1 PRIME MINISTER OYUN-ERDENE VISITS EGIIN GOL HYDROPOWER PLANT PROJECT SITE WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/04/30      2 ‘I FELT CAUGHT BETWEEN CULTURES’: MONGOLIAN MUSICIAN ENJI ON HER BEGUILING, BORDER-CROSSING MUSIC WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM PUBLISHED:2025/04/30      3 POWER OF SIBERIA 2: ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY OR GEOPOLITICAL RISK FOR MONGOLIA? WWW.THEDIPLOMAT.COM PUBLISHED:2025/04/29      4 UNITED AIRLINES TO LAUNCH FLIGHTS TO MONGOLIA IN MAY WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/04/29      5 SIGNATURE OF OIL SALES AGREEMENT FOR BLOCK XX PRODUCTION WWW.RESEARCH-TREE.COM  PUBLISHED:2025/04/29      6 MONGOLIA ISSUES E-VISAS TO 11,575 FOREIGNERS IN Q1 WWW.XINHUANET.COM PUBLISHED:2025/04/29      7 KOREA AN IDEAL PARTNER TO HELP MONGOLIA GROW, SEOUL'S ENVOY SAYS WWW.KOREAJOONGANGDAILY.JOINS.COM  PUBLISHED:2025/04/29      8 MONGOLIA TO HOST THE 30TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF ASIA SECURITIES FORUM WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2025/04/29      9 BAGAKHANGAI-KHUSHIG VALLEY RAILWAY PROJECT LAUNCHES WWW.UBPOST.MN PUBLISHED:2025/04/29      10 THE MONGOLIAN BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND FDI: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITY WWW.MELVILLEDALAI.COM  PUBLISHED:2025/04/28      849 ТЭРБУМЫН ӨРТӨГТЭЙ "ГАШУУНСУХАЙТ-ГАНЦМОД" БООМТЫН ТЭЗҮ-Д ТУРШЛАГАГҮЙ, МОНГОЛ 2 КОМПАНИ ҮНИЙН САНАЛ ИРҮҮЛЭВ WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/04/30     ХУУЛЬ БУСААР АШИГЛАЖ БАЙСАН "БОГД УУЛ" СУВИЛЛЫГ НИЙСЛЭЛ ӨМЧЛӨЛДӨӨ БУЦААВ WWW.NEWS.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/04/30     МЕТРО БАРИХ ТӨСЛИЙГ ГҮЙЦЭТГЭХЭЭР САНАЛАА ӨГСӨН МОНГОЛЫН ГУРВАН КОМПАНИ WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/04/30     "UPC RENEWABLES" КОМПАНИТАЙ ХАМТРАН 2400 МВТ-ЫН ХҮЧИН ЧАДАЛТАЙ САЛХИН ЦАХИЛГААН СТАНЦ БАРИХААР БОЛОВ WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/04/30     ОРОСЫН МОНГОЛ УЛС ДАХЬ ТОМООХОН ТӨСЛҮҮД ДЭЭР “ГАР БАРИХ” СОНИРХОЛ БА АМБИЦ WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/04/30     МОНГОЛ, АНУ-ЫН ХООРОНД ТАВДУГААР САРЫН 1-НЭЭС НИСЛЭГ ҮЙЛДЭНЭ WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/04/29     ЕРӨНХИЙ САЙД Л.ОЮУН-ЭРДЭНЭ ЭГИЙН ГОЛЫН УЦС-ЫН ТӨСЛИЙН ТАЛБАЙД АЖИЛЛАЖ БАЙНА WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/04/29     Ц.ТОД-ЭРДЭНЭ: БИЧИГТ БООМТЫН ЕРӨНХИЙ ТӨЛӨВЛӨГӨӨ БАТЛАГДВАЛ БУСАД БҮТЭЭН БАЙГУУЛАЛТЫН АЖЛУУД ЭХЛЭХ БОЛОМЖ БҮРДЭНЭ WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/04/29     MCS-ИЙН ХОЁР ДАХЬ “УХАА ХУДАГ”: БНХАУ, АВСТРАЛИТАЙ ХАМТРАН ЭЗЭМШДЭГ БАРУУН НАРАНГИЙН ХАЙГУУЛЫГ УЛСЫН ТӨСВӨӨР ХИЙЖЭЭ WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/04/29     АМ.ДОЛЛАРЫН ХАНШ ТОГТВОРЖИЖ 3595 ТӨГРӨГ БАЙНА WWW.EGUUR.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2025/04/29    

