Press Releases
The United States Provides Another $7.5 Million in Grants for Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (September 9, 2009) – Today the United States Ambassador to Mongolia, Mark C. Minton, and the Government of Mongolia’s Minister of Finance, S. Bayartsogt, signed two bilateral grant agreements worth a total of U.S. $7,468,924.
The agreements, which will be implemented and overseen by the USAID Mission in Mongolia, directly address issues that are vital to Mongolia’s future – private sector-led economic growth, and more effective and accountable governance.
The first bilateral agreement provides $6,868,924 for an on-going USAID/Mongolia project that promotes economic growth. The Economic Policy Reform and Competitiveness (EPRC) Project is implemented by Chemonics International, Inc. on behalf of USAID and the US government. Begun in 2003 and scheduled to run through 2011, the EPRC project focuses on economic and trade policy, financial sector reform energy sector reform, and national consensus building on key economic policy issues.
The second bilateral agreement signed today provides $600,000 to incrementally fund a grant agreement with the Asia Foundation (TAF), a U.S.-based non-governmental organization. The grant will make it possible to continue building the capacity of Mongolia’s Independent Authority Against Corruption, and also allow TAF to begin strengthening the ability of the Mongolian judiciary to better adjudicate commercial cases. The Asia Foundation has worked in Mongolia on a variety of activities since 1993.
During the signing ceremony at the Government House, the U.S. Ambassador said that these agreements testify to the U.S. government’s continued commitment to Mongolia’s free-market development aspirations. Together with many other activities in Mongolia sponsored by USAID, these on-going projects will continue to strengthen the close ties between the governments and the people of Mongolia and the United States.
Finance Minister S. Bayartsogt signed on behalf of the Government of Mongolia, and US Ambassador Mark C. Minton and Acting USAID Representative Jeffrey W. Goodson signed on behalf of the United States.