1 ZANDANSHATAR GOMBOJAV APPOINTED AS PRIME MINISTER OF MONGOLIA WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      2 WHAT MONGOLIA’S NEW PRIME MINISTER MEANS FOR ITS DEMOCRACY WWW.TIME.COM PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      3 ULAANBAATAR DIALOGUE SHOWS MONGOLIA’S FOREIGN POLICY CONTINUITY AMID POLITICAL UNREST WWW.THEDIPLOMAT.COM PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      4 THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF) IN MONGOLIA, THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR SUPPORTING THE BILLION TREES MOVEMENT, AND CREDITECH STM NBFI LLC HAVE JOINTLY LAUNCHED THE “ONE CHILD – ONE TREE” INITIATIVE WWW.BILLIONTREE.MN PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      5 NEW MONGOLIAN PM TAKES OFFICE AFTER CORRUPTION PROTESTS WWW.AFP.MN PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      6 GOLD, MINED BY ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINERS OF MONGOLIA TO BE SUPPLIED TO INTERNATIONAL JEWELRY COMPANIES WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      7 AUSTRIA PUBLISHES SYNTHESIZED TEXTS OF TAX TREATIES WITH ICELAND, KAZAKHSTAN AND MONGOLIA AS IMPACTED BY BEPS MLI WWW.ORBITAX.COM  PUBLISHED:2025/06/13      8 THE UNITED STATES AND MONGOLIA OPEN THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING IN ULAANBAATAR WWW.MN.USEMBASSY.GOV  PUBLISHED:2025/06/12      9 MONGOLIA'S 'DRAGON PRINCE' DINOSAUR WAS FORERUNNER OF T. REX WWW.REUTERS.COM PUBLISHED:2025/06/12      10 MONGOLIA’S PIVOT TO CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CAUCASUS: STRATEGIC REALIGNMENTS AND REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS WWW.CACIANALYST.ORG  PUBLISHED:2025/06/12      БӨӨРӨЛЖҮҮТИЙН ЦАХИЛГААН СТАНЦЫН II БЛОКИЙГ 12 ДУГААР САРД АШИГЛАЛТАД ОРУУЛНА WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/15     ОРОН СУУЦНЫ ҮНЭ 14.3 ХУВИАР ӨСЖЭЭ WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/15     МОНГОЛ УЛСЫН 34 ДЭХ ЕРӨНХИЙ САЙДААР Г.ЗАНДАНШАТАРЫГ ТОМИЛЛОО WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     SXCOAL: МОНГОЛЫН НҮҮРСНИЙ ЭКСПОРТ ЗАХ ЗЭЭЛИЙН ХҮНДРЭЛИЙН СҮҮДЭРТ ХУМИГДАЖ БАЙНА WWW.ITOIM.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     МОНГОЛ БАНК: ТЭТГЭВРИЙН ЗЭЭЛД ТАВИХ ӨР ОРЛОГЫН ХАРЬЦААГ 50:50 БОЛГОЛОО WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     МОНГОЛ ДАХЬ НҮБ-ЫН ХҮҮХДИЙН САН, ТЭРБУМ МОД ҮНДЭСНИЙ ХӨДӨЛГӨӨНИЙГ ДЭМЖИХ САН, КРЕДИТЕХ СТМ ББСБ ХХК “ХҮҮХЭД БҮРД – НЭГ МОД” САНААЧИЛГЫГ ХАМТРАН ХЭРЭГЖҮҮЛНЭ WWW.BILLIONTREE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     ЕРӨНХИЙЛӨГЧИЙН ТАМГЫН ГАЗРЫН ДАРГААР А.ҮЙЛСТӨГӨЛДӨР АЖИЛЛАНА WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     34 ДЭХ ЕРӨНХИЙ САЙД Г.ЗАНДАНШАТАР ХЭРХЭН АЖИЛЛАНА ГЭЖ АМЛАВ? WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     “АНГЛИ ХЭЛНИЙ МЭРГЭШЛИЙН ТӨВ”-ИЙГ МУИС-Д НЭЭЛЭЭ WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/13     Г.ЗАНДАНШАТАР БАЯЛГИЙН САНГИЙН БОДЛОГЫГ ҮРГЭЛЖЛҮҮЛНЭ ГЭЖ АМЛАЛАА WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/06/12    

Events

Name organizer Where
MBCC “Doing Business with Mongolia seminar and Christmas Receptiom” Dec 10. 2024 London UK MBCCI London UK Goodman LLC

NEWS

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Aspire Mining : reignites coking coal flame in Mongolia www.4-traders.com

Perth-based Aspire Mining is racing towards production in Mongolia with its Ovoot, coking coal project that is expected to churn out high value coal suitable for steel making.

