Influenza vaccination underway www.ubpost.mn

The “Together Against Influenza” vaccination campaign has been launched across Ulaanbaatar and will run for one month until October 3. Last year, around 146,000 residents of the capital received influenza vaccines, reducing their risk of contracting the flu by 13 percent. This year, the city plans to provide free vaccinations to 293,619 people in high-risk target groups, including children aged zero to six, pregnant women, senior citizens and people with chronic underlying conditions.

N.Naranbaatar, director of the Ulaanbaatar Health Department, said that 106,912 cases of influenza were recorded in the capital last year, with children aged zero to six accounting for up to half of all cases. “There are approximately 230,000 children aged zero to six living in the capital, and we aim to vaccinate around 210,000 of them, or more than 80 percent,” he said. N.Naranbaatar also said, “Influenza activity typically begins to increase from mid-October. Therefore, we aim to vaccinate residents before infections begin to rise significantly.”

According to N.Naranbaatar, immunity develops within 10 to 14 days after vaccination, providing protection against influenza infection. Fully vaccinating the targeted high-risk groups could reduce the risks associated with influenza by up to 75 percent. Residents can receive the influenza vaccine free of charge by visiting their nearest family health clinic or health center.

For this year’s campaign, the authorities selected a four-strain influenza vaccine manufactured in South Korea and recommended by the World Health Organization. With government funding, 500,000 doses of the vaccine have been procured through the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Dambadarjaa Thermal Power Plant Construction Reaches 70% Completion www.montsame.mn

Construction of the 63 MW Dambadarjaa Thermal Power Plant, jointly implemented by the Ulaanbaatar City Administration and the Asian Development Bank, is now 70% complete.

According to Tsend Ts., a heating supply engineer with the Dambadarjaa Thermal Power Plant Project, construction is currently underway on the main buildings and equipment for three boilers, as well as metal structures, a coal storage facility, conveyor system, bag filters, chimney, and other auxiliary facilities, the Ulaanbaatar City Administration’s Public Relations and Communications Department reported.

Once commissioned, the Dambadarjaa Thermal Power Plant will provide a reliable heat supply to around 5,000 households in the Dambadarjaa and Selbe sub-centers. The project is also expected to increase Ulaanbaatar’s heating capacity and help reduce heat supply restrictions during peak winter demand.

In addition, the completion of 77 apartment blocks being developed under the “Selbe 20-Minute City” project will create the necessary conditions to connect new consumers to the district heating system.

Around 150 engineers and technical personnel from China’s Second Metallurgy Group Co.,Ltd, the project’s general contractor, are currently working on the construction.

Azzuro Resources Identifies Nine New Anomalies at Oval Cu-Ni-PGE Project in Mongolia www.kalkine.com.au

Azzuro Resources PLC (ASX:AZ9) has disclosed results from its first-stage 3D induced polarisation survey at the Oval Cu-Ni-PGE project on the Yambat tenement in southwestern Mongolia, identifying nine new anomaly trends including five priority-1 targets around the Oval intrusive body.

Key Points
Nine new resistivity anomalies identified around the Oval intrusive body from first-stage 3D IP survey results
Five priority-1 targets (Ta-01 to Ta-05) defined, each supported by coincident chargeability, low-resistivity and magnetic-constrained model data
A new Novaminex DHEM system has been imported into Mongolia and is being calibrated at the Red Hill project, with surveys planned over the Oval Cu-Ni area in September
The 3D IP survey is expected to be completed in Q3 2026, with further results to be reported
Priority-1 and Priority-2 Target Details at Oval
The five priority-1 targets — designated Ta-01 through Ta-05 — are each supported by coincident magnetics, resistivity and chargeability data. Ta-01 is located southeast of the Oval intrusion, beneath and beyond drillhole OVD0522, extending the geophysical interpretation into an area at depth not previously tested by drilling. Ta-02, Ta-03, Ta-04 and Ta-05 occur at shallow depth, are oriented sub-parallel to the Oval intrusion and are described as drill-ready. Ta-05 is spatially coincident with a previously defined south FLEM plate. Four priority-2 targets — Ta-06, Ta-07, Ta-08 and Ta-09 — were also identified, supported by two of the three geophysical datasets.

Historical Drilling Context at Oval Cu-Ni Project
According to the filing, previous drilling at the Oval project demonstrated that low-resistivity responses can be associated with mineralised mafic-ultramafic intrusion. Drillhole OVD049 was designed to test a low-resistivity anomaly and intersected 23 metres of mineralised mafic-ultramafic intrusion, including 16.8 metres at 0.39% copper and 0.41% nickel. The magnetic-constrained model applied to the new targets was completed in August 2026 by Terra Resources Pty Ltd, identifying a new magnetic anomaly extending from the western side of the Gossan zone towards North Oval, an area described as previously untested.

