Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Prime Minister J.Erdenebat paid a working visit to western provinces, namely Khovd, Gobi-Altai, Bayan-Khongor and Uvurkhangai on March 23-25.

The weather was bad in those days, with heavy snowfall and storm, blocking some passes. Heavy snowfall in early spring days is considered favorable for vegetative growth as Khovd, Gobi-Altai and Bayankhongor aimags had small amount of snowfall in winter, while herders of Bayan-Ulgii and Uvurkhangai aimags have had barriers to pasture their livestock.

“Main principle of our Government is to meet people and hear their opinions and views. This allows us to define the needs of local people properly. I have worked in 11 aimags since my appointment. In each meeting, people ask to solve economic difficulties immediately as their lives are getting tougher. The Government is working and will continue to work hard utilizing all possibilities” said PM J.Erdenebat.

Among the requests put by local people, issues related to healthy, safe and favorable living conditions, including energy and heat supply, hygienic condition of drinking water were common.

Almost every aimag has a center of professional vocational training. The centers train professionals with the same specialization matching to training basis, equipment and facilities. “- Even though the market has sufficient professionals of that specialization, the centers continue to train with that specialization, which means a policy failure. Therefore, the centers should have united and specified structuring” said the PM.

Western provinces have problems of energy and heat supply. Due to many low-pressure stoves, air pollution has increased. “The Government will pay attention on increasing capacity of the power plants, including establishing a integrated network of heat supply of Uvurkhangai and Bayankhongor aimags, which has been under consideration for many years” said PM J.Erdenebat.

During his visit, the PM resolved some issues on the site. The major issues include:

In Khovd aimag

-       To establish a 64 megawatt-hydro power plant with budget of over USD 260 million

-       To build 163 km paved road en route Khovd and Bayan-Ulgii and put into operation within this year (ADB financed project)

-       To make renovation to the building of Western Region Diagnostic Center

-       UAZ van was granted for medical service

In Gobi-Altai aimag

-       46 km long steel pipe for drinking water to be put on between Taishir soum and Altai soum (with Austrian investment of Euro14 million)

-       To complete the building of 263 km paved road en route Gobi-Altai and Bayankhongor within this year

In Bayankhongor aimag

-       To build heating power station with finance of Ex-Im bank of Republic of Korea, to be commissioned in 2018

-       Budget of MNT540 million was included in the State budget for the building of “Center of the hard workers”. The center will provide over 500 persons with work place.  

-       To construct new building of a museum

-       A van was granted to the hospital

In Uvurkhangai aimag

-       To establish a united network for heating of Uvurkhangai and Bayankhongor aimags

-       To distribute 300 tons of hay free of charge and 500 tons of forage with 50 per cent discount

-       A van and 22 types of equipment with 193 pieces, worth MNT 4 billion were granted to the hospital