Mongolia saw a rise in drug-related crimes in 2024, with the total number of registered cases increasing by 13 percent compared to the previous year, local media reported on Monday, citing the country's State General Prosecutor's Office.

The Asian nation, with a population of 3.5 million, documented 405 drug-related crimes last year, according to the prosecutor's office.

The majority of the 228 individuals involved in these cases were young adults aged 18 to 30, making up 69.4 percent. In terms of gender, 86 percent of those implicated were male, and 63.6 percent of offenders were reported as unemployed.

The country's National Police Agency attributed the rise in drug-related crimes to factors including lack of public knowledge about drugs, curiosity, attempts to make easy money and weak law enforcement.

Under Mongolian law, individuals convicted of drug trafficking face a minimum prison sentence of two years.

The rising prevalence of drug-related offenses highlights the urgent need for enhanced preventive measures, public awareness campaigns, and law enforcement efforts to tackle the issue and safeguard vulnerable groups, particularly unemployed youth.

The 2025 Hatsu Basho, Grand Sumo Tournament, concluded at Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena after 15 days of fierce competition. Mongolian sumo wrestler Ozeki Hoshoryu Byambasuren Sugarragchaa emerged victorious, clinching his second Emperor’s Cup with a 12–3 record.

On the final day, Hoshoryu squared off in two additional bouts, defeating Kazakhstan’s Kinbozan and Ōhō Kōnosuke, the grandson of legendary Yokozuna Taihō, sealing his triumph. This victory marks the 103rd championship captured by Mongolian sumo wrestlers in the 23 years since they entered professional sumo and is Hoshoryu’s first as an Ozeki.

Following his outstanding performance, Hoshoryu Byambasuren’s promotion to the Yokozuna title will be deliberated by the Japan Sumo Association and the Yokozuna Deliberation Council. If approved, Hoshoryu Byambasuren will become the 74th Yokozuna in professional sumo history and the sixth Yokozuna from Mongolia.

In the history of professional sumo, Grand Champion Hakuho Davaajargal holds a record 45 championships, followed by Asashoryu Dagvadorj 25, Yokozuna Terunofuji Gan-Erdene 10, Harumafuji Byambadorj 9, and Kakuryu Anand with six championships. Hoshoryu Byambasuren is now a two-time champion, joining Maegashira Tamawashi Munkh-Orgil and Kirishima Lkhagvasuren, who also hold two championship titles each. Kyokutenho Tsevegnyam and Ichinojo Ichinnorov have each won one championship.

Kirishima Lkhagvasuren made an impressive comeback after three straight losses at the start of the tournament, ultimately finishing with 11 wins and earning the Kanto-Sho or the Fighting Spirit Prize. He is set to compete at the rank of Komusubi in the Spring Basho. Meanwhile, 40-year-old Tamawashi Munkh-Orgil posted nine wins, while Oshoma Delgerbayar finished with eight, Tamashoho Erdenebileg six, Onokatsu Choijilsuren seven, and Chiyoshoma Munkhsaikhan nine wins.

Of the 19 Mongolian wrestlers who competed in the Hatsu Basho, one secured the championship title, while 11 achieved kachikoshi, finishing with more wins than losses. Additionally, Yokozuna Terunofuji Gan-Erdene, the 73rd Grand Champion, withdrew from the tournament midway through and announced his retirement.

The Ulaanbaatar Electricity Distribution Network (UEDN) reported on January 24 that households can potentially reduce their electricity bills by switching from two-tariff meters to three-tariff meters. They also highlighted that adjusting electricity usage during peak hours, particularly between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., can lower bills by 20 percent or more.

For households with two-tariff meters, electricity tariffs are structured based on consumption levels. For consumption between 0 and 150 kWh, the tariff is 182 MNT during the day and 147 MNT at night. For consumption between 150 and 300 kWh, the tariff is 225 MNT during the day and 160 MNT at night. For consumption exceeding 300 kWh, the tariff is 265 MNT during the day and 160 MNT at night.

Electricity bills increase significantly as consumption rises. For households using more than 300 kWh, the bill increases by more than 60 percent, while for those consuming over 150 kWh, the bill increases by less than 30 percent. Therefore, the UEDN advises consumers to optimize their electricity usage patterns and consider switching to three-tariff meters to save on energy costs.

Energy Project Manager in the Capital City R.Dagdan also shared an update on the current state of the energy system. This winter, the total energy load on the system has reached 1,500 to 1,600 MW. Ulaanbaatar, which accounts for over 60 percent of the country’s total energy consumption, has an average load of 1,245 MW. Notably, Ulaanbaatar has successfully addressed the energy deficit it faced during the 2023-2024 winter. The city has managed to make up for the 200 MW capacity shortage it experienced last year. This was achieved with the addition of the 150 MW Buuruljuut power plant and the 50 MW Baganuur battery storage plant, both of which began supplying energy to the central system in December 2024. These new sources have played a crucial role in stabilizing the energy supply and meeting the city’s growing demand, he said.

The 12th meeting of the Mongolia-Laos Intergovernmental Commission is currently taking place in Laos, with a delegation led by Mongolia's Minister of Road and Transport Development, B. Delgersaikhan, in attendance.

Laotian entrepreneurs have expressed interest in importing leather, meat products, and Mongolian vodka into their market. According to Ambassador Khoungeun Souvannalath, these products could also be distributed to ASEAN countries through the Lao market.

Meanwhile, Laos is ready to export coffee, tea, rice, and fruits to the Mongolian market.

B. Saruul, Secretary-General of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), is participating in the meeting, along with L. Turod, President of the MNCCI. They aim to strengthen cooperation between the chambers of the two countries and explore business opportunities by meeting with relevant officials.

