Since 1990, Mongolia's key link to Canada and the USA
16th Annual NAMBC Investors Conference set for 24-26 September 2013
in Ulaanbaatar; 10% early registration discount
Our 16th Annual Investors Conference, 24-26 September, convenes in Ulaanbaatar just a few days before the State Great Hural (parliament) opens its fall session. Parliament's crowded agenda – and the agenda for our conference – includes a new minerals law, a revised investment law and other legislative and policy developments affecting both foreign and domestic investors in all sectors, including mining. Speakers include cabinet ministers, top Mongolian business leaders, financial experts and executives of corporations with major investments in the country. The conference also celebrates the 40th anniversary of Mongolia-Canada diplomatic relations.
Registrations received by August 1 receive a 10% discount. The venue will once again be the Kempinski Khan Palace Hotel. Please see the links below for reserving hotel rooms at the discounted group rate and a registration form. Deadline for registrations is September 6th. Full simultaneous interpretation will be provided. This conference is the oldest, longest-running international investors forum in or about Mongolia, held annually in UB since 1998, and one of the few organized by an independent non-profit NGO. Non-members from any country are welcome.
NAMBC elects Ambassador Pam Slutz as new Chairman at 2013 AGM;
Ambassador Anna Biolik and Todd Malan join the Board of Directors; Speakers express "cautious optimism" about future GoM policy
On May 8, at our 23rd Annual General Meeting in Arlington, VA, most speakers expressed cautious optimism about the direction of Mongolian policy towards FDI. In her wide-ranging speech, US Ambassador Piper Campbell said she thought we had "turned the corner" after recent "counterproductive discussions" but she predicted a "still bumpy road ahead" (click here for full text).
Former US Ambassador to Mongolia Pam Slutz was elected Chairman and CEO of the NAMBC, succeeding Edward T. Story, CEO of SOCO International, who served with distinction as chairman for seven years, the second longest tenure in NAMBC history. In the preface to her first remarks as Chairman (click here for full text), Ambassador Slutz saluted the achievements of her fellow Texan, saying Ed Story had left a “big pair of boots to fill” and expressed her pleasure that Ed had accepted election as a director.
In addition to Story, two other new directors were elected: Ambassador Anna Biolik of Victoria, BC, Canada’s first resident ambassador in Ulaanbaatar, and Todd Malan, of Washington, DC, Vice President of Rio Tinto. Directors Ken deGraaf and Robert Cathery retired from the board this year with the gratitude of the board of directors for their service. Ambassador Biolik takes the seat held by Mr. deGraaf, who was our first Canadian board member in 1998. Outgoing Chairman Ed Story warmly thanked Ken for his 15 years as an officer in a statement prepared for NAMBC members.
Ambassador Pamela J. H. Slutz, Retired, succeeds Ed Story as Chairman of the NAMBC. She was US Ambassador to Mongolia from 2003-2006, later serving as DCM in Kenya and as Ambassador to Burundi. During her 31-year career as a US Foreign Service Officer, she served extensively in Southeast and East Asia. As director of the State Department’s Office of East Asia Regional and Security Policy and Planning (1997-1999), Pam was in charge of assisting Mongolia to become a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum. Earlier, she was deputy director of the State Department’s Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs. Her spouse, Ronald Deutch, served at the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar as Deputy Chief of Mission, 1997-1999. Read More
Ambassador Anna Biolik is one of three new directors elected at the AGM. She is among North America’s foremost experts on Central Asian business and diplomacy. She recently retired as Regional Director and Senior Trade Commissioner in the Pacific Regional Office of DFAIT (Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada). She was Canada’s first resident Ambassador in Mongolia where she opened a full-fledged embassy in 2008. She previously served as Ambassador of Canada to Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, as Consul General in St. Petersburg, and as Senior Advisor to the Governor General of Canada. Read More
Todd M. Malan was elected a member of the NAMBC Board of Directors. Todd is Vice President for External Affairs and head of Rio Tinto Group’s Washington, DC office. He leads Rio Tinto's advocacy on issues that impact the Group’s businesses and projects both domestically and internationally. He serves on the Board of Rio Tinto's Political Action Committee and is a member of the Middle East & North Africa Steering Committee. Prior to joining Rio Tinto, Todd was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs. Previously, Todd was president and CEO of the Organization for International Investment, the leading trade association representing foreign companies invested in the U.S. Read More
Ambassador Pam Slutz
New Chairman
Ambassador Anna Biolik
Todd Malan
VP, Rio Tinto
Mongolia gets mixed ratings in new Fraser Institute Survey, ranks in upper third on composite index
Mongolia moved up in the composite investment attractiveness index in the 2012-2013 Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies, released February 28. This composite index considers both policy and mineral potential and is weighted to emphasize mineral potential. Mongolia ranked 36th out of 96 jurisdictions in the composite index. But because of continuing policy uncertainties, in the Policy Potential Index (PPI), Mongolia ranked 84 out of 96; last year, Mongolia was 78/93; in 2010-2011, 54/79.
