A forum was held in Ulaanbaatar on Tuesday with the aim of increasing investment in the southern aimag of Dundgobi. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Dundgobi Governor’s Office, and the Foreign Investment and Foreign Trade Agency organized the forum.

Dundgobi Governor D.Chandmani and Secretary State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade D.Tsogtbaatar opened the forum with speeches. D.Tsogtbaatar said participants should come up with ways to attract domestic and foreign investors to large projects in the aimag, particularly in the mining, service, and transportation sectors.

The forum was attended by representatives of the American, Russian, Canadian, South Korean, and Indian embassies, as well as representatives of the UNDP, the Asian Development Bank, and J.P. Morgan. Altogether 90 delegates took part.

Participants noted that Dundgobi’s location between Ulaanbaatar and Umnugobi aimag should make it an attractive location for investment. Managing officials of Dundgobi stressed that industries could be developed in the aimag to supply goods and services to Ulaanbaatar and Umnugobi.

It was also noted that Dundgobi is affected by desertification, and environmental problems often lead to social and economic problems. Managing officials of the aimag proposed partnering with international organizations to address environmental, social and economic problems.