Next Steps and DHEM System Deployment
The company disclosed that it will continue and complete the 3D IP survey at Oval, with the programme expected to finish in Q3 2026. Following completion of downhole electromagnetic measurements using the new Novaminex DHEM system, the company said it will refine priority drill targets within the southern and southeastern extent of the Oval system. Planning of a drilling programme at the Oval Cu-Ni project is also listed as a next step. The company also disclosed it will continue integrating the constrained magnetic model from Terra Resources Pty Ltd with 3D IP interpretation, FLEM survey results and existing geological and drilling datasets.

Korea targets Mongolia's wealthy miners for its next big health care boom www.koreatimes.co.kr

Far from the sleek aesthetic clinics of Gangnam in southern Seoul, a quiet revolution in global health care is taking shape in the mining region of Mongolia. Korea is expanding its reach beyond typical cosmetic tourists, turning its attention toward high-earning industrial workers in booming resource economies.

This strategic pivot was on full display as the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) concluded a targeted medical tourism roadshow in Ulaanbaatar and the southern mining hub of Dalanzadgad. Rather than pitching routine wellness escapes to general consumers, the initiative zeroed in on a lucrative demographic: executives, engineers and miners backed by Mongolia’s powerful natural resource sector, which drives 30 percent of the nation's gross domestic product and accounts for nearly all of its exports.

The push highlights a notable shift in Asia's medical travel market.

Medical visitors from Mongolia spend an average of 9.88 million won ($7,400) per trip — nearly 1.5 times the average spent by general international health tourists in Korea. Last year alone, more than 35,000 Mongolian patients traveled to Korean facilities, making up over 20 percent of all Mongolian visitors to the country.

To capture this high-margin market, Korean tourism officials bypassed traditional marketing channels, going straight to corporate boardrooms and financial institutions. During the roadshow, KTO leadership held direct talks with the Mongolian National Mining Association, which represents 90,000 workers, to propose customized health screenings and executive wellness retreats. Similar agreements were negotiated with the Chinggis Khan Wealth Fund, which oversees state mining enterprises, and Mandal Financial Group, an entity controlling roughly 90 percent of Mongolia’s asset management market.

The strategic rationale is straightforward: mining is capital-intensive, physically demanding work, and regional healthcare infrastructure in remote provinces like Omnogovi often falls short of high-end corporate standards. By packaging top-tier medical care in Seoul alongside regional leisure travel for workers and their families, Korean health providers are offering an attractive corporate perk.

Individual consultations held during the event drew over 200 high-net-worth clients from Mandal Financial Group, while an outreach center in Dalanzadgad fielded inquiries from more than 800 mining employees and local residents. In total, the three-day effort generated 803 direct consultations and an estimated 19.6 billion won in projected revenue.

"Through this roadshow, we held a series of meetings with key local institutions and financial leaders, including the Mongolian National Mining Association, medical tourism agencies, TDB Bank, the Chinggis Khan Wealth Fund, and Mandal Financial Group," said KTO President Park Sung-hyeuck.

"We are currently operating a Healthy Miner package in partnership with leading local travel agencies. Moving forward, we plan to roll out the Happy Miner Campaign — a multilateral health promotion initiative uniting our organization, travel agencies, the mining industry, and the financial sector, including card and insurance companies — to go all-in on attracting medical tourists among Mongolian mining executives and employees."

Rather than relying on volatile consumer travel, Korea is institutionalizing its medical tourism through enterprise contracts, corporate benefits and financial partnerships. As global competition for medical travelers intensifies, KTO officials said this new effort shows that the future of health care destination marketing may lie not in glossy lifestyle magazines, but in the heavy industries powering emerging economies.

Lee Kyung-min
Value context and insight. lkm@koreatimes.co.kr

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

Dwight Howard, NBA Champion, Arrives in Mongolia www.montsame.mn

NBA champion, eight-time All-Star, and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member Dwight Howard has arrived in Mongolia for the second time.

Now 40, Howard has come this time to play for the SG Apes in the 2026-2027 season of the Mongolian Basketball League. Standing 208 cm tall, Howard was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 NBA Draft.

Over his NBA career, Howard also played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets, averaging 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. He won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020 and was selected to eight All-Star Games over the course of his career. He ranks 10th in NBA history in total rebounds and 13th in total blocks, was named to the All-NBA First Team five times, and was voted Defensive Player of the Year three times. Howard also won an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. Most recently, he played for the Taoyuan Leopards of Taiwan's T1 League during the 2022-2023 season.

Howard first visited Mongolia in 2011 and is now meeting Mongolian basketball fans again 15 years later, this time arriving in the country as a league player himself. On September 9 at 19:00, he will take part in a preseason game between the SG Apes and Selenge Bodons at M Bank Arena.

Budget Savings to Support Household Incomes, Strategic Reserves www.montsame.mn

The Mongolian People’s Party group in the State Great Khural discussed a draft law on amendments to the 2026 state budget at its meeting today, with a majority of members supporting its consideration.

Under the proposed budget amendment, adjustments will be made to the structure of government revenues and expenditures, with savings from government spending redirected toward protecting household incomes, building strategic reserves, and stabilizing energy and food supplies.

