Mongolia Brief January 7, 2015
Standing
Committee Head Gets Familiarized with Ministries’ Activities
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
January 7 (MONTSAME) Head of the parliamentary Standing committee on economy
J.Batsuuri Tuesday got au fait with the Ministry of Construction and Urban
Development, the Ministry of Road and Transportation.
The Minister of
Mining R.Jigjid introduced to the Standing committee head his Ministry’s
actions, noting that it has been working under guidelines from the cabinet.
“Recently,
great efforts have been put to refine a legal environment for the mineral and
oil sectors. I reckon this environment has become more competitive,
comprehensible and sustainable, now we intend to realize it," Mr Jigjid
said. A preparation is ensured by the Ministry to grant exploration special
license, and the Ministry is maintaining policies on attracting foreign
investments and on putting some mineral deposits into economic circulation, he
added.
Mentioning that
some legal documents have been submitted to parliament, he hoped that the Standing
committee will focus on tackling these documents that are supposed to
contribute to the country’s development.
By the 2015
budget law, money has been cut for the biggest projects and programmes which
are being realized by the Mining Ministry. The Minister Jigjid asked the
Standing committee to create conditions for normally continuing these projects
and programmes.
Standing
Committee on Social Policy Meets
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
January 7 (MONTSAME) At its meeting on Tuesday, the parliamentary Standing
committee on social policy, education, culture and sciences ran a final
discussion of a draft amendment to the law on tobacco control submitted by
D.Erdenebat MP.
While being
discussed by parliament, this bill had received a support after some
principally different proposals of MPs were reflected in it.
Then the
committee considered a matter on changing compositions of parliamentary
sub-committees. The Mongolian People’s Party’s (MPP) faction had proposed
changing the sub-committees on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and on
poverty reduction, which are related to the Standing committee on social
policy. By this reason a majority of the Standing committee backed
Ya.Sodbaatar, D.Sumyabazar, A.Tleikhan and D.Khayankhyarvaa to be added to
these sub-committees and decided to send a related proposal to parliament
meeting. It was also agreed to free S.Demberel, G.Uyanga and L.Gantomor from
the sub-committees.
The Standing
committee was supposed to run a final discussion of a draft resolution of
parliament on re-approving the state policy on education, but decided to
postpone it until next week.
Vice
FM Meets Ambassador of Russia
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
January 7 (MONTSAME) The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs N.Oyundari received
December 31 Mr I.K.Azizov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the Russian Federation to Mongolia, reported the Ministry's press service
on January 7. The sides shared views on a present situation of the
Mongolia-Russia relations and mutual visits, implemented in 2014, and on
concrete works supposed to be co-realized in 2015.
TT
Negotiations Continue on Railway Matters
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
January 7 (MONTSAME) The negotiations which began January 5 between the
government's working group and the strategic investor of Tavan
Tolgoi--consortium of Shenhua Energy-Sumitomo-Energy Resources--are continuing
with two meetings held on the matters of Deposit-Investment-Cooperation and the
railroad connecting Tavan Tolgoi with Gashuunsukhait.
At the first
meeting, the sides exchanged detailed information, a sub-group presented
related documents, agreements and contracts to the investor. The strategic
investors has been obligated to construct and commission on their expenses a
basic structure of the railroad which connects the deposit to Gashuunsukhait
border port, and to deliver a 51-percent shares of the operating railroad to
the State, free of charge, 30 years after the commissioning, as reflected in
the parliamentary resolution No.34 and in the Government's resolution No.268.
The railroad
basic structure has upper and lower compositions of rail tracks, engineering
facilities such as bridges and viaducts, power and water feeds, signal
communications, information facilities, level crossings and barricaded gates to
ensure regular operations of stations, junctions and traffic.
Present at the
meeting were B.Otgochuluu, the head of Department for Strategy and Policy
Planning of the Ministry of Mining, S.Javkhlanbaatar, the head of the
Investment Department of the Ministry, Ya.Batsuuri, a director of “Erdenes
Tavan Tolgoi” JSC, also the representatives of Shenhua Energy Company, Sumitomo
Corporation and Energy Resource LLC.