Events

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

NEWS

64x64

France's Macron To Make First Visit To Mongolia www.afp.com

Emmanuel Macron arrives Sunday in Mongolia for a brief, symbolic visit, the first by a French president to the country nestled between China and Russia that is of growing strategic interest in the West.
The French head of state will stop off in the capital Ulaanbaatar after having taken part in the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan -- at which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was the star guest.
The leader of the war-torn country was there to address key Western allies, but also leaders of non-aligned nations like Brazil and India.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, France has stepped up its efforts to speak with countries who have not explicitly condemned it -- of which Mongolia is one.
In Ulaanbaatar, where he will only spend an evening, Macron will dine with President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, the Elysee said.
The French president will also visit the museum of Genghis Khan, named for the 13th-century Mongol conqueror, which will lend part of its collection to the Nantes History Museum in western France for an exhibition scheduled for October.
Macron will then depart for Paris at the end of the evening.
"The fact that Mongolia will be on the route back allows us to make this historic first (visit) and gives it a special meaning," a source in the Elysee's entourage said.
"Mongolia is landlocked between Russia and China, but is also a country which has a liberal model of government," they said, adding it is trying to "diversify its partnerships in order to be more robust and able to deal with its large Russian and Chinese neighbours".
The French presidency is seeking to "loosen the constraint exerted on Russia's neighbours and open up to them the choice of their options", they added.
On the bilateral level, France has considered that there are "very significant possibilities for cooperation" with Mongolia, particularly in energy, with the country struggling to decarbonise its coal-dependent economy.
The vast north Asian country has been the subject of growing interest in recent years from the United States as part of a strategy to thwart the rise of China.
Eighty-six percent of Mongolia's total exports go to China, half of which is coal.
Mongolia has struggled with political instability since its first democratic constitution in 1992, when it emerged from the Soviet orbit.
...


64x64

Ulaanbaatar to cooperate with Seoul in four directions www.theubposts.com

Mayor of Ulaanbaatar D.Sumiyabazar is working on an official appointment in the Republic of Korea. Within the framework of the appointment, which aims to open up new opportunities for cooperation in economy, investment, infrastructure and other fields of the two cities, he met the chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, and the mayor. In addition, he got acquainted with the standard solutions that solved the problems in the city and discussed about introducing them to Ulaanbaatar. In this context, he elaborated on the results of his visit.
Meetings with Seoul’s administration and relevant officials were held. How do you see the results of these meetings?
According to the official appointment program, we met with the administration of the Seoul city and discussed the possibility of expanding cooperation between the two cities. Moreover, we got acquainted with construction, technological and economic projects. In the future, we believe that we can cooperate with the capital of South Korea in four directions.
Could you clarify on the sectors that will be on focus?
For example, technological advances will be introduced in connection with the renovation of Ulaanbaatar’s public transport. There is a need to renew the public transport payment system in connection with the import of another 1,200 buses as part of the public transport fleet renovation. We are studying the possibilities of cooperation with South Korea and the kind of solutions to introduce. In addition, taxi services in Ulaanbaatar should be increased and improved. It is an important part of the city’s culture. The capital city, the private sector and other organizations can work together to create a quality taxi service that meets modern requirements. Negotiations are ongoing in this regard.
For Seoul, the economy along the Han River has been developed and built. Not only in South Korea, but also in other Asian countries. So, for Ulaanbaatar, it is possible to develop construction, services and trade along the Tuul river. It is important not only for the economy, but also for increasing the green areas and improving the flow of the river. In this regard, we expressed a request to invite the professional team that worked on the construction of the Han River to Ulaanbaatar and learn from their experience.
Of course, one of the pressing problems facing Ulaanbaatar is air pollution. The two cities can work together to reduce air pollution and introduce environmentally friendly technologies.
Another area of cooperation between Ulaanbaatar and Seoul is personnel training. We will work together to train and empower personnel in the field of urban improvement and service, and exchange experience. Of course, there is a shortage of personnel for the large-scale construction and renovations of the city. For example, there is hardly any IT specialist who has worked in this field to renew the integrated traffic management center. Therefore, many works can be executed step by step by organizing training in this context.
...


