Mongolia Brief November 4, 2014
Deputy
Foreign Minister of Mongolia Addresses at Second United Nations Conference on
Landlocked Developing Countries
November 4
(infomongolia.com) Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Economic Cooperation
of Mongolia, Mr. D.Gankhuyag addressed at the plenary session of the Second UN
Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries opened in Vienna, Austria on
November 03, 2014.
Deputy Minister
D.Gankhuyag representing the country briefed about the policy and actions of
the Government of Mongolia towards tackling challenges of Mongolia, which is
confronted with due to its landlocked location while highlighting an importance
of reflecting interests of landlocked developing countries in Post-2015
Development Agenda based on Millennium Development Goals. He also called other
landlocked developing countries to join a Mongolia-initiated multilateral
agreement on the establishment of Think Tank for LLDCs.
During the
meeting, Deputy Minister D.Gankhuyag had bilateral meetings with Minister of
Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic Sultanov Kalykbek, UN ESCAP
Executive Secretary Dr. Shamshad Akhtar and Senior Director for the Transport
and Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Global Practice at the
World Bank Pierre Guislain to share views on bilateral cooperation issues.
Related:
Vice
FM Addresses Conference for LLDCs – Montsame,
November 4
Mongolia-Australia
Development Forum Runs in Brisbane
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) A "Mongolia-Australia Partners for Development"
NGO organized on October 31 a "Mining, sustainable development and
partnership"-themed forum in Brisbane of Australia, jointly with the
Griffith University of Queensland.
The key lectors
at the forum were Chief Operating Officer of Oyu Tolgoi LLC Ivan Vella, a
director of Centre Social Responsibility in Mining of Queensland University
Prof. Saleem Ali, and the CEO of BA Economics Dr. Brian Fisher. Other lectors
were representatives of several economic entities and academic organizations.
The forum gathered some hundred representatives of 40 Australian organizations.
They discussed
an effectiveness of the mining sector in sustainable development, ways of
intensifying a development through partnerships, an exchange of knowledge, and
an improvement of governance in minerals sector.
The Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to Australia Mr R.Bold addressed
the meeting. Present were also Vice-speaker of Australian parliament Dr.
Robinson and representatives of the Queensland government.
This NGO was
founded this June by Queensland's professors and scholars and their 80
students--a part of 700 Mongolians in this country.
Mongolian
Wins New York Marathon
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) Mongolian amputee runner Ms O.Saranchuluun has won the
“TCS New York marathon”, which took place November 2.
Together with
70 thousand runners she crossed 42 km distance and managed to cover it in eight
hours and 15 minutes.
In this
marathon, ranking third in the world, has participated also another Mongolian
P.Enkhmanlai who became one of the first twenty in a category of athletes on
wheelchairs, He finished the race within two hours and 15 minutes.
The marathon
was globally broadcasted live at NBC-5.
Mongolian
Fine Art Exhibition Opens in Switzerland
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) Grand opening of the Mongolian Fine Arts exhibition in
Neuchatel of Swiss Confederation took place November 1.
The action ran
in frames of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations with Mongolia, which falls this year. The exhibition has
been co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to Switzerland, Ulysse
Nardin and Banca Popolare di Sondrio (Italy-based Bank). The opening was
addressed by Dimitri Consoli, a director of the Bank, and by G.Jargalsaikhan,
the Mongolian Ambassador to Switzerland.
The exhibition
is presenting the artworks of Mongolians, namely, L.Bumandorj, Ts.Naranmandakh,
B.Nomin and T.Regzen. It will be open until January 31 of 2015.
Mongolia-Germany
Consultative Meeting at Foreign Ministry Level Runs in Ulaanbaatar
November 4 (infomongolia.com)
A consultative meeting between the Foreign Ministries of Mongolia and the
Federal Republic of Germany was held in Ulaanbaatar on November 03, 2014.
Mongolian part
was chaired by State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Economic
Cooperation, Bat-Amgalan BOLDBAATAR and the German side by Regional Director of
the Foreign Office for Asia and the Pacific, Ambassador Peter Pruegel.
At the meeting,
parties reviewed the current state of bilateral collaboration in the fields of
politics, economy, culture, education and science, deliberated further goals
and shared views concerning regional and international issues.
