Cooperation to strengthen bilingual education and training programs www.gogo.mn

Minister of Education L.Enkh-Amgalan met with Christophe Kamp, High Commissioner for National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and exchanged views on the quality of education for ethnic minorities, bilingual education and training, and future cooperation in this field.

Following reforms in the education package, Mongolia has for the first time legislated inclusive education, including the provision of mother-tongue and bilingual education for ethnic minorities.

The two sides agreed to work together to achieve tangible results in implementing bilingual education and training programs, strengthen teaching human resources, increase the availability of bilingual textbooks and teaching materials, and support bilingual e-learning and training.

The cooperation will also include making digital content more accessible to ethnic minorities, providing teachers with content and methodology training for bilingual education, and exchanging experience.

During his visit to Mongolia, High Commissioner Christophe Kamp visited ethnic minority education and training settings in Khovd and Bayan-Ulgii provinces and expressed his commitment to supporting bilingual education and working together to address related challenges.

Government Orders Cost Reductions, Efficiency Measures in Energy Sector www.montsame.mn

At its regular session on May 6, the Cabinet approved a resolution aimed at improving governance and increasing efficiency in the energy sector.

Under the resolution Minister of Energy Naidalaa Badrakh was instructed to implement measures to reduce costs by at least three percent across all stages of electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and supply, while improving operational efficiency, ensuring transparency in procurement, strengthening oversight, discipline and accountability, optimizing staffing and organizational structures, and enhancing corporate governance in energy companies.

The resolution also directs authorities to improve the quality of services provided to consumers, expand digitalization, increase productivity and efficiency, and create conditions for consumers to monitor and reduce their electricity consumption and manage payments more conveniently.

To ensure the energy sector can meet peak winter demand in 2026–2027, the Government plans to commission the 70 MW thermal power plant under construction in Sukhbaatar soum of Selenge aimag during the third quarter of this year. The “Zes Oyu” power plant, which will supply up to 80 MW to the Central Region Integrated Grid, is also scheduled to enter operation before August. In addition, battery energy storage projects aimed at covering electricity shortages during peak demand periods will be implemented with private-sector investment.

Struggling with inadequate English teaching capacity www.ubpost.mn

In an increasingly interconnected world, English has become more than a foreign language for Mongolians; it functions as a gateway to global knowledge, education, and professional opportunity. It is the dominant medium of academic research, international business, digital communication, and cross-cultural exchange. For countries such as Mongolia, where engagement with global systems continues to expand, English language proficiency is no longer optional but essential for long-term development and competitiveness.

Yet despite its growing importance, data suggests that Mongolia’s English proficiency remains at a developmental stage. According to the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, Mongolia ranks 95th out of 123 countries, with a score of 447, placing it within the low proficiency category and below the global average of 488. The EF English Proficiency Index evaluates countries’ English skills using data from millions of adults worldwide who voluntarily took the EF Standard English Test. Rather than testing entire populations, it analyzes self-selected learners, combining results from several versions of the test and normalizing them into a single score for each country. In its latest edition, the index assesses all four key language skills, reading, listening, speaking, and writing, and calculates national averages based on these results. Countries are then ranked and placed into proficiency bands ranging from very high to very low. 

Moreover, the data also reveals uneven skill development: learners perform relatively better in reading (463) and listening (423), while significantly lower results are recorded in speaking (389) and writing (390). This imbalance reflects an education system where English is often learned for comprehension rather than active communication.

At the center of this challenge is a shortage of qualified English teachers. Nationally, Mongolia has more than 6,200 English language teachers, yet 62 percent do not meet international competency standards, while only 32 percent are considered adequately qualified to teach English at a global level. This gap is reflected directly in classroom realities.

In Ulaanbaatar City alone, over 336,000 students study English across 332 public schools, supported by approximately 1,532 English and English-Russian teachers. Based on workload calculations, the capital city faces a shortage of around 210 teachers. As of March 11, 181 teaching vacancies remained unfilled in 87 public schools across the capital city.

