"Mongolia is an important trade partner of Russia. In 7 months of 2024, the trade turnover between our countries increased by more than 20%. We hope that by the end of the year, mutual trade will be able to approach the maximum indicators and overcome the $ 2.5 billion mark," said the Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia. Dmitry Volvach said during a meeting of the subcommittee on regional, cross-border cooperation and tourism development of the Russian-Mongolian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in Ulaanbaatar.
"The countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, — and Russia in particular is extremely interested in agreeing on a temporary trade agreement with Mongolia. The signing of the document is planned before the end of this year," he recalled. — At the same time, Mongolia and the EAEU countries are striving to strengthen sectoral dialogue in areas that are regulated in the The Union at the supranational level. We are talking about customs cooperation, technical regulation and accreditation, customs tariff and non-tariff regulation, veterinary and sanitary and quarantine phytosanitary measures."
During the meeting, the parties assessed the effectiveness of the implementation of the decisions of the previous sub-commission, which was held in Ulan—Ude a year and a half ago, and also noted the positive effect of the implementation of the "Medium-term Action Program for the Development of Interregional cooperation between Russia and Mongolia for 2021-2025" and decided at the next meeting of the sub-commission to approve the activities of the program for the period from 2026-2030. The medium—term action program includes 36 activities in 7 areas of cooperation - trade, economic and investment cooperation, transport, construction of checkpoints, law enforcement cooperation, environmental protection, tourism and the humanitarian sphere.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, more than 70 Russian regions maintain trade and economic ties with Mongolia. According to the results of this year, the Samara, Irkutsk, Kemerovo regions, Altai Territory and Moscow showed the greatest activity. At the moment, two interregional agreements are being worked out — between the Republic of Tyva and The Ubsunur Aimag of Mongolia, the Republic of Khakassia and the Zavkhan Aimag.
"In mid-September, with the support of the Russian Export Center, a multidisciplinary business mission took place in Mongolia. Almost 200 Russian companies took part in it. More than 250 meetings were held with an export potential of $ 30 million," he cited the data Dmitry Volvach. — For 8 months of 2024, the group of companies of the Russian Export Center provided financial and non-financial support for the implementation of trade contracts between Russian and Mongolian companies in the amount of more than $ 30 million, which is 40% more than last year's figures. We are talking about contracts for the supply of products of mechanical engineering, agro-industrial and timber industry, metallurgical, chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and light industries."
The meeting participants discussed the issues of modernization of Russian-Mongolian checkpoints, on the stable and uninterrupted operation of which the throughput, the rhythm of delivery of cargo vehicles, the efficiency of customs operations and the further development of mutual trade directly depend.
By 2030, it is planned to complete the program for the modernization of priority checkpoints. The parties plan to include measures to modernize 7 checkpoints on the Russian-Mongolian border in one of the Russian federal projects of the national project "Efficient Transport System". The list includes 87 checkpoints, seven of which are located on the Russian-Mongolian section of the Russian border.
"We see positive dynamics in the field of tourist exchanges — 243 thousand trips were made in the first half of 2024, but the indicators of pre—pandemic time have not yet been achieved," he cited the data Dmitry Volvach. "The current agreement between the governments of the two countries has a positive effect on the mutual tourist flow, which allows Russian and Mongolian tourists to enter, leave, transit and stay in Russia and Mongolia for up to 30 days without visas."
The Russian side invited the Mongolian colleagues to finalize the work on agreeing on the memorandum on the implementation of the trilateral project of the Great Tea Way tourist route within the framework of the program for the creation of the Russia—Mongolia—China economic corridor and at a meeting of the heads of the tourist administrations of Russia, China and Mongolia will agree on the main directions of joint work in this area at the end of October.
The implementation of tourist routes under the brand "Great Tea Way" will allow foreign tourists to get to know the traditions and preserved cultural monuments of the Russian merchant class, to learn about the modern culture of tea production and consumption in Russian regions.
"It is important for Russia and Mongolia to increase the pace of tourism development, increase investments in agriculture and border infrastructure, strengthen cooperation chains and support measures for small and medium—sized businesses of the two countries," he concluded Dmitry Volvach. "I am confident that the regular holding of thematic events in various areas of trade and economic cooperation will strengthen the dialogue between the relevant departments and business circles of our countries, and will give a new impetus to the development of Russian—Mongolian trade and economic relations on a mutually beneficial basis."
The meeting was also attended and addressed by the Minister of Mongolia, Chairman of the National Committee for the Revival of Border Checkpoints Buyagiin Tulga, Consul General of Mongolia in Ulan-Ude Damberel Nyamtseren, Trade Representative of Russia in Mongolia Maxim Vasiliev and other representatives of the Russian and Mongolian delegations.
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