During the
meeting State Secretary B.Boldbaatar recalled that a wide range of events and
activities were successfully organized on the occasion of celebration the 40th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and requested Germany to
assist Mongolia as the country to participate in the ITB Berlin 2015 as a
Partner Country and in the organization issues of the V Online Freedom
Conference Ulaanbaatar in May 2015 and the ASEM Summit in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
in July 2016.
The sides
welcomed outcomes of the third meeting of the Mongolia-Germany
intergovernmental working group for the development of bilateral cooperation in
the areas of mineral resources, industry and technologies held late October
2014 and the fourth meeting of the Mongolia-Germany economic commission and
talked about largest projects to be carried out by the sides in the fields of
mineral resources and infrastructure.
Related:
Mongolia and Germany held
consultative meeting between Foreign Affairs Ministries – news.mn, November 4
Drivers
who do not pay fines will be restricted from driving
November 4
(news.mn) The National Transport Authority has announced officially that it
will restrict drivers who fail to take their vehicles to state inspections, or
those who do not pay fines for violations of traffic rules, from driving.
The
Metropolitan Traffic Police Department has registered over 580,000 vehicle and
traffic violations. Traffic police officers fine approximately 600 to 700
drivers a day for traffic violations, and it is reported that up to 170 of the
fined drivers have not taken their vehicles to state inspection centers.
The payment of
fines is now 60 percent, according to officials.
The National
Transport Authority has warned that drivers who do not pay fines for traffic
violations and do not get their vehicles inspected will be punished, according
to the Administrative Law of Mongolia.
Responsible
Mining and Rehabilitation
By S. Batzaya
November 4
(Mongolian Economy) The Mongolian countryside extends in every direction, a
beautiful expanse of grassy steppe—flowers dot the ground and trees line the
hills. Could this really be the site of a former mine in operation only several
years ago? “The field was rehabilitated. Now the grass and plants have grown so
fast,” remarks a representative from Mining National Operator LLC, at the site
of their recently reclaimed mine in Zaamar soum, Tuv aimag. “Right after
exploitation, we start the rehabilitation process.”
Mining National
Operator (MNO) has operated a gold mine in Baga Khailaast and Bayangol since
2010. The mining territory is surrounded by mountains, where pine and elm grow
in a forest. To the north is grass and various wild plants.
In September
2014, Mining National Operator handed over the former mining territory to the
local authority after completing a years-long restoration. First in 2010 they
restored 28.1 hectares of an initial field mined in Zaamar. And now again a
rehabilitated field mined in 2012 has been returned to the local community of
Zaamar. The locals are very content with the MNO’s work.
MNO plans
future for rehabilitation before ever breaking ground on a new mine. Fertile
soil is removed from the ground, to be later reused in the rehabilitation
process. In mountainous areas, fertile soil is about 70-80 cm thick; in other
areas the thickness ranges from 20 to 50 cm. MNO performs the rehabilitation
process in a very short amount of time. After the technical rehabilitation
process, a biological reclamation is performed. MNO grows over 10 different
types of plants and flowers. To help the process, MNO often leaves certain
patches of land in the mining field untouched. When rehabilitating, the
untouched patches help convert the mine back to its former natural state.
Reviving the
ecosystem of a mined field requires hard work and plenty of money. In the first
year of rehabilitation, MNO protects the field from animals and grazing cattle.
They also install a drainage system to protect the plants from floods. After a
period of diligent work and observation, the local herders are allowed to graze
again. MNO also uses standard mining management practices from Australia and
Canada that involve the community. They provide local residents jobs through
the establishment of the Zaamar Arvijikh cooperative, and employ forestation
students from vocational training centres. Locals and students have cooperated
in building roads, landscaping and planting trees. Recent accomplishments show
technical rehabilitation of 61.9 hectares and biological rehabilitation of
71.75 hectares for the former Bagakhailaast and Bayngol mines. Restoration was
completed in September 2014.
Safety and social responsibility
“Don’t be
hasty”, “Hello” and “Caution. Caution. Don’t hurry”. These words are on printed
stickers attached to the vehicles and equipment of the workers, calling for a safe
working environment. Safety is the MNO’s primary principle.There is a hospital
onsite. Facilities also include a laboratory, a vehicle service centre, and
employee rest and recreation houses that were developed in Canada. Mining
National Operator likewise believes in social responsibility. MNO has completed
numerous construction projects in Zaamar soum, and supports local business and
enterprise. Last year, MNO invested more than MNT 100 million in the region.