In response, education authorities are actively discussing policy solutions, including the recruitment of foreign English teachers. According to the Capital City Education Department, hiring around 200 foreign teachers, particularly from countries such as the Philippines, would require approximately 3.9 billion MNT. Officials argue that this measure could help reduce workload pressure, improve teaching quality, and introduce more effective language teaching methodologies.

However, questions remain over whether this is a sustainable and fully effective solution. While foreign teachers may provide an immediate boost in exposure to fluent English and modern teaching methods, education experts often note that short-term recruitment alone cannot resolve structural issues such as teacher training quality, retention, and unequal distribution across schools. Without parallel investment in developing local teachers and improving working conditions, the impact may remain limited in scale and duration.

 Structural challenges

English is taught as the primary foreign language in Mongolia’s general education system, beginning in the third grade, and continues as a compulsory subject through to grade 12. In line with the revised education law, a foundational English curriculum was officially introduced at the primary level starting from the 2023–2024 academic year, marking a significant policy shift toward earlier language acquisition. Despite these efforts, learning outcomes remain uneven across the country. Data from the EF English Proficiency Index indicates a modest urban advantage, with Ulaanbaatar City scoring 454, which is slightly above the national average. This disparity underscores deeper structural inequalities, including uneven access to qualified teachers, limited availability of quality learning resources, and insufficient opportunities for authentic English exposure, particularly in rural and remote areas.

Beyond numerical shortages, deeper structural issues continue to weaken English education outcomes. One of the most significant is the limited attractiveness of the teaching profession itself. Teachers often face relatively low salaries, heavy workloads, and limited opportunities for professional growth.  

Concerns have also been raised about how the teacher training scholarship scheme has shaped perceptions of the profession. According to a third-year student from the English and German Language Department of the Mongolian National University of Education (MNUE), the policy has increased enrollment in teacher education programs, but not always for reasons of strong professional motivation.

“Not only English teaching, but teaching in general has almost lost its appeal because of the teacher training scholarship program. Since students who just meet the entrance exam threshold can study without paying tuition, enrollment has increased. However, there is no guarantee that all of them chose this profession out of genuine interest. Many may have selected it simply because it is free or accessible. This, in turn, creates a perception that teaching is an ‘easy option’ or a profession for those without other choices. It affects the training of qualified teachers and also influences the students’ perception of teachers,” the student said.

Such perceptions may further affect both the motivation of future teachers and the overall quality of teacher preparation, adding another layer to the ongoing challenge of strengthening English education in Mongolia.

Uneven access to language

Another critical factor is the persistent and widening gap between urban and rural education systems. Students in Ulaanbaatar City generally perform slightly above the national average thanks to better access to qualified teachers, learning materials, private tutoring, and greater exposure to English-language environments. In contrast, rural and remote areas continue to face significant structural challenges, including teacher shortages, limited resources, and weaker connectivity that restrict access to authentic English content.

This inequality creates a system where English learning outcomes depend heavily on geography rather than equal opportunity. In many schools, especially outside the capital and urban centers, English instruction remains largely focused on grammar rules, memorization, and exam preparation. Students often gain theoretical understanding of language structures but lack practical communication skills, particularly in speaking and writing.

These disparities are also reflected in national proficiency data, where productive skills remain significantly lower than receptive ones, highlighting a system that does not yet fully support active language use.

A clearer picture of this gap emerges from students’ experiences. An eighth-grade student from Arvaikheer soum of Uvukhangai Province said that opportunities for real communication practice are extremely limited in rural schools. “There are no English clubs at my school and no native speakers to practice speaking skills with. There were Peace Corps volunteers working at my school last year, but to be honest, it was very difficult to speak with them because my English was not that good,” she said.

