UNIDO Director-General pays visit to Mongolia

11 May 2012

On May 6-8, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) paid an official visit to Mongolia at the invitation of Foreign Minister G. Zandanshatar.

On May 7, Foreign Minister G.Zandanshatar and Dr. Kandeh Yumkella held official talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Foreign Minister G.Zandanshatar emphasized that UNIDO has successfully implemented over 80 projects and programs worth about USD 15 million, and expressed thanks to UNIDO for their significant contribution to the development of the industrial sector in Mongolia.

The sides expressed their satisfaction with the fruitful relations and cooperation that started from 1968 within technical assistance. They also shared views on the implementation progress of the Integrated Program of Technical Cooperation and its financial issues that aims to ensure the sustainable development of agricultural and industry and supports the competitiveness of Mongolia.

They also discussed recommendations reflected in research on the industrial policy of Mongolia that was worked out in 2011 with UNIDO funding, and shared views on directions and expected outcomes of Mongolia-UNIDO cooperation in the present time of Mongolia’s rapid and intensive economic development.

The Mongolian side put forward certain proposals to UNIDO about supporting the introduction of ecofriendly state-of-the-art technologies, produce end-products with minerals and raw materials, export to the third market, make Mongolian brand products more competitive in the world market and introduce technologies, standards and management in the fields of light industry and tourism.

The same day, Prime Minister S.Batbold met Dr. Kandeh Yumkella. To begin the meeting, Prime Minister expressed thanks to UNIDO for working out a research document for the basic guideline of Mongolia’s industrial policy with its own funding and said the Government of Mongolia will offer the organization cooperation in implementing major projects and programs based on the document.

The PM appraised UNIDO’s valuable contribution to develop Mongolia’s industrial sector and briefly introduced the present socio-economic situation of Mongolia. He noted that Mongolia’s economy showed growth of 17.3 percent last year which was mainly influenced by intensive growth of extraction in mining and the increase of exports. Along with the mining sector’s development, the Government gave special attention to diversifying the economy in order to have income sources and develop animal husbandry, farming, food manufacturing, tourism, construction, infrastructure, banking and finance, and the stock market, the PM added.

He said that the government is working to help every citizen find job and realize a new industrial policy to reach that objective. The PM underlined the importance of UNIDO’s support to realize it and said the government will continually work to satisfy implementation of the Integrated Program of Technical Cooperation being co-implemented by the Government of Mongolia and UNIDO.

In the course of his official visit, Dr. Yumkella met Mineral Resources and Energy Minister D. Zorigt and Deputy Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry P. Bayanmonkh. During his meeting with officials of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, the sides agreed to work out a new cooperation program between the Ministry and UNIDO and approve the program in September.

In his brief interview with the press, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella said that projects that were implemented by UNIDO in past periods were pilot projects and they need to expand the scale of joint projects.

Dr. Kandeh Yumkella gave a lecture: ‘The Policy to Diversity Mongolia’s Industry’ at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Trade Officials from related ministries, government organizations, NGOs, private sectors, researchers, experts, students and representatives from diplomatic missions in Ulaanbaatar attended the lecture. His lecture was based on ‘Basic Guideline for Mongolia’s Industrial Policy’. To the question whether there is a disadvantage of lacking manpower when industries are diversified because of Mongolia’s little population, Dr.Kandeh Yumkella answered that disadvantages can be tackled thanks to the right combinations of human resources and the best technology available at this time, even if there is international experience to import highly skilled and educated manpower from abroad, he mentioned.

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