“We are presenting what we have accomplished to the local residents, so that
they have the right perception of the MNO’s operation. This is the second time
we have organised such a presentation. It is very important for us that locals
have a good understanding about what we do,” said Sh.Lhamsuren, Executive
Director of Mining National Operator.
Mongolia has
witnessed rapid development in mining in recent years. There are companies that
take treasures out of the ground and leave nothing but unproductive holes,
eyesores, and an angry local community. On the contrary, there are leaders like
Mining National Operator that work hard to return nature to its original state,
while supporting local initiatives. Responsible mining and rehabilitation are
positive trends that must see continued implementation and development in
Mongolia.
What do residents of Zaamar soum think of
Mining National Operator’s work?
Nyamdorj, head of the Zaamar soum
Council
“Mining
National Operator, which conducts mining in the region of Zaamar soum, has
presented what they have done. They successfully organised ‘National
rehabilitation training’ in 2013. The company is one of the best in
implementing rehabilitation according to the highest standards. It cooperates
closely with local residents and administrators. In the scope of this
cooperation, MNO invested over MNT 100 million in the soum for the 90th
anniversary of its establishment. In addition, a mutual agreement was signed to
cooperate in agriculture. In order to build infrastructure, 20 families were
included in creating an example district. There are 23 enterprises operating in
mining in Zaamar soum. Mining National Operator has been conducting
rehabilitation on time and with great responsibility. We, as a council, are
satisfied with their work.”
Ch.Bayartsetseg, Deputy Mayor of Zaamar soum
“Mining
National Operator has been operating actively in Zaamar since 2011. Besides
cooperating with the locals, it is one of the companies that have accomplished
a great deal of technical and biological rehabilitation in the region. It was wonderful
to see them presenting their work to the residents. MNO should be a role model
for other mining companies. We are very satisfied with the way rehabilitation
is done after exploitation.”
Mongolian
Researcher Kh.Purevdagva to Conduct Joint Expedition to Antarctica with
Bulgarian Team
November 4
(infomongolia.com) An officer and researcher of Mongolian National Agency for
Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment Monitoring, Mr. Khalzan PUREVDAGVA will
be leaving the country on November 13, 2014 to conduct a joint expedition to
Antarctica with a team of Bulgarian Antarctica Institute.
In the scope of
his travel to Antarctica, Kh.Purevdagva will conduct a research expedition
across the Livingston Island, which is located in the South Shetland Islands at
the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula for the period of two months and during his
studies, he will stay at the St. Kliment Ohridski Station, where Bulgarian camp
is stationed.
His trip to Antarctica
is sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Green Development, and the
Minister Mrs. S.Oyun received Kh.Purevdagva in her office and handed over the
flag to hoist and the travel expenses of 14 million MNT (Tugrug) on November
03, 2014.
As of 2014,
there are 50 states party to the Antarctic Treaty, whereas only 29 of the 50
parties to the agreements have the right to participate in decision-making at
the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, though the other 21 are still
allowed to attend carrying out substantial scientific activity in the Antarctic
region.
As of Mongolia,
however the country does not have its own station, but authorized to set up on
Livingston Island in 2013 during the research made by Professor L.Dugerjav and
today, Mongolia has fully provided its preparation to be acceded into the
Antarctic Treaty and soon will be ratified by the State Great Khural
(Parliament) of Mongolia.
In the
frameworks of participating in the international studies and joining the
Treaty, Mongolia will be enacted to have its own territory and set up a Station
in Antarctica to conduct studies and explorations.
Historical timelines of Mongolian explorers
conducted studies in Antarctica:
-
J.Tserendeleg, conducted joint studies on the upper layers of the atmosphere
research with the Soviet 18th Expedition Team at “Molodyozhnaya” Station
in East Antarctica at 67°40′S 45°50′E in 1972-1974.
- D.Chuluunbat,
was included in the 28th Expedition Team at “Molodyozhnaya” Station to conduct
researches on the upper layers of the atmosphere research in 1982-1984.
- A.Batbold,
conducted joint studies on climate research with Bulgarian 16th Expedition Team
at St. Kliment Ohridski Station in 2007.
- L.Dugerjav,
conducted joint studies on Geology and Permafrost Research with Bulgarian 18th,
19th and 21st Expedition Teams at St. Kliment Ohridski Station in 2009, 2010,
and 2012 respectively.
- D.Ganbaatar,
conducted joint studies on opportunities to establish a Mongolian Station with
Bulgarian 22nd Team at St. Kliment Ohridski Station in 2013.