The amendment proposes total savings and expenditure cuts of MNT 1.44 trillion in government operating expenses. The savings will be allocated to the following social and economic priorities:

An increase in the basic pension for senior citizens will take effect from November 1, 2026.
The average pension will be increased by MNT 233,800.
Pay disparities among employees in the public service sector will be eliminated.
The “School Close to Home – Best School” initiative will be implemented.
Strategic food reserves will be increased.
Energy supply and distribution will be stabilized without raising energy prices.
MNT 196.3 billion will be allocated for pension increases, while MNT 844.6 billion will be allocated for salary increases for civil servants.
To reduce price and supply risks, the government plans to build reserves of 100,000 tonnes of wheat, 12,000 tonnes of vegetables, and 20,000 tonnes of meat. It also plans to expand cold-storage and warehouse capacity and increase petroleum product storage capacity by 300,000 cubic meters.

A total of MNT 200 billion has been earmarked to ensure reliable energy supply and operations. Of this amount, MNT 107.3 billion will be allocated as subsidies for the energy sector, while MNT 92.7 billion will be used to upgrade equipment.

Nightly marathon to be organized in late September www.ubpost.mn

Ulaanbaatar City will host its first-ever nightly marathon on September 26, bringing runners together for an evening race and entertainment festival in the capital. Registration for the event is now open. Participants can choose from three race distances, five km, 10 km and 21 km, and must be at least 16 years old. Registration fees range from 29,000 to 100,000 MNT, depending on the race category.

The night marathon is a running festival held after sunset, typically between 8:00 p.m. and midnight. Unlike conventional daytime races, the event is designed to combine running with entertainment, allowing participants to enjoy the city’s nighttime atmosphere while taking part in a major sporting event.

In addition to road races, the event will feature live performances, music, DJ sets and cultural and artistic programs. The illuminated streets and nighttime scenery of Ulaanbaatar are expected to create a distinctive atmosphere for both runners and spectators. Organizers aim to promote an active lifestyle and encourage greater public participation in running while introducing a new format of sporting and cultural entertainment to the capital.  

Mongolia and EAEU discuss expanding trade agreement benefits and export opportunities www.gogo.mn

The implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement between Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and opportunities to increase Mongolian exports were discussed.

The agreement between Mongolia, the EAEU, and its member states was ratified by the Parliament on December 12, 2025. Under the agreement, 367 types of Mongolian goods are eligible for reduced or zero customs tariffs when exported to Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.

The agreement officially entered into force on July 22, 2026, creating new opportunities for Mongolian producers to access the EAEU market.

The tariff concessions primarily cover agricultural, food, and light industry products, including meat and meat products, food products, wool and cashmere, textiles and garments, and leather goods.

The agreement is expected to expand opportunities for Mongolia to increase non-mining exports, particularly value-added products, to the EAEU market, which has more than 180 million consumers.

To ensure that these benefits are realized in practice, it is important to gather feedback from businesses and individuals currently producing export goods or planning to enter export markets.

In this regard, relevant government agencies and organizations will collect information and proposals from exporters and manufacturers next week, identify products with export potential, and use the findings to develop measures for the effective implementation of the agreement.

Montenegro President to Pay State Visit to Mongolia www.montsame.mn

At the invitation of President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović will pay a state visit to Mongolia from September 8 to 10.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Montenegro. President Milatović’s visit will be the first state-level visit by a Montenegrin head of state to Mongolia.

The two presidents are scheduled to hold official talks on expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, the economy, investment, culture, education, science, climate change, environmental protection, and other areas.

Following the official talks, the two heads of state will brief representatives of the media on the outcomes of their discussions. During the visit, the two sides are also expected to sign a Joint Declaration and several documents aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in the social and economic sectors, as well as in education, culture, and science.

President Khurelsukh previously met with President Jakov Milatović on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. During that meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on arranging high-level visits and expanding cooperation in the political, economic, tourism, education, and cultural sectors. They also expressed mutual interest in working together within the international community to address climate change, combat desertification, and advance other areas of shared concern.

Mongolia and Montenegro established diplomatic relations on November 30, 2006.

Historical ties between the two countries also date back more than a century. The third issue of Shine Toli Khemekh Bichig, Mongolia’s first newspaper, published in 1913, featured an introduction to Montenegro, covering its territory, population, system of government, and distinctive characteristics.

Ulaanbaatar Railway Freight Volumes on Track for Record High www.montsame.mn

“Ulaanbaatar Railway” JSC transported more than 33 million tonnes of freight last year, while nearly 20 million tonnes were transported in the first seven months of this year.

Based on the current figures, Mongolia’s rail freight volume is expected to reach a historic high by the end of the year.

Minister of Road and Transport Delgersaikhan Borkhuu noted this during a meeting with Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, where the two sides exchanged views on cooperation in the transport sector.

As part of Mongolia-Russia cooperation, the mobile consultation and diagnostic center operated from the “St. Panteleimon” medical train in Mongolia, providing medical care and services to more than 2,800 people between May 18 and June 4 this year.