Mongolia Country Brief – December 2008
Australia-Mongolia Relations
Australia established diplomatic relations with Mongolia in 1972. Over the past decade, there have been several high-level visits in both directions. Then Foreign Minister Mr Downer visited Mongolia in April 2007 on an official visit. Mr Macfarlane, then Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, visited Mongolia in October 2005. An Australian Parliamentary delegation, led by the then-Speaker of the House of Representatives, David Hawker visited Mongolia in April 2005. The then-Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ms Gallus, visited Mongolia in 2003. In March 1997, the then-President Ochirbat visited Australia. The then-Governor-General Bill Hayden visited Mongolia in 1994. The Mongolian and Australian foreign ministers made reciprocal visits in 1993 and 1994 respectively.
Australia's Ambassador to Mongolia (resident in Seoul), Mr Peter Rowe, presented his credentials in September 2008. In 2007, Australia appointed an Honorary Consul in Ulaanbaatar, Mr Jargalant Elbegsaikhan. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Embassy in Seoul handle a range of business enquiries from Australians about Mongolia, and provide advice on visits by a range of organisations. Australia supports Mongolia's efforts to integrate into security and economic mechanisms in the region and beyond.
Mongolia has recently established an Embassy in Canberra. Mongolia's first resident Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Mr Tserendorj Jambaldorj, presented his credentials on 30 October 2008.
Bilateral trade with Mongolia is modest, totalling $17 million in 2007. This mostly comprises the temporary import of exploration equipment by Australian companies operating in Mongolia. There may be some scope for a modest expansion in trade in the areas of telecommunications, building, construction and design, and food processing industries. Investment prospects include mining and infrastructure.
Total Australian Overseas Development Assistance to Mongolia in 2008-09 is estimated to be A$5.2 million of which A$3 million will be administered through the AusAID bilateral program.
The goal of the Mongolia program is to strengthen the human resource capacity of government agencies in priority areas of good governance and reform. The provision of Australian Development Scholarships (ADS), along with capacity building activities, is the main vehicle for achieving this goal. Key areas of study include public sector management, government administration, development studies, human resource management, business administration, economics, accounting, social welfare, e-learning and law. Under a new phase of the program, which starts in 2008-2009, support will also include the administration of Australian Leadership Awards Scholarships. By 2010, the number of ADS will increase to 28 annually.
Mongolia also receives around 20 Australian volunteers each year, through the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development program, focusing on a range of assignments including public health, environmental engineering and business development.