Politics
Parliament Advances Measure to Import 150,000 Tons of Wheat as Drought Cuts Harvest
Published: 2025-12-07
Parliament committees advanced a government-backed resolution enabling the import of 150,000 tons of food-grade wheat to stabilize supply after drought slashed yields across key growing regions in 2025. Lawmakers debated tax provisions and regional targeting, with some criticizing policy volatility for undermining agribusiness planning. The measure follows a National Food Security Council decision allocating import quotas to 12 companies. Officials said 270,000 tons of wheat have gone to flour production, but an extra 120,000 tons is typically needed to fully meet domestic demand this year. Members highlighted the western provinces’ lack of flour mills and severe drought conditions, proposing lower import duties there and emergency steps to secure affordable feed and flour for areas facing potential dzud. Committees also discussed addressing herders’ social insurance arrears and called for consistent policies to protect domestic producers.
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Pensions to Rise by MNT 80,000 in 2026 as Ulaanbaatar Approves 2026 Budget; Flexible Terms Mulled for Pension-Backed Loans
Published: 2025-12-07
Mongolia will increase all pensions by MNT 80,000 from January 1, 2026, using MNT 474.7 billion earmarked after Parliament opted for an 8% rise. Labor Minister T. Aubakir said the flat increase aims to ensure fairness, with 537,000 pensioners projected next year. Family law amendments advanced in Parliament would tie child support to parents’ income and extend payments through age 21. Ulaanbaatar’s 2026 budget of MNT 4.2 trillion passed with 83.3% support, prioritizing roads (notably the Tuul expressway), urban infrastructure, and school capacity. Separately, Speaker N. Uchral pressed banks and the central bank to ease pension-loan burdens by allowing up to 36-month terms, noting retirees devote 82.6% of pension income to loan repayments.
“This is not about canceling loans or cutting rates; it’s about reducing the monthly burden seniors face.” - Speaker N. Uchral (news.mn)
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Economic Freedom Bill to Be Submitted to Parliament This Month After Stakeholder Review
Published: 2025-12-07
The Economic Development Council reviewed a draft “Economic Freedom” legislative package, which the government plans to submit to Parliament within December. Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar linked the bill to the newly approved 2026–2030 development guidelines and the 2026 state budget, emphasizing diversification and a larger private-sector role. The Ministry of Economy and Development has incorporated feedback from public consultations and will consolidate additional input from the Council and other stakeholders—642 submissions from international partners, business chambers, professional associations, and public bodies. The legislation aims to reduce state involvement, streamline the business environment, and strengthen legal guarantees for operating a business.
“The law will fully ensure the right to conduct business operations.” - J. Enkhbayar, Minister of Economy and Development (gogo.mn)
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Economy
Dornod Approves MNT 8.6 Billion Investment for All Sums in 2026 Budget
Published: 2025-12-07
Dornod aimag’s Citizens’ Representative Khural approved the 2026 budget, allocating MNT 8.6 billion in sum-level investments for crime prevention, environmental protection and rehabilitation, and expanded funding for elders’ councils. The decision follows sessions held on December 4–5. Budget execution data through November show local revenues at MNT 111 billion against a MNT 120 billion plan, or 92.3% fulfillment. Tax revenues reached MNT 58.8 billion versus a MNT 62 billion target, while non-tax revenues totaled MNT 52.2 billion against a MNT 58.2 billion plan. The targeted investments indicate prioritization of public safety and environmental stewardship across the province’s sums, while revenue underperformance may constrain discretionary spending and underscores reliance on improved tax and non-tax collection in the coming year.
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Diplomacy
UNIDO Country Programme Signed to Align Industrial Support with Mongolia’s 2025–2027 Agenda
Published: 2025-12-07
Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg met UNIDO Deputy Director General Yuko Yasunaga in Vienna and signed the 2025–2027 Country Programme between the Government and UNIDO. The framework is designed to channel UNIDO’s technical assistance toward strategic, results-oriented industrial development and aligns with national priorities, including the President’s “White Gold” cashmere initiative and the “Food Supply and Security” program. Both sides highlighted opportunities to expand cooperation on green industry, signaling potential projects in sustainable manufacturing and resource efficiency. The agreement institutionalizes a platform for coordinated support to the manufacturing sector over three years, with an emphasis on policy coherence and implementation capacity. It also positions UNIDO as a key partner for advancing inclusive industrial growth and diversification in Mongolia’s economy.
