A View to Mongolia: Interview with the Mongolian Chamber of Commerce
- Mr. Tumenjargal Gombodash from the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI)
Mongolia's economy has traditionally been dominated by herding and agriculture. The processing of agricultural and livestock products accounts for most of the country’s manufacturing output. Recent driver of industrial production was based on rising mineral prices and the development of extensive Mongolian mineral deposits. Mr. Tumenjargal Gombodash from the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) talks to us about his views of the role of business in promoting SCP in Mongolia.
“The SCP principle is a relatively new concept in Mongolia. The SPC expertise in Mongolia for assisting SMEs to uptake CPS is too limited to cover the entire industry. Extending the expertise to associations, financial organisations, government agencies and industries, and setting up CP expert networks and CP cluster companies and organisations are all crucial targets for Mongolia. It should be noted that now is the period of industrialization industrialisation for Mongolia, and in 2009 the government launched, amongst other things, SME promotion and industrialisation, programmes to develop SMEs. As a result, around 300 SMEs were set up across the country in 2009, 350 in 2010, and more than 500 are expected in 2011. All together 35 428 SMEs were registered in 2010, of which 18 425 SMEs were in the processing industry, 1 552 in the food sector and 15 451 tin the trade and services sector. Increased industrial and trade growth have multiplied demands on resources and are leading to potential severe environmental damages in Mongolia.”
Q: What can the chamber of commerce do to promote SCP among business and industry?
A: “The Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) is the leading business intermediary and advocator in the country and it has more than 2 500 active members. We have announced 2010 as a Year to Promote Green Economy and Green Businesses. In the framework of this initiative MNCCI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism, developed a draft national programme for transferring from a brown to a green economy. This includes sections on green taxation and budgeting, promotion of sustainable production and consumption, and investment in natural capital, etc. Recognising the importance of SCP and a lack of green financing MNCCI established an SCP department and initiated the Green Credit Guarantee Fund with a grant of the Netherland’s government.”
Q: What mechanisms do you use to work with business?
A: “In line with a worldwide acknowledgement that the basis for sustainable economic and business development is SCP, MNCCI pays specific attention to the advancement of legislative and institutional development of SCP in Mongolia. With the objective to support, develop, promote, and provide leadership in SCP practices of the Mongolian industries and business enterprises, the MNCCI established the Green Product Council, Sustainable Energy Development Council and the Cleaner Production Council. "