President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa has vetoed the Law on the State Budget for 2025 and the accompanying laws, based on the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Law on the President. Head of the Office of the President of Mongolia Zandanshatar Gombojav and other officials briefed on the veto on November 20, 2024.

Head of the Office of the President of Mongolia Zandanshatar Gombojav noted that the President’s decision to veto the Law on the State Budget for 2025 was based on the requirement for the State Budget to be efficient, cost-saving, and deficit-free. The veto was also based on the Parliament’s approval of the resolution to adjust the 2025 State Budget without meeting the prerequisites which include increased expenditure, decreased revenue, and required changes to the cost of approved projects and programs during the fiscal year.

The State Budget serves as a guarantee to overcome potential economic difficulties with minimal losses, increase national savings, limit price inflation, ensure economic stability, and support the normal operations of citizens, businesses, and taxpayers. Therefore, the Head of State emphasized the necessity of approving next year's State Budget in a manner that is efficient, economical, and deficit-free.

Additionally, President Khurelsukh highlighted the importance of considering the conditions of the global market and fluctuations in raw material prices, while focusing on fundamental principles such as increasing the country's foreign exchange reserves, boosting budget savings, and reducing debt. The Head of State emphasized the need to implement a countercyclical fiscal policy and adopt a deficit-free budget.

During its regular session on November 20, 2024, the Cabinet decided to submit the draft amendment to the Law on Labor Force Migration to the State Great Khural.

The revised Law on Labor Force Migration came into effect on July 1, 2022. To address the labor shortage in the labor market, a flexible policy is being observed for the employment of foreigners in Mongolia. The Government deemed it necessary to set a limit on the number and percentage of foreign workers in the highly productive sectors of the economy, including mining, information and communications, finance and insurance, and real estate, and encourage the employment of Mongolian citizens in these sectors. However, the Government believes it should determine the number and percentage of foreign workers employed in the construction, energy, manufacturing, and processing sectors, as well as the reduction and exemption of workplace fees.

The Law on Labor Force Migration states that “The employer shall have the right to request an invitation to hire a foreign employee in the event of failing to employ a domestic employee within 14 business days after placing a job advertisement in the employment registry and database and starting an active search for an employee. The 14 business day period specified in the law is considered a hindrance to enterprises and companies engaged in seasonal construction work when inviting foreign employees. Therefore, the Government intends to resolve this issue through the amendment.

The amendment will provide several benefits to enterprises and investors operating in sectors other than mineral and oil, including saving expenses through reduction or exemption from workplace fee concession to the Employment Support Fund, swiftly overcoming labor shortages, improving economic efficiency, and increasing the number of businesses. It would also play an important role in intensifying the implementation of strategically important infrastructure, processing, and development projects in Mongolia.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Mongolian government on Wednesday signed two projects aimed at accelerating climate investments and improving access to affordable, quality health services across the country.

The agreements were signed by ADB's Country Director for Mongolia Shannon Cowlin and Mongolia's Minister of Finance Bold Javkhlan during a ceremony in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia.

"These two projects mark a significant step toward a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future for Mongolia," said Cowlin. "By embedding climate action into national plans and budgets, we can catalyze both public and private investments, driving a transition to a low-carbon, inclusive, and resilient economy. At the same time, we must also ensure that underserved communities have access to essential health services."

The policy-based loan of 100 million U.S. dollars for Mongolia's Accelerating Climate Investment Program aims to enhance the country's capacity to meet its climate goals under the Nationally Determined Contribution and National Adaptation Plan through improved institutional frameworks, gender-responsive strategies, and climate action budgeting.

The program focuses on catalyzing investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate-resilient agriculture, while expanding green financing mechanisms like green bonds and loans to support low-carbon development, according to the ADB.

Meanwhile, the Improving Access to Health Services for Disadvantaged Groups Investment Program - Tranche 2, valued at 82.2 million dollars, aims to enhance primary healthcare in urban and rural areas, upgrade district and hospitals in provinces, and strengthen procurement and financial management systems.

Key initiatives include building a new hospital in Chingeltei District of the capital city, upgrading a hospital in the western province of Khovd with low-carbon technology, establishing gender-responsive family health centers in underserved areas, providing emergency medical equipment, and reforming healthcare financing and service delivery models, said the bank.

The First Session of the National Committee on the Sovereign Wealth Fund and Housing took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on November 19, 2024.

