Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia’s largest development backed by foreign investment, is strengthening its role in advancing the country’s Regional Development Policy.
On August 27, 2025, Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, and the National Institute for Regional Development SFE signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to support the Gobi regional development. The MoU was formally endorsed by Deputy Prime Minister Amarsaikhan Sainbuyan.
Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia Amarsaikhan Sainbuyan emphasized, “Oyu Tolgoi is a responsible mining company that has a long track record of successfully implementing major projects and programs in the Gobi region. We are pleased to partner on initiatives that will advance the region’s development under the National Regional Development Policy.”
Oyu Tolgoi CEO Deirdré Lingenfelder highlighted, “Actions speak louder than words. Today’s MOU signals Oyu Tolgoi’s firm commitment to Mongolia’s Regional Development Policy. We will apply our experience and resources to advance regional development in line with the vision of the Government of Mongolia. We are proud to be a trusted partner. A committed partner. A partner that delivers.”
Acting CEO of Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC Gankhuu Enkhtuya noted, “Over the past 15 years of its operations, Oyu Tolgoi has delivered tangible benefits to Umnugovi province and Mongolia’s broader social and economic development. With the signing of this memorandum, Oyu Tolgoi’s lasting benefits to the Gobi region will significantly increase. I trust it will serve as a foundational document that further amplifies its impact—strengthening long-term regional development and enhancing Mongolia’s overall economic capacity.”
Through this cooperation, the parties aim to jointly implement projects and programs that support the development of the Gobi region in line with Chapter 4 of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement and the Partnership Agreement on Environmental, Social, and Governance, with the goal of maximizing Oyu Tolgoi’s contribution to regional development.
Key areas of cooperation include:
- Determine the priority economic sectors of local development centers within the provinces of the Gobi region and formulate a long-term development policy to foster their growth through cluster-based development with surrounding soums, and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to support the transformation of Khanbogd soum of Umnugovi province into a city with strong economic capacity.
- Create opportunities for processing livestock- derived raw materials and producing value-added products, strengthen the capacity of herder cooperatives in Khanbogd soum of Umnugovi province as a model, and introduce best practices across the Gobi region;
- To provide support for the phased implementation of research on the quality of drinking and household water used by the population in the Gobi region.
- To provide support for the phased implementation of research on groundwater resources in the Gobi region.
The parties emphasized that these initiatives will play a vital role in promoting sustainable regional development, improving livelihoods, and strengthening Mongolia’s overall economic capacity.
