There are few face mask producers in Mongolia; those small firms which exist are totally unable to meet national demand from the threat of the highly infectious coronavirus outbreak from China. So, Mongolians living or studying abroad has started to send masks to their country at the initiation of a non-government organization called the Council of Mongolians Abroad. The campaign of sending masks to Mongolia is being coordinated in by the NGO in the USA, Turkey, Poland, South Korea, Sweden, Belgium, Australia, Japan, the Czech Republic, Germany and Russia.

Last week, Mongolians living in South Korea collected 3700 masks and sent them home. They aim to collect a total of 10,000 masks.

The Mongolian Government decided yesterday (3 February) to add masks, hand sanitizers and other medical protection items to the list of goods to be exempt from import duties in accordance with the Medical Law.

In addition, the national airline MIAT, is transporting masks sent by Mongolians from foreign countries free of charge.