64x64

There are no standards set in tourism services www.theubposts.com

Operator of Mongolia cooperated with a foreign company manager and organized a trip involving well-known and famous people, however the manager shook his head and said, “Mongolia is not ready yet.” Tourists who came here to get to know Mongolia’s winter stayed at the recreation and tourism complex in Arkhangai Province, which operates throughout the four seasons and is considered the largest in our country. But this was just a name. From the characteristic, attitude and service of the employees, many things did not meet the travelers’ expectations. Although it was a holiday and tourism complex, the electricity and hot water are cut off shortly as they are on, and the food does not arrive on time, leaving foreigners surprised. When the manager from the tour operator company complained to the resort, they almost threatened to kick them out because of their high demands. The young man, who expressed his frustration said, “When the service organizations are in this poor state, our country should not talk or dream about receiving one million tourists.”
This is the reality behind the scenes of our country, which has set a big goal of receiving one million tourists in 2023 and 1.5 million in 2024 and is implementing a comprehensive initiative called “Years to visit Mongolia”. There are almost no places in our country that can comfortably accommodate 10 or 20 people, let alone absorb a million tourists. As a result of increasing the frequency of flights and activating marketing and advertising, the number of foreigners coming to Mongolia has increased and it came with the rising number of criticisms and complaints about tourism services. If we look at it from a positive point of view, it may be an opportunity for us to see our own mistakes clearly and to correct them. On the other hand, if too much unfavorable information about Mongolia continues to spread in the international market, there is a negative possibility that our country will be put on the blacklist. Remember how the comments of the Japanese tourist who was left from the scheduled flight due to the irresponsibility of Mongolian Airlines spread on social media? In this age of so-called information, it is worth remembering that negative comments from one tourist can have strong and negative consequences to block people’s way.
There are 10 standards related to tourism services in our country. Depending on the hotel, tourist camp and resort, the standards of housekeeping and room service are different. There are even standards for general guides, interpreters, hospitality specialists, baristas, bartenders, and waiters. In fact, there are even codes of conduct and standards of behavior that those working in the hospitality industry must follow. How to greet a tourist, exchange business cards, resolve suggestions and complaints, offer help, give instructions, and explain the rules of communication are very detailed and clear. It also included rules related to a positive and correct attitude based on ethics, responsibility, and time management. For example, if a customer complains or makes a request, the employee has a rule to listen to and accept the complaint, solve it as much as possible, report back to him or her, and not be a nuisance in any way.
In addition, they should be able to fully understand the products and services they sell, the specifics of their organization’s operations, and the policies they follow, and be able to give full answers to tourists’ questions. However, the common image of employees in our hospitality organization is that they are tired of their work, have a hard time, and don’t know their work. In case of criticisms and complaints related to the service, it will be accepted in the same manner as mentioned. At best, they cheat and trick you by saying, “I will pass on your suggestions and complaints to my boss and management.” Some ignore it, saying, “I don’t know because it’s not my job.” Most people don’t give out information about their products unless they have a guarantee of service. A young man who took tourists to the hot spring, which is considered to be one of the biggest in our country, said, “There is no culture of greeting or interacting with people there. Not every description of the information. They have a bad attitude.” This is the general appearance of resorts, tourist camps, hotels, and restaurants, not to mention spas. Even in so-called international airports, there is no standard of service. The Tourist Information Center, which was closed due to the pandemic, has not yet opened its doors. The taxi service providers who are passing foreigners outside the airport often attack the tourists and almost steal their luggage. Generally, our country is known by its bad services by tourists right from the gate.
In addition to the attitude and characteristics of the staff, there are many things that surprise tourists related to hygiene, safety, and room service. To give just one example, most of our country’s resorts and tourist camps are characterized using Mongolian ger for services. That is why there is a special standard called home service. According to the standard, Mongolian homes for tourists should be as clean, comfortable, and well-furnished comparable to hotel rooms. They even have a requirement for cleaning before and after receiving the guest and how to measure the humidity and dust, how to make the bed, and how to give instructions for the fire are also included. It is even stated that “housekeepers of tourist camps have uniforms for two seasons, they will wear them fully and provide service.” Unfortunately, in reality, the homes of our tourist camps and resorts are distinguished from other services only by their filthiness with the smell of damp and mold, and by their inflated prices. It is difficult to talk about hygiene standards. Now it’s time to sort it out.
The main reason for the poor implementation of tourism service standards is due to weak supervision. Second, there are many entrepreneurs who believe that there is no need for strict standards in this industry. There are people who believe, “If we want to develop tourism, we need to improve the quality of our services. Therefore, we should raise our standards to conform to international standards”, while others say that “Corruption and bureaucracy flourish when the government becomes too involved in business activities. They will be fined, punished, and imprisoned. It should be carried out according to the principles of the market, not through strict government control,”. It is said that even at the time when the accompanying regulations and standards are being revised in connection with the new tourism law, there are conflicts arising among businessmen.
In fact, this is no different from debating whether to accept tourists from the international market. If Mongolia aims to develop tourism as a priority and compete in the international market, it has no choice but to pay attention to the pursuit of standards. The most important indicator in tourism is tourist satisfaction. But satisfaction is the result of quality service. Standards are the main driving force for providing accessible and quality services. That’s why the government’s action program for 2020 to 2024 includes “Improve tourism products, services, quality and standards, increase competitiveness, increase the number of passengers and tourists to one million” and “Renew national standards to meet international standards”. Moreover, due to the slow pace of this work and the extremely inadequate implementation of the previous standards and regulations, the tourism organizations of our country are “known” for their quality of service and are turning away tourists who came during the “Years to visit Mongolia” from the very beginning.
...