- Lkhamsuren
DUGERJAV, became the first Mongolian to hoist the Flag of Mongolia at the Zero
point of Antarctica visiting the Amundsen–Scott Station (USA) in December 2012.
As of 2014, 50 states party to the
Antarctic Treaty (21 states are Non-Consultative): Country Date of Entry into
Force
1. Argentina:
June 23, 1961
2. Australia:
June 23, 1961
3. Austria:
August 25, 1987 - Non-Consultative
4. Belgium:
June 23, 1961
5. Belarus:
December 27, 2006 - Non-Consultative
6. Brazil: May
16, 1975
7. Bulgaria:
September 11, 1978
8. Canada: May
04, 1988 - Non-Consultative
9. Chile: June
23, 1961
10. China: June
08, 1983
11. Colombia:
January 31, 1989
12. Cuba:
August 16, 1984 - Non-Consultative
13. Czech
Republic: September 01, 1993
14. Denmark:
May 20, 1965 - Non-Consultative
15. Ecuador:
September 15, 1987
16. Estonia:
May 17, 2001 - Non-Consultative
17. Finland:
May 15, 1984
18. France:
June 23, 1961
19. Germany:
February 05, 1979
20. Greece:
January 08, 1987 - Non-Consultative
21. Guatemala:
July 31, 1991 - Non-Consultative
22. Hungary:
January 27, 1984 - Non-Consultative
23. India:
August 19, 1983
24. Italy:
March 18, 1981
25. Japan: June
23, 1961
26. Korea DPRK:
January 21, 1987 - Non-Consultative
27. Korea ROK:
November 28, 1976
28. Malaysia:
October 31, 2011 - Non-Consultative
29. Monaco: May
30, 2008 - Non-Consultative
30.
Netherlands: March 30, 1967
31. New
Zealand: June 23, 1961
32. Norway:
June 23, 1961
33. Pakistan:
March 01, 2012 - Non-Consultative
34. Papua New
Guinea: September 16, 1975 - Non-Consultative
35. Peru: April
10, 1981
36. Poland:
June 23, 1961
37. Portugal:
January 29, 2010 - Non-Consultative
38. Romania:
September 15, 1971 - Non-Consultative
39. Russian
Federation: June 23, 1961
40. Slovak
Republic: January 01, 1993 - Non-Consultative
41. South
Africa: June 23, 1961
42. Spain:
March 31, 1982
43. Sweden:
April 24, 1984
44.
Switzerland: November 15, 1990 - Non-Consultative
45. Turkey:
January 24, 1996 - Non-Consultative
46. Ukraine:
October 28, 1992
47. United
Kingdom: June 23, 1961
48. United
States: June 23, 1961
49. Uruguay:
January 11, 1980
50. Venezuela:
May 24, 1999 - Non-Consultative
Related:
Mongolian Engineer to Participate in Antarctic
Researches – Montsame, November 4
WHO
Delivers Portable Ebola Testing Kits to Mongolian
Health
Sector
November 4
(infomongolia.com) On November 03, 2014, an official ceremony to hand over the
first package of 100 pieces of portable Ebola testing kits was held at the
Emergency Management Center of the Ministry of Health of Mongolia.
These rapid
testing kits worth of 1,500 EUR were manufactured in Germany with 97-100% of
chance to detect the virus and were presented by the WHO Resident
Representative Dr. Soe Nyunt-U and Mongolia becomes the first country in the
Asia and the Pacific western coastal zone to receive these testing kits.
As of today,
the Government of Mongolia spends over 400 million MNT (Tugrug) to prevent the
outbreak of the disease following Cabinet Resolution No. 346.
Mongolia
at ITB Asia Exhibition
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) Mongolian companies have taken part in a major tourism
exhibition-fair ITB Asia, which ran in "Marina Bay Sands" hall in
Singapore on October 29-31.
The seventh
exhibition was attended by 825 representatives of 73 countries, were also the
registered 9,100 tourism representatives of 110 countries. The number of the
participants increased by seven percent against the previous year.
During the
exhibition, the Mongolian Ambassador to Singapore B.Delgermaa held business
meetings with a director of ITB Berlin Mr David Ruetz and a director for
Partner Countries of ITB Berlin Ms Rika Jean Francois. According to Mr Ruetz,
through inking a memorandum of cooperation with the ITB Berlin and becoming a
partner to this organization Mongolia will be included in eight-stage project
for sustainable development of tourism industry, introduced to the online
network of 44 million 797 thousand users, and will be advertized globally
through this daily information network.
