President addresses Germany-Mongolia business forum

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ While in Germany with the working visit, the President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj addressed a Germany-Mongolia business forum on Tuesday in Berlin. Present at the forum, co-organized by the Investment Authority of Mongolia (IAM), Germany’s Asia-Pacific Union, and Mongolia’s Embassy in Germany, were also Mr L.Purevsuren, Mongolia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; N.Tomorkhuu, the Minister of Road and Transportation; E.Bat-Uul, the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar city; Ts.Bolor, the Ambassador of Mongolia to the Federal Republic of Germany; and Gerhard Thiedemann, the Ambassador of Germany to Mongolia. Opening remarks were made by Mr Elbegdorj; the Governing Mayor of Berlin Mr Michael Muller; the Deutsche Bank CEO Mr Juergen Fitschen. A Deputy Minister of Construction and Urban Development Ms G.Baigalmaa made a presentation about her Ministry’s sector. Reports were delivered by department heads of the Ministry of Road and Transportation, the Ministry of Industry and the Administration of Ulaanbaatar city. In addition, a section head of the IAM briefed about investment environment in Mongolia and introduced to the gathered the Mongolian companies. The forum brought together some 170 delegates of organizations and companies engaged in industry, tourism, infrastructure and urban development, 90 of them were from German side representing thus Germany private sector's willingness to collaborate with Mongolia. Mr Elbegdorj pointed out that the Mongolia-Germany relations have been intensifying in several spheres such as political, economic and business, and underlined that the private sectors have significantly contributed to the development of the bilateral relations and cooperation. He went on that the ties still have some obstacles, for example, there are no infrastructure direct connections due to geographical locations, and emphasized an importance of improving the air transportation between the two countries. The ties in other areas are developing slowly, but are forward, he added and expressed a gratitude to the government of Germany for inviting Mongolia to the ITB Berlin international tourism exhibition as an official partner. There are many things to study from Germany in attracting tourists and creating the tourism infrastructure, he added.