Director of the Office of Immigration, Naturalization and Foreign Citizens B.Purevdorj participated in Mongolia Economic Forum's session “Ways to improve the investment environment”.

He appealed to investors and noted that Mongolia is one of the world's most peaceful countries. "Our organization will put all efforts towards the creation of a favorable environment for investors in order to keep their trust that in investing in right sectors and to be satisfied," he said during the session's panel.

Journalist of www.gogo.mn spoke with him regarding the projects implemented by their organization to improve conditions for foreign investors.  

The Office of Immigration, Naturalization and Foreign Citizens is an organization which works closely with investors. Do you have good news to share with them?

Our organization has implemented several projects in regards to the interests of foreign investors and in order to create a favorable environment for them. Previously, there were 86 rules and regulations related to investors. Now we have reduced them to 42 and invalidated some of the rules which were not so important.  For instance, to receive licenses and permits to conduct business activities, investors previously had to go to Ulaanbaatar and approval was issued by the chairman, instead, we have given this authority to local area inspectors of border and customs agencies.  So, for investors, it has become easier to resolve investment issues.  

In order to prolong the term of permits to conduct activity in Mongolia, do foreign invested companies have to register on a regular basis?

Yes. We are going to make changes to procedures which were approved by a government resolution. Foreign citizens will have to prolong permanent residence permits not every year but once every three years. In order to prolong permanent residence approval, they also have to ask the chairman and officials.

When will these changes be made?

Changes will be made starting from April 15. We tried to make these changes before the forum but couldn’t. 

How often do you receive claims and proposals related to investors?

In 2014 we received claims related to 60 investors, from which 58 resolved disputed cases and left the country. Two investors had to be deported from Mongolia. These two investors submitted false documentation and we had to deport them.

In 2015 we haven’t received any claims.

According to a report from the Director of the Office of Immigration, Naturalization and Foreign Citizens S.Javkhlanbaatar, in 2013 there were 390 foreign invested companies in Mongolia. Was this the number of companies on record to receive permanent residence approval?

From 2007 to 2008 there were a lot of companies looking to receive permanent residence in Mongolia. However, we should note that today this has changed, and Mongolian and foreigners all follow regulations and rules strictly.