Long-time followers of the company will recall that in 2011, Aspire was a sharemarket darling with a market cap of $600 million, based on the strength of its high-grade coking coal deposit in western Mongolia that lies within proximity of hundreds of Chinese steel making plants.

With a massive JORC resource of 255 million tonnes, Ovoot promised a bonanza for Aspire shareholders, however it would be necessary to first build a US$1.25 billion railway line to take the companys coal 550kms east to the railway hub of Erdenet.

Aspire formed its own infrastructure company, Northern Railway LLC, to build and operate the line and it is continuing to progress that project in partnership with a couple of heavyweight Chinese players.

In 2014 however, a strategy was devised to get into production quickly with the acquisition of the smaller but development-ready Nuurstei coking coal deposit to the east of Ovoot, with product to be trucked 430km to Erdenet and then south by rail to China or possibly north to Russia.

In June 2016, Aspires fortunes changed dramatically after China began closing steel mills to remove overcapacity in the market. Within six months, domestic coking coal prices had doubled, bringing them back within sight of 2011 prices.

Just as significantly, Chinas Communist Party Congress produced the One Belt One Road initiative along with the Governments of Mongolia and Russia which identified a northern rail corridor opportunity that would pass directly by Aspires Ovoot deposit.

In November 2017, Aspire moved to seize the day by raising $16.5 million in a six-for-five entitlement issue, fully underwritten by Patersons Securities. Directors also negotiated a reduction in debt owed to major shareholder Noble Group down to US$1.8 million, completing a transformation of the companys balance sheet.

The funds will be used to bring Nuurstei into production by mid-2019 and generate a cashflow lifeline to sustain the business while it kick-starts the main game of getting the Ovoot deposit to market via rail.

Chinas interest in developing a northern rail corridor through Mongolia to Europe has made it easy for Aspire to attract some very big partners.

In October 2017, Aspires 90%-owned subsidiary, Northern Railway, signed an MOU with Chinese state-owned infrastructure giant China Gezhouba Group to complete the second stage of a bankable feasibility study on the Ovoot to Erdenet railway.

Under the agreement, China Gezhouba Group had until 15 February 2018 to take up an option to purchase a 51% stake in Northern Railway, reducing Aspires stake to 34%.

In an update last week, Aspire reported it had extended the option exercise date to 15 May to allow China Gezhouba Group time to confirm future capacity guarantees for freight from Northern Railways along the Trans Mongolian Railway.

The update noted that the operator of the Trans Mongolian Railway had already confirmed Northern Railways was part of its 2030 development plan.

In other good news, China Gezhouba Group has confirmed the bankable feasibility study will be ready by the end of this month, at least a month earlier than the deadline.

It looks like there will be plenty of news flow from Aspire over the coming months as it seeks to implement a staged strategy that should culminate in a long-term coking coal project being built that is exquisitely wedged between energy hungry China and industrial Russia.

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World Bank gives USD 400 million to support Mongolian SMEs www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ In the frame of the Mongolia Export Development Project, the World Bank has rendered financial support to over 20 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) worth USD 400 thousand.

In particular, the World Bank has approved to render financial support to six entities which sent export plan at their last meeting. The sides agreed to allocate the financial incentives for researches on marketing tourism, wool and cashmere products, Mongolian interlocking puzzles and souvenirs as well as for developing and testing new export products.

In accordance with the agreement established with the Mongolian Government, the World Bank will support Mongolian small and medium size firms (SMEs) in the non-mining sectors with the fund totaling USD 20 million. However, the funding will not be granted directly. The project will cover 50 per cent of the total expense of activities including strategic business plan, management reform, product quality examination, certification, product launching, and participation in export trade fairs and training.