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Government Seeks World Bank Support to Build Disaster Risk Financing and Response Systems
Published: 2025-12-07
Deputy Prime Minister and National Emergency Commission head Kh. Ganhuyag met World Bank representatives led by Country Manager Taehyun Lee to expand cooperation on disaster risk management. Mongolia aims to refine its legal framework, strengthen rapid command-and-control, introduce advanced technologies, and establish an effective early warning system, according to the National Emergency Management Agency. The government also proposed technical assistance projects as it develops financial mechanisms for resilience, including contingent risk financing—an approach new to Mongolia but used in disaster-prone countries.
“Establishing financing sources and contingent risk reserves is essential to improve Mongolia’s disaster response capacity, and the World Bank will support this area,” - Taehyun Lee, World Bank Country Manager (montsame.mn)
Both sides agreed to conduct further studies and information exchange to structure the mechanisms and implementation roadmap.
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Infrastructure
Ulaanbaatar Bypass Rail Land Clearances Fast-Tracked to Ease Congestion
Published: 2025-12-07
Transport Minister B. Delgersaikhan, Ulaanbaatar First Deputy Governor T. Davaadalai, and “Mongolian Railway” (MTZ) CEO O. Batchuluun inspected land acquisition at the 22nd junction and Biocombinat bridge for a new branch line designed to route freight around Ulaanbaatar and connect to the main line near Tolgoit. Authorities ordered expedited clearance to keep the project on schedule. MTZ plans to start construction this spring on a 24 km connector between Bagakhangai and Khushigiin Khundii, supporting freight diversion from the city’s central corridor. Once operational, the link is expected to cut congestion by 20–30% and remove risks linked to 34 categories of hazardous cargo moving through the urban core. No project timeline beyond the spring start was detailed, and financing terms were not disclosed.
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Society
Growing Complaints Over Substandard Housing as Elevator Failures and Rusty Water Hit New Ulaanbaatar Complexes
Published: 2025-12-07
A feature from Eagle News highlights persistent quality and safety failures in newly built Ulaanbaatar housing, despite record-high prices averaging MNT 3.5 million per sq m. In Bayanzurkh’s “Khorshoolol” complex, a broken elevator reportedly left about 50 households struggling for over a year, including a resident who faced labor while descending stairs. > “When I went into labor, the ambulance arrived but we lost a lot of time going down the stairs. I was in severe pain and could not be carried; I just wanted to cry.” - Kh. Ariunzaya, resident (eagle.mn)
City engineers say rusty tap water and weak heating in new projects like “Gümüda Garden” and “Khunnu Villa” stem from substandard materials and internal piping, even after mainline upgrades. > “Developers used materials that did not meet standards, and there is no body to test such imports at the border. Upgrading the central line alone cannot resolve the rust issue.” - L. Altangerel, Head of Ulaanbaatar City Engineering Infrastructure Department (eagle.mn)
The article underscores regulatory gaps and risks as lifespans of 170 lifts have expired nationwide.
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Environment
Snow Squalls and Severe Cold Grip Eastern and Central Mongolia; Ulaanbaatar at −14°C
Published: 2025-12-07
Mongolia’s weather agency warns of snow and blowing snow on December 7 across eastern provinces and the eastern parts of central provinces, reducing visibility and complicating road travel. Winds shift to northwesterly, strengthening to 14–16 m/s in Gobi steppe areas. Nighttime temperatures plunge to −34…−39°C in the Darhad depression and high basins, −25…−30°C in major river valleys and mountain zones, and −20…−25°C elsewhere; daytime ranges from −23…−28°C in the coldest basins to −1…−6°C in southern Gobi, with most regions −11…−16°C. Ulaanbaatar remains dry with light northwesterly winds and highs around −12…−14°C. From December 9–11, new snow systems track from western into central provinces, with brief wind intensification over the Altai, keeping a strong cold pattern nationwide.
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Innovation
New Supercomputer Expands Weather Forecasts to 10 Days, Enables Flood Risk Modeling
Published: 2025-12-07
Mongolia’s National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (NAMEM) has installed a new high-performance computer (HPC), boosting forecast lead times from five to ten days and improving spatial resolution from 5 km to 1.5 km. The upgrade, 16 times faster with quadruple processors and 20-fold storage versus the 2011 system, also enables 5–10 day flood risk projections and long-range climate scenario modeling for 20, 50, and 100 years. During a site visit, Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar instructed sector reforms on staffing, AI and satellite-radar integration, station automation, and faster dissemination to target users, with financing proposals to be brought to Cabinet. Snow cover was reported across 75% of the country as of November 30, with several districts seeing depths above 20 cm, underscoring the need for enhanced early warning and climate services.
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