Participants of the Session discussed a wide range of issues related to the Sovereign Wealth Fund and housing, including their current state, completed works, national housing policy, urban planning, infrastructure, mortgage loans, and other measures. In Mongolia, 30 percent of households reside in residential apartments while 70 percent live in houses and gers without full access to engineering infrastructure and networks. Among these, 273,736 households live in Ulaanbaatar, 144,308 in aimag centers, and 295,775 reside in soum centers.

As part of the Housing Policy funded by the Savings Fund of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, Prime Minister of Mongolia and Head of the National Committee for the Sovereign Wealth Fund and Housing, instructed the relevant Government members and National Committee members to implement the following measures by January 15, 2025:

To formulate legal documents related to the implementation of the Law on National Housing and the Housing Policy, and submit them to the State Great Khural of Mongolia,

To develop policies and strategy maps for housing citizens and promoting young families, update the mortgage loan financing system,

To reform the funding system of mortgage loans, make a plan to increase its sources,

To approve and implement standards and models for residential apartments and green housing, create conditions for granting mortgage loans to residential apartments, and make necessary regulations,

To enhance power and heat supply sources required for the implementation of the National Housing Plan, develop and implement a Plan for line expansion,

To develop a plan for land acquisition, re-planning ger districts of the Capital City with state and local funds, construction of infrastructure in aimags, and present it to the Head of the National Committee.

The Governor's Office of the Capital City of Mongolia plans to launch phased measures to build a sludge drying and incineration plant and a waste-to-energy plant between 2024 and 2028 as part of improving Ulaanbaatar's engineering infrastructure.

Although the New Central Wastewater Treatment Plant has been completed, it cannot be put into operation as the sewage pipeline and sludge drying plant have not been constructed, necessitating a new sludge drying and incineration plant.

“Currently, we are collecting sludge on a field, drying it naturally, and burying it. Many countries burn the sludge in closed incineration furnaces, extracting energy and gas, and using the remainder as construction materials. In the first phase, we are going to announce a tender for building a sludge drying and incineration plant under a public-private partnership,” stated the Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar Nyambaatar Khishgee, in his report on the construction projects to be carried out in the coming years within the framework of the “20-Minute City.”

Second Deputy Governor of the Capital City Amartuvshin Amgalanbayar was tasked with announcing another tender for a waste-to-energy plant at the centralized landfills at Tsagaan Davaa and Moringiin Davaa by this December 2024. After the plants are built, the Governor's Office of the Capital City plans to take the next phase of actions including closing the centralized landfills and improving waste collection management.

Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Shen Minjuan has visited a key highway project in the northern Mongolian province of Darkhan-Uul.

The Chinese Embassy in Mongolia will continue to create favorable conditions for Chinese companies in Mongolia, the ambassador said.

The Ulan Bator-Darkhan Highway Section 5 project was built by the China Gezhouba Group International Engineering. The highway is a significant infrastructure to improve connectivity between the Mongolian capital and northern regions.

The project was awaiting review and approval by the Mongolian side.

Following a pivotal virtual meeting aimed at exploring business opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector, the High Commission of India in Ulaanbaatar and the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) are planning a road map for stronger bilateral pharmaceutical ties through collaborations.

This meet was part of a broader effort to facilitate cross-border partnerships, encourage knowledge sharing, and promote Indian pharmaceutical products in Mongolia.

The virtual meet focused on highlighting the potential of the Mongolian pharmaceutical market and creating a platform for Indian companies to engage with local Mongolian businesses.

According to Raja Bhanu, director general (DG), Pharmexcil, “The partnership between the High Commission of India in Ulaanbaatar and Pharmexcil was central to the success of the event. This collaboration reflected a mutual commitment to fostering deeper bilateral relations, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, which is becoming increasingly important in both economies. By joining forces, the High Commission and Pharmexcil sought to open new avenues for Indian pharmaceutical companies to expand their footprint in Mongolia, a market with growing demand for quality healthcare products.”

The event served as an ideal platform for Indian companies already operating in Mongolia as well as those seeking to enter the market. It provided invaluable insights into the regulatory landscape, market dynamics, and potential business opportunities within Mongolia's rapidly developing pharmaceutical industry.

The virtual meet also facilitated networking between Indian pharmaceutical companies and Mongolian business leaders, creating a direct channel for collaboration. The event’s success emphasized the importance of such partnerships in driving mutual growth and increasing trade between the two nations. This collaboration is expected to lead to stronger commercial ties, contributing to India’s expanding role in the global pharmaceutical market.

