Archive for ‘Economy’

2009 Highlights, Coping with Winter Weather, & Money to Citizens

By mergen, 13 January, 2010, 4 Comments

Mongolia Business Podcast Summary: Mongolia’s 2009 business news highlights; Coping with winter weather in Mongolia; Parliament approves 324 billion tugrugs in handouts to citizens

Mongolian Ice Game "Musun Shagai"

Mongolians playing a traditional Mongolian ice game called "musun shagai", which literrally means "ice ankle bone".

Mongolia Business Podcast Highlights: Parliament recently approved to allocate 324 billion tugrugs, roughly 220 million USD, which essentially gives money away to Mongolian citizens.  Human Development Fund distribute 120,000 tugrugs for each citizen, 70,000 before Tsagaan Sar, or Mongolian New Year, and 50,000 tugrugs after the Tsagaan Sar…

SouthGobi Energy Resources may spend up to $800 million USD to improve operations and better supply customers in China…

Some big events in 2009 were headed by the signing of Oyu Tolgoi (OT) agreement on October 6, 2009, a very good auspicious day.  There was a collapse of two major banks and a merger of two other banks.  In March 2009, Mongolian tugrug fluctuated from 1100 tugrugs to up to 1700 tugrugs before heading back down to 1500 tugrugs.  Prime Minister Bayar resigned…

Weather in Mongolia is currently -30 to -40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Celsius is -40 degrees Fahrenheit).

How do we cope with it?

  1. Stay inside.
  2. Dress with too many layers or wear fur
  3. Eat Mongolian diet

Why Mongolians crank up the heat to about 25 degrees (85 Fahrenheit) inside?  It’s freezing outside, but people are wearing shorts inside…. Black stuff on roads is the ice.  Another tip to stay warm?  Turn into a ninja.  Only show your eyes and cover everything, wear layers of clothing, eat mutton, and don’t go out too much…

Click here to listen to entire podcast episode: Mongolia Business podcast by Mongolia Business Blog (MBB)

Current Macro-Economics and Mongolia’s Banking Sector

By mergen, 11 December, 2009, 1 Comment

Mr. B. Enhhuyag, First Deputy Governor of Bank of Mongolia, “Views on Current Macro-Economics and Mongolia’s Banking Sector” “PART ONE of BCM Meeting Highlights”

On Monday, December 7, 2009, Business Council of Mongolia (BCM) held its last meeting of the year.  Guest speakers Mr. B. Enhhuyag, First Deputy Governor of Bank of Mongolia and Mr. Eric De SEZE, General Director & CEO of Areva Mongolia discussed “Views on Current Macro-Economics and Mongolia’s Banking Sector” and “Nuclear Energy and Uranium”, respectively.

James Passin Bullish on Mongolian Stock Market

By mergen, 26 November, 2009, 2 Comments

Today, while going through some articles on Mongolia, I ran across an article that happened to cover the Mongolian stock market by a stock market guru named James Passin.  It was a lucky find as the article mostly talked about Berrylium.  Anyway, please read on.

As you will find, James is very bullish on the local Mongolian stock market.

Source:

Mongolian Stock Market Overview

TER: Any other regional international plays that you can discuss with us?

JP: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (NYSE:IVN, TSX:IVN) , the Canadian exploration company, finally executed an agreement with the Mongolian government with respect to the development of Oyu Tolgoi, the world’s largest undeveloped copper mine. This is a massive mine that will generate $5 billion of revenue per year for over 50 years. While this is a positive development of Ivanhoe, a stock that we’ve been trading from the long side all year, it will be much bigger story for the Mongolian stock market.

Mongolia GDP is only about $5 billion, so Oyu Tolgoi, or OT as the mine is called, will transform the prospects for employment and per capita GDP growth. A great wall of domestic liquidity will support the local stock market, creating a new bull market which will last for decades. The local stock market currently has depressed valuation and almost zero liquidity. Mongolia has structural similarities to other emerging markets that started out with very low market capitalizations, such Vietnam or the smaller Gulf states. There are 24 mineral projects that have been deemed strategic by the Mongolian government and that represent potential sources of commodity exports. The Ivanhoe deal marks the beginning of the Mongolian mining boom and I think the most leveraged long-term way to play this mining boom is through the local stock market.

H1N1 Causing Food Price Inflation – Mongolians Are Not Happy

By mergen, 17 November, 2009, 6 Comments

Sea-Buckthorn

Seabuckthorn prices have increased by 1500-2500 tugrugs per kilo in Mongoolia

Due to the outbreak of H1N1, there is increased demand for food products that enhance body’s immune system and help fight against the flu.  As a result, pricing for garlic, sea-buckthorn, “aarts”, and horse meat have seen inflationary pricing over the last few weeks.  News coverage has been high as locals have been quite upset and have demanded price controls.