Similar challenges are also felt at the teacher education level. A second-year student at MNUE, specializing in primary education, noted that while new initiatives aim to strengthen English teaching capacity in primary schools, the gap remains significant for students from rural backgrounds. “There is a program to support and prepare primary school teachers with English skills, because third graders now learn English through the Pearson platform. However, as a student from a rural area, it is still hard to improve my English, especially at times when young students are learning English through digital sources, and are better than adults at English,” she said.

These experiences reflect a broader reality: while policy reforms and digital tools are expanding access in theory, unequal infrastructure and limited communicative environments continue to shape very different learning conditions across regions.

Reforms and emerging supports 

Despite these challenges, Mongolia has begun implementing a range of reforms aimed at improving English education outcomes. One of the most significant policy shifts has been the introduction of a foundational English curriculum at the primary level starting from the 2023–2024 academic year. This marks an important step toward earlier exposure to the language, which is widely recognized as critical for fluency development.

In parallel, several national and international initiatives are being implemented to strengthen teacher capacity and expand access to learning. One such initiative, led by “EF Efekta”, is targeting over 7,000 students in Ulaanbaatar’s Nalaikh, Baganuur, and Bagakhangai districts, as well as vocational education centers. The program also provides AI-based English training for more than 10,000 individuals, including over 2,000 English and IT teachers.

These digital and hybrid approaches aim to reduce teacher workload while expanding access to more flexible learning environments. Additionally, short-term overseas training opportunities and professional development programs are being offered to teachers, although policymakers emphasize that long-term, structured, and sustainable training systems are still needed.

Alongside formal education reforms, English-language media has played a subtle but important role in language learning. Among these, The UB Post stands as one of Mongolia’s longest-running English-language newspapers, first published in 1996 and continuing to be published three times a week with an eight-pager. While global media consumption has increasingly shifted toward digital platforms, The UB Post maintains both print and digital formats, offering structured and consistent English-language exposure. Its availability on platforms such as PressReader has also expanded its international reach.

In the classroom context, educators at institutions such as the National University of Mongolia, MNUE, and some secondary schools have integrated newspaper articles into teaching practice. Teachers highlight that The UB Post provides authentic English that reflects real-world usage, unlike simplified textbook content. Articles are used for reading comprehension, vocabulary development, discussion activities, and critical analysis.

Students often find newspaper content more challenging than textbooks due to unfamiliar vocabulary and complex sentence structures. However, this difficulty also encourages independent learning and deeper engagement with the language. Exposure to journalistic writing helps learners become familiar with passive structures, reported speech, and concise descriptive language commonly used in professional communication.

From a pedagogical perspective, printed newspapers also support deeper cognitive processing. Research on extensive reading shows that consistent engagement with authentic texts improves vocabulary retention, reading fluency, and grammatical awareness. Print formats, in particular, encourage slower, more focused reading, allowing learners to annotate, reread, and reflect, practices that are often lost in fast-paced digital environments.

Internationally, similar models exist in countries such as Japan and South Korea, where English-language newspapers are widely used in education to bridge academic learning and real-world communication. In this sense, The UB Post serves a comparable role in Mongolia’s language learning ecosystem.

Need to build sustainable English learning environment

Mongolia’s English proficiency challenge is not simply a matter of curriculum design, but a complex systemic issue shaped by teacher shortages, uneven qualification levels, regional inequality, and limited access to authentic English-language environments. While recent reforms such as earlier English instruction in primary schools, digital learning initiatives, and the recruitment of foreign teachers represent important steps forward, these measures alone have yet to fully address the deeply rooted structural constraints affecting learning outcomes.

At the same time, supplementary tools like The UB Post illustrate how consistent exposure to real-world English can meaningfully support classroom instruction and help bridge gaps in formal teaching. By providing authentic language use beyond textbooks, such resources offer students additional opportunities to engage with vocabulary, structure, and contemporary usage in a practical context.

