Mongolia Receives National Productivity Master Plan (2026–35) to Drive Productivity-led Growth, Resilience, and Shared Prosperity www.globalnewswire.com

The Government of Mongolia received the National Productivity Master Plan for Mongolia 2026–2035 at the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, Government Palace, Ulaanbaatar, on 26 January 2026. The master plan was formally handed over to the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia, H.E. Gankhuyag Khassuuri, by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Secretary-General, Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata, in an official ceremony jointly organized by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Protection; the Mongolian Productivity Organization; and the APO.
The master plan provides a national pathway for strengthening competitiveness and resilience by making productivity a deliberate, measurable priority. It presents a clear baseline message: Following a business-as-usual trajectory without significant productivity reforms, annual GDP growth in Mongolia is projected to slow from 6.2% (2000–24) to 4.2% in 2026–35 and then to 2.8% from 2036 to 2050, driven primarily by a decline in the contribution of labor productivity from 4.0% to 1.4% over the same periods.
“The Master Plan is not merely a report. It is a strategic instrument of statecraft,” said Secretary-General Dr. Indra. In addition, he emphasized that productivity, when treated as a deliberate national agenda, can raise living standards, strengthen competitiveness, and widen opportunity simultaneously.
In his remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Gankhuyag reaffirmed the Government’s productivity-led development objectives, including efforts to “increase the labor productivity and wages of Mongolian people” and to sustain stable growth “above 6 percent” through higher manufacturing processing, productivity, and diversification. He also emphasized public sector productivity reforms under the New Revival Policy, including digitalizing public services, reducing bureaucracy, streamlining inspections, and rationalizing special permits, while underscoring that “productivity is not only an economic indicator” but a concept that directly affects public service quality and citizens’ quality of life.
Minister for Family, Labour and Social Protection Aubakir Telukhan highlighted Mongolia’s national policy direction to advance a “Productivity Revolution,” reduce unemployment, and steadily increase labor productivity and wages while aligning reforms with rapid global changes in technology, trade, and climate policy. Highlighting the scale of the challenge, he stated: “In Mongolia, average labor productivity is 11.3 thousand US dollars, which is 3.6 times lower than the global average.”
To address the above, the master plan is structured around five strategic thrusts:
Expanding market access and prospects
Driving technology and digitalization
Raising the quantity and quality of talent
Making an efficient business environment
Shaping inclusiveness and equity
It also identifies eight priority sectors for focused productivity acceleration: agriculture, forestry, and fishing; processing industries (manufacturing); wholesale and retail trade (including vehicle repair); education services; accommodation and food services; human health and social work activities; water supply and sewerage, waste management, and remediation; and transportation and storage.
Secretary-General Dr. Indra expressed his appreciation to the Government of Mongolia, the Mongolian Productivity Organization, ministries, and stakeholders for their leadership and substantive contributions. He also reaffirmed the APO’s continued commitment to translating Mongolia’s National Productivity Master Plan into measurable outcomes.
About the APO The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) is a regional intergovernmental organization dedicated to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region through mutual cooperation. It is nonpolitical, nonprofit, and nondiscriminatory. Established in 1961 with eight founding members, the APO currently comprises 21 member economies: Bangladesh; Cambodia; the Republic of China; Fiji; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Islamic Republic of Iran; Japan; the Republic of Korea; Lao PDR; Malaysia; Mongolia; Nepal; Pakistan; the Philippines; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Turkiye; and Vietnam.
The APO is shaping the future of the region by fostering the socioeconomic development of its members through national policy advisory services, acting as a think tank, institutional capacity-building initiatives, and knowledge sharing to increase productivity.

78 foreign nationals from 12 countries deported from Mongolia www.gogo.mn

The Immigration Agency of Mongolia says that inspections in January 2026 led to the deportation of 78 foreign nationals from 12 countries, each banned from re-entering Mongolia for 3–5 years. Nationality breakdown: 53 from China, 11 from Russia, 3 from Uzbekistan, 2 from Vietnam, 2 from Kyrgyzstan and 7 from other countries.
Authorities said the deportations were ordered for reasons including overstaying visas or residence permits, working without the required permission, engaging in activities other than the declared purpose of entry, and cases where foreigners had been convicted and served sentences.
The department noted that 1,222 foreign nationals were deported in the previous year, an increase of 41.4% from the year before.
Separately, in cooperation with the Investigation Department of the Criminal Police Service, Mongolian authorities organised the hand-over of a Chinese national, M.U., on 26–27 January 2026. M.U.’s Mongolian residence permit was revoked under relevant law and he was returned to authorities in his country of origin to face legal proceedings.