The highest amount of assistance equals to USD 100 thousand. Moreover, there are seven requirements set to enterprises to benefit from the program, including export development plan.Therefore, free training is held on methods of developing the plan.
E.Altanzul

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Commodity prices see some increases in early February www.gogo.mn

The price of coking coal in China's eastern regions was 244 USD per ton (for Australian coal) at the beginning of February.

The amount is an 8.2 percent increase compared to the past 90 days. The price in Shanxi Province, a key buyer of Erdenese Tavan Tolgoi JSC coal, was 221 USD per ton.

In Hebei Province, another large market for coking coal, the price was around 243 USD per ton. The price of concentrated coal from Energy Resources LLC was 130 USD per ton and Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi JSC coal sold for 66 USD per ton as of January 31.

The price for Mongolian iron ore was 45 USD per ton, but Australian ore reached 74.5 USD per ton and Brazilian iron ore sold for 108 USD per ton.

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Putin signs law on extension of capital amnesty for Russian businesses www.rt.com

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a package of laws extending a capital amnesty until February 28, 2019. It allows Russians to voluntarily declare assets and accounts in banks.

A total amnesty for all funds returning to Russia follows an anti-offshore bill requiring individuals and businesses to report foreign profits. The bill was aimed at curbing the outflow of capital from Russia, which was estimated at over $2 trillion in recent years.
The bill was explained by Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov as allowing people who have made any mistakes in their business activities to declare the property and become completely law-abiding citizens.

The laws were earlier adopted by both chambers of the Russian parliament.

It’s the second stage of the capital amnesty, which commenced in March 2017. In this case, special declarations can be submitted both by individuals who haven’t done that before, and those who participated in the first stage.

According to the documents, published on the official portal of legal information, all the guarantees for those who used the amnesty of capital in the first stage in 2015-2016 will be fully preserved.

Putin said earlier that the extension of capital amnesty, which is supported by international financial institutions, will add stability to the Russian business environment.

Voluntary declaration of assets and accounts in banks has started in Russia from June 1, 2015. Individuals had the right to submit to the tax authorities a special declaration with the information about the property, controlled foreign companies, accounts in banks located outside Russia. That could be done in exchange for exemption from tax, administrative and criminal liability for tax and customs duties payment evasion and failure to comply with laws on currency regulation and currency control. The amnesty covers all revenues, operations and transactions related to overseas assets and accounts.

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TOP20 Index raises by 0.44 percent www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ In trading of February 19, the Mongolian Stock Exchange sold 57,754 pieces of shares of 19 companies which are listed in the first, second and third categories.

Stock list of 9 companies has been raised. Specifically, stock price of 7 companies decreases while that of three companies was in stability. Out of them ‘Khuvsgul Khuns’ JSC HHS increased by 15 percent, ‘’Khunnu Management’ HBZ by 19.98 or showing the highest growth, whereas ‘ITools’ ITLS had 5.7 percent decline and ‘Hai Bi Oil’ HBO had 4.71 percent down.

The same day, TOP20 Index reached 21737.68 units, up by 0.44 percent while market value surpassed MNT 2.5 trillion.

B.Batchimeg

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Rio Tinto weighing power generation options for Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia www.mining-technology.com

Rio Tinto is considering options to develop domestic energy generation for the Oyu Tolgoi operation after the Government of Mongolia terminated the power sector cooperation agreement (PSCA) for the country’s southern region.

Under the PSCA signed in August 2014, Rio Tinto reached a framework for cooperation with the Government of Mongolia to deliver an energy plan for the South Gobi region.

According to an investment agreement reached by Oyu Tolgoi, the company agreed to set-up power supply within the country four years from the start of commercial production.

The termination of PSCA requires Oyu Tolgoi to meet the domestic power supply commitment within four years.

Originally, the government intended to develop a new independent power plant at the Tavan Tolgoi coalfields with Oyu Tolgoi as off-taker rather than the owner.

Among the multiple options being considered, Rio Tinto is exploring the possibility of the construction of an Oyu Tolgoi site-based power plant.

