Daily Business News Mongolia

Letter to Mongolian Ministers to Protect Labor Rights of North Koreans

Human Rights Watch sends following letter to Mongolian Ministers

August 20, 2008

Minister D. Demberel
Ministry of Social Welfare and Labor
Government Building 2, Negdsen Undesnii Street
Ulan Bator – 210646, Mongolia

Re: North Korean Workers in Mongolia

Dear Minister Demberel:

On July 22, 2008, Daily Business News Mongolia reported that Ulan Bator and Pyongyang have approved a deal allowing North Koreans to work in Mongolia. According to the US Department of State, the agreement, reached in February 2008, permits up to 5,300 North Korean workers to come to Mongolia over the next five years. (more…)

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It’s asked not to withdraw Mongolian troops from Iraq

An authorized official of the Ministry of Defense informed that American side asked Mongolia not to return troops attending the international peace-keeping activities in Iraq till the end of the year. Over 1000 military troops are sent to Iraq in 10 rotations since the start of the activity. The 10^th shift of Mongolia troops performs duties under the supervision of Polish division in Ad Diwaniyah in the southern Iraq. Their duty term is to come to an end next month. As we informed, the Polish Government withdrew its troops from Iraq. Thus Mongolia expressed several times that it has no intention to send next rotation. However, USA prompts the proposal and urges the issue via diplomatic ways. National Security Council is to discuss this issue. By the way, quite calm condition in Ad Diwaniyah is because of understanding between USA and Mahdi Army.

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Gas price goes up again

Last night petroleum importers added the price of gas by MNT 250. As a result customers pay MNT 1740 for AI-80, MNT 1685 for AI-92, MNT 1885 for AI-95 and MNT 1990 for diesel. Gas provider commented on why the price was increased, “As explained by our authorities, the Government freed gas price.” And that’s why a liter gas costs USD 1.5. Petroleum price is constant in the world market however it goes up in Mongolia. Related officials explained it that Russia increased the price of petroleum product imported to Mongolia though gas price in Russia didn’t increase.

What we have to do is to make it clear from importers who don’t pay customs tariff. Following the price increase, transport microbus price went up by 2-3 times, reaching MNT 400-500.

Posted in Companies, Economy, Government | 1 Comment »

Mongolia-Qatar joint troop training starts

In recent years Mongolia-Qatar defense relations and military collaborations undergo aggressive development since the mutual visits of Chiefs of General Headquarters of the last year. The purpose is to exchange information on defense and security and strengthen military belief. In accordance with the cooperation agreement concluded on improving training efficiency, and providing assistance and aid for building material capacity, Mongolia-Qatar military troop training is to continue for 2 weeks starting from August 15 in Tavantolgoi. During the joint training, field training and practicum of troops would be improved and humanity aid would be provided to residents of Altanbulag soum in Tuv aimag. We got details from lieutenant general Ts.Togoo, Chief of General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces.

When did the joint training of Mongolia-Qatar troops start first?

An agreement on organizing joint training and practicum was concluded during the visit to Qatar at the invitation of General Khamad Vin Ali Al-Attiyah, Chief of Qatari General Headquarters last September. We collaborate now in accordance with the Agreement. Main purposes of our joint practicum and training are to increase preparedness of armed forces troops to attend the peace-keeping and other international activities and to learn lessons from each other. (more…)

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Foreign drudges jostle to Mongolia

According to the survey, conducted by Labor, care and services department of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Labor, 46985 foreign citizens were employed in Mongolia. The Department grants permissions on importing foreign labor force. The number of foreign workers reached 36 thousand as of the first eight months of the year 2008, going up by 7000 in comparison to that of the previous year, via unofficial calculation. This increase in foreign citizen employment is related to the Government acceleration of the 40.000 household apartment program. Thus it is essential for Mongolia to increase the number of cadres to engage in construction.

Surveys carries out by the Ministry of Construction and urban development suggest that it is essential to import 10 thousand foreign work forces. (more…)

Posted in Economy, Government, Lifestyle, Politics | 1 Comment »

North Korea exhibition fair opens

Exhibition fair of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea opens a fair exhibiting national pharmacy, embroidery arts, shoes and handcraft products in the IT Park. About ten organizations including International Handcraft Company, Ginseng, Kenrein and Mannyong attend the fair, strengthening bilateral collaboration of the two countries and promoting goods and products of the country. Also Ginseng Pharmacy Company, which extracts all its drugs from herbs, provided advices to customers. Well known in the world and in the country for its ginseng products, the company demonstrated ginseng tea, tiger bone spirit infusion, pills extracted from deer antler and anti-drug pills. These products are sold between MNT 4000 and MNT 287’500. The exhibition will be open until 19^th of August.

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It’s believed to be solved via talks

Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia expressed the position on South Ossetia, “Mongolian MFA is very concerned about South Ossetia issues, especially it feels sorry for the loss of people. It is believed that the issues would be solved via talks and negotiations in amiable ways.”

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Nancy Soderberg visits

Ms. Nancy Soderberg, Distinguished Visiting Scholar of the University of North Florida, Senior Policy Advisor of the International Crisis Group, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, 3^rd ranking official of National Security Council at the White House and Deputy Director of the Presidential Transition for National Security, visited Mongolia yesterday. Ms. Soderberg has a deep understanding of policy-making and negotiations at the highest levels of government and the United Nations. Ms. Soderberg served as the Foreign Policy Director for the Clinton/Gore 1992 Campaign and worked as the Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to Senator Edward M. Kennedy. She has been active in national Democratic politics since the early 1980’s, serving in a variety of capacities in national presidential campaigns since 1984.

She worked closely with Michael Bloomberg, Governor of New York. With nearly twenty years of experience in the formation of U.S. foreign policy, she has been involved in most of the conflicts around the world and speaks and writes regularly on national security issues. (more…)

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Kazakhstan, Mongolia establish joint investment fund

www.inform.kz reports that,

ASTANA. August 11. KAZINFORM Following up the results of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s visit to Mongolia on August 6-7 it was decided to establish a Kazakh-Mongolian Direct Investments Fund for deepening and expanding spheres of economic cooperation between the two countries’ business circles.

The Fund will be founded from Kazakhstani side by «Kazyna Capital Management» (ÊÑÌ), subsidiary firm of “Kazyna” Sustainbale Development Fund and from Mongolian side – by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Agency of Foreign Investments and Foreign Trade. The total sum of capitalization is expected to make USD 100 mln, the investment period is 5 years, the term of activity is 10 years, Kazinform has learnt from the KCM press service. (more…)

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Meat price falls down by MNT 500-800

Gas price went up by MNT 150-200 last Thursday. Since we have a standard that commodity price goes up following the increase in gas price, this time people concerned that price of other goods would fly high. However, the good news so far is that price of commodity goods didn’t go up. Beef price went down by MNT 500-800 in comparison to that of 5 days ago in Bumbugur and Huchit shonhor trading centers. It is worth praising that price of meat, which showed no decrease since spring, fell down rapidly. Butchers say nothing about the price decrease however it is because of the start of schooling. Also dairy product price showed a slight decrease and price of other goods did not increase. Some salesmen say, “It would be okay in general. There is no need to increase price but the price increases when goods become scarce.” Anyways, commodity goods price will not increase in the near future however taxi price increased to MNT 400-450 per km.

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