64x64

Mongolia to Host XXIII Asian Physics Olympiad www.montsame.mn

Mongolia is set to host XXIII Asian Physics Olympiad in Ulaanbaatar on May 21-29 under the auspices of the President of Mongolia. In relation to this significant event, MONTSAME, the Mongolian National News engaged in an interview with Academician J. Davaasambuu, the President of the Mongolian Physics Society. Our conversation centered on the meticulous planning and organization required for the successful implementation of the Olympiad.
The Asian Physics Olympiad is set to take place in Mongolia for the second time. Could you elaborate on the preparation work?
It is important to acknowledge that the primary objectives of the Olympiad are to assess the quality of physics education in Asian nations, provide support to students with a keen interest in physics, and showcase the cultural heritage of the hosting country. Thus, the successful execution of this event entails the collaboration of numerous individuals beyond the realm of physicists. In order to orchestrate the Olympiad, physics educators from the Mongolian State University, the Mongolian University of Education, the Mongolian University of Science and Technology, as well as researchers from the Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences, collectively conducted comprehensive physics training programs in schools across all provinces and districts throughout the year. A dedicated team of 10-15 experts organized a knowledge day, featuring experimental demonstrations, with the aim of addressing any deficiencies in physics education, empowering teachers, and fostering a deeper understanding of the field of physics.
We consider it a tremendous privilege to have been selected as the host country for the Olympiad. Mongolia previously had the distinction of organizing the Asian Physics Olympiad in 2008. The forthcoming Olympiad will be the second of its kind, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science, the General Department of Education, as well as the dedicated involvement of over 100 esteemed scientists from the Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences, and the Department of Physics at the National University of Science and Technology of Mongolia, alongside the collective contributions of all physicists in the country.
Within this framework, our commitment to the field of physics extends throughout the entire year, immersing ourselves in its principles and practices. As an illustrative example, our team has developed an online physics course tailored for secondary school students. Through collaborative efforts, the most accomplished teachers have diligently prepared 200 lectures and accompanying assignments. These resources will be made accessible to teachers, students, and individuals with an interest in physics, serving as a valuable reference guide for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of this captivating field of study.
I have been informed that the questions for XXIII Asian Physics Olympiad were formulated by a team of Mongolian scientists. Generally speaking, is there a dedicated team responsible for creating the questions for the Olympiad?
The host country of the Asian Physics Olympiad is entrusted with the task of developing its own problems. Due to its confidential nature, five individuals, under the supervision of one coordinator, were appointed to create the five problems. To ensure accountability, all team members signed a liability agreement. The organization of a fair and esteemed competition is of utmost importance. Currently, three theoretical problems have been finalized, two test problems have been designed, and 600 laboratory experiments have been commissioned and prepared. Additionally, 150 specialized equipment pieces have been procured internationally to facilitate the necessary measurements. Unlike sporting events where athletes are invited to participate, the Olympiad involves a comprehensive approach where the host country is responsible for the development and execution of policies and its organization. Over the course of 23 iterations, 12 countries have taken turns hosting the Asian Physics Olympiad. Our country's physicists have garnered significant recognition in Asia, which is why Mongolia has been selected to organize this edition. It is crucial that the policies of the Olympiad are innovative, unprecedented, and display a high degree of creativity.
May I inquire about the number of countries whose scientists will participate in the Olympiad? Is there a Nobel Prize laureate who has been invited to deliver a lecture?
The Asian Physics Olympiad attracts talented physicists from various nations, with a notable presence expected from Romania, Pacific countries, and Australia. The event will witness the participation of approximately 200 students, accompanied by over 100 teachers and professors, representing 28 countries. Distinguished attendees will include the chairman of the Asian Physics Olympiad committee, esteemed professors from Taiwan University, as well as a substantial delegation from Vietnam. Additionally, around 40 individuals will attend the Olympiad as observers, enriching the academic atmosphere with their insights and observations.
On the 27th of this month, we are honored to announce that Konstantin Sergeevich Novoselov, the distinguished recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize, will deliver a keynote speech entitled "Materials of the Future."
This remarkable opportunity serves as an enlightening experience for the Olympiad participants. Each team participating in the Olympiad will consist of eight students and two teachers. As the host country, we have the privilege of fielding two teams. Among the team members, two students have been selected from Ulaanbaatar City, while the remaining six have been chosen from rural areas. Historically, only students from the city have participated in the Asian Physics Olympiad. However, this year, in an endeavor to support local students and broaden the Olympiad's impact, a dedicated training program was organized. As a result, six students who achieved exceptional performances and secured top positions in the State Physics Olympiad were selected for participation. The teaching staff from the National University of Mongolia are diligently assembling and preparing the team for the upcoming competition.
...


