Ambassador John Dinger salutes merger of NAMBC and AMBG:
 "NGOs must be big to influence government policy"

The merger of the North America-Mongolia Business Council (NAMBC) and the American Mongolian Business Group of Ulaanbaatar, the two principal foreign business advocacy groups in Mongolia, was formally announced and celebrated on June 26, 2003, at a US Embassy reception hosted by Ambassador John Dinger, who played a key role in brokering the merger agreement. Diplomatic sources said this event was the largest reception held at the embassy during the Ambassador's tenure.The combined organization will be continue to be known as the NAMBC, will maintain its permanent headquarters in the Washington, D.C. area and expects to open an Ulaanbaatar office within a few months. Members of the AMBG will be represented on the NAMBC Board of Directors, which recently elected Agricultural Bank CEO J. Peter Morrow, chairman of the former AMBG, as Council Vice Chairman. Morrow will head the NAMBC Ulaanbaatar coordinating committee, now being organized.

Under new membership categories, for the first time Mongolian companies, in addition to Canadian and American companies, may join as Voting Members. Annual dues for non-voting members of any nationality will be reduced by more than 50% effective in the 2004 dues year.

At his remarks at the reception, Ambassador Dinger first noted that "there is nothing more important to Mongolia's success than encouraging private foreign - and private Mongolian -- investment." He said foreign direct investment can contribute ten times as much money to Mongolia than donor assistance, emphasizing that "private sector investment puts real wealth, real jobs, and real economic growth into Mongolia."

Second, Dinger declared that "NGO's must be big in order to have the power to influence government policies." He urged other Mongolian NGOs to follow the example of the two American business groups and merge in order to magnify their influence.Finally, the Ambassador called on Mongolian and foreign businesses "to vigorously and continuously advocate policies to the government" that will make it easier for them to do business in Mongolia. "They need to do that," he said, "so that they can make money."The Ambassador urged Mongolian government officials to listen to what businesses have to say. "They need to do that," he said, "so Mongolia can become a prosperous nation where everyone willing to work hard can succeed."NAMBC Chairman Jalsa Urubshurow, one of the original founders of the Council 12 years ago and the first Mongolian-American to head it, called the agreement "a milestone in maturity for the Mongolian foreign investor community" and expressed "the Council's gratitude for the long months of hard work that produced the merger by Ambassador Dinger, Maury Lynch, Pete Morrow, Doug McGay, Jim Wagenlander and Ed Story." New Vice Chairman J. Peter Morrow said, “This agreement reflects the need to better focus the foreign business community on increasing foreign trade and investment in Mongolia,” said Morrow. “It also captures the synergy of combining the two organizations."NAMBC President Steve Saunders agreed: “This merger means new strengths and opportunities for the members of both organizations, now united into one. The NAMBC will now have a more effective and broader-based presence in Mongolia, Canada and the US. We look forward to expanding the Council dialogue with the Mongolian government and the vibrant Mongolian private sector on ways to improve the business climate and accelerate economic development."Saunders also praised the contributions of the three NAMBC resident Vice Presidents in Ulaanbaatar, who are retiring following the merger: "Bob Vachon of SOCO, Ronnie Lamb of Amicale and Badral Yondon of Nomadic Expeditions and their companies' staff were tireless volunteers who effectively represented North America and we are in their debt."The NAMBC, a non-profit American NGO incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1990, is the oldest and largest foreign business association linking Mongolia and the West. The NAMBC is a business policy advocate and key information source for Mongolian and North American government officials. It holds two major events a year, one in Mongolia and one in North America, with seminars, speakers and roundtables focused on Mongolian trade and investment. The next is the NAMBC Investors conference and Prime Minister's Roundtable, September 21-23 in Ulaanbaatar.

The AMBG is a Mongolian NGO founded three years ago that conducts regular monthly policy meetings with the US Ambassador and Canadian Honorary Consul, which will continue under NAMBC auspices after the merger. The AMBG has successfully improved the Mongolian trade and investment climate through its tax roundtable, minerals law conference and other events.