Ultimately, improving English language outcomes in Mongolia requires a long-term, multi-layered approach that goes beyond isolated reforms. It demands coordinated investment in teacher training and retention, equitable access to quality resources across regions, integration of technology, and the expansion of meaningful learning environments. As Mongolia’s global engagement continues to grow, strengthening English education is not only an educational priority, but also a strategic investment in future opportunity, social equity, and national competitiveness.

By D.CHANTSALMAA

A 36-year promise, 3 years to prove it www.ubpost.mn

It is one of the longest-running sagas in Mongolian infrastructure history. In 1990, as the democratic revolution swept away the Soviet-era order and left the country’s energy sector dangerously exposed, then Prime Minister D.Byambasuren stood up and said what everyone already knew that Ulaanbaatar needed a thermal power plant (TPP) No. 5. That was 36 years ago. What followed was a masterclass in institutional inertia, feasibility studies that went nowhere, foundation stones in Baganuur, land designations in Uliastai and enough ministerial promises to wallpaper the State Palace. This year, the Government says it is different. And this time, at least, the bulldozers have arrived.

The long-awaited TPP No. 5 has been officially greenlit for construction on 15.3 hectares of land in Bayangol District’s 20th khoroo, on the ash storage site of the existing TPP No. 2. The site was cleared last week. If the timeline holds, the plant will be commissioned by the third quarter of 2028, giving Mongolia a facility capable of generating 300 megawatts of electricity and 340 Gcal/h of heat, which is enough to power 100,000 households and businesses, and provide a heating source for an additional 40,000 to 50,000 homes in Ulaanbaatar’s chronically underserved northwestern districts, including Tavan Shar, the 21st khoroo, Khilchin and Bayankhoshuu.

The price tag is 600 million USD, or approximately 2.1 trillion MNT at the current exchange rate. The financing structure is a public-private partnership - 20 percent from the capital city’s budget and 80 percent from the private sector. Cambodia’s Mitime International was selected in 2025 as the private partner and project implementer, and construction is now officially underway with the 2028 target locked in. 

On paper, it is an impressive package. In practice, the numbers raise more questions than they answer. The Ulaanbaatar city administration’s 20 percent share, just over 400 billion MNT, is itself a formidable sum for a municipal budget to absorb. Last month, the Ulaanbaatar Mayor’s Office issued a three-year “Niislel” bond at 14 percent interest, raising 200 billion MNT. That covers roughly half of the city’s committed share, and barely 10 percent of the plant's total cost. Where the remaining funds will come from - and precisely what financial stake Mitime International is putting on the table - remains, for now, unanswered.

Both the Ministry of Energy and the Ulaanbaatar Mayor’s Office declined to respond when asked directly about the outstanding financing. The Energy Regulatory Commission, for its part, offered a statement that shed little additional light, saying “The Ulaanbaatar City Administration is responsible for the entire power plant project. According to the information we have, the remaining portion of the project financing will be provided by Mitime International through a public-private partnership and put into operation.”

It is, to put it charitably, a confidence-inspiring project with a less than confidence-inspiring financial disclosure. A 600 million USD plant serving a city of nearly two million people deserves a clearer accounting of who is paying for what and when. Ulaanbaatar has been waiting 36 years for this power plant. It can wait a few more weeks for a straight answer.

In addition, a feasibility study and environmental impact assessment have been completed, with the project’s potential effects on the surrounding area, such as ecosystem, soil, water resources, air quality and flora and fauna, all accounted for. Officials say TPP No. 5 will be built with environmental safeguards that set it apart from its ageing predecessors. In particular, ash from the plant will either be repurposed as a building material or disposed of through dry storage rather than wet dumping, and a flue gas filtration system is designed to capture up to 99.9 percent of volatile ash before it reaches the atmosphere. The plant is also expected to reduce the nation’s dependence on energy imports and improve the overall stability and flexibility of the national energy system. During construction, 1,600 jobs will be created, and once operational, approximately 370 permanent positions will follow.

