Foreign Trade Turnover Reaches USD 13.4 Billion www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar, June 10, 2026 /MONTSAME/. Mongolia traded with 145 countries during the first five months of 2026, with total foreign trade turnover reaching USD 13.4 billion, according to the National Statistics Office. Exports amounted to USD 8.5 billion, while imports totaled USD 4.9 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 3.6 billion.

Compared to the same period last year, total trade turnover increased by 34.6% (USD 3.4 billion), exports rose by 56.9% (USD 3.1 billion), and imports grew by 8.1% (USD 367.5 million). The trade surplus expanded more than fourfold.

The growth in exports was mainly driven by higher shipments of copper concentrate, coal, gold, and lead concentrate. Copper concentrate and gold accounted for 49.7% of total exports, up 23 percentage points from a year earlier.

Mineral products, precious stones and metals, jewelry, and textiles made up 97.6% of total exports. China remained Mongolia's largest export destination, receiving most of the country's coal and copper concentrate exports, while nearly all exports to Switzerland consisted of unprocessed and semi-processed gold.

On the import side, increases were recorded in diesel fuel, gasoline, tires, and iron structures and components. Mineral products, machinery and equipment, electrical goods, vehicles and parts, and base metal products accounted for 71.9% of total imports.

China supplied 38.8% of Mongolia's imports, followed by Russia (29.7%), Japan (8.7%), the Republic of Korea (3.7%), the United States (3.3%), and Germany (2.1%), together accounting for 86.3% of total imports.

During the reporting period, gasoline imports reached 450,000 tonnes, up 36.2% year-on-year, while diesel fuel imports increased 15.5% to 820,300 tonnes. Gashuunsukhait and Zamiin-Uud ports handled 74.2% of Mongolia's total exports.

Unurzul.M

Construction Sector Creates Over 100,000 Jobs as of 2025 www.montsame.mn

President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa met with representatives of the urban development, construction, housing, and public utilities sectors. The President congratulated generations of employees and professionals in the construction sector on the historic 100th anniversary of the establishment and development of Mongolia's construction industry, noting the sector's significant contribution to economic growth, social development, and the improvement of living standards.

During the meeting, President Khurelsukh briefed participants on the work carried out since assuming office, the implementation of national movements, campaigns and programs, Mongolia’s foreign relations, and the country’s current socio-economic situation.

According to official figures, construction and major renovation works reached MNT 11.7 trillion by the end of 2025, accounting for approximately 3.5% of Mongolia’s GDP.

Minister of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing Bat-Amgalan Enkhtaivan said the ministry aims to introduce legal reforms, optimize the sector's institutional framework, introduce advanced technologies, strengthen links between research and industry, increase investment, and improve construction standards and regulations.

Draft revised laws on Construction, Urban Development, and Housing, along with a draft law on a specialized housing bank, are being prepared for submission to Parliament.

More than 100,000 jobs had been created in the construction sector as of 2025. However, challenges including overloaded infrastructure and public services, air, water, and soil pollution, traffic congestion, and limited access to public services continue to undermine citizens' living conditions and their right to live in a healthy and safe environment.

To address population concentration and create new settlement centers, President Khurelsukh issued a decree to establish the new city of Kharkhorum in the Orkhon Valley, a project that is being implemented in phases.

Moreover, during his tenure as Prime Minister, several major development projects were launched and commissioned, including the 1,008-unit Nogoon Nuur housing project, the Solongo 1 and Solongo 2 residential developments comprising 5,002 apartments, as well as a water purification plant, a wastewater recycling plant, and a wastewater treatment facility.

World Horse Day Main Events Set for July 13 at Khui Doloon Khudag www.montsame.mn

Mongolia is set to celebrate “World Horse Day” on July 11-13, 2026, in cooperation with the countries that co-sponsored the United Nations resolution establishing the observance.

The celebration aims to promote horse culture, traditions, and the valuable heritage of nomadic civilizations worldwide. Guests and delegations from 56 countries are expected to gather in Mongolia to participate in a series of ceremonial, academic, cultural, artistic, and sporting events dedicated to equine heritage, including a parade of 10,000 horse riders.

The main events of “World Horse Day” will take place on July 13 at Khui Doloon Khudag, near Ulaanbaatar. Preparations are underway, including the development of power supply systems, engineering infrastructure, and site improvements.

The 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly discussed and adopted the draft Resolution on Proclaiming July 11 “World Horse Day,” initiated by President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, on June 3, 2025. The resolution was co-sponsored by 56 countries and recognizes the historical and contemporary contributions of horses to human civilization. The resolution also calls for the preservation of equine heritage, pasturelands, and nomadic pastoral traditions.  

