The Fall session of Parliament opened on Friday after a
lengthy summer recess. Speaker D. Demberel told MPs the session sits at a time
when the Mongolian economy “is picking up again”, with annual economic growth having
reached 7.4 percent. “Government revenue is expected to exceed estimates’,
after prices of major export commodities such as gold, copper, iron ore and
cashmere increased in the world market. Foreign currency reserve has reached USD1.6
billion.

Fifty-four of the 76 lawmakers were present at the
opening ceremony. About 20 draft laws are on the agenda of the session. The more
important of the debates will be on issues such as development of the mega
mining project of the Tavantolgoi coking coal deposit, and development of a
heavy industrial complex.