Mongolia’s
first tourism entities “New Juulchin World Tours” LLC and “Zendmen travels” LLC
have participated in the ITB Asia.
Vice
Minister about Implementations of Light Industry Projects
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) The Vice Minister of Industry and Agriculture
B.Tsogtgerel participated November 3 in the "Hour of Construction"
traditional meeting to report on the state of implementations of light industry
projects.
The Government
of reforms allocated loans of MNT 154 billion from the government “Chinggis”
bonds revenue for 159 projects, in frames of its policy to promote five
priority industries of cashmere, wool, sewing, dairy and greenhouse farming, he
reminded. In a scope of 888” project on promoting import-substituting and
export-increasing products, a first financing of the approved total investment
of MNT 109 billion for 15 projects has reached the targets, "the
government also provided loans of MNT 50 billion for 29 projects out of the 140
billion approved for promoting a leather industry," he said.
The development
of industrial mentality instead of bargaining is a brand new trend in
Mongolia’s economic history, resulting from the announcement of industrial era
by the Government of reforms, he went on. In the last two months, a
wet-concentrate processing plant opened in Bulgan aimag, and a
copper-and-molybdenum concentrate processing plant opened in Erdenet, moreover,
a bone-recycling factory will lead a development way for wide range of
factories such as of oil, flour, calcium, soap, shampoo, china, and souvenirs,
said Mr Tsogtgerel.
"There are
complaints that the financing has slowed down due to transactions between
commercial banks, it nit like that because these banks issue transactions after
careful assessment and investigation over the entities and projects," he
noted. He also added that Khan and Golomt banks issue major loans for 56-65
projects, the Trade and Development Bank issued the largest amount of loans--55
billion Togrog. In times of such unprecedented amount of financing from the
government, the establishment of a cooperation mechanism between private
entities and commercial banks will provide a good basis for further development,
he said.
Health
Ministry Receives Reps of Chinese Company
By N. Khaliun
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) A director of the Department of policy implementation and
coordination at the Ministry of health Ya.Buyanjargal has received the
representatives of the Chinese Ordon LLC.
The latter
expressed a willingness to cooperate on a concession basis with the Ministry in
a medical waste treatment. The guests also said that their company is engaged
in sale and delivery of equipment for decontamination and disposal of such
waste.
Last
Week’s Bestsellers
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) The list of 10 best-sold books in Internom bookstores
between October 27 and November 2 was topped again by the Oxford English-Mongolian
and Mongolian-English pocket dictionaries by Monsudar.
They were
followed by the Swedish novelist Stieg Larsson’s "The Girl Who Kicked the
Hornets’ Nest" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". The two
series have been included in the bestsellers’ list since the beginning of their
release.
The new on the
list was "Putin" by Leonid Mlechin. The book tells the story of
Russian president V.Putin until he was elected as such for the third time.
The other
bestsellers became “Lean In: Women, Work and Will to Lead” by Sheryl Sandberg,
“The Girl Who Played with Fire” by Stieg Larsson, Rarity III (My little pony)
by K.Cook, “Sorkhugtani” by B.Sarantuya, and “One Hundred Years of Solitude” By
Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
City
Congratulates Silver Medalist of Draught World Cup
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) The Deputy Mayor for Finance and Economy of Ulaanbaatar
N.Bataa received Tuesday the silver-medalist of 10x10 Draughts World Youth
Championship B.Monkhjin and B.Misheel, who ranked 11th, and their families.
The World
Championships ran in Tallinn of Estonia this October. At a request from the
Mongolian Union of Draughts, the travel and other costs for the participation
of these two players were provided by the UB city administration.
During the
meeting, the Deputy Mayor congratulated the children for the demonstration of a
“great intellectual potential of Mongolian children” and for raising the
country’s prestige on a global stage. "We are always ready to promote our
athletes who will compete in regional and international tournaments, by all
means," said N.Bataa.
The ten-year
old girl World silver-medalist B.Munkhjin has a twin who also plays draughts.
They are trained by the youngest master of sports of Mongolia G.Kherlenmoron,
who is 14 years old. The families of the athletes thanked the city
administrators and the Citizen Representative B.Tomorchuluun for their support.
