– Over 100 businesses participated in the 'Market fair' –
Umnugobi, Mongolia – On a pleasant autumn day, a ‘Market Fair’ took place in the town of Khanbogd in South Gobi province. The fair was jointly organised by Oyu Tolgoi LLC and Khanbogd soum Governor’s Office. During this inaugural event, businesses sold their goods and state organisations presented their services and activities to the public.
Over 100 businesses and representatives of herder’s cooperatives from Khanbogd, Bayan-Ovoo, Manlai and Dalanzadgad soums participated in the 'Market fair'. Many products were presented including milk, milk products, national costumes, handicrafts, woodwork, animal husbandry supplies, fresh vegetables and pickled vegetables. Mr.T.Buyan-Ulzii, Governor of Khanbogd soum in South Gobi province, said: “Small and medium enterprises have developed successfully as a result of our state policies. I am very pleased that in addition to this, Oyu Tolgoi LLC has launched the 'Gobi Prosperity' programme. Now samples of vegetables grown on Gobi soil are brought to the people of Mongolia for the first time. This is a big step and a big result. If our policies and coordination are good, obviously cooperation results will be good as well.”
At the opening, Ms.Sh.Baigalmaa, General Manager for Regional Development and Social Performance at Oyu Tolgoi said: “Oyu Tolgoi policies include the development of South Gobi and Mongolia, support for small and medium enterprizes in the neighbouring soums and creation of growth opportunities. For this reason, we implemented the ‘Gobi Prosperity’ programme in 2011. Today, we see that this programme has achieved many things. Cooperation is crucial for the development of businesses, reducing dependency on mining and ultimatly creating a sustainable economy.”
Mr.S.Myagmarjav, Superintendent Community Development at Oyu Tolgoi LLC said: “This event is a culmination of three years of common effort. The 'Gobi Prosperity' programme has been running for three years now. During this period, we have provided support for the development of many types of businesses. I am pleased that today businesses are able to supply goods to the market via a common organisation. By organising these events regularly, we enable businesses to promote their products, exchange experiences and expand their markets.”
During the fair, various pickled, processed and fresh vegetables were available. Gobi residents were buying vegetables which were grown on their soil. There was a competition for the largest vegetable and gardener, G.Balchinhand’s 8.4kg watermelon won first place, proving Gobi soil can give great returns.
I met with a woman with many vegetables displayed on her table. She introduced herself as “U.Battumur of the Nomgon bag of Khanbogd soum” she said: “Our soum residents have cooperated and together have planted vegetables. We planted, for the first time, five to six types of vegetables and accumulated a lot of experience. People are very interested in vegetables grown in our native soil and they buy a lot of them. I brought a lot of produce along today and now I have almost sold out. The Gobi climate is relatively warm, so we can continue to pick produce through to mid October. Organising such a fair is both necessary and very productive. There were people who didn’t believe that vegetables could grow in the Gobi soil. They come here to the ‘Market Fair’, see it with their own eyes, and now they believe it.”
Many people interested in the ‘Market Fair’ were also buying goods. I met with one of them and listened to his view of the event. Khanbogd soum resident B.Munkhbayar said: “This is a very useful event. People are showing the fruits of their labour. Young people will get ideas from this. Quite a lot of people attended this event, even though this is the first time it has been held. I have had a look around the fair – there are products made from camel wool, there are pickled vegetables, and the organisation is quite good too. I saw planted vegetables, they grow well. We have only ever bought them before, never grown them ourselves.”
This event is important not only for producers presenting their goods to consumers, but even more as a source of ideas, impressions and a good example to others.
J.Burendelger, business consultant of 'Interconsulting LLC' and general advisor to the 'Gobi Prosperity' programme said: “We combine training and practice. We also organise study tours. This year we trained a total of 270 people. The demand for training is high. We have many requests for technology training in particular. Business owners really want to study and learn new things. Today, they are making new products, bringing them to the market and successfully selling them.”
During the event, a competition for the best entrepreneur was held. Khanbogd soum residents, R.Oyunaa, T.Tsogtbaatar, L.Altantsetseg, M.Damdinsuren; Bayan-Ovoo soum residents B.Sarangerel; Manlai soum resident, G.Altantsetseg; and Dalanzadgad resident, E.Otgonkhuu were selected. One of the winners, G.Altantsetseg, has a successful poultry business. B.Sarangerel has been making bread and cookies since 2010. Today, she is producing five types of products and supplying them to the market. E.Otgonkhuu established the Silver Bubble Auto Center in Dalanzadgad in 2008. He has provided jobs for 12 people.
Producers participating in the fair had sales of over 10 million tugrugs in just one day, proving there is a demand for these products in the countryside.
South Gobi businesses have shown the people of Mongolia the products that they make and produce themselves, and also shared their successes and discoveries.
About Oyu Tolgoi LLC (http://ot.mn/en)
Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Mongolia's largest copper and gold mining company, is a strategic partnership between the Government of Mongolia, Turquoise Hill Resources and Rio Tinto. Located in the Umnugobi, Oyu Tolgoi has commissioned Concentrator plant in December, 2012 and commenced shipments of copper concentrate in July of 2013. As the biggest single investment in Mongolian history, Oyu Tolgoi already is a major driver of the country’s economy.
Oyu Tolgoi is managed by Rio Tinto, which is investing global expertise and cutting-edge technology to help develop Mongolia’s mining industry and ensure Oyu Tolgoi is one of the world’s most advanced mines. Oyu Tolgoi is developing a nationwide vocational training programme, regional infrastructure, and is committed to ensuring more than 90 per cent Mongolian national employment and a strong Mongolian supplier base. These programmes will help drive economic growth for generations to come.
Oyu Tolgoi’s core commitment is to a safe work place and setting a new standard in environmental care.
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