Parliament
to Celebrate 23rd Anniversary of Constitution Day of Mongolia
January 7 (infomongolia.com)
On January 13, 1992, the People's Great Khural (Parliament) approved the new
democratic Constitution of Mongolia and since then resolved to observe this day
as the Constitution Day.
On this
occasion, the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia released a program to
celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the Constitution Day of Mongolia.
January 10-11, 2015
- Amateur Chess
Championships organized under the auspices of the Speaker of Parliament.
Tournament Opening at 10:30 am, Government House
January 12-18, 2015
- Displaying
the original copy of the Constitution at the Mongolian State History Museum.
Opening at 11:40 am, Government House
- Launching
ceremony of “E-Tour to Government House”. Starting at 01:00 pm, Government
House
January 13, 2015
- Award presenting
ceremony named after late Merit Lawyer B.Chimid. Grand Ceremonial Hall,
Government House, 11:00 am
- Paying
tribute to the Monument of Chinggis Khaan, Government House, 11:40 am
- Traditional
Wrestling Competition dedicated to the Constitution Day, Wrestling Palace,
02:00 pm
Related:
23rd anniversary of the
Constitution to be marked – news.mn,
January 7
The
Youngest Yokozuna Kakuryu, M.Anand Got Married to D.Munkhzaya in Tokyo
January 7
(infomongolia.com) On January 06, 2015, professional sumo wrestler the 71st
Yokozuna Kakuryu, Mangaljalav ANAND, called a press conference at his
affiliated Izutsu beya (arena) revealing an official statement of his marriage.
Yokozuna
Kakuryu, 29, married Dashnyam MUNKHZAYA, a 23-year-old Mongolian woman and the
young couple expects their first child in coming May. At the press
announcement, Kakuryu said he plans to arrange the wedding ceremony after their
child’s birth.
Kakuryu,
M.Anand added, “The year of 2014 was a full of joyous events while I was
promoted for the top Yokozuna title and married my sweetheart.
I am facing
more responsibilities for my family and in fact, I had not won a Basho since
became the Yokozuna, therefore I will do my best in 2015”.
The young
couple started to date in late 2013 and began living together in Tokyo since
August 2014. Now D.Munkhzaya is studying there at a Japanese language school.
Studying
Swedish Experiences on Trade Facilitation
January 7
(infomongolia.com) Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI)
with the purposes to facilitate the country’s foreign trade and export
promotion is organizing "International Trade Facilitation Issues, Studying
Swedish Experiences" Forum in Ulaanbaatar on January 20-21, 2015.
The event will
be co-organized with the Swedish National Board of Trade, a Government Agency
under Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where the following topics will be covered.
- The role of
international trade and trade facilitation
- Fundamentals
of trade facilitation issues and activities
- Sweden's
trade facilitation activities and experiences
- International
trade agreements (multilateral, regional and bilateral)
- Trade
facilitation tools and best practices
- Changes and
features
Related:
Forum
on studying Swedish experience to be held – Montsame, January 7
Defense
Minister Meets Ambassador of India
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
January 7 (MONTSAME) The Minister of Defense Ts.Tsolmon Wednesday received Mr
Somnath Ghosh, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to
Mongolia.
The Minister
said the two countries can develop the defense cooperation with new contents
and boost ties in other spheres such as industry, military sport, culture,
arts, scientific works and research. In response, the Ambassador said the
defense sector plays a vital role in the bilateral relations and expressed
his country’s willingness to continue the “Nomadic Elephant” Mongolia-India
military exercises, which were organized annually since 2004. He also
highlighted his views about continuing the collaboration in information
security and in appointing military attaché to each other.
Since the
establishment in 1973, the ties and cooperation in the sphere have been
enhancing year by year, as well as high and middle level mutual visits, for
instance, a head of the General Headquarters of Mongolian Armed Forces paid an
official visit to India in 2014.