Japanese Military Maps Reveal First Look at the Hidden Great Mongolian Road www.indiandefencereview.com

Silver Elephant Announces Favorable Tax Tribunal Ruling in Mongolia www.investingnews.com

Silver Elephant Mining Corp. (TSX: ELEF,OTC:SILEF) (OTCQB: SILEF) (FSE: 1P2) ("Silver Elephant" or the "Company") announces that the Mongolian Tax Tribunal (the "Tribunal") has issued a decision dismissing and cancelling a supplementary tax assessment issued to its subsidiary, Redhill Mongolian LLC ("Redhill"), by the Mongolian tax authorities.
The supplementary tax assessment, issued on September 11, 2024, alleged MNT 63.8 billion (approximately CAD 24.6 million) in corporate income tax, value-added tax and related penalties and interest, as a result of the Company's internal restructuring of its Mongolian subsidiaries in 2021. For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure documents under its profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).
Following a hearing on Friday, January 23, 2026, the Tribunal ruled by majority vote in favor of Redhill, dismissing the tax assessment in its entirety. As a result of the Tribunal's decision, the supplementary tax assessment has been cancelled.
The Tribunal's decision is final, and the official written decision and resolution of the Tribunal are expected to be delivered in February 2026.

Melting reserves of power: Mongolia’s glaciers and the future of energy and food security www.reliefweb.int

The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation in 2025 was a timely reminder that the stability of Mongolia’s economy rests on fragile mountain systems that are melting faster than ever recorded. The loss reverberates across the country’s energy and agricultural systems, two development pillars that draw from the same finite resource: water.
Warming and glacial retreat
Mongolia’s average surface air temperature is already 2.3°C higher than the pre-industrial baseline, about 1.3°C above the global average. The most fossil fuel-intensive climate scenario (SSP5) indicates nearly 8°C of warming by the end of the century with the steepest increases expected in the northern and western provinces; home to the country’s glaciers.
These glaciers contribute more than 70 per cent of Mongolia’s freshwater, sustaining agriculture, hydropower, and domestic use. Since 1940, glacier volume has declined by about 28 per cent, and total glacier area has decreased by 35 per cent between 1990 and 2016, leaving only 627 glaciers covering 334 km². Between the 1980s and 2010, Mongolia lost 63 lakes larger than 0.1 km² and about 683 rivers, many in the foothills of the Altai ranges with the highest concentration of glaciers. Groundwater storage on the Mongolian Plateau is also decreasing at nearly 3 mm per year, linked partly to reduced glacial input.
Analysis using downscaled IPCC climate projections available on ESCAP’s Risk and Resilience Portal suggests that this trend is likely to continue in the coming decades and by 2,100 many western Altai glaciers may disappear entirely (Figures 1A and 1B).
Water, energy and agriculture: A tightening nexus
Mongolia’s semi-arid climate has always made water a strategic asset for development.
Agriculture remains the largest water consumer, accounting for roughly two-thirds of total use. Since 2008, more than 1,000 hectares of irrigated land have been added annually, driven by food and livestock-security goals. With prolonged dry conditions (Figure 3), farmers in western and northern provinces report increasing reliance on shallow wells and groundwater pumping, while pastures dry earlier in the season.
These demands coincide with a growing push to expand hydropower for domestic energy security.
Hydropower in transition
Hydropower accounts for nearly one-fifth of Mongolia’s electricity generation, but its viability depends on stable water flow. In the western region, hydropower provides 93 per cent of locally produced energy.
The Durgun Hydropower Plant (HPP) in Khovd Province, for example, provides over 28 per cent of regional power but operates in one of the driest parts of the country. With glacier retreat and declining summer precipitation, inflows have become less predictable. ESCAP drought-exposure modelling shows that the western provinces already face chronic low-to-medium drought intensity, with worsening conditions under future scenarios (Figure 3).
When summer river levels fall, reservoir storage drops, hydropower generation declines and diesel generation must fill the gap raising both costs and emissions. Meanwhile, agricultural water withdrawals upstream further constrain available flows for power generation. The result is a feedback loop: limited water cuts hydropower output, leading to higher reliance on fossil energy, which in turn intensifies warming and glacier melt.
Competing pressures in a semi-arid economy
In the Western Energy Systems, consisting of provinces closest to the glaciers, rising demand compounds these stresses. Between 2018 and 2019, electricity consumption in the region rose 5.6 per cent, driven by population growth and mining expansion.
In summer months, when electricity demand peaks for irrigation pumping and cooling, river discharge often reaches its lowest levels. This mismatch between energy demand and hydrological supply poses a systemic risk. Climate projections show that long-term discharge in key basins will decline, reducing the economic lifespan of existing hydropower assets.
Addressing this challenge requires coordinated planning across water, energy, and agriculture. Three areas stand out:
Water-efficient agriculture. Expanding drip irrigation, adopting drought-resilient crop varieties, and improving on-farm water storage can reduce demand during low-flow periods. Aligning irrigation schedules with projected runoff cycles would ease pressure on hydropower reservoirs.
Diversified renewables. Mongolia’s wind and solar resources can complement hydropower seasonality. Integrating hybrid systems with storage or pumped hydro can maintain grid stability during drought years.
Data-driven basin management. Glacier monitoring and real-time hydrological data should inform both irrigation allocation and hydropower operation. This shared evidence-based approach can prevent conflicts between sectors during dry spells.
Mongolia already emphasizes renewable diversification. By embedding glacier and river monitoring within sector planning, the policy can better anticipate seasonal stress rather than react to it.
From vulnerability to transformative adaptation
Glacier retreat, once viewed as an environmental concern, is now an economic one. For Mongolia, without adaptation and foresight, the combined stress of reduced meltwater, erratic rainfall, and rising temperatures could destabilize both food production and energy security.
Protecting these frozen reserves and managing the water they release means securing not only the country’s rivers but its power and food systems as well.
Resilience begins where risk meets foresight.
Authors
Madhurima Sarkar-Swaisgood, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP
Prangya Paramita Gupta, Disaster Risk Reduction Consultant, ESCAP
Parvathy Subha, Disaster Risk Reduction Consultant, ESCAP