MBD (Mongolian Business Database) is opening a full time permanent operation in Thailand in order to strengthen bilateral trade ties and promote B2B (Business to Business) communication between Mongolia and Thailand.

Dashnyam Jargalsaikhan (Mr) who appointed as a Director of “MBD Thailand” is an experienced executive with over 9 years of expertise in driving business growth through data-driven digital marketing strategies. He specializes in crafting tailored marketing plans that enhance online presence, optimize conversions, and foster long-term customer relationships. With a strong background in leading cross-functional teams and executing high-impact campaigns, Dashnyam has consistently exceeded targets, boosting ROI and maximizing sales performance.

He has successfully led digital marketing initiatives in various roles, including as a Digital Marketing Executive at Pinecone Coding Academy (USA), Chief Executive Officer at TenGer Systems, Chief Marketing Officer at Ard Financial Group, and Digital Marketing Executive at AND Global (AND Solutions) where he played a pivotal role in scaling operations and increasing user engagement.

Dashnyam's leadership and innovative strategies have also contributed to the growth of fintech solutions at Ard Financial Group, where he drove successful digital campaigns, increased user engagement, and significantly grew the active user base. He co-founded and led BZP Digital & Inbound, a digital marketing agency that pioneered conversion rate optimization services locally, and has extensive experience in SEO, paid media, content strategy, lead generation, and analytics tools.

Known for his strategic thinking, decision-making, and ability to navigate complex challenges, Dashnyam continues to stay ahead of industry trends, leveraging emerging technologies to drive sustained business success. Notably, Dashnyam was recognized as the official regional winner of Apprentice Season 2, the franchise of the Donald Trump-led show.

Please feel free to contact Dashnyam.J Director of MBD Thailand at dashnyam@mongolianbusinessdatabase.com e mail or 66 080 438 8554 mobile number for the related inquiries.

Marking the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the Italian Republic, State Secretary of the Ministry of Roads and Transport Development of Mongolia Batbold Sandagdorj and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic Antonio Tajani signed an Agreement on Aviation Relations.

The Agreement aims at expanding and developing international cooperation in the aviation sector between Mongolia and Italy, establishing a legal framework for direct flights between the two countries, and laying the foundation for broader cooperation across various sectors. It will help promote economic relations and boost trade turnover.

In recent years, trade between Mongolia and Italy has steadily increased, with bilateral trade turnover ranging from USD 150 to 188 million between 2022 and 2024. Italian enterprises producing knitted and woven goods have been importing combed wool and cashmere from Mongolia, comprising a major portion of exports from Mongolia to Italy, and this volume is expected to grow further.

Transporting raw materials by sea and land is time-consuming and faces numerous customs and logistical challenges. Therefore, Italian companies are keen on air freight. The Intergovernmental Agreement on Aviation Relations is vital not only for tourism and passenger transport but also for developing freight cargo operations.

The Ministry of Road and Transport Development reported that the two sides have agreed to collaborate on developing aviation relations between the two countries, expanding air transport services at regional and international levels, and fostering cooperation in road transport and other fields. The two countries will also collaborate in establishing an "International Road Transport Agreement" between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of the Italian Republic, as well as expediting mutual recognition of driver's licenses.

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia and Chair of the National Committee of Energy Dorjkhand Togmid met with foreign representatives to discuss energy cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister Dorjkhand met with Minister of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Falih. The two sides discussed advancing the dialogue between Prime Minister of Mongolia Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai and the Saudi side on cooperating in green energy during his visit to the country in December 2024 and collaborating in other fields.

Deputy Prime Minister Dorjkhand informed Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih of the 14 mega projects the Joint Government of Mongolia is implementing. The two sides exchanged views on investment opportunities in Mongolia. Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih expressed great interest in investing in Mongolia, underlining the possibility of mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy sector. The two sides agreed to put greater emphasis on establishing an intergovernmental agreement and memorandum on cooperation in renewable energy between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of Saudi Arabia.

Minister of the Cabinet Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Meets with Deputy Prime Minister Dorjkhand Togmid

The two sides discussed moving to the next stage of dialogue on renewable energy cooperation, which was initiated during Prime Minister of Mongolia Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai’s visit to the UAE in December 2024. The parties also held talks on signing a Memorandum of Understanding in the near future with the Ministry of Energy of the UAE and MADSAR company, which is one of the leading companies in renewable energy.

Minister of Cabinet Affairs of the UAE Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi expressed desire to establish a Joint Economic Committee between the two countries and invited Deputy Prime Minister Dorjkhand to visit the UAE and attend the “World Government Summit” in Dubai.

Mongolia Signs a Memorandum of Understanding with “Envision” in the Energy Sector

The National Committee on Energy of Mongola signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Envision Group, a global leader in green technology. Under this MoU, the two sides will cooperate in building a 500-megawatt battery energy storage station, export renewable energy, and create green jobs, in alignment with Mongolia’s long-term development policy “Vision 2050” and the “New Recovery Policy.”

Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia and Chair of the National Committee on Energy Reform Dorjkhand Togmid highlighted that Envision’s proven solutions will help Mongolia fully harness its renewable energy potential, establish reliable energy infrastructure, and foster stable development in the region. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Envision Group Zhang Lei expressed confidence that this partnership will enable Mongolia to achieve its climate change objectives and accelerate economic development.

In collaboration with the International Finance Corporation, China’s Envision Group has built a 50 MW/200 MWh energy storage facility in the Baganuur district, financed through bonds issued by Ulaanbaatar City. The facility will be handed over before this winter’s peak demand period.