MILK INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES DELIVER PROPOSAL TO SPEAKER

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The participants of a forum on milk industry outlined three main proposals on cooperation with the Government and handed it over to Parliament Speaker M.Enkhbold on February 7. The ‘Milk Industry Reform: Sustainable Supply’ forum took place on February 7 with an aim to take the development of milk industry to a new level, discuss the challenges and identify opportunities of government policy support. Representatives of specialized associations in food sector, manufacturers and scholars participated in the forum. On the same day, Parliament Speaker M.Enkhbold held a meeting with the forum representatives - M.Gobisaikhan, Head of the Mongolian Food Industry Association, J.Battugs, Head of Mongolian Cattle Breed Societies, G.Enkhbileg, CEO of APU Dairy LLC, S.Bolorsaikhan, CEO of Vitafit Group and B.Gantulga, CEO of Suu JSC. The participants of the forum agreed on three main proposals for the Government which are providing monetary incentive on liquid milk supplied for domestic production in winter season, exempting industrial equipment and income from intensified dairy farm from value-added tax, and supporting the plantation of fodder plants by intensive farmers on their lands. The representatives of milk industry also appreciated the Speaker’s efforts to increase consumption of traditional dairy products. They also reported on the current state of milk industry saying, “On the national level, only about 10 percent of total milk undergo processing at dairy processing plants; milk supply is season-dependent; development of farming is poor; production of livestock fodder is underdeveloped; and there are limited opportunities in regard to improvement of livestock breeding and registration.” For his part, Speaker M.Enkhbold said, “Milk, meat and flour are strategic products. The Government takes certain measures on meat and flour supply, but there was lack on attention on milk, which is why I call for its promotion.” He also pointed out, “Mongolia has over 60 million head of livestock, from which a huge volume of dairy products is made. We can’t have our population suffering from vitamin deficiency.” Kh.Aminaa