The Mongolian Commodity Exchange (MCE) said the platform should begin trading in mid-April. Until now, traders or their representatives have had to be physically present to buy cashmere from the MCE, Mongolia's only permitted cashmere trader.

The exchange said trading in agricultural products and also coal and copper could follow at a later date. But cashmere currently accounts for around 90 percent of the exchange's total trade: In 2017, a total of 7,000 tonnes of washed cashmere were sold on the MCE with a total value of 521 billion tugrik (USD 217.99 million).

'Cooperation with the Bohai Commodity Exchange is opening up a market for Mongolian commodities not only in China but to other countries as well,' Chuluunbaatar Bayar, general manager of the MCE, told Reuters.

The cashmere launch follows the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with the Bohai Commodity Exchange in January. BOCE already trades a variety of textile products including cotton, cashmere, goose feathers and eiderdown.

The Mongolian government launched a four-year programme to boost the industry in February, with the aim of boosting exports more than fivefold, providing financial support to help domestic firms improve technology and boosting the country's processing capacity.

The Development Bank of Mongolia and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry have also established an 500 billion tugrik 'Cashmere Development Fund'.

Mongolia has an estimated total of 27 million goats, and an annual cashmere production capacity of 9,400 tonnes. (Source: Xinhua)