The company noted that it would meet all obligations agreed to under the investment agreement.

It is understood that the cost and means of financing the power supply solution will be finalised between shareholders.

Meanwhile, the company indicated that it would continue to review its capital expenditure forecasts for the project.

Rio Tinto has already set aside $250m a year to fund the development of a power station in the country in its 2019 and 2020 CAPEX forecasts.

Oyu Tolgoi is in the southern Gobi desert of Mongolia, 550km south of the capital, Ulaanbaatar.

The copper and gold mining project is jointly owned by the government of Mongolia and Turquoise Hill Resources, with 34% and 66% respectively.

Rio Tinto is a majority stakeholder in Turquoise Hill with a 51% interest.

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Diesel import increases but drops in gasoline import www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/ According to the Statistics Division of the Mongolian Customs General Administration, Mongolia imported 19 thousand tons of auto gasoline last month, with a decrease of 10 thousand tons against the same period of previous year.

As compared with the same period of previous year, an average import price for a ton of gasoline rose by 14 percent, reaching USD668 in January, 2018.

In January, 2018 an import of diesel fuel reached 81 thousand tons, with an increase of 17 thousand tons against the same period of previous year. An average import price for a ton of diesel fuel reached USD628, with an increase of 19 percent.

M.Unurzul

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Cabinet cancels energy cooperation agreement with Oyu Tolgoi www.gogo.mn

The Government of Mongolia has cancelled a 2014 agreement signed with Oyu Tolgoi (OT) regarding the mine's energy needs.

Cabinet noted that it will commit to cooperating in the provision of energy for the mine from domestic sources, as well as in studying the possibility of building a Tavan Tolgoi thermal power station.

The cancellation of the agreement has left OT with finding alternatives to imported power as a source of energy. It is predicted that OT will explore the opportunity to build a thermal power station at the mine site. OT has stated that it will follow the articles of the 2009 investment agreement signed with the government in the future.

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GM offers $2.2 billion debt for equity swap in return for Seoul's support - sources www.reuters.com

SEOUL (Reuters) - General Motors (GM.N) has offered to convert debt of around $2.2 billion owed by its ailing South Korean operation into equity in exchange for financial support and tax benefits from Seoul, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The restructuring proposal comes after the Detroit automaker announced last week that it would shut its plant in the city of Gunsan, southwest of Seoul, by May and decide the future of the remaining three plants in the country within weeks.

The debt for equity swap would allow GM’s business in South Korea to continue operating. It was not immediately clear how the deal would affect the interest of the state-run Korea Development Bank, which owns 17 percent of GM Korea.

GM’s decision was the latest in a series of steps it has made to put profitability and innovation ahead of sales and volume. Since 2015, GM has exited unprofitable markets including Europe, Australia, South Africa and Russia.

It was not immediately clear how much fresh capital GM has demanded from the South Korean government to keep operating its Korean business, which employs nearly 16,000 people.

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Russian grain exports near record of 50mn tons www.rt.com

The growing production of grain in Russia is boosting the country’s exports, which are close to a record 50 million tons this year according to the director of the SovEcon analytical center, Andrey Sizov.
The director said that the country exported 48 million tons between July 2017 and the end of January 2018.

Last year, the country ceded its status of leading wheat exporter to the United States. The Russian Agriculture Ministry expects to regain the status by the end of this agricultural year [July 2017 — June 2018]. It forecasts grain exports to be 45 million tons against 35.5 million tons in the previous year.

Overall, agricultural production in Russia is projected to grow three percent this year, from last year’s 120.7 million tons. That would be the best-ever harvest for Russia, even counting the Soviet era.

The country’s export market is actively expanding, according to Sizov. Russia supplies grain to Algeria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and Iran, and Saudi Arabia has announced plans to become a major hub for Russian agricultural products in the Middle East.

In the near future exports to Indonesia and Thailand will increase, as well as those to Latin American countries including Mexico.

Russia has a significant share of the European market; almost 12 percent of Russian agricultural exports, worth around $2 billion, go to the continent.

Three years ago, President Vladimir Putin set a goal of making Russia the world's largest supplier of healthy, ecologically clean and high-quality food.

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