President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa:

Your Excellency, President Petr Pavel, 

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Esteemed Business Representatives, 

I extend my warm greetings to all entrepreneurs who have gathered here today to participate in the Business Forum to expand and strengthen trade and economic cooperation between Mongolia and the Czech Republic. 

I am pleased to co-open this Business Forum with Your Excellency, President Petr Pavel, during my State Visit to the beautiful Czech Republic, at the invitation of Your Excellency.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. However, the history of people-to-people ties and trade and economic relations between Mongolia and the Czech Republic extends even further back in time. 

In the early 1920s, Czechoslovak citizens were involved in establishing Mongolia’s first brewery and installing telecommunication lines, and two citizens leased six horse relay stations along the Zamiin-Uud route for a period of six years. 

Until 1990, the Czech Republic was Mongolia’s second-largest trade and investment partner, and we have a historical tradition of cooperation in mining, minerals, infrastructure, industry, health, agriculture, and construction. 

Therefore, I would like to emphasize our strong desire and determination to further expand and develop this tradition in the present day. 

Czech products, such as “Škoda” automobiles, “Karosa” buses, “Jawa” motorcycles, “Tatra” heavy trucks, shoes, firearms, crystal, and porcelain have long been familiar to the Mongol people. Behind these products lies the concept of “Czech quality.” The Government of the Czech Republic provided Mongolia with over USD 50 million in development assistance from 1996 to 2017, marking a valuable contribution to enhancing trade and economic cooperation between our two countries. This Business Forum plays a crucial role in fostering mutually beneficial cooperation in the future. 

During this State Visit, our two countries issued a Joint Declaration on Establishing a Comprehensive Partnership between Mongolia and the Czech Republic. Moreover, we have expressed our commitment to introducing advanced Czech technology, know-how, and innovation within the frameworks of the “Billion Trees,” “Food Supply and Security,” and “White Gold” National Movements of Mongolia, while supporting our entrepreneurs. 

The Government of Mongolia is undertaking a fundamental reform to shift from “welfare to labor, from mining to processing, from import to export.” Also, the Government of Mongolia aims at implementing 14 mega projects, including increasing domestic energy production, industrialization, regional development, and the construction of new cities, which are strategically important and will expand the economy.

In this context, we are paying special attention to improving the investment environment. The knowledge, experience, advanced technologies, innovation, and investment of our reliable partner, highly industrialized Czech entrepreneurs will play a vital role in implementing these initiatives and goals.

I am confident that all of the business owners gathered here are also full of desire and interest in cooperating with us.

I am pleased to note that Mongolia is further improving its investment policy and implementing reforms for improving the investment environment and protecting the interests of investors, adhering to the principle of being a “Trustworthy, Reliable, and Long-Term Partner.”

For our two landlocked countries, cargo transportation is critical. Mongolia implements a policy to expand and develop cooperation in the railway, road, and air transport sectors with the “third neighbor” countries.

We are willing to explore new solutions in cargo and transport logistics in cooperation with Czech enterprises.

Although the trade turnover between the two countries is increasing year by year, our export volume remains insufficient. Therefore, I call on further expanding business cooperation by taking advantage of the opportunity to export 7,200 types of goods and products to the European Union market duty-free under the European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the public organizations of the two countries, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, business representatives, partners, and supporters for organizing the Business Forum.

I invite you to invest in Mongolia and develop mutually beneficial cooperation.

President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel:

Your Excellency, President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa,

Dear Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavský,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to take part in today’s Opening Ceremony of the Czech-Mongolian Business Forum and to have the opportunity to speak.

I must admit, I did not expect such a high turnout from the two sides. Although Mongolia may have a small market in terms of population, this Business Forum demonstrates that the country is a very interesting market for our businesses.

I would like to express my gratitude to everyone and every organization from the two countries that organized this Business Forum.

Mongolia is a traditional partner of the Czech Republic, with cooperation spanning many decades. Today, I conveyed to President Khurelsukh that I am proud that our country has contributed, even if modestly, to Mongolia's industrialization and development.

We can mention here the Czechoslovak geologists who discovered the copper deposit in Erdenet, the engineers who built one of Ulaanbaatar’s major hospitals, and the experts who worked at power plants.

Erdenet has become a symbol of our friendship. Czech businesses in Mongolia are constructing buildings, providing heating, planning to construct factories, and even brewing Czech beer.

We have consistently encouraged our businesses not only to sell their goods and products but also to strive toward creating tangible, long-term added value in Mongolia’s economy.

Just as we have worked together in mineral exploration and extraction for nearly 70 years, we also hope to cooperate in agriculture, food, construction, water management, environmental protection, defense, transportation, and other sectors.

Czech businesses gathered here are ready to discuss these matters. It is not only politicians who shape what we call “dialogue,” but also enterprises, scientists, athletes, and travelers.

Therefore, I am confident that the contributions of everyone here today will strengthen cooperation and that tangible results and concrete actions will be made under the previously signed Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation.