Politics
Government Says Tax Cuts Worth 1.3 Trillion Tugriks Will Begin in 2027
Published: 2026-10-24
Prime Minister Uchral said his government has reduced taxes by 1.3 trillion tugriks, with the changes scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Speaking at a direct public-question session with residents of Sukhbaatar District, he said tax revenue had accounted for 90 percent of budget income and is projected to account for 79 percent in the 2027 budget. Uchral linked the policy to protecting household incomes as real income declines and supporting private-sector activity. He said the government had submitted its first 2027 budget proposal to parliament, incorporating nine publicly announced priority decisions and an economic-stabilization policy extending to 2030.
“We will reduce the tax burden and protect household income.” - Uchral (eagle.mn)
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Government Decides to Withdraw Bill on Spending Planned Oyu Tolgoi Dividend Income
Published: 2026-10-24
The government decided on October 23 to withdraw a bill submitted alongside the proposed 2027 budget that would have directed planned Oyu Tolgoi dividend income toward social and core-infrastructure projects. The government said negotiations with project investors over shareholder-loan interest had created conditions to begin receiving Mongolia’s dividend in the 2027 budget year and raise the Mongolian side’s return to 53 percent. It had projected 3 trillion tugriks in 2027 dividend income, including 2 trillion tugriks for energy and education reforms. Following an E-Mongolia poll, in which more respondents favored health, education and housing support through the Savings Fund, the cabinet decided to withdraw the one-time bill. The proposal had also envisaged allocations for ports, agriculture, light industry, health, culture, environment and transport.
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Budget Revision Raised Spending Despite Potential Savings, Critic Says
Published: 2026-10-24
An interviewee criticized Mongolia’s 2026 budget revision, saying it increased total expenditure by MNT 1 trillion and current expenditure by MNT 1.1 trillion rather than delivering meaningful savings. The revision doubled the projected deficit from MNT 1 trillion to MNT 2 trillion, according to the interview, and includes plans to transfer MNT 1.2 trillion in dividends from Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi to the budget to cover a tax-revenue shortfall. The interviewee said 14 proposals to cut MNT 603.9 billion in spending were submitted, but only two were approved, reducing MNT 19 billion from travel, hospitality and office-rental expenses. The interview also raised questions over roughly MNT 40 billion in school-rental agreements reportedly signed with 107 companies before the budget revision was approved.
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Supreme Court Declines to Hear Development Bank Case on Review
Published: 2026-10-24
The Supreme Court on October 23 declined to take up review-stage complaints in the Development Bank case involving 42 people and three legal entities, including parliament member N. Altankhuyag. The court said it could not issue a legal interpretation because an appellate court had overturned first-instance findings on facts and criminal liability for some defendants, leaving the case unresolved. It also found that the complaints did not meet the statutory grounds for review-stage consideration under Article 40.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law. The decision means the proceedings cannot be examined by the Supreme Court at this stage. News reports said the case, including proceedings involving Altankhuyag, will return to the first-instance court after earlier acquittal decisions were nullified.
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Diplomacy
Finland and Mongolia Sign 10 Agreements on Education, Trade and Energy
Published: 2026-10-24
President U. Khurelsukh’s October 22-24 state visit to Finland produced 10 cooperation documents covering education, sport, museums, regional development, trade, construction and energy. The agreements will allow students selected for the Presidential Scholarship Program to study at the University of Turku and the University of Eastern Finland. The University of Eastern Finland will admit up to five Mongolian undergraduate and master’s students annually. Partners also plan joint research in learning science, neuroscience, child development and education data analytics; test the KiVa anti-bullying program; and assess an AI-based learning platform for schools. Khuvsgul Province and Finland’s Lapland region agreed to exchange experience on reindeer husbandry, sustainable and winter tourism, and conservation. Business partners will explore energy-efficient timber construction and thermal-energy storage technology. Khurelsukh also met Finnish parliamentary speaker Jussi Halla-aho and honored Finnish Mongolia scholars Lauri Harvilahti and Harri Halen.