Mongolia
to Host ASEM11 Summit
November 4
(news.mn) Mongolia will host the 11th ASEM Summit of Heads of State and
Government in Ulaanbaatar in July 2016, announced Mongolian President
Tsahiagiin ELBEGDORZJ during the final press conference at the 10th ASEM Summit
of Heads of State and Government held from 16-17 October 2014 in Milan.
The 11th ASEM
Summit will also be the 20th Anniversary since the Asia-Europe Meeting dialogue
process was inaugurated in 1996 in Bangkok.
Mongolian
Entrepreneurs' Forum 2014 to be held in UB
November 4
(news.mn) Mongolian Entrepreneurs' Forum 2014 will be organized in Ulaanbaatar,
on November 10 and 11th.
The School of
Business of National University of Mongolia is organizing the event in
collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, Startup Mongolia NGO, and with
support from the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, United
Association of Mongolian Employers NGO, and JCI Mongolia.
The forum is
expected to be a platform for promoting knowledge about entrepreneurship, to
take entrepreneurship education (courses and research) to a new level, improve
the legal environment for new businesses, build a national strategy to develop
entrepreneurship, to link organizations in the field, and to seek ways to solve
challenges for Mongolian entrepreneurs.
Public
sector corruption hampers private sector
By A. Burnee
November 4
(Mongolian Economy) Nearly half of the companies surveyed (43.3 percent) in the
fifth Study of Private Perceptions of Corruption (STOPP) reported that
corruption in the public sector is affecting them directly.
The Asia
Foundation and the Sant Maral Foundation released the study on Mongolian
corruption in cooperation with the United States Agency for International
Development’s Strengthening Transparency and Governance in Mongolia (STAGE)
project.
“The study aims
to strengthen democratic governance with more responsible and transparent legal
regulations through supporting power balance,” according to Meloney C.
Lindberg, country representative of the Asia Foundation. Despite the high level
of public corruption, the survey shows significant improvement from previous
years.
Asked which
organisations create the most obstacles for business, respondents cited the tax
office (30.6 percent), the Specialized Inspection Agency (18.2 percent), and
customs (11.8 percent). Averaged over all five previous STOPP surveys, negative
assessments prevail over positive assessments, by roughly 70 percent to 20
percent of those polled.
64.5 percent of
individual citizens who participated in study feel the public sector is
fundamentally corrupt.
Mongolian
businesses report that the main obstacles to business in Mongolia are high
taxes (52.1 percent), access to credit (26.2 percent), and strong competition from
other companies (21.5 percent).
Although the
overall assessment remains negative, the number of businesses reporting ‘a lot’
of corruption dropped by 5.4 percent. The number of companies that ‘never’
encountered corruption also increased.
Gender differences
in attitudes toward corruption are tied to the size and sector of businesses.
Big manufacturing, construction, and mining businesses employ more men, while
smaller service and trade businesses employ more women. When the data are separated
by gender, the variations are found to be connected to differences among these
sectors.
Mongolian
Team of 50 Athletes to Compete in 2014 Asian
Beach
Games in 8 Sports Events
November 4
(infomongolia.com) On November 14-21, 2014, the Fourth Asian Beach Games will
be taking place in Phuket Island, Thailand bringing sportsmen of 42 countries
to compete in 26 sports categories (169 events), and Mongolian Team has claimed
to participate in 8 sports events.
On November 03,
2014, the President of Mongolian National Olympic Committee Mr. D.Zagdsuren and
Vice President Mr. J.Khatanbaatar received Mongolian representatives of 50
athletes to participate in the 2014 Asian Beach Games.
In the 2014
Games, Mongolia for first time will be competing in Muay Thai, Beach Modern
Pentathlon and Petanque, and as of other events to participate are Beach
Wrestling, Beach Basketball, Ju-Jitsu, Kurash and Sambo.
As of today,
Mongolian Team had won two medals from the Asian Beach Games, where
T.Enkh-Amgalan won a Gold medal in the +85 kg category of Beach Wrestling from
the 2008 Asian Games held in Bali, Indonesia, and the second medal of Bronze
was achieved by the Men’s Basketball Team from the 2012 Asian Beach Games took place
in Haiyang city of the People's Republic of China.
Mollywood
Box Office: Top Movies of October 2014
November 4
(infomongolia.com) Upon the initiation of Mongolian Authority for Fair
Competition and Consumer Protection, a gross income of Mongolian movies
screened at cinemas was announced for October 2014.