64x64

2 killed in eastern Mongolia due to dust, snow storms www.xinhuanet.com

Heavy blizzards and strong dust storms in eastern Mongolia have killed two people, the country's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said Saturday.
"A total of 127 people, mostly nomadic herders, went missing in the dust and snow storms that started in the eastern provinces of Sukhbaatar and Khentii on Friday morning, 125 of them have been found alive. Unfortunately, two people have lost their lives in the storms," NEMA said in a statement.
The disastrous weather conditions have caused severe damage to public and private buildings as well as infrastructure facilities such as roads and power lines, and killed a large number of livestock, according to the emergency agency.
The unstable weather conditions are expected to continue through the weekend across large parts of the country, especially eastern and southern provinces, the country's weather monitoring agency said, warning the public, especially nomadic herders and drivers, to take extra precautions against possible disasters.
Mongolia has a harsh continental climate as strong winds and dust storms are common.
...


64x64

Mongolian Director Zoljargal Purevdash Talks Cannes Title ‘If Only I Could Hibernate’; Surviving Extreme Winter & Inspiring Mongolia’s Youth www. deadline.com

Zoljargal Purevdash’s debut feature If Only I Could Hibernate tells the story of a teenager living in the yurt district of Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, who is determined to win a physics competition and earn a scholarship to a good school.
But his plans change when his mother takes a job in the countryside and leaves him and his siblings to fend for themselves. Rather than study, he’s forced to take a risky job so he can buy food and fuel.
“My mum opened a shop in the yurt district when I was teenager and we saw many different kinds of people – some were nomads, some living in difficult situations, some parents buying alcohol for themselves, but no food for their kids, just a few cheap candies,” Purevdash tells Deadline. “Somehow, I always wanted to create something for those innocent little children, to tell them a story that would make them happy, or to give them hope.”
That story ended up being If Only I Could Hibernate, which premieres in Un Certain Regard on Sunday (May 21) as the first Mongolian film ever in Cannes Official Selection. The film not only explores the role of education as a route out of poverty, but raises questions about how to tackle Mongolia’s toxic pollution.
The film is set over winter, and as Purevdash explains, winters don’t come much harsher than in Ulaanbaatar, where temperatures plummet to below minus 30 degrees and the city is choked in thick smog for months at a time, as more than half of the inhabitants live in yurts with no access to heating and burn coal to keep themselves warm.
“As you can see in the movie, the air pollution is crazy in Mongolia,” Purevdash says. “Every winter you have to breath it in, and the kids are also breathing it in, and have heavy metals running through their blood. But the solutions people are coming up with are total nonsense. They’re talking about using refined coal, when they should be installing solar panels.”
After developing the script of If Only I Could Hibernate for several years, Purevdash says she was waiting through what felt like endless cycles of funding applications for international grants, but had also raised some finance from local sources, including the Swiss Agency For Development and Cooperation in Mongolia and a Mongolian fintech group.
“Every winter, when I couldn’t shoot this film, I fell into a long depression,” she says. “I almost gave up on the project, but thought that if I really believe in this story, I should put it on screen in any form possible. Eventually I called my French producer [Urban Group’s Frederic Corvez] and said I’ve got this crazy idea – I’m just going to shoot with what I have.”
