USAID/Mongolia :: Programs

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Contact the Mission

USAID/Mongolia
P.O. Box 1021
Ulaanbaatar-13
MONGOLIA
Phone: 976-11-312390
Fax: 976-11-310440
Email the Mission

February 2009

Gobi Regional Economic Growth Initiative (GI)

Mercy Corps
www.mercycorps.org.mn

Tsagaan Sar Trade Fair

The "Tsagaan Sar 2009" Trade Fair was organized successfully in Ulaanbaatar on February 13-15. In total, 66 rural businesses from 10 Gobi Initiative and USDA-funded RASP aimags participated in the event. Producers sold dairy products, meat, barley flour, sea buckthorn, salt and other products. Thousands of Ulaanbaatar consumers visited the fair, where they could buy high quality products direct from rural producers, and total sales reached MNT 165.2 million ($110,120).

The opening ceremony for the event was attended by Vincent Spera, Economic and Commercial Officer at US Embassy; Dominic Graham, Mercy Corps Country Director; Ch. Bat, General Manager of the Ulaanbaatar Government Office; and Dolgormaa, Head of the Department for Food, Services and Trade in Ulaanbaatar.

Bayanhongor Herder Alliance

The Bayanhongor Herder Alliance held its annual conference in Bayanhongor Aimag center on February 4-5. Thirty-eight members of the Alliance spent two days discussing the performance of the Herder Alliance over the past year, made plans for 2009, discussed lessons learned and focused on how to achieve their next year’s objectives. Launched to serve the needs of its member herders, the Bayanhongor Herder Alliance currently has 201 member families in 6 soums of the aimag. The conference was attended by Mercy Corps staff from Ulaanbaatar, Govi-Altai, Govi-sumber and Uvurhangai aimags. During the conference the Bayanhongor Herder Alliance appointed its Board of Directors and General Manager for 2009 and revised its regulations and by-laws.

Camel Festival

Seventy-six herders and businesses from 13 soums sold products worth a total value of MNT 25.3 million ($16,323) at the "Camel Festival 2009" event in Umnugobi Aimag. The Gobi Initiative organized the event together with the Aimag Department of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, the Aimag Government, and the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Several Gobi Initiative clients participated in the event, which was visited by approximately 10,000 people. The main products sold included dairy products (camel milk, mare’s milk, dried curd, milk cream) and camel wool products. In addition to product sales, a conference of camel milk producers was held, camel polo matches were organized, and camel races also took place.