On its own terms, the project makes a compelling case. A city that chokes on coal smoke every winter, that blacks out under peak load, and that has patched and re-patched the same Soviet-era infrastructure for three and a half decades, clearly needs this plant. The question is not whether to build it, but whether Mongolia can actually see it through.

The financing gap is the elephant in the room. With capital expenditure exceeding 2.1 trillion MNT, TPP No. 5 ranks among the largest infrastructure projects in the country’s history. Even under the rosiest scenario, where Mitime International delivers its committed share in full and on time, a significant financing hole remains. If that hole cannot be plugged, officials and analysts have outlined what comes next: a scramble for loans from the Development Bank or foreign creditors, attempts to negotiate a concession agreement, a reduction in the plant’s designed capacity to cut costs, phased construction that stretches the timeline, or some combination of all four. None of these are painless options. And each day the financing remains unresolved, the bill grows because Mongolia manufactures almost nothing. Every piece of equipment, every component, every nail, as one analyst put it bluntly, will have to be purchased from abroad.

Economist and investment consultant Ch.Batsaikhan did not mince words. “In the 2010s, companies from South Korea, Japan and China were all interested in building TPP No. 5. We were unable to make the right decision at the time and lost the interest of well-funded, experienced partners. We could not build it ourselves, and we could not close a deal with foreign companies. That has been going on for years, and a large-scale project that requires serious capital, hamstrung by policy instability,” he said. He warned that the 2.1 trillion MNT figure currently being cited is almost certainly a floor, not a ceiling. “If this stretches to four or five years instead of three, costs will increase by 30 to 50 percent. Exchange rate movements and freight costs alone will see to that.”

His sharpest warning, however, was directed at the opacity surrounding Mitime International’s role. “If the Cambodian company that won the tender has not signed a clear investment agreement and has not stated exactly how much it is responsible for, it should be required to put its money on the table immediately,” Ch.Batsaikhan said. Without that clarity, he argued, the risk of the project being quietly frozen is very real as has happened before. “There is a bitter lesson from the oil refinery. That project has been limping along on borrowed money for nearly 10 years. The Government and the capital need to sell assets if necessary, stop non-essential spending, and direct everything toward finishing this plant on time,” he expressed.

‘Energy war will occur’  

Energy engineer G.Argabileg puts the trajectory in a global context, and the picture is sobering. “Energy consumption will increase not only in our country but around the world. The use of AI, data centers and mining activities has already tripled globally compared to 10 years ago. All of these eat energy. In the next decade, data centers and AI alone are expected to grow three to four times, and the energy demand to run them will increase four to five times. That means energy war will occur,” he shared.   

His prescription is equally direct. “We need to build power plants before we build roads and bridges and replace curbs,” G.Argabileg said. He is careful to argue that TPP No. 5 alone is not the answer. Mongolia needs to develop its energy industry across three parallel tracks simultaneously.

The first is exactly what TPP No. 5 represents: a combined heat and power plant capable of handling peak loads at temperatures below minus 30 degrees Celsius. It is a low-profit, long-term investment, but it is the backbone of a reliable system and the kind of unglamorous infrastructure that keeps the lights on when everything else fails. The second track is renewable energy paired with battery storage. Solar and wind can generate electricity cheaply during daylight hours, and stored overnight, that power can serve evening demand. Mining companies could purchase directly from such facilities, creating a sustainable revenue stream that makes the model commercially viable. The third track is the one that tends to be overlooked entirely, which is the transmission network. “Our problem is not just a single source. It also has weak transmission and distribution capacity. A country can build all the power plants it wants, but if the grid cannot move electricity from where it is generated to where it is needed, those plants are stranded assets. High-voltage lines, substations and smart grid management are not optional extras, they are the connective tissue without which everything else fails. If we do not invest in these, we will not be able to build new plants, establish a renewable energy center, or make a profit as a whole. It will fail,” he underlined. 

