GOVERNMENT SEEKS COOPERATION WITH ADB ON ZAMYN-UUD FREE ZONE

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On January 22, Deputy Prime Minister U.Enkhtuvshin met Indu Bhushan, Director-General of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) East Asia Department, to discuss about the progress of ADB projects being implemented in Mongolia. “ADB has been granting financial assisstance to Mongolia, but lately, the progress of certain projects has been slowing down. This could affect the prospect of implementing new projects,” stated Mr. Indu Bhushan at the beginning of the meeting. In particular, there are 3 ADB-financed projects that are not likely to be complete within the timeframe. ADB officials named the following three projects, the Fourth Health Sector Development Project, the Western Regional Road Corridor Investment Program and the Darkhan Wastewater Management Project. Furthermore, it was pointed out that the delay of the Regional Upgrades of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures for Trade Project, co-implemented with the General Agency for Specialized Inspection, was caused by waste of time in the stage of forming project unit. Deputy Prime Minister U.Enkhtuvshin said the Project on Strengthening Community Resilience to Dzud and Forest and Steppe Fires, co-implemented by the National Emergency Management Agency is being implemented successfully and expressed his support to the implementation of the Regional Upgrades of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures for Trade Project. The Deputy Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude to ADB for granting policy loan equal to USD 600 million to Mongolia in 2017-2020 within the Extended Fund Facility program, jointly implemented by the Government of Mongolia and the International Monetary Fund, and made some proposals Mr. Indu Bhushan. “As Deputy Prime Minister, I am in charge of matters regarding free zone. Within the framework of the objective of establishing Mongolia-Russia-China Economic Corridor, there is a great necessity to support free zone activities, increase the capacity of governor's office in free zones and revise the free zone action plan. The Government of Mongolia plans to commence the operation of Zamyn-Uud Free Zone in 2018,” he said, requesting ADB to look into the possibility of providing technical assistance to the Mongolian Government for intensification of activities in the Zamyn-Uud Free Zone. Mr. Indu Bhushan replied, “Free zone is an area of focus for ADB,” expressing confidence that he would meet the Deputy Prime Minister with positive response again. ADB is one of Mongolia’s biggest partners that has implemented more than 300 projects and programs worth USD 1.9 billion in a number of sectors such as education, health, society, finance, infrastructure and urban planning. M.Anudari