Japan, Mongolia agree to advance strategic partnership www.japantoday.com/

Japan agreed with Mongolia on Tuesday to further strengthen its "special strategic partnership" to promote peace and prosperity in the region.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi thanked his visiting counterpart, Batmunkh Battsetseg, in Tokyo for Mongolia's understanding and cooperation on the long-standing issue of North Korea's past abductions of Japanese nationals, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry.

At the outset of the meeting, Motegi said Japan hopes to work closely with Mongolia, a strategically important landlocked nation between China and Russia

He also expressed Japan's willingness to assist in the expansion of Chinggis Khaan International Airport, seen as key to improving connectivity.

Battsetseg thanked Japan for its support, and the two ministers agreed to hold a vice minister-level strategic dialogue at an early date.

Mongolia seeks EU visa deal amid growing geopolitical ties and trade talks www.brusselstimes.com

Six Members of the European Parliament visited Mongolia from 26 to 30 May, holding talks with politicians, ministers, businesses and civil society as part of an inter-parliamentary tour of Central Asia, including on EU visa liberalisation.

The delegation was led by Giuseppina Princi, Chair of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Central Asia and Mongolia, and included MEPs Sven Simon, Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Thierry Mariani, Jonas Sjöstedt and Chiara Gemma, the European External Action Service (EEAS) informed on Tuesday.

“Mongolia represents a strategic partner for the European Union at a decisive geopolitical crossroads,” Princi said, citing the country’s location between Russia and China and its “commitment to strengthening ties with Europe.”

The centrepiece of the visit was the 18th EU–Mongolia Inter-Parliamentary Meeting, held at the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar and co-chaired by Mongolian MP G. Temuulen and Princi.

Trade between the EU and Mongolia totals about $1 billion, with imports accounting for 91% and exports 9%, Mongolian MP E. Bolormaa told the meeting.

Mongolian MPs raised issues including co-operation on cybersecurity, data protection and tackling online disinformation, while also discussing a Geographical Indications Agreement — a system that protects product names linked to specific regions — and Mongolia’s use of the EU’s GSP+ trade scheme.

Visa facilitation request raised in talks
Deputy Speaker J. Bat-Erdene told the delegation Mongolia was interested in visa facilitation and working with the EU on issues including disinformation and geographical indications, the EEAS informed.

Princi noted the European Parliament had formally submitted a request to the European Commission and EU Council to start a visa facilitation agreement with Mongolia, modelled on the framework used with Kazakhstan.

During the visit, the delegation also met Mongolia’s Minister of Energy, Naidalaa Badrakh, to discuss energy sector reforms, renewable energy potential and energy co-operation.

The group visited the Mongolian Wool and Cashmere Association and the Evseg Cashmere Factory, and later travelled to Baganuur District to tour Baganuur Electromechanical Plant LLC and meet the district governor, S. Davaasuren.

The next EU–Mongolia Inter-Parliamentary Meeting is scheduled to take place in Brussels in 2027.

Mongolia's foreign trade turnover rises over 34 pct in first 5 months www.xinhua.com

Mongolia's foreign trade turnover increased by 34.6 percent in the first five months of 2026, according to official data released by the country's National Statistics Office on Tuesday.

Foreign trade totaled 13.4 billion U.S. dollars during the January-May period. Mongolia recorded a trade surplus of more than 3.6 billion dollars, with exports exceeding imports, the data showed.

China remained Mongolia's largest export destination and source of imports during the period, accounting for 93.6 percent of the country's exports and 38.8 percent of its imports, it said.

The landlocked Asian country traded with 145 economies worldwide in the period.

AseanPlus News Temporary facilities completed in Mongolia ahead of UN COP17 conference www.thestar.com.my

Preparations for the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17) have reached a major milestone as Ulaanbaatar completes the construction of 12 temporary venue facilities.

Newly appointed Capital Governor and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar Byaruuzanyn Purevdagva confirmed that critical utility networks, including electricity, water, sewage and high-speed fiber optics, are fully installed and operational.

The sprawling temporary complex was constructed by the French-based main contractor GL Events Live, with support from local and international subcontractors NBIK and LIRI Group.

These facilities will serve as the operational heart of the summit, hosting plenary sessions, official state negotiations, high-level ministerial meetings, media centres and exhibition spaces.

In tandem with the venue assembly, the city is rapidly completing broader infrastructure and greening initiatives. Roadway and parking developments surrounding the site are currently 80 per cent finished, with western lot paving actively underway. Furthermore, dedicated bicycle paths are 98 per cent complete.

As part of a massive exterior landscaping effort aligned with the summit’s environmental focus, city crews are planting 4,500 new trees of nine different species and safely transplanting an additional 100 mature trees.

Scheduled to take place on August 17-28, COP17 is projected to bring between 8,000 and 10,000 international delegates from 196 countries to the Mongolian capital.