The goal is not only to enhance bilateral trade but also to position both countries as key players in the region's pharmaceutical landscape.

This partnership between India and Mongolia underscores the shared vision of economic growth, innovation, and collaboration. With more such initiatives planned, the pharmaceutical sector is expected to become a cornerstone of India-Mongolia trade relations, paving the way for future growth, investment, and business expansion in both countries.

In 2021, an assessment based on the MNS ISO/IEC 27001 standard was conducted for 605 local government organizations in Mongolia.

The findings revealed that only 35% of these organizations have an information security policy, while the remaining organizations were deemed inadequate in this area.

Regarding asset management, 53% of the organizations addressed the issue effectively, but 47% were identified as needing improvements. Additionally, 43% of the organizations were found to be managing human resource issues appropriately, though further progress is necessary in this area.

A cybersecurity study involving 67 government organizations in Mongolia was also conducted. The results showed that:

32.35% of these organizations have dedicated IT units.

29.41% have experienced some form of cyber attack.

50.33% do not follow any standards or frameworks for ensuring information security.

30% have never conducted a risk assessment.

One of the most concerning statistics is that 70.59% of these organizations are unaware of their risk of being targeted by cyber attacks, and 56.67% have not developed information security policies or documentation.

This research highlights the attitudes and preparedness of government organizations regarding information security.

The study included five institutions under the State Great Khural, 28 government agencies, 14 central and local government bodies, and five other organizations.

To further assess the current state of cybersecurity in Mongolia, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Communications is collaborating with the University of Oxford. The results of this study are expected to be published by the end of 2024.

Translated by ChatGPT

A woman who became a victim of human trafficking has been brought back after 12 years. Mongolia’s Police Department successfully organized the operation to repatriate "N," a victim of human trafficking since 2012, through Interpol.

Victim’s Testimony: “In 2012, when I turned 16 and got my first passport, a woman came from the city and told my parents, ‘I will take your daughter to Ulaanbaatar, help her find work, and provide her a better life to earn money.’ After arriving in Ulaanbaatar, she had me obtain a foreign passport. Then she took me to Erenhot, claiming we’d be going there to bring back goods. On the train, everyone spoke a foreign language I didn’t understand. I asked her, ‘What are you doing?’ She replied, ‘You’ll understand eventually.’

"After staying there for three days, I asked her, ‘When are we going back?’ She kept saying we’d return in a few days but eventually left me there and returned to Mongolia. She later brought another girl under the same false pretenses. I didn’t understand the language. I later learned she had sold me for a sum of money, an amount with four zeros following the number 4.

"I had no idea I was being trafficked and exploited. The person never talked about it, and I couldn’t understand what others around me were saying. I didn’t even know how to escape. I didn’t know east from west."

-How did it feel to return home after 12 years?

-After 12 years, my mother has aged, and my father has passed away. Without documents, I couldn’t find a way to return.

-How did you reach out to the authorities for help?

-In May 2024, I contacted someone in Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia, and told them, ‘I was sold to this person. I don’t have any documents. What should I do? Please help.’ Since then, with the assistance of police forces from both countries, I was able to return to Mongolia in November. I’m deeply grateful for being brought back to my homeland.

The Mongolian and Chinese police departments, in cooperation with Interpol’s national center, worked together to bring the victim back to Mongolia. The perpetrator is currently in China, and a court hearing is expected soon.

Translated by ChatGPT

A recent Social Indicator Sample Survey-2023, jointly conducted by the National Statistics Office of Mongolia and UNICEF, revealed that children comprise 37.1 percent of Mongolia's total population. The survey shows notable disparities between urban and rural areas in terms of children's health, education, and development opportunities.

“One in three children in rural areas cannot access preschool education. Children’s immunization rates and healthcare services vary highly between urban and rural areas. While immunization rates are high in the central region and Ulaanbaatar city, the rates for children in Bayan-Ulgii aimag are low,” reported the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Protection of Mongolia.

Therefore, to solve inequalities, create child-friendly environments in both urban and rural areas, improve budgeting and planning related to children, and increase investment in the social sector, the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of Mongolia and UNICEF have co-organized a discussion on "Strengthening the Participation and Partnership of Local Organizations in Ensuring Children's Rights." Participants discussed the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the local level and how to work at the national level to reduce violations of children's rights.