Against that backdrop, Ulaanbaatar Mayor Kh.Nyambaatar has been characteristically ebullient about TPP No. 5’s launch. “I got ‘hated’ by having the courage to solve the pressing problems of the capital, launching mega projects and issuing bonds. I will resign out of envy for doing so much work,” he said. It is the kind of line that lands well at a press conference. Whether it ages as well as the plant itself remains to be seen.

Because Mongolia has formed exactly this pattern. Mega projects announced with fanfare, construction started with ceremony and then quietly, incrementally frozen, underfunded, delayed, or abandoned as political winds shift and financing gaps widen. TPP No. 5 has already survived 36 years of that cycle. The site is cleared. The bonds are issued. The excavators are running.

And here, finally, is a detail worth sitting with: according to sources with knowledge of the agreement, Mitime International did not enter this project on the understanding that the Mongolian side would foot the bill and hand it a construction contract. The Cambodian company reportedly committed to financing, building and delivering the plant itself, handing over the keys upon commissioning, and will then remain as operator, selling power and heat to recover its investment over time. The model is DBFOM: Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Maintain. If that arrangement holds, it is a meaningfully different proposition from the half-baked public financing structures that have sunk previous attempts. If it holds. Mongolia has heard that word before.

India Exim Bank and Mongolia’s Golomt Bank sign agreement www.bankingfrontiers.com

Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank) has signed an Issuing Bank Agreement with Golomt Bank, Mongolia, under India Exim Bank’s Trade Assistance Program (TAP), for supporting trade transactions. The agreement was signed by Tarun Sharma, Dy Managing Director, India Exim Bank, and A. Odonbaatar, CEO, Golomt Bank on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Meetings at Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Under TAP, India Exim Bank provides credit enhancement to trade instruments, thereby augmenting the capacity of commercial banks/financial institutions to undertake cross-border trade transactions involving markets where trade lines are constrained, or where the potential has not been harnessed. As per Government of India sources India’s total trade with Mongolia stood at around USD 36.9 million in FY 2026.

India Exim Bank has supported multiple trade transactions with several countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, among others under TAP, covering a wide range of sectors including agriculture, automotive parts, capital and engineering goods, food, iron & steel, textiles, among others. With the increasing diversification of India’s global trade towards developing countries, African countries have emerged as significant trade partners for India.

E-mart to open three No Brand stores in Mongolia this year www.koreaherald.com

E-mart is opening standalone No Brand stores in Mongolia, starting with three outlets this year, as the South Korean retailer seeks to build on surging demand for its private-label products in the country.

The company said Thursday it plans to expand the No Brand specialty stores to 15 locations by 2028, while establishing a dedicated logistics cluster for the brand. In the long term, the company plans to expand its network within Mongolia, building up to 50 stores nationwide in the next 10 years.

The move comes as No Brand products have gained traction through E-mart’s existing operations in Mongolia, where the retailer has built a sizable presence since entering the market in 2016. E-mart currently operates six stores in the country, with weekend daily foot traffic nearing 30,000 visitors, according to the company.

Almost half of the country’s population lives near the capital Ulaanbaatar, making the city a critical hub for distribution networks and consumption. With long winters and constant traffic, there is high demand for one-stop shopping.

In 2025, No Brand recorded 50,000 sales in cheese snacks, 10,000 sales in cookie snacks and 400 metric tons of juice products. With a strong growth trend since its entry in 2016, the brand hit annual revenue of 10 billion won ($6.9 million) in 2025, proving its strength as a “K-private brand.”

Recent success in Southeast Asia, including Laos and Thailand, adds to expectations for the expansion into Mongolia. Laos has seen an early surge in customers since opening, while Thailand stores have maintained stable operation.

“The success in Mongolia proved the competitive edge No Brand has in terms of products and consumer appeal,” said Kang Young-seok, head of overseas business at E-mart.