In the separate index measuring uncertainty about mining policy and implementation, Mongolia ranked 85th out of 96, with almost two-thirds of respondents saying that current policy vectors represented either a strong investment deterrent or that they would not pursue investment at all under current conditions. Only about a third of respondents called the Mongolia uncertainty factor merely a mild deterrent.
Mongolian mining student wins logo design competition
for 40th anniversary of Mongolia-Canada diplomatic relations
Seventy-four designs were received in the competition among Mongolian students sponsored by the Canadian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar to design the logo commemorating the 40th anniversary of Canada-Mongolia diplomatic relations. The winning design was submitted by B. Bold-Erdene, a second year mining student at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology. Canadian Ambassador Greg Goldhawk presented Bold-Erdene with a new iPhone 5 as a prize, noting that the independent selection panel found it difficult to make a final choice because all the entries reflected different facets of the bilateral relationship. Mongolia opened diplomatic relations with Mongolia on November 30, 1973. The Canadian Embassy in UB opened in 2008. The design is in the public domain and all Canadian companies involved in Mongolia are welcome to use it during this anniversary year.
Mongolia ranks 75th of 177 countries in 2013 Economic Freedom Index
Mongolia slightly improved its ranking in the 2013 Index of Economic Freedom, published annually by The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, which was released January 10, 2013. Out of 177 countries evaluated, Mongolia ranked #75, with a numerical score of 61.7, two-tenths of a point above its 2012 score. Mongolia is in the category “Moderately Free.” The world average score is 59.6; the Asian regional average is 57.4 Mongolia ranked seven places below Kazakhstan but above Slovenia, Ghana, Croatia and Uganda.
For the 19th consecutive year, Hong Kong was ranked #1 globally (89.3 points), followed by #2 Singapore, #3 Australia and #4 New Zealand. North Korea ranked last, #177/177 with a point score of 1.5. In comparison, Russia ranked #139, China #136, India #119, South Korea #34, Japan #24, USA #10, and Canada #6.
NAMBC's "Canadian Alumni of Mongolia" program is organizing as an independent self-governing NGO in Canada
The NAMBC is pleased to announce that two of the earliest members of our "Canadian Alumni of Mongolia" program (CAM) are organizing it as an independent, non-profit, self-governing NGO in Canada. Any Mongolian citizens who attended or are now attending high school, college, university, or technical training in Canada are eligible for membership, even if you did not graduate. CAM will be open to Mongolians who are permanent residents of Canada or are living in Canada with student or other temporary visa status as well as Mongolians living in other countries.
CAM's objectives are to: (1) promote Canadian education for Mongolian students; (2) promote establishment of a professional and social network for Mongolians in Canada; (3) promote outstanding achievements of alumni; (4) promote the exchange of ideas, and provide opportunities for continuing education; and (5) connect Mongolian graduates with Canadian companies and businesses that operate in Mongolia.
For further information, contact one of the two Co-Chairs of CAM: Bulgan Orgilsaikhan at the Forbes & Manhattan Investment Bank in Toronto, borgilsaikhan@forbesmanhattan.com, OR Saruul Ayurzana, BA, CMA, Adjunct Professor at Algonquin College, Saruula@gmail.com
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