers in Ulaanbaatar
By B. Dulguun
August 17 (UB
Post) Life in the capital city is becoming more and more problematic and one of
the main causes is traffic congestion.
The Mayor of
Ulaanbaatar, E.Bat-Uul, frequently mentions that expenses for people living in
capital cities are higher and advised residents to be more frugal in accordance
with world standards. The mayor is quick to impose his views onto others, and
lately, he’s been peddling ideas for one of Ulaanbaatar’s urgent issues:
traffic congestion. His first idea was to restrict cars by their number plates,
and started implementing traffic regulations.
Statistics on
paper indicate that traffic congestion has decreased by some 30 percent, but
who knows how effective it is in reality. People have already adapted to this
change, implemented for some time, as if it’s normal. The mayor’s statement,
“When road projects are finished and congestion decreases, number plate
restrictions will be cancelled,” is probably impossible now. Destruction of
this restriction is long forgotten as the next operation to “torment” cars is
ready to begin.
The next
resolution to torment cars was discussed by the District Council and drew
closer to approval, as the number of vehicles is soaring along with population
growth. In the draft resolution, roads are to become toll ways, meaning a fee
(or toll) will be assessed for passage. Specifically, passage from the western
crossroad of Ulaanbaatar to the 13th district intersection, from Geser Church
(near the 3rd and 4th khoroos) to the western intersection of Sansar Tunnel,
and forward from J.Sambuu Street, Youth Avenue, and Beijing Street to Peace
Avenue, are subjects in the frameworks of the resolution. Passenger cars will
pay 50,000 MNT, while vehicles with up to 1.5 ton carrying capacity will pay
40,000 MNT a month. Drivers who don’t pay will not be able to drive on these
roads from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
As written in
the presentation by the Transportation Authority, people’s purchasing power has
enhanced, resulting in an increase in the amount of cars on roads, which has
made cars driving through downtown “undefeatable.” They evaluated that traffic
decreased by limiting number plates issued in the country. According to
statistics from the capital city’s police department, the number of vehicles in
Ulaanbaatar increased by 191.88 in 2012 and by 116.24 in 2013.
In line with
constructing toll ways, the city’s public transportation network and planning
will be reviewed, an electronic payment system will be introduced, and monthly
tickets will be developed, as mentioned during the presentation. The
Transportation Authority calculates that the number of passengers will increase
as the public transportation network and planning is upgraded, within the
framework of this project intended to keep people from entering the city,
behind the guise of introducing a new system. Particularly, to improve the
city’s transportation sector (which never had a remarkable reputation), people
are encouraged to travel on only buses, instead of driving cars. This will
secure funds and enable the sector to them more effectively.
Drivers didn’t
purchase their cars with the city administration’s money. Roads in the city
were built with the people’s paid taxes, so why should they pay more money to
use them?
Deputy Mayor of
the Capital City N.Gantumur stated, “The quantity of cars increased as roads
improved and widened. Many drivers drive aimlessly near the city center.
There’s evidence from the Traffic Police and Road Authority reporting that 30
to 40 percent of all cars wander aimlessly. Cars driving in congested areas
must be taxed,” and added that traffic congestion will be cut by some 30
percent. He didn’t explain on what basis this would occur, he said “wanders
aimlessly” and pointed fingers at the people providing taxi services when inquired
about who these “aimless wanderers” were. Instead of giving concrete proof and
evidence of expected outcomes from research, these authorities couldn’t devise
a better method, other than direct supervision, patrols, and filling their
pockets with the little cash left in people’s wallets.
Research proves
that 14 to 30 percent of air pollution is caused by cars. Although their idea
to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, as well as improve the public
transportation sector is correct, their solution to punish drivers and collect
fees is not quite right. There are many urgent projects including expediting
road traffic by sorting out pedestrian streets and traffic lights that are
placed a few steps away from one another, and eliminating more critical factors
polluting the air. Tormenting cars is definitely not the best method. Foreign
countries do have practices of assessing fees for passage on main streets and
roads of their capital cities. Mongolia can’t walk at the same pace as other
countries by adopting this standard. Roads in foreign countries aren’t
tortuous, narrow or wrecked like Mongolia’s.
Source:
Unuudur, http://mongolnews.mn/i/54018
Khaan
Deli
By Michelle
Borok
August 17 (UB
Post) Sometimes, as an expat or traveler, the things you miss most from abroad
are the creature comforts. The simplicity of popping into a neighborhood diner
for a hot cup of coffee and a hearty breakfast that you know. Khaan Deli
provides that taste of home in an unpretentious, just as open to locals, no
frills, down to the basics setting.
The menu, in
English and Mongolian, for breakfast and lunch items is written in chalk with
plenty of room to include special items, a regular occurrence. The standard
menu offers plenty, but Khaan Deli keeps things interesting with dessert and
lunch specials not found in other American restaurants in UB, like chocolate
sheet cake, pecan pie, falafel, and picture perfect apple pies. They advertise
the specials on their Facebook page.
Khaan Deli
isn’t looking to break new culinary ground with experimental dishes, but they
are working steadily to do their best at American style staples with what’s
available in the UB marketplace. When menu items are tested, the bar is set for
authentic American flavors.
Breakfast
selections are available as a la carte items or as full plate combos with
classics like pancakes, eggs (any way you want them), and Southern style
biscuits and gravy. The biscuits and gravy are a generous scoop of creamy,
meaty, white gravy on top of a buttery hot biscuit. While I like mine with a
sprinkle of green onion on top, the seasoning in Khaan Deli’s in-house sausage
meat brings plenty of flavor to the plate. The bacon served with breakfasts is
the bacon next to impossible to find in UB restaurants: crispy, well-cured, and
just like your American mom used to make.
The breakfast
menu is available until 11:30, with consideration to make it an all-day
offering.
Lunch offers a
regular line up of classic diner sandwiches (on bagels, biscuits or rolls),
burgers, and hot dogs, including the “Coney” chili dog. Deli style salads are
offered on a regular basis in the deli case, if you don’t fill up on the fries
that come with your burger, or if you’re looking for a healthier alternative
for a side. A soft serve machine provides regular offerings of sundaes, cones
and malts in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.
Khaan Deli’s
biscuits and bagels are made in-house each day and can sometimes be purchased
as take home bakery items. The deli also offers ground and seasoned meats
(including a spicy chorizo), cured hams, bacon, corned beef, and Western cuts
of chicken and beef. A whiteboard lets customers know what’s in stock and what’s
available to order.
The deli is a
family business and opening hours sometimes change, but notice is always given
in advance of changes to the regular schedule. Seating is limited, but delivery
(with a minimum order) and carry out is an option. There are plans to open a
second location closer to the city center, but for now, a trip to Khan Uul is
worth it for a taste of comfort.
Average dining
cost per person: 1,200-12,000 MNT
Location: Khan
Uul district , 1 khoroo, Bldg 17, Apt 1
Phone: 89463354
Join the UB
Foodies group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ubfoodies/.
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