Accordingly, 11
movies were screened nationwide in October and the top earned movie was
selected as “Tusgai Ajillagaa” (Special Operation) making a total of 94.7
million MNT in only 10 days.
The “Tusgai
Ajillagaa” is a 2014 Mongolian comedy film by “Go Adventure” Studio, Directed
by D.Galbayar, produced by U.Munkh-Erdene and was first released on October 22,
2014.
Turning
Coal into ‘Gold’
By Paul
Sullivan, Georgetown University
November 4 (UB
Post) One of the most important concepts for a country rich in natural
resources to understand is value added. Another is employment generation.
Mongolia could dig out its coal and send it to the Chinese and others and
create a lot of wealth in the process. It could also create some jobs in the
coal extraction and transport industries. However, it could create a lot more
wealth and jobs if it focused on the processing of that coal, and also changing
that coal into other products.
Coal is not
just a dirty, hard, and polluting fossil fuel. It is a fuel source for
electricity production for many places, including Mongolia where about 99% of
its electricity is made with coal. The type of coal that is used is called
steam coal most often, this is mostly bituminous coal or even some of the
softer, less clean coals like lignite. These types of coal are crushed into a
powdery state in the electricity station and then burned to create heat. That
heat is used to create steam. The steam turns a turbine. The turbine creates
electricity. So coal can be used to make directed electrons, or electricity.
Coal is a fuel that is used often in cement production. It is also used in the
making of steel and other metals. Coal can be turned into something called
coke, which is a lot better to use in steel mills than just plain coal. Coke is
more energy rich than plain coal, even the most carbon rich and energy rich
coal, such as anthracite or even graphite. Coal tar and other coal residual
products can also be used in the production of petrochemicals.
Coal can also
be used in petrochemicals production due to the gases that are produced in
underground coal gasification. This way the coal does not need to be dug out,
and the soil and water on the surface damaged in the process. Gases are
produced when the coal is heated with water vapor and either oxygen or air
pumped in very deep in the ground where the coal seams are found. The coal need
not be burned underground to make this happen. It is heated in a controlled way
with specific “oxidants” used to make the chemical processes produce the
specific gases from the coal. These gases include hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane (natural gas), hydrogen sulfide, and others
according to the chemical makeup and impurities in the coal seam. These gases
as a total are often called syngas, or synthetic gas. They are synthesized from
coal, oxygen or air, and water vapor. One feeder pipeline going into the coal
seam sends the oxidants down. The other outflow pipe brings up the syngas. The
syngas itself can be burned for fuel, but mostly for electricity production.
This method of using coal for electricity is a lot cleaner than simply burning
crushed coal in the generating plant.
Sometimes the
coal is delivered directly to the electricity generation plant. Then it is
gasified in a part of the plant, then specific gases from that process are fed
into the electricity generation system. This is what is called an integrated
coal combined cycle gasification plant. They are extremely expensive so for now
not a good idea for Mongolia. Some cost in the range of $2.5-5 billion dollars.
That is a hefty price. It is a lot cheaper to gasify the coal underground and
send the syngas to the generating plant. It would be best to have the coal and
gasifier system near to the electricity plant, but sometimes that is not
possible so pipeline systems need to be set up.
One project
Mongolia may consider is a combination of many coal gasification facilities and
a significant pipeline system bringing the syngas to synfuels factories.
Synfuels are a result of some fairly complex chemical, pressure and heat
processes that can produce diesel fuel, petrol, and other products from the
original syngas. Is this not amazing. Coal can produce fuel for a car or truck?
Methanol,
another possible fuel for transportation and other economic activities can also
be produced from coal. Natural gas, CH4, can be taken directly out of coal
seams as coal bed methane, but can also be extracted from coal from
gasification and also via the production of synfuels. So Mongolia could have
another transport fuel from coal, CNG of compressed natural gas. LNG, or
liquified natural gas, can also be a product of various coal processes.
With the right
training, education, investment and equipment, Mongolians could also turn coal
into, and this is really amazing, a huge list of products most would never even
consider to be from coal: soaps, aspirin, dyes, plastics, fibers like nylon and
rayon, carbon fiber for car manufacturing and the like, benzene, coke, ammonia,
fertilizers, urea, formaldehyde, nitric acid, activated carbon for air
and water cleaning, polyvinyl chloride (for plumbing pipes, etc.),
ingredients for cosmetics, resins and even ingredients to toothpastes and
shampoos (especially anti-lice shampoos and anti-dandruff shampoos). This is
just a partial list of the things that coal could make.
