Ulaanbaatar, August 10, 2023 /MONTSAME/. During its regular session on August 9, 2023, the Cabinet made the following decisions:

The results of Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene's visit to the United States of America were discussed

Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene paid an Official Visit to the USA at the invitation of the US Vice President Kamala Harris on August 1-6, 2023. Minister of Foreign Affairs B. Battsetseg was assigned to discuss the results of the visit at today's Cabinet meeting and submit them to the National Security Council.

The visit has been viewed as further strengthening the strategic partnership with the United States, which plays an important role in Mongolia's "Third Neighbor" Policy, increasing the frequency of high-level talks, consolidating political trust and mutual understanding, enriching bilateral relations with trade and economic content, attracting investment from the United States, deepening ties between citizens, and starting cooperation in new fields.

As a result of the visit, a "Joint Statement on Strategic Third Neighborhood Partnership between Mongolia and the United States of America" was issued. The Prime Minister instructed the relevant ministers to promptly implement the Statement and issues resolved during the visit.

Support will be provided to families and businesses affected by floods

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Emergency Commission S. Amarsaikhan presented the situation and response measures to the floods that occurred in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar and local areas from June to August at the Cabinet meeting. In this regard, the Minister of Finance B. Javkhlan, and the Minister of Labor and Social Protection Kh. Bulgantuya were instructed to resolve the budget and financial resources for the inclusion of flood-affected families and citizens in social welfare services and employment support activities, as specified in relevant legislation.

Relevant ministers were tasked to develop proposals to support disaster-affected businesses by providing them with low-interest loans from the SME Development Fund, and by providing tax relief and exemptions, and present them to the Cabinet meeting.

In order to prevent potential risks, the Prime Minister assigned relevant ministers to study whether the permission of the Geodetic Cartography Department should be obtained instead of the sole decision of the District Land Office, whether to impose criminal liability particularly when land is allocated in flood-risk areas, and present it to the irregular meeting of the Government on August 11.

A resolution on some measures to intensify investment in the education sector was approved

The Government implemented comprehensive measures to enroll every child who applied for kindergarten in the 2022-2023 school year. In the academic year 2023-2024, a resolution was approved to reduce the load of general education schools and not to hold classes in three shifts in the capital. Minister of Education and Science L. Enkh-Amgalan leads the working group to ensure the implementation of the decision.

The working group is operating to resolve the seats of more than 33,000 children in 47 schools at risk of studying in three shifts throughout the capital, and to enroll 26,800 children in 27 districts with high workloads into kindergarten.

Also, Minister L. Enkh-Amgalan, Governors of Provinces and the Capital were assigned to evaluate some projects and measures that were not put into operation within the time specified in the contract, calculate fines according to the contract, cancel them if necessary, and take other related measures.

Minister of Construction and Urban Development Ts. Davaasuren and Minister of Education and Science L. Enkh-Amgalan were assigned to study the issue of adding the number of floors in kindergartens and secondary schools, if necessary, to make relevant changes in the standards and norms of the buildings and facilities of the educational sector in order to increase the efficiency of state budget investments and create budget savings.