“We will expand our reach and strengthen our position in the Mongolian distribution market based on local partnerships.”

stlee0329@heraldcorp.com

As rains approach, peacekeepers from Mongolia and Pakistan shore up civilian protection in Bentiu www.unmiss.unmissions.org

For the nearly 300,000 people who call the vast floodplains of Bentiu home, the difference between safety and displacement is no more than an earthen dyke.

In recent years, climate shocks across South Sudan have turned seasonal flooding into a clear and present danger to lives and properties. Entire communities have lost their homes to water; in Bentiu they live in the largest camp for internally displaced persons. Their protection: mud dykes continually shored and strengthened by engineering teams from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

A key factor in protecting these civilians from the overflow of the Nile waters is the partnership between peacekeepers from Pakistan and Mongolia.

Every week, the boat patrols led by the Mongolian battalion cut through murky waters. Onboard are technicians from Pakistan, measuring water levels and scanning surrounding dykes for subtle changes - water creeping above embankments, soil conditions, or the first signs of a breach waiting to happen. These patrols are not a routine feature but form a core frontline prevention effort by the UN Peacekeeping mission to ensure the people of Bentiu town and displaced communities are safe, secure. And they are a necessary complement to the hands-on engineering tasks.

“Ensuring the safety and security of civilians and enabling humanitarian partners to do their work is one of our key mandated tasks. Equally important is our coordination with our Pakistani engineering colleagues to ensure that the dykes are fortified, the main supply route open and functional, and that Bentiu residents are safe,” says Colonel Bat-Erdene Norov, the commander of Mongolian troops.

His words are echoed by Lieutenant-Colonel Usman, the commander of the Pakistan engineering contingent.

“Proactive boat patrols strengthen early warning, supports timely interventions, and helps protect local communities and infrastructure,” explains.

His team leads the work of constructing and reinforcing the sprawling network of dykes and berms that encircle the IDP camp and UN base, the main supply route, and the airstrip to enable consistent delivery of humanitarian aid to those who need it the most. It’s not an easy job, reveals the Lieutenant-Colonel. “Managing floods here demands coordination, shared responsibility, and continuous vigilance.”

The numbers alone hint at the scale of this life-saving operation. Kilometres of earthworks must be constantly monitored, repaired, and elevated. A single leak will allow water to surge through, undoing months of labour in hours.

Men, women and children walk along the dykes, watching as the patrolling boats pass; they know these are the people in blue helmets who keep them and their families safe. They’re aware that without these protections, delivery of humanitarian aid would be disrupted, and already vulnerable populations would face even greater hardship.

In Bentiu, crises are a constant. However, these joint efforts are proof that stability is forged through cooperation, vigilance, and a commitment to safeguard those most at risk.

--By Robin Giri

Mongolia Tourism Boom 2026: Record-Breaking 208,028 Arrivals in First Four Months www.nomadlawyer.org

Mongolia is witnessing an unprecedented surge in international arrivals, with the United Kingdom joining the US, Russia, and China in driving a record-breaking 35% increase in tourism for the first four months of 2026. Released on May 7, 2026, official data from the Ministry of Culture, Sport, Tourism, and Youth reveals that Mongolia welcomed 208,028 international visitors between January and April, marking a landmark recovery for the nomadic nation. In April 2026 alone, the country recorded 64,597 arrivals, as travelers increasingly seek out the rugged wilderness of the Gobi Desert and the cultural immersion of the Naadam Festival. With aggressive infrastructure investments in rural roads and eco-friendly glamping hubs, Mongolia is successfully repositioning itself as a premier global destination for adventure, heritage, and sustainable  travel.
The May 7, 2026, reports on Mongolia’s 35% tourism growth confirm the nation's emergence as a premier global destination. By capitalizing on its unique nomadic heritage and the untouched beauty of the Gobi Desert, Mongolia has successfully attracted a diverse array of travelers from the UK, China, and the US. The record-breaking 208,028 arrivals in early 2026 are not just a statistical achievement; they reflect a strategic success in infrastructure modernization and sustainable promotion. As Mongolia continues to upgrade its rural connectivity and eco-tourism offerings, it is setting a new global standard for adventure  travel that respects both culture and nature. For the international traveler seeking an experience "beyond the typical," Mongolia has firmly established itself as the world’s most compelling nomadic frontier.