This meeting
was requested by the Ambassador.
Standing
Committee on Environment Meets
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
January 7 (MONTSAME) Ways of changing a composition of the sub-committee on air
pollution reduction was discussed at a meeting of the parliamentary Standing
committee on environment, food and agriculture on Wednesday.
A related
proposal had been already put by the Mongolian People’s Party’s (MPP) faction
at parliament, moreover, S.Oyun MP had expressed a willingness to enter this
sub-committee, and the "Justice" coalition’s faction had sent a
request to free D.Terbishdagva MP from the sub-committee. Regarding all this,
S.Demberel, Kh.Bolorchuluun and S.Oyun delivered theirs views. Then a majority
of the Standing committee agreed that S.Batbold, Ya.Sodbaatar, Ch.Khurelbaatar
and S.Oyun would be included into the sub-committee, and decided to send a
related proposal to parliament meeting. They also concurred to remove
D.Terbishdagva and L.Bold MPs from this sub-committee.
EBRD
Provides EUR 10ML Loan for Mongolian Car Dealer
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
January 7 (MONTSAME) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD) is continuing to develop local currency financing in Mongolia by
providing a loan in Togrog to a Toyota car dealer, Tavan Bogd LLC.
The company is
a part of Tavan Bogd Group, a long-standing EBRD client with interests in
fast-moving consumer goods, cashmere manufacturing, financial services and
trade, according to EBRD. The EBRD loan of 23.4 billion Togrog (EUR 10 million
equivalent) will help the company finance a construction of a state-of-the-art
Toyota repair and maintenance centre, expand its new car distribution and sales
business, and improve energy efficiency.
The project
will also benefit from grant financing of EUR 42,000 for an energy efficiency
audit provided by the government of Japan. Further grant financing is available
for energy efficiency improvements, according to EBRD.
General
Director of Tavan Bogd Group Ts. Baatarsaikhan says,"This is another
example of the good cooperation between the EBRD and our Group. We can always
rely on the EBRD to understand our business requirements and provide us with
the support we need."
"With this
transaction, the EBRD continues to support Mongolia’s private sector. Demand
for new cars keeps increasing and Tavan Bogd’s new repair and maintenance
centre will serve the country’s growing middle class,” said Masaru Honma, EBRD
Director for Central Asia.
To date, the
EBRD has invested over USD one billion into the Mongolian economy. Nearly all
EBRD-financed projects support private sector companies and banks, according to
EBRD.
Mongolia
and China to Upgrade Meat Trade
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
January 7 (MONTSAME) The Minister of Food and Agriculture R.Burmaa met January
7 the Ambassador of China to Mongolia Wang Xiaolong to seek a support in
mobilizing a dialogue about exporting to China Mongolian agricultural products
with no limited quotas.
That dialogue
took place during the state visit of Mr Xi Jinping to Mongolia in August of
2014. At the sixth meeting of the working group between the Ministries in
Beijing and on the meeting of the Vice ministers of Food and agriculture it had
been agreed that the two countries would cooperate in creating a "free of
animal diseases" zone in the eastern region of Mongolia, thus implementing
a program on facilitating meat export to China and on combat with cross-border
outbreak of the animal diseases. Moreover, a Vice minister of Chinese
Department of Supervision on Animal and Plant Quarantine, Import and Export
Food Safety Bureau, Mr Wu Qinghai had proposed at a meeting with the Mongolian
Ambassador Ts.Sukhbaatar to run a dialogue about alleviating the transit
regulations and barriers during the trades of beef, mutton, and goat meat,
horse by-products, buuz, dumplings, flour, animal fodder and keeps.
In scope of
this proposal, a request had been submitted to the Chinese Department of
Supervision on Animal and Plant Quarantine to terminate a quarantine in
Bayan-Olgii aimag in the aftermath of hoof-and-mouth disease outbreak occurred
last year. The termination of the quarantine will allow the aimag’s mutton and
goat meat exports to China to commence. Our Ministry of Food and Agriculture
issued a direction that addresses creating a favorable environment for trading
animal fodder, pedigree livestock, and other agricultural products with China
through Bayankhoshuu-Ovdog port of Dornod aimag and Bichigt-Khatavch port of
Sukhbaatar aimag.