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Infrastructure
More Than Half of Ulaanbaatar Fuel Outlets Have No or Low Briquette Stocks
Published: 2026-10-24
A government inspection found that 248 of Ulaanbaatar’s 446 briquette-fuel sales points had either no stock or only limited supplies ahead of the 2026-2027 heating season. As of October 22, 168 outlets had no fuel remaining and 80 held between one and 50 units. The city plans to supply ger-district households with 427,400 tonnes of fuel this season, while 51,200 tonnes had been placed in reserve. P. Batbaatar, head of the Government Implementation and Monitoring Agency and chief inspector, instructed Tavan Tolgoi Fuel LLC’s acting chief executive S. Davaasuren to align allocations with local demand and outlet workloads and accelerate transport and distribution. D. Munkhbaatar, head of the city Air and Environmental Pollution Department, was instructed to link Hotula app data with dashboard.gov.mn for real-time public monitoring.
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Environment
Snow and Strong Winds Forecast for Mountain, Steppe and Gobi Areas
Published: 2026-10-24
Snow is forecast in the Khangai, Khuvsgul and Khentii mountain regions from October 24 to 26, while strong winds are expected across the Gobi and steppe. Light snow, measuring 0.0 to 1.0 millimeters, is expected in parts of Khovd, Uvs, Zavkhan and Khuvsgul provinces and northern soums of Govi-Altai. Several forecasts put northwestern winds at 5-10 meters per second generally, rising to 12-14 meters per second in the Altai foothills, Gobi and steppe. A separate forecast put Gobi and steppe winds at 15-17 meters per second, with occasional gusts of 20 meters per second. Ulaanbaatar is expected to be partly cloudy with no snow, northwestern winds of 5-10 meters per second, and temperatures near 0 C. Baganuur is forecast at 0 to +2 C and Terelj at 0 to -2 C.
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Authorities Prepare 61.8 Million Livestock for Winter and Spring
Published: 2026-10-24
About 61.8 million livestock belonging to 195,500 herder households are expected to winter and spring nationwide after an estimated 15.1 million animals were allocated for food needs and meat preparation. More than half of the country has adequate winter-spring pasture capacity, while capacity is exceeded in about half, and poor summer pasture conditions in parts of six provinces may complicate the season. The government is building hay and feed reserves: natural-hay preparation was 57% complete and feed preparation 75% complete. Separately, the autumn foot-and-mouth disease vaccination campaign has covered 5 million susceptible animals in 101 soums across 13 provinces and Ulaanbaatar. Procurement preparations for 3.6 million vaccine doses for cattle and pigs in eight central and Gobi provinces await a budget amendment.
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Innovation
Cybercrime Losses Reach 28 Billion Tugriks This Year
Published: 2026-10-24
Cybercrime accounted for 32 percent of all recorded crime this year, up from 19 percent in 2021, the Cybersecurity Council heard at its latest meeting. Authorities recorded 11,440 cybercrimes during the first nine months of the year, while reported losses had reached 28 billion tugriks by October. Officials said Facebook was used in 78 percent of cases. Last year, cybercrime caused 26.5 billion tugriks in losses; 15.9 billion tugriks was frozen and 1.8 billion tugriks was recovered. Authorities warned against fake accounts, suspicious links, lottery scams and requests for money made in another person’s name. The Zalilan.113.mn website provides guidance on recognizing common fraud methods, checking suspicious links and email addresses, and steps to take after becoming a victim.
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Health
School Health Screening Reaches Nearly 70% of Targeted Children
Published: 2026-10-24
The Health Ministry and Education Ministry are running school- and kindergarten-based preventive health screenings nationwide from October 1 to December 1 for children aged 3, 6, 11 and 15. As of October 23, 198,302 children, or 69.4% of the target group, had begun screening, while 130,450 had completed a doctor examination. A subsequent update reported 203,117 participants and 136,318 children receiving follow-up examinations. Assessments cover growth, vision and general health, with age-specific checks including developmental and autism-spectrum risk at age 3, electrocardiograms at age 6, posture and flat feet at age 11, and mental health and puberty questionnaires at age 15. In the October 23 risk assessment, 41.2% were assessed as moderate risk and needing further evaluation and diagnostics; dental disease was the most common finding in that group.
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