This determination seems typical of Purevdash, who has written, directed and produced the film but whose journey into filmmaking was not a straightforward one. She decided at a young age that she wanted to write and direct but was afraid to tell her family who wanted her to enter a more conventional profession.
“We’d watch movies every Saturday night on Mongolian national television – films like Forrest Gump and The Shawshank Redemption, I found them so moving as a teenager,” Purevdash recalls. “There was also a film from Thailand about a trans basketball player. It was the first time I realised you could make the audience totally understand your life and experience through watching a film.”
Like the protagonist in If Only I Could Hibernate, Purevdash also excelled at maths and physics and won a scholarship to enter a prestigious high school. But instead of of pouring over physics books, she joined the school’s drama group, then won another scholarship to study filmmaking at J. F. Oberlin University in Tokyo, Japan. After graduating, she returned to Ulaanbaatar, worked as an assistant director on several local films, then became a mother, which put her filmmaking career on hold.
In 2017, she entered an early version of If Only I Could Hibernate to the Berlin film festival’s Talents Tokyo programme, a lab for Asian filmmakers, and won the Talents Tokyo Award: “That gave me the confidence that I was working on something worthwhile. But I had first timer’s over-excitement and applied to all the international funds way too early,” she remembers. “So I took some time to make three short films and continued working on the script.”
Following her start at Talents Tokyo, Purevdash developed the project through a wide range of other labs and co-production markets, including TorinoFilmLab, Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum and Locarno film festival’s Open Doors. She met Corvez at Talents Tokyo and along the way also met her associate producer, Malaysian filmmaker Tan Chui Mui, and Mongolian co-producer Batkhishig Sed-Ayushjav. She also secured post-production funding from Qatar and France.
While post-production happened overseas to fulfil funding requirements, the film went into production with a wholly Mongolian cast and crew. Several crew members were heading departments for the first time – the DoP was a stills photographer and the co-producer had a background in documentaries – while the cast was mostly non-professionals, including children who had grown up in the yurt district.
Mongolia does have a local film industry, producing around 40-60 films year, but Purevdash wanted kids from the yurt district rather than professional child actors for authenticity: “We did a casting call and I chose kids with characters that were similar to the script. I told them why I wanted to make this film, and these kids are so honest and pure, they can see what’s happening around them, and wanted to help me tell this story.”
She adds that with the mercury plunging to minus 42 degrees at one point, more pampered child actors might not have been able to deal with the shoot: “We had to put the cameras into a warm car every five minutes to stop them freezing. I covered my kids with thick blankets, gave them hot drinks and vitamins and put hot sand in their shoes. I don’t think we could have done it without the kids’ strength and spirit.”
Those kids are now flying into Cannes to walk the red carpet at the film’s premiere in Un Certain Regard on Sunday (May 21). Battsooj Uurtsaikh, Nominjiguur Tsend and Tuguldur Batsaikhan head the cast of the film, which was produced by Purevdash’s Amygdala Films and Urban Factory Production, with Urban Sales handling international distribution.
“I wanted people who breath this air to tell the story with me,” Purevdash says. “Everyone worked really hard on this film and we hope it will make people think about how we can give an equal chance of a good education to every kid.”
...