Mongolia Construction Industry Report 2025: Output to Grow at an AAGR of 4.3% Between 2026-2029, Supported by Investments in Transportation, Electricity, and Infrastructure - ResearchAndMarkets.com www.businesswire.com

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Mongolia Construction Market Size, Trends, and Forecasts by Sector - Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Institutional and Residential Market Analysis to 2029 (H2 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
Construction industry in Mongolia to grow by 9.5% in real terms in 2025, supported by public and private sector investments in the development of energy, transport network, and residential construction projects.
According to the Mongolian National Statistics Office (NSO), construction value-add grew by 34.5% year on year (YoY) in real terms in Q2 2025, preceded by a YoY decline of 0.8% in Q1 2025 and a YoY growth of 16.8% in Q4 2024. Furthermore, rising foreign direct investment (FDI) is expected to boost construction development.
According to NSO, foreign direct investment in the construction industry rose by 7.7% YoY in Q2 2025, following YoY declines of 43.1% in Q1 2025 and 55.6% in Q4 2024, reflecting growing investor confidence in the country's energy sector and infrastructure development. In April 2025, the construction of Bagakhangai-Khushig Valley branch railway project was started.
Mongolian construction industry to record annual average growth of 4.3% between 2026 and 2029, supported by investments in transportation, electricity, and infrastructure sectors. In September 2025, the government submitted the draft Law on the State Budget of Mongolia for 2026 to the Parliament. In the draft budget, the government estimated a total expenditure of MNT32.98 trillion ($9.6 billion) for 2026, with an aim to ensure macroeconomic fiscal stability, increase citizens' income, and improve the quality and accessibility of basic social services.
The 2026 Draft State Budget includes funding for a total of 579 projects and programs through state budget investment, including 149 new projects to be implemented in 2026 and 430 continuing projects from the previous year. In the 2026 Draft Budget, the government announced plans to invest MNT3.9 trillion ($1.1 billion) in the energy sector in 2026. Furthermore, the government has set a national goal to achieve 100% enrollment in education in the draft budget.
Report Scope
Historical (2020-2024) and forecast (2025-2029) valuations of the construction industry in Mongolia, featuring details of key growth drivers.
Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector
Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline.
Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants
Reasons to Buy
Identify and evaluate market opportunities using our standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies
Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts
Understand the latest industry and market trends
Formulate and validate business strategies using the analyst's critical and actionable insight
Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures
Evaluate competitive risk and success factors
Key Topics Covered:
1 Executive Summary
2 Construction Industry: At-a-Glance
3 Latest news and developments
4 Project analytics
5 Construction Market Data
6 Risk Profile
7 Appendix
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1f8t85
About ResearchAndMarkets.com
ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Contacts
ResearchAndMarkets.com
Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com
For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470
For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630
For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

