Compared with CPI 2017, Mongolia improved its score by one point that made it step forward by 10 positions from 103rd. But it is insufficient index as compared with the average score (44) of Asia and the Pacific countries.

Mongolia ranked at 87th among 176 countries with a score 39 in 2015, 87th from 176 countries with a score 38 in 2016, and 103rd from 180 countries with a score 36 in 2017 respectively.

The 2018 CPI draws on 13 surveys and expert assessments to measure public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories, giving each a score from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

At a plenary session of the parliament, Davaajanstan Sarangerel denied the media reports that many children have died of swine flu in the country so far this year.

“Great efforts have been made by relevant officials to halt the spread of flu and flu-like illnesses.

“Fortunately, there have been no reports of any deaths of children due to the flu and flu-like illness, including the H1N1 flu virus.

“However, seven adults died from the H1N1 flu virus across the country so far this year,’’ Sarangerel said.

Swine flu is a human respiratory disease.

People get the disease from other people, instead of pigs.

It has an incubation period of one to four days and has high virulence if not diagnosed and treated in time.

(Xinhua/NAN)

Mongolia's total renewable energy capacity stood at 275 megawatts at the end of 2018, according to the Ministry of Energy.

The 10-megawatt solar power plant was officially put into operation on Sunday in Sumber soum, an administrative subdivision in Govisumber, said the project's operator ESB Solar Energy.

"The construction of the Green Climate Fund-funded power plant took six months. The power plant can generate 17.1 million kWh of electricity per year to the country's national power grid," the company said.

The Green Climate Fund is a fund established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to help developing countries in their efforts to adopt renewable energy.

Mongolia, which enjoys more than 250 days of sunshine a year and boasts a potential wind capacity of 1,100 gigawatts, has set a goal of supplying 20 percent of its energy through renewables by 2020 and 30 percent by 2030.

The share of renewable electricity in Mongolia's overall energy consumption rose to 16 percent on average in 2018, said the Ministry of Energy. Enditem

The project will be implemented within the ‘Build4Skills’ initiative by Germany targeted to support workforce development in developing countries.

“Workplace-based training measures along with enhanced private sector engagement will make Mongolia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system more responsive to labor market needs. The project will be carried out for two years with investment of EUR800.000. Whether to prolong the project implementation will depend on its results,” said A.Khaliunaa, Head of Vocational Education and Training Policy Implementation Coordination Department of the Ministry.

The project will make use of innovative digital tools to enable evidence-based policy making particularly in terms of labor market analysis and maintaining consolidated database regarding demand and supply of training.

Director of Build4Skills initiative, Representative of the German Agency for International Cooperation Ms. Imke Kottmann underlined the project will be realized in construction sector or in vocational training centers of this direction firstly. Interior designer, electrician and plumber are being considered as the most in-demand jobs in construction sector of Mongolia today.

Additionally, the WorldSkills Competition will take place on August 22, 2019 in Kazan, Russia and Mongolia will be represented in 8 categories namely welding, brick laying, electrical installations, carpentry, plumbing and heating, industrial mechanic millwright, hairdressing and cooking.

A Joint Declaration of Intent signed by former Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Hans-Joachim Fuchtel and ADB President Takehiko Nakao (ADB) at the 49th ADB Annual Meeting in May 2016 in Frankfurt marks the beginning of the BMZ-ADB collaboration on the ‘Build4Skills’ initiative.

Minister of Finance Ch.Khurelbaatar said “As of today, the official exchange rate of the US dollar equals to MNT 2636. In 2018, the export volume amounted to USD 7 billion and the trade turnover to USD 12.8 billion. Moreover, external trade balance showed a surplus of USD 1.1 billion. Mongolia’s external debt made up 74.4 percent of the country's GDP at the end of 2017 and the ratio decreased to 60.9 in 2018. In 2019-2020, Mongolia will be under relatively low debt pressure.”

MP B.Battumur asked about how the central bank’s deficit will be eliminated and the government’s policy on balancing exchange rate of Tugrik.

“The government’s action on reducing external debt results decrease in exchange rate. Mongolia will repay USD 500 million debt of Khuraldai Bond in 2021, USD 1 billion of Chinggis Bond in 2022 and USD 800 million and USD 600 million of Gerege Bond in 2023. In general, the country will settle a total debt of USD 2.9 billion within four years. The Ministry of Finance is planning to extend the repayment period to ten years. By doing so it will not only prevent increase in the exchange rate, but also play important role in attracting foreign investment,” Minister of Finance Ch.Khurelbaatar stressed.

Deputy Governor of the Bank of Mongoia B.Lkhagvasuren noted the bank has worked efficiently in 2017-2018, reducing its deficit of MNT 3.4 trillion to MNT 1.8 trillion.

MP B.Choijilsuren questioned why World Bank’s USD 120 million fund and JICA’s USD 284 million fund have not been provided. The Minister of Finance answered funding of the joint programs with IMF is being provided thoroughly and that JICA’s fund will be received after the new airport become operational in July.

On January 8th, a Mongolian man was arrested after police discovered he had been sent psychoactive drugs in the mail from the Netherlands.

MIAT previously announced that they would be putting its new Boeing 737 MAX on its service route between Ulaanbaatar and Moscow Sheremetyevo.

MIAT, which is the country’s leading national carrier, expanded its fleet in 2017 by leasing two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from the global leasing company Avolon. The first of these planes arrived on January 21st of this year.

The 737 MAX offers flexibility, efficiency and a lower per-seat cost in the single-aisle market and is the fastest-selling aircraft in Boeing’s history with orders having been made for more than 3,600 aircraft.

“State policies and decisions on air pollution reduction have become prey for profit-seekers and all the frivolous decisions, such as smokeless stoves and solid fuels have clogged the situation to its current state. For instance, the new development and mid-term program approved by the Parliament’s 36th resolution of 2010 is one of them,” read the letter. Between 2008 and 2016, Mongolia has spent a total of MNT 164.1 billion, raised USD 104.7 million from foreign loans and USD 48.6 million in non-refundable aid. Regardless of numerous actions, the air pollution became worse in the capital, overreaching the disastrous level.
Considering the time and spent on combating air pollution, as well as the results, people’s lives and actual condition that is harming public health, the President suspects potential criminal violence in related government bodies and authorities, including abuse of power, bribery, negligence of duty and improper use of state budget.

“...thus, I ask the Prosecutor to pay serious attention to the matter that is gravely violating Mongolians’ rights to live in a safe and healthy environment, investigate the violations in air pollution reduction projects, and take immediate actions in demanding responsibility from the criminals,” stated the President.

In response to his submission of the letter, General Prosecutor of Mongolia Enkh-Amgalan Magvannorov remarked, “President addressed the air pollution issue when he first met me after his election. Accordingly, we have conducted a certain investigation and, in cooperation with the Independent Authority Against Corruption and the General Police Department, opened a criminal case on December 12, 2017. The investigation is progressing at a slower phase. The data collected between 2008 and 2017 indicates that a total of MNT 129.4 billion was spent from the State budget, MNT 30 billion from Ulaanbaatar city budget and over USD 100 million from international organizations. As we already know, the air pollution in Ulaanbaatar did not reduce. The law enforcers will pay extra attention to the matter. Owing to the fact that air pollution reduction actions were implemented for over a decade, it is taking a significant amount of time to investigate the matter in details.