64x64

14th “Fashion World Tokyo”, Japan’s LARGEST International trade show (LAST CALL: for EXHIBITORS) www.fashion-tokyo.jp

Japan’s LARGEST International trade show, the “Fashion World Tokyo” autumn expo is going to be held at the Big Site Tokyo between 10-12 Oct, 2023 and some potential Mongolian exhibitors are already started to prepare to attend. Most of the floor spaces of the show already booked and please hurry to contact us before the closing date on June 10 if/when you have an interest to take a part of this global famous international exhibition.
The exhibitors will have an opportunity to meet the distinguished international trading company representatives, buyers, agents and distributors who regularly attend annually for the B2B deal with more than 900 international exhibitors аnd in particularly Japanese leading trading firms, department stores and boutiques such as Мitsui, Marubeni, Ueni Trading, Mitsubishi, Onward, Yagi Tsusno, Itochu, Toyota Tsusho, Sanyei, Sumitomo, Sojits, Isetan Mitsukoshi, Hankyu Nanshin, Lumine, Takashimaya, Sogo & Seibu, Odakyu, Daimaru, Parco,Tokyu, Keio,Marui, Tobu, Beams, Ships, United Arrows, Nano Universe, Urban Research, Issey Miyake, Sazaby League, Baycrew’s.
The expo will include “Sustainable Fashion, “Fashion Sourcing”, “Textile”, “Fashion Digital Transformation”, “Japan Fashion” and “International Optical Fair” shows.
Japan is the world’s 3rd largest fashion market №1 in upper-middle price ranged market!
Please contact RX Global’s Country Representative office MBD (Mongolian Business Database) for the inquiries. Tel: 976 99066062 and email: contact@mongolianbusinessdatabase.com
(RX Global www.rxglobal.com is UK based international organization which runs over 400 events covering 43 sectors in 22 countries, in-person and online.)
...