Mongolia Pushes to Unlock Critical Minerals Amid Rising Global Demand www.devdiscourse.com

Mongolia is stepping into the global spotlight as demand for critical minerals surges alongside the clean energy transition. A recent assessment by the Asian Development Bank, supported by insights from institutions like the International Energy Agency and the World Resources Institute, highlights how the country could play a bigger role in supplying materials essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and battery storage.

The shift toward low-carbon technologies is rapidly increasing demand for minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements. Electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels all depend on these resources. As countries push to cut emissions, demand is expected to grow sharply over the next two decades, raising concerns that supply may not keep up.

Mongolia's Untapped Resource Potential
Mongolia holds large reserves of several key minerals, especially copper and rare earth elements. Much of its land remains underexplored, meaning there could be even more resources waiting to be discovered. Copper already plays a major role in the country's economy, contributing significantly to exports and government revenue.

But Mongolia's involvement in the global supply chain is still limited. Most of its activity focuses on extracting raw materials, with very little processing done within the country. This means it misses out on higher profits that come from refining and manufacturing.

Global Supply Chains Are Shifting
The global minerals market is changing fast. Processing of many critical minerals is concentrated in a few countries, especially China. This has raised concerns about overdependence, pushing other countries to look for new suppliers.

This shift creates an opportunity for Mongolia. Its location near major Asian markets like China, Japan, and South Korea gives it a natural advantage. If it can develop its infrastructure and processing capacity, it could become a more important and reliable supplier in the region.

Big Challenges Still Remain
Despite its potential, Mongolia faces several obstacles. Infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges. The country's vast size and landlocked geography make transportation expensive and difficult. Limited power supply also restricts the growth of energy-intensive industries like mineral processing.

There are also financial and regulatory hurdles. Mining projects are becoming more expensive due to stricter environmental standards and longer approval processes. Investors are cautious, often requiring stronger commitments and clearer policies before funding projects. In addition, a shortage of skilled workers makes it harder to expand the sector quickly.

A Path to Economic Growth
If managed well, the critical minerals sector could transform Mongolia's economy. Expanding mining and adding local processing could increase export revenues, create jobs, and reduce dependence on a few commodities. It could also attract foreign investment and bring in new technology and expertise.

However, success will depend on more than just resources. Mongolia will need to improve its infrastructure, create stable and transparent regulations, and invest in skills and education. Strong environmental and social standards will also be key to attracting responsible investors and maintaining public trust.

In the coming years, Mongolia will have a clear choice. It can remain mainly a supplier of raw materials, or it can build a more advanced and diversified mining industry. With the world's demand for critical minerals only set to rise, the country has a real chance to become a key player in the global energy transition if it gets the strategy right.

Brigadier General of the British Army Clare O'Grady Visits Mongolia www.open.kg

Brigadier General Clare O'Grady, Deputy Commander of the 2nd Air Group of the United Kingdom, is visiting Mongolia, where she is meeting with local military leaders.

This week, Clare O’Grady met with Major General Baatar Balzhid, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of Mongolia. They discussed issues of cooperation between the United Kingdom and Mongolia in the field of defense, as well as gender equality and the role of women in security and peace.

With 27 years of military service, Clare O'Grady holds the position of Squadron Commander and previously commanded a Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton, ensuring air mobility operations.

Her experience includes participation in operations in Kosovo, the Middle East, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as advising foreign armies on personnel processes.