53% of firms report engineer shortage www.ubpost.mn

The country’s renewable energy industry is grappling with a significant human resources shortage even as the sector expands rapidly, according to findings from the Mongolian Renewable Energy Sector Workforce Survey-2026, presented at the Future Skills of Human Resources in the Renewable Energy Sector of Mongolia forum on June 5. 

More than half of renewable energy companies, 53.1 percent, report insufficient staffing, with 41 unfilled vacancies for engineers and technicians. The shortage is most acute in solar energy system installation, where qualified engineers are hardest to find. Companies cite the rural locations of most energy facilities and the need for specialized skills or mandatory internships as the primary barriers to recruitment.

The survey covered 30 enterprises operating across renewable energy production, equipment assembly and installation, design development, consulting services, maintenance and equipment sales. Of those, 68 percent are active in the solar energy sector.

The nation currently operates three wind power plants, 11 solar power plants, seven hydroelectric power plants, and five battery storage facilities. As of 2025, 30 renewable energy production and related infrastructure construction licenses have been issued.

Professions identified as urgently needed include electrical engineers, electronics engineers, relay protection automation specialists, shift engineers, dispatch engineers, wind turbine generator technicians, energy management engineers, IT engineers, designers, and sales managers. Broader staffing needs also extend to archivists, clerks, savings managers, operators, and external relations managers.

With 82.8 percent of renewable energy companies reporting plans to expand operations, demand for engineers and technicians is expected to grow further over the next three years.

Opportunities Discussed to Introduce Advanced Technology in Education System www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar, June 8, 2026 /MONSAME/. Minister of Education Enkh-Amgalan Luvsantseren met with Peter Torok, Deputy CEO of Mozaik Education, to discuss opportunities to develop digital transition and innovation in Mongolia’s education system, according to the Ministry of Education. 

The AI tools developed by the company can be introduced at various levels of the country’s school education. Consequently, the two sides agreed to form a joint working group composed of experts and specialists. This working group will coordinate future activities, assess the feasibility, and support the successful introduction of AI-based educational solutions.

While textbooks remain an important part of the educational process, they exchanged views on jointly modernizing current textbooks based on Mozaik Education’s years of experience in educational publishing, pedagogy, and visual design. Without changing the approved curriculum content, the parties aim to make materials more engaging for children, easier to learn from, and better suited to today’s students’ needs by improving clarity of illustrations, adding high-quality images and interactive elements, and enriching content with animated demonstrations and methodological support. Such updated publications could support the digital transition and significantly enhance the overall learning experience.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Education of Mongolia, Mozaik Education, and the company’s official Mongolian partner, “Mozaun,” agreed to jointly develop an updated roadmap for teacher training.

Business Freedom Law Headed for Fast-Track Approval insidemongolia.mn

The Mongolian government has submitted a landmark draft law on Business Freedom, along with amendments to 99 related laws, to Parliament under an urgent procedure. The proposed legislation aims to simplify the licensing system, reduce government bureaucracy, improve the investment climate, and ensure greater tax stability for businesses.

🏋🏻‍♀️ Simplifying the Permit System

Under the new draft law, special permits for companies would be extended to 10 years, while standard permits would last 5 years. If authorities fail to respond to a standard permit application within 22 days, the permit would be considered automatically approved, allowing businesses to begin operations without delay.

🏃🏻‍♂️ The draft also removes the current restriction that prevents businesses with tax or social insurance debts from obtaining permits. This change is expected to ease pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises.
✂️ Cutting Red Tape Across the Board

The legislation includes significant measures to reduce bureaucratic hurdles. Over 120 types of permits would be transferred to professional associations, while more than 30 permits would be fully eliminated. Additionally, 146 existing licensing requirements currently operating under the names of “registration” or “certificates” would be streamlined and clarified.

🤑 Supporting Investment and Long-Term Stability

To attract larger investments, the draft law introduces tax stabilization agreements for projects worth ₮50 billion or more, with stabilization periods of up to 20 years. It also establishes mechanisms for resolving investor disputes through arbitration and mediation, offering greater legal certainty for both domestic and foreign investors.

🧩 Boosting Green Economy and Technology

The proposed law includes strong incentives for Mongolia’s green and digital transition. Imports of equipment related to renewable energy, battery storage, green hydrogen, data centers, and artificial intelligence would be fully exempt from customs duties.

In addition, the draft introduces a legal framework for conducting government procurement through AI-based, fully automated systems with minimal human intervention, a significant step toward modernizing public services.

📃 Expected Impact: According to the government, these reforms will reduce administrative barriers, improve the quality of public services, and create a more favorable environment for investment, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.
Overall… the Business Freedom draft law is one of the most ambitious efforts in recent years to modernize Mongolia’s business environment and improve its investor appeal, though its real impact remains uncertain given past gaps in implementation and limited progress in reducing regulatory burdens.