Tax
investigation case against SouthGobi Sands sent to court
January 7
(news.mn) The tax investigation case against former three employees of
SouthGobi Sands was sent back to court.
The former
employees of SouthGobi Sands are accused of tax evasion and money laundering
according to Act 166.2 of the Criminal Code of Mongolia.
Justin Kapla,
Hilarion Cajucom Jr., and Cristobal David are accused of intentional
misstatements when reporting tax revenue in SouthGobi's financial statements.
The former
employees of SouthGobi Sands are also accused of 84 billion MNT in tax evasion
that should have been paid to the Government of Mongolia.
The Ulaanbaatar
City Prosecutor's Office has refiled the case against the former employees of
SouthGobi Sands based on the investigation of several transactions allegedly
conducted on behalf of other companies.
Mongolia-China’s
Khovd and Beitun Cities to Activate Partnership
January 7
(infomongolia.com) In October 2014, Khovd Aimag of Mongolia and China’s Beitun
city of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region had established a Partnership
Agreement during the International Conference on Investment in Western Region
of Mongolia took place in Khovd Sum of Khovd Aimag.
Under the
implementation of the Agreement, delegates led by Deputy Director of Beitun
City Industrial Zone Logistics, Hou Guo Fang have arrived in Khovd town to
conduct a business meeting with the Governor of Khovd Aimag D.Tseveenravdan on
January 06, 2015.
At the meeting,
Governor D.Tseveenravdan emphasized collaboration opportunities to develop
infrastructural projects alongside the highway road to connect Russia, China
and Mongolia through Khovd Aimag.
Also,
cooperation opportunities in processing meat products, practicing irrigated
land system as well as developing responsible mining exploration and other
sectors to boost socio-economic spheres of Mongolia.
The other part
proposed offers of collaboration in which spheres most needed investments,
whether to cooperate on the use of copper and oil, construction of apartment
buildings, tax ease on raw materials, and many other legal advises in future
partnerships.
Batzandan
MP meets Jim Anderson
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
January 7 (MONTSAME) A member of parliament J.Batzandan received Wednesday the
Country Manager of the World Bank to Mongolia Mr Jim Anderson.
The latter
thanked the MP for receiving him and gave information on the WB's projects
which are expected to be implemented here: “E-Health” aims at establishing a
general database of health and at improving information usage and consistency;
a “Smart Governance” aimed to introduce communication technologies into the
state services in order to improve the access, transparency and efficiency of
the public service information; and an “Education Quality Reform” project is to
improve a quality of primary education.
In response,
the MP said he is satisfied with the results of the projects targeted to
educational sphere among many projects implemented by the World Bank. After
this the two exchanged opinions on the projects and programs to be realized in
the future by the WB.
Stock
Exchange news for January 7
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
January 7 (MONTSAME) At the Stock Exchange trades on Wednesday, a total of
7,189 units of 15 JSCs were traded costing MNT 25 million 313 thousand and 245.
"APU”
/4,900 units/, “Binse HK” /1,000 units/, “Genco tour bureau” /350 units/,
“State Department Store” /149 units/ and "Mon-it buligaar” /130 units/
were the most actively traded in terms of trading volume, in terms of trading
value were "APU” (MNT 18 million 392 thousand and 747), "UB-BUK” (MNT
one million and 890 thousand), “Darkhan nekhii” (MNT one million 417 thousand
and 500), “Mon-it buligaar” (MNT one million and 040 thousand) and "Binse
HK” (MNT 790 thousand).
The total
market capitalization was set at MNT one trillion 412 billion 113 million 391
thousand and 911. The Index of Top-20 JSCs was 14,624.96, increasing 8.53 units
or 0.06% against the previous day.
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