Emerging changes in the methods and tactics of human trafficking www.gov.mn

    There has been a growing number of cases in which Mongolian citizens have been deceived to traveling to Southeast Asian countries-especially to Bavet and Poipet in Cambodia and to areas such as “KK Park” in Myanmar-where they subsequently became victims of human trafficking and were forced to work under coercion, including forсed labor and sexual exploitation.
    Organized criminal groups in Southeast Asian countries have established numerous centers to operate cybercrime activities, recruiting indivduals through deception and coercion, and subsequently forcing them to participate criminal acts. These centers are engaged in a wide range of illegal online scam activities including phishing, deepfake pornography, illegal, gambling, lotteries traudulent investment schemes, and loan-related scams.
      As a result there have been notable changes in the methods and tactics employed by perpetrators of human trafficking. For instance:
Perpetrators gain the trust of victims by providing financial assistance and subsequently subject them to labor exploitation by having them sign traudulent employment contract presented as official.
Using online platforms, establish contact with individuals provide a certain level of financial support, and gain their trust by proposing the conclusion of so-called official cooperation agreements, thereby inducing them to travel to foreign countries.
Rather than relying on previous methods-such as targeting adolescent girls with limited family supervision for sexual exploitation or sale to third parties-offenders are increasingly selecting individuals with skills in information technology and proficiency in foreign languages. Once the selected individuals are transported to the targeted locations or countries, perpetrators confiscate or withhold their personal documents, compel them to engage in cybercrime activities, and in some cases secure their compliance by promising a share of the ilicit proceeds, thereby completing the criminal act.
      Due to limited awareness among citizens regarding crimes involving coercion into iligal activities, and the widespread misconception that human trafficking only occurs when physical force is used, many individuals fail to recognize that they themselves or their close relatives have become victims. Last year, our agency in collaboration with relevant organizations carried out preventive measures among its citizens residing in countries identified as having a high risk of human trafficking.
     As a result over 50 individuals identified as being at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking were rerached through in-person and online consultations provided with guidance, and appropriate preventive measures were implemented. During this process, it was found that 68% of these individuals were promised high salaries but were not informed about any resulting debts or how to repay them 56% were provided with false information regarding working and living conditions 98% were instructed to keep details of the job offer confidential or not to disclose them to others and 59% experienced restrictions on their freedom of movement to varying degrees. Although these individuals were not completely prohibited from leaving the country their passports and personal documents were confiscated, and in some cases returned only after their legal stay had expired thereby violating the law and effectively restricting their legal stay had expired thereby violating the law and effectively restricting their freedom of movement.
    Therefore, all the citizens are advised to remain vigilant amd take precautious to protect themselves, their families and close assiociates from becoming victims of such crimes.
General intelligence agency of Mongolia

