The United States Provides Another $6,595,435 In Grants For Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (September 21 , 2007) –   Today the United States  Ambassador to Mongolia, Mr. Mark Minton, and the Government of Mongolia’s Minister of Finance, Mr. N. Bayartsaikhan, signed two (2) bi-lateral grant agreements worth a total of U.S. $6,595,435 million. 

The agreements directly address issues that are vital for Mongolia’s future – transparent “good governance” and “good economic policies” that promote trade and attract foreign investment. 

The first bilateral agreement provides an additional $4,795,435 for ongoing USAID/Mongolia projects that promote economic growth.  One project, the Economic Policy Reform and Competitiveness Project, is implemented by Chemonics International, Inc. on behalf of USAID and the US government.  This project began in 2003 and will continue thru 2008, and supports Mongolia’s efforts to deepen and accelerate its free market economic policy reforms and promote the competitiveness of the Mongolian economy.  

The agreement also helps USAID fund The Gobi Initiative, which is implemented by Mercy Corps International, as well as the GER project, which is implemented by CHF International.  The Gobi Initiative promotes strengthened rural businesses, including technical support for herders and small enterprises, and the GER project helps to generate employment, jobs and income opportunities for the poor in Mongolia’s peri-urban areas.   

The second bilateral agreement signed today provides an additional $1,800,000 to USAID’s Judicial Reform Project implemented by the U.S. National Center for State Courts.  This project began in 2001 and will continue thru 2008.  Its numerous activities support the implementation of Mongolia’s “Strategic Plan for the Justice System of Mongolia” by helping to improve judicial independence, build the capacity of various Mongolian legal institutions, train judges and educate the public about legal rights and responsibilities.  

During the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Finance the U.S. Ambassador said that these agreements testify to the U.S. government’s continued commitment to Mongolia’s free-market development aspirations.  These ongoing projects, together with many other activities in Mongolia sponsored by USAID, will continue to strengthen the close ties between the governments and the people of Mongolia and the United States. 

Finance Minister N. Bayartsaikhan signed on behalf of the Government of Mongolia, and US Ambassador Mark Minton and USAID representative Barry Primm signed on behalf of the United States.

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