More
than 450 participants attended the “Southern (Gobi)
Region: Investors’ Forum-2010” in Dalanzadgad in Umnugobi province on April 21,
organized jointly by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and FIFTA. They
included companies like Newcom, MSM, MICC, Oyu Tolgoi, Southgobi sands, and
Khan Bank; the German, South Korean, Japanese and British Ambassadors; and the
heads of the IMF country office and GTZ.

The
forum gave them a platform to exchange views on how to attract foreign
investment to help in the region’s development, and to learn more about the
opportunities and advantages the region offered. Among the speakers were
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister D.Zorigt, three provincial Governors, the
FIFTA Vice Chairman, and D.Batsaikhan, Deputy CEO of Khan Bank. They emphasized
the need to change the authorities’ regulatory-oriented mindset if investors’
interests were to be promoted and the three regional Governors – of Umnugobi,
Dundgobi and Dornogobi – were urged to follow up the ideas expressed and ensure
that proposed projects conformed to sustainable development criteria.

The
provinces are seeking investment in road construction, power, meat, leather and
milk processing, public education and agriculture. Those interested in any of
these investment areas can contact the BCM office for more information and/or
help.

The next regional
investment forum, for the Nothern region, will be held in Erdenet city in June.