Mongolia Plans to Produce 90 Million Tons of Coal This Year www.montsame.mn

 This year, Mongolia plans to produce 90 million tons of coal, 1.9 million tons of copper concentrate, and 9.4 million tons of iron ore.
It was also reported that there are currently 1,031 valid mineral exploration licenses and 1,771 mining licenses in the country. The information was presented during a discussion on the implementation of policies and activities of the industrial and mineral resources sector for 2026.
The discussion was attended by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development Enkhbayar Jadambaa, as well as Deputy Minister of Economy and Development Davaasuren Sodnomdarjaa. Participants exchanged views on the sector’s policies, ongoing projects and programs, and activities planned for this year.
Deputy Minister Davaasuren noted that the ratio of exploration and mining licenses is reversed, which poses risks to the sector’s development, and inquired of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Damdinnyam Gongor about how much time and budget are to be spent to normalize the ratio.
In response, the authorities of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIMR) emphasized that increasing investment in geological exploration is essential to strengthening the sector’s long-term capacity and should be reflected in the budget framework. They noted that countries with mining-dependent economies follow international best practices by ensuring stable financing for geological exploration. Revising the methodology for calculating the mineral royalty and introducing the international practice of allocating a certain share to local communities where mining operations are taking place would contribute to local development and enhance public understanding and support.
At the end of the meeting, participants agreed to continue collaboration to improve policy coordination in the mining and industrial sectors, support economic growth, and create a favorable investment environment.
The MIMR has announced 2026 as the “Year of Policy Reform.” Within the framework of Mongolia’s 14 mega projects, six major projects are currently being implemented, including the Mongolia–France joint uranium project, coal-chemical and coke-chemical complexes, copper and steel projects, an oil refinery complex, and a gold refining plant. In addition, amendments and revised versions of the Minerals Law, the Heavy Industry Law, the Petroleum Law, and the Petroleum Products Law are planned to be submitted to the Parliament for consideration during its spring session to increase investment and improve the business environment.
The mining sector accounts for 26 percent of Mongolia’s GDP and 79 percent of total industrial output, while contributing 95.4 percent of export revenues, 74 percent of foreign direct investment, and 28.4 percent of consolidated budget revenues. Between 2015 and 2024, Mongolia attracted MNT 99.38 trillion in foreign investment, approximately 80 percent of which went to the mining sector.

Mining Sector Week Opens, Planned Legal Reforms Outlined www.montsame.mn

A “Mining Sector Week” event was launched on January 26, 2026, organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Development, the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority of Mongolia (MRPAM), and the Mining Association. The event aims to improve investment conditions in the mining sector in line with government policy, protect investors’ legitimate interests, and strengthen public–private partnerships.
Opening the week, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Damdinyam Gongor stated that the mining sector is introducing multifaceted policy reforms to shift from extraction to processing, to produce value-added products, increase exports, and boost tax revenues. He also highlighted the sector’s contribution to the national economy.
Specifically, the mining sector accounts for 26 percent of GDP, 79 percent of industrial output, 95.4 percent of export revenues, 74 percent of foreign direct investment, and 28.4 percent of consolidated budget revenues. According to the ministry, of the MNT 99.38 trillion in foreign investment attracted between 2015 and 2024, nearly 80 percent went to the mining sector.
The minister noted that preparations are underway to revise mining and industrial policies, as well as amend the Law on Minerals, in the coming years. Public consultations to gather public proposals and feedback on the draft concept of the amendments, will be held this week.
He explained that, alongside amendments to the Law on Minerals, several related laws are being prepared. Subsequently, the Law on Heavy Industry, the Law on Petroleum, and the Law on Petroleum Products will be revised. The objective is to move away from exporting raw materials toward processing minerals domestically and producing final products, thereby increasing value addition and retaining greater benefits from natural resources within the country. These legislative changes will align with the government’s broader Investment Law and Business Support Law, forming a core pillar of state policy.

13 people freeze to death in Mongolia in January www.xinhuanet.com

Mongolia has recorded 13 hypothermia deaths in January 2026, the country's National Police Agency (NPA) said on Tuesday.
Half of the victims had drunk alcohol, the NPA said in a statement.
Alcohol ingestion was the main cause of hypothermia during cold exposure, it added.
Since mid-January, a cold air mass originating in Siberia, Russia, swept across large parts of Mongolia, bringing frosts and causing temperature drops.
On Jan. 21, overnight temperatures plummeted to minus 45.2 degrees Celsius in Eruu soum, an administrative subdivision of the northern Mongolian province of Selenge, according to the country's weather monitoring agency.
Mongolia's harsh and cold winter lasts for quite a long time. Temperature can range between minus 25 degrees Celsius and minus 45 degrees Celsius.