Why just export
the raw coal? In the medium to long runs Mongolia could develop a series of
industries based on its huge coal reserves that would help capture the value
added of those industries. Otherwise, other countries who have these industries
capture the value. It is like selling raw diamonds instead of polished jewelry.
The biggest return to diamonds is at the last stages of cutting, polishing and
setting. Coal in the rough can be used to make a lot of things that could be
pure “gold” in income for Mongolia and Mongolians.
If the
development of these coal-based industries have the right offsets from
investors then many scholarships, training institutes, and more could be
developed in Mongolia. Mongolia could also in a few decades be an invention hub
for coal-based industries. Mongolian universities could find themselves at the
forefront of clean coal and coal derivatives inventions.
Imagine all of
this. Now think of a palm-sized piece of coal and what could be done with it —
and for the Mongolian people. A lot of money will be pouring into Mongolia
because of its raw materials. Much of that money could be used to develop
skills and education of the Mongolian people, and in the development of
industries that could grasp the value added of coal-based industries for
Mongolia and Mongolians.
Ministry
of Health meets JICA reps
By N. Khaliun
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) A director of the Department of policy implementation and
coordination at the Ministry of health of Mongolia Ya.Buyanjargal met with
the representatives of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on
November 3.
They spoke
about a post-training monitoring of Mongolian medical doctors and obstetricians
who had been trained a "safe motherhood" in Japan, and said the JICA
is delighted with effective implementation of its mission in the region.
The visitors
also focused on lessons for our doctors and obstetricians from regional
diagnostic-and-treatment enter and national center of Mother and Infant health
on implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the fetal electrocardiogram
(ECG).
Draft
law on collateral for loan submitted
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) A member of parliament Ms G.Uyanga submitted on November
4 a draft law on collateral for loans to the Speaker Z.Enkhbold.
Many years
passed since the pawn shops had taken over the roles to provide cash for people
in need of immediate loans. "There are laws and norms that regulate
relations between other financial subjects and customers such as laws on banks,
saving and credit cooperatives and on other financial organizations, but an
integral part of the financial sector--the pawn shops, responsible for loans,
still have been operating without any specific regulations," she
explained.
On the motives
to develop this draft law, Ms Uyanga named a necessity to regulate the
financial sphere that currently lacks such regulations and to eliminate the
consequences on society because of that lack.
Stock
Exchange news for November 4
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) At the Stock Exchange trades on Tuesday, a total of
54,562 shares of 14 JSCs were traded costing MNT four billion 349 million 265
thousand and 967.00.
"Remicon”
/5,962 units/, “Binse” /2,000 units/, “APU” /787 units/, “Nako Fuel” /300
units/ and "Merex” /197 units/ were the most actively traded in terms of
trading volume, in terms of trading value were "APU” (MNT two million 912
thousand and 940), "Binse” (MNT one million and 172 thousand), “Remicon”
(MNT 601 thousand and 10), “Mongol Nekhmel” (MNT 201 thousand and 600) and
"Nako Fuel” (MNT 85 thousand 500).
The total
market capitalization was set at MNT one trillion 547 billion 569 million 491
thousand and 421. The Index of Top-20 JSCs was 15,399.51, decreasing 74.38
units or 0.48% against the previous day.
About
"Education: Money, Quality and Responsibility" meeting
By N. Khaliun
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) Titled as such national civil society forum is running in
capital city on November 4-5.
Its
participants are discussing a quality of education. Reports are being given
about investments in education and dormitory. Present are some 300 officials of
educational sector, human rights sphere and youth organizations.
Regional
seminar approaches
By N. Khaliun
Ulaanbaatar,
November 4 (MONTSAME) A fourth regional seminar on the Integrated Resource
Management in Asian Cities: The Urban Nexus Project will run in Ulaanbaatar on
November 5-7.
Over 100
representatives of ten Asian cities and delegates of the Capital city's
administration and Government of Mongolia and from German Society for
International Cooperation (GIZ) will attend this seminar. The participants are
supposed to discuss such issues as Integrated resource management, an implementation
of the Urban Nexus Project, an ensuring of a participation of citizens in this
project, and to exchange experience.
The Urban Nexus
Project, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation
and Development and implemented by the GIZ, is aimed to promote nexus-oriented
changes in urban management.
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