Mongolia Brief September 4, 2014 Part I
'Discover
Mongolia 2014' kicks off
The 12th Annual
International Mining Investors Forum “Discover Mongolia 2014” kicks off today
at the Mongolian Children's Palace.
The Ministry of
Mining and the Mongolian National Mining Association are organizing the annual
forum. Mining Minister D.Gankhuyag noted in his opening speech at the forum,
that Mongolia is improving its legal environment to attract more investment.
Foreign direct
investment (FDI) dropped by 70 percent in the first half of 2014, which was
once 4 to 5 billion USD in 2011. FDI was equal to 53 percent of GDP but is now
only 7 percent.
The parliament
approved a new investment law in 2013 and made amendments to the Minerals Law
and Petroleum Law in the last spring session.
The other good
news for investors is that Mongolia is determined to maintain its policy in the
minerals sector.
During the
two-day forum, discussions on the legal environment, the current situation in
the gold and coal markets, project finance, and geological research will be
held. There will also be a sub-session on rare earth elements.
Entrepreneurs
and entities also display their work in an exhibition for investors. The 12th
Annual International Mining Investors Forum “Discover Mongolia 2014” will end
on Friday, September 5th.
Related:
Mining
Investors Forum Begins – Montsame,
September 4
V.Putin's
one-day visit to Mongolia
September 4
(news.mn) Russian President Vladimir Putin's five hour visit to Mongolia, upon
the invitation of President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj, ended on September 3rd.
At the end of
the visit, Russian President V.Putin had dinner with Khalkh Gol Battle veterans
and then laid a wreath at Marshal Georgy Jukov's monument on the occasion of
the 75th anniversary of the historic victory by Soviet and Mongolian soldiers
at Khalkh Gol.
During his
visit to Mongolia, V.Putin had one-on-one meetings and official talks on
bilateral relations and cooperation.
The presidents
of the two countries attended a ceremony signing bilateral agreements and
protocols between the governments and .ministries of the two countries.
Mongolia
and Russia signs 15 agreements and protocols
September 4
(news.mn) President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj and Russian President V.Putin had
official talks and signed 15 agreements, protocols and MoUs at a ceremony on September
3rd.
The 15
agreements signed include:
An agreement on
terms for reciprocal travel of citizens,
Wildfire
protection agreement,
A protocol
between Aeroflot and MIAT-Mongolian Airlines on civil aviation cooperation,
An agreement on
cooperation between the nations' Ministries of Justice,
An agreement
between the Russian Railways Company (RZD) and the Ministry of Roads and
Transportation
of Mongolia on a strategic partnership in the modernization and
development of the Ulaanbaatar Railway JSC,
A memorandum on
mutual understanding between the Ministry of Construction and Urban
Development and Ministry of Construction, Housing and Utilities of
Russia,
A memorandum on
mutual understanding between the Ministries of Economic Development of the two
countries on the development of economic relations,
An agreement
between Rosneft petroleum company and the Ministry of Education and Science of
Mongolia on the training of Mongolian students in the Rosneft partner
institutions of higher learning,
A protocol to
extend the terms of an intergovernmental agreement on free technical military
assistance to Mongolia,
A memorandum of
mutual understanding between the Finance Ministry of Mongolia and Russian
National Wealth Fund on technical assistance,
A memorandum of
mutual understanding of cooperation between the Citizenship and Migration
General Authority Mongolia and the Federal Migration Service,
A memorandum of
mutual understanding between MNB and Russia Today agency,
An agreement on
readmission.
Minister
Receives Russian Deputy Head of Defense
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
September 4 (MONTSAME) The Minister of Defense D.Bat-Erdene Wednesday received
Army-General A.V.Bakhin, a First Deputy Defense Minister of the Russian
Federation.
The latter was
here in frames of the working visit of Russia’s President Putin to Mongolia.
Mr Bat-Erdene
said the cooperation in defence plays a main role in the Mongolia-Russia
historical, traditional and good neighbourhood relations, and emphasized that
the 75th anniversary of the Khalkh River Battles has been celebrated not only
across Mongolia, but also among Russians.
Mongolia is
thankful to Russia for assistance in improving arms and techniques of the
Mongolian Armed Forces and for preparing military staff, he said and expressed
a satisfaction with a successful development of the bilateral relations and
cooperation in the defense sector.
Mr Bat-Erdene
also hoped that the First Deputy Defense Minister will focus attention on a new
way of collaboration within the intergovernmental agreement on rendering
military and technical non-refundable aid to Mongolia and on renovating the
arms and techniques of the Mongolian Armed Forces. He added that Mongolia is
maintaining a policy on preparing its military staff, administrative officials
and engineers in Russian military universities.
In response,
Army-General Bakhin expressed satisfaction with a present bilateral traditional
relations and said Russia wants to continue the active collaboration with
Mongolia.
Mongolia
and Russia Expand Cooperation in Construction Sector
Ulaanbaatar,
September 4 (MONTSAME) The Minister of construction and urban planning
Ts.Bayarsaikhan met Wednesday with the Minister of Construction and Housing and
Communal Services of the Russian Federation M.Meni and the Minister of Regional
Development I.Slyunyaev.
After having
touched upon matters of bilateral relations and cooperation in the construction
and housing, the sides agreed that Mongolia will learn how Russia has been
adjusting its normative documents of the sector to the European standards, and
that cooperation may grow by ways of developing construction design, analysis,
exchanging students and experts, joint realizing housing projects.
Ts.Bayarsaikhan
stressed that their cooperation should be activated within the memorandum of
mutual understanding, which was inked September 3 and on which a joint working
group will work consisting of representatives of the two Ministries.
Mongolia's
ranks 98 in global competitiveness
The World
Economic Forum (WEF), a Geneva based non-profit international organization,
released its annual Global Competitiveness Report for 2014-2015. According to
the Global Competitiveness Report, Mongolia ranked 98th out of 144 countries.
The Global
Competitiveness Report produces internationally recognized rankings that
provide a platform for dialogue between governments, business and civil society
about the actions required to improve economic prosperity.
The different
aspects of competitiveness are captured in the following 12 pillars:
-Institutions,
-Infrastructure,
-Macroeconomic
environment,
-Health and
primary education,
-Higher
education and training,
-Goods market
efficiency,
-Labor market
efficiency,
-Financial
market development,
-Technological
readiness,
-Market size,
-Business
sophistication,
-Innovation
Mongolia has
been included in the report since 2005, and has been able to compare its
competitiveness ratings to other countries.
The reports
show that there have been no significant positive changes to Mongolia's
competitiveness since 2005. The main obstacles to running a business in
Mongolia are bureaucratic apparatus, corruption, exchange regulations, lack of
qualified personnel, the instability of inflation policy, and chances for
financing.
According to
the Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015, the top 10 countries are
Switzerland, Singapore, the USA, Finland, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, the
Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Sweden.
Related:
Mongolia’s
Rank in Competitiveness Report 2014-2015 – Montsame, September 4
Mongolians
to Study Transportation and Railway in China
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
September 4 (MONTSAME) A total of 77 students will begin their study in Beijing
to major in auto transport and railway in 2014-2015 academic year with scholarships
granted by China.
This has become
available in frames of the cooperation memorandum established between the
Ministry of Road and Transportation of Mongolia and Beijing Jiaotong
University.
Some students
have already been studying in this university starting from 2013.
The new 77 will
go to China on September 15.
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