Prime Minister S.Batbold was among those who attended the state consultative meeting of the eastern region on the Mongol Livestock Program, held over the weekend in Choibalsan in Dornod aimag. Addressing the 200 delegates, who included Governors of Dornod, Khentii and Sukhbaatar aimags, veterinary officials of soums and representatives of herders, Batbold said the Coalition Government is working to reduce unemployment, poverty, corruption, bureaucracy and alcoholism. The country’s development was being taken forward by projects such as Oyutolgoi and Tavantolgoi. He mentioned two changes to the Oyutolgoi agreement that would benefit Mongolia. The interest rate on a loan has been reduced and no company can buy shares of Oyutolgoi LLC without the Government’s agreement.

Delegates thanked the Government for the Motherland allowance they receive and for opening up job prospects with projects such as Oyutolgoi and Tavantolgoi. However, they were unhappy that foreign workers were employed at Oyutolgoi.

Batbold explained that there were not enough skilled workers in Mongolia, but work on the mines could not wait until such domestic workers were available. The Government has taken measures to train more Mongolians who will replace the foreign workers within a short time, and has used USD60 million from the Millennium Challenge Foundation to set up vocational training centers. He expressed the hope that 95% of the total work force in Oyutolgoi would be Mongolian after these training programs are over.