Prime Minister
S.Batbold was in Khovd province on Thursday as part of his extended tour of the
western provinces. At a meeting with citizens, he gave information on the progress
of exploiting mineral deposits, developing small and medium industries, and on agriculture,
and reforms in education and business sectors.     

The people offered
several proposals for the Government’s consideration. They included one on
tackling the financial problem blocking construction of the Seniors” Palace, and
others on granting remote regions special allowances, reducing tuition fees on
universities and institutes, providing insurance cover for traders and
herdsmen, increasing salaries of doctors and medical workers, repairing the province’s
thermal power station, improving roads, regulating bank loan interests etc.

The Prime Minister
announced that the 21.3 km paved road in Khovd city would be extended to 32 km
by 2012 and that 80 new programs will be taken up in the aimag. The government would
support all big construction work, provided it is taken up in an open and fair
manner.  

Khovd province
provided 418 people with jobs last year, and so far this year, some 600 people have
got full-time or part-time employment. This figure is planned to reach 2,000 by
the end of the year. The dzud and other natural disasters led to the loss of
467,000 animals in Khovd, at an estimated loss of MNT16 billion. The province has
so far received MNT1.5 billion from the government and domestic and foreign
organizations as assistance. So far 803 families have received MNT 264 million to
replenish their herds.