Australia Mongolia Extractives Program Concludes

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. A total of 54 projects were successfully implemented in Mongolia under the Australia Mongolia Extractives Program (AMEP), a mining sector collaboration between Mongolia and Australia. More than 200 organizations were involved in the Program, benefiting over six thousand individuals working in this sector.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Commonwealth of Australia to Mongolia Katie Smith highlighted the similarities between Australia and Mongolia, including the economy of the two countries relies on the mining sector.

"Therefore, the main goal of our project was to foster cooperation in the mining industry and conduct new experiments. In the implementation of the Program, we endeavored to ensure stability, transparency, and involvement of all stakeholders such as government, civil society, the private sector, and the local community," the Ambassador stated at the Closing Ceremony of the nine-year Program.

The participants at the Ceremony mentioned that the Program contributed to improving the investment environment for the mining sector of Mongolia.

Specifically, the projects implemented under the AMEP are as follows:

1. Enhancing Mongolia's mining sector capacity and fortifying an attractive investment environment.
2. Boosting Mongolia's competitiveness.
3. Expanding the geological metadata catalog "MonGeoCat" and the "MonGeoCol" system.
4. Developing a Strategic Public Relations Plan for the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry and The Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority of Mongolia.
5. Implementing the "Voluntary Code of Responsible Mining" program.
6. Developing the MONVAL code for Mineral Asset Valuation.
7. Establishing a database within the "MonGeoMin" system for mineral resources registration.
8. Creating e-systems for data collection during rapid field monitoring and official missions.

Rena Guenduez, the Team Leader of the AMEP, emphasized that all reports from the AMEP are publicly accessible. She highlighted that the most crucial aspect of growth in the mineral resources industry is to equally advance with a collaborative spirit, and collectively generate value rather than allowing one side to benefit disproportionately.

N. Algaa, Chief Consultant of the mining sector, emphasized the industry's development through an online platform for streamlined license issuance, which eliminates bureaucracy and saves time.

B. Uyanga, Deputy Minister of Mining and Heavy Industry of Mongolia noted that under the AMEP program comparative research based on evidence and analysis was conducted in collaboration with domestic and foreign experts.

At the Closing Ceremony of the Program, all the documents, including reports, research findings, and the database were transferred to the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry of Mongolia. The documents are accessible through the Ministry's website.

Translated by: Myagmarsuren Erdenebaata