Orix Corp., an integrated financial services group, announced on Feb. 4 its capital participation in the private equity fund, “The Mongolia Opportunities Fund I,” established by the investment firm Mongolia Opportunities Partners as the first private equity fund in the country.

Orix said it intends to use this fund to make its first investment in Mongolia.

The Mongolia Opportunities Fund I is a private equity fund established in June 2011 to invest in high-growth sectors of the Mongolian economy such as mining, infrastructure and export-related areas.

Orix said many regions in Mongolia have mineral deposits such as copper and coal, and the mining industry is expected to become a future industrial pillar along with large-scale expansion expected in infrastructure investment and related service industries.

The fund amount is approximately $50 million (about 4.6 billion yen). Its main investors are 12 companies consisting of financial institutions and investment firms.