64x64

EBRD promotes new retail format in Mongolia www.ebrd.com

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is helping to introduce new retail formats in Mongolia by supporting the expansion of Digital Concept, an operator of convenience stores.
Digital Concept, which runs the GS25 convenience store franchise chain, will use a Bank loan of up to US$18 million to open as many as 63 new shops by the end of 2023 and to finance the construction of a food factory and logistics centre.
The Bank’s financing will underpin the company’s investment programme, aimed at opening more than 100 new stores a year to 2027 in the country’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, as well as in the cities of Darkhan and Erdenet.
The programme will implement a popular GS25 Korean convenience store model, introduce new food retail industry standards to the country and bring a wide range of food products, everyday items, and fresh food and drinks to Mongolian customers.
As part of the project, Digital Concept will team up with a local college to establish an inclusive training programme for the company’s existing and new employees. It will provide access to certified training programmes essential to career development.
To date, the EBRD has invested almost US$ 2.19 billion in Mongolia’s economy through 132 projects.
By Anton Usov
...


64x64

TOP 100 Enterprises of 2022 www.montsame.mn

The Government of Mongolia and the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry have jointly identified the TOP 100 Enterprises of 2022. The ceremony of honoring the Best Enterprises has been held today at the State Palace. The following companies are leading the TOP 100 Enterprises of 2022:
"Oyu Tolgoi" LLC
• KHAAN Bank
• "Energy Resources" LLC
• Golomt Bank
• NIC LLC
• Trade Development Bank
• APU JSC
• "Shunkhlai" LLC
• "Mobicom Corporation" LLC
• "Mongolian Gold MAK" LLC
• "Central Express CVS" JSC
• "Mo En Co" LLC
• Khas Bank
• "Unitel" LLC
• "COAL" LLC
• “MCS Coca Cola” LLC
• "Bodi-International" LLC
• "Sodmongol Group" LLC
• "Boldtumur Yuroo Gol" LLC
• "Shunkhlai Trading" LLC
• "Gobi" JSC
When selecting the "TOP 100 Enterprises," five basic parameters are prioritized, namely the annual income of the enterprise, the amount of taxes paid to the state budget, the number of employees who paid social insurance, profit, and total assets. It is also based on the statistical information of relevant ministries and government organizations.
...


64x64

United States Launches New Grant Program to Advance Clean Energy in Mongolia www.mn.usembassy.gov

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today launched the Mongolia Energy Research and Innovation (MERI) Fund, a small grants program to bolster Mongolia’s economic growth by facilitating the transition to clean energy.
The grant program is part of USAID’s five-year, $12 million Mongolia Energy Governance project, which is assisting Mongolia in developing a more resilient and sustainable energy sector. Through the project, USAID is working with key government and private sector partners to develop a more competitive and financially sustainable energy sector that will increase economic competitiveness, create a more stable and secure domestic energy supply, and develop more renewable energy projects.
“The U.S. government is pleased to provide these funding opportunities that will help build a robust energy sector ecosystem, strengthen the institutional and human capacity of Mongolian organizations, and develop the necessary tools to facilitate the energy sector transition,” USAID Deputy Development Advisor Steve Winkates said at the launch event.
Through the grant program, USAID will provide grants to eligible think tanks, consulting firms, non-governmental organizations, private companies, research institutions, and other relevant organizations to implement interventions to support energy sector transition.
USAID has a long history of working with Mongolia’s energy sector. USAID’s first program in the early 1990s provided emergency assistance to repair one of Ulaanbaatar’s key power plants to avoid the possibility of a catastrophic shut-down during the winter months. USAID also helped develop energy laws that enabled further development of the market and assisted in the establishment of the Energy Regulatory Authority (now the Energy Regulatory Commission).
For more information about the MERI Fund, please contact Abt Associates, USAID’s implementing partner, at Info_Mongolia@abtassoc.com.
 
 
 
...