As the construction season approaches, the sector is
hoping for a revival of its fortunes, said B.Baasan, head of the Construction Policy
Department at the Ministry of Transportation, Construction and City Planning,.
He revealed that at present only about 500 of the total 2,600 registered
construction companies are at work. Last year 7,800 family apartments were constructed,
and 3,787 families got a new apartment in the first quarter of 2010.

Baasan said one factor usually overlooked when talking
about the recession in construction is that many of the companies that made a
handsome profit between 2006 and 2008 did not have the management skills to put
to proper use the money they made. Instead of adding to their capital, they jumped
to another sector or just spent the money on luxuries.

He said the sector needs qualified workers and also a
good laboratory. The MNT1.8- trillion Smokless Ulaanbaatar program will put
some money into the sector, he said.