MCC Implementation on Schedule The Millennium Challenge Account-Mongolia, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation under its Compact with the Government of Mongolia, is making significant progress towards the Entering into Force of the agreement.  MCC is planning to begin the release of funds next month, and MCC Chief Executive Officer Ambassador Danilovich will visit Mongolia in September to officially celebrate the Entering into Force with President Enkhbayar. In preparation for Entering into Force, MCA-M has advertised six tenders, for various consultancies, details can be found on the MCA-M website, www.mca.mn.  Two of those tenders have closed and the Technical Evaluation Panels are in the process of selecting awardees; four more panels will commence their work shortly.  Negotiations with the winning firms will take place thereafter, so that funds can be released starting September 2008.     Farewell Event for Recipients of the 2008 US Government Scholarships The U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Mark Minton and the board of the U.S. alumni association "Ambassadors for Development" hosted a farewell for students who receieved scholarships to study in the US for the academic year of 2008-2009.  (more)       The U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Mongolia and the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched a Handicraft Agreement under the U.S. General System Preferences Program on July 7.  The event took place at the Round Hall of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. During the event certain products made by handicraft producers were exhibited. (more)

NEW! Americans at Leisure is the current “In Focus” topic on the America.gov website.  Please see http://www.america.gov to explore Americans diverse leisure activities and how they serve as a means of self-expression.  The July Electronic Journal looks at America’s National Park system.
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