Mongolia and Bulgaria business forum held to boost cooperation

In the scope of Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev’s visit, yesterday a Mongolian-Bulgarian Business forum was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The sides shared experience in the business sector and possibilities for building a joint factory in Mongolia.
Prime Minister Ch.Saikhanbileg gave opening remarks at the forum, underlining that the two countries have political interests and can cooperate in “win and win” principles. The Prime Minister noted that the two countries have similar sectors with great potential for development.
“Bulgaria is leading in the information technology sector, and Mongolia can share its achievements. We can cooperate in many sectors, including medicine production, agriculture, in introducing to Bulgarian roses to Mongolia, and a subway system. Our disadvantage is that Mongolia is a landlocked country, but we have two big ‘seas’. Mongolia’s ‘sea’ gateways are the big Russian and Chinese markets. Mongolia will provide Bulgaria with an opportunity to export their goods to China, in return, Mongolia will have a chance to enter the European market. We will fully support cooperation in the business sector between the two countries,” he added.
On Monday, Mongolian President Ts.Elbegdorj held a meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart.
During a press conference held on Monday, the Bulgarian President said, “Bulgaria has great experience in the medicine production sector, so we are talking about establishing a joint factory. This sector has great prospects. Bulgaria also has experience in solar, wind, and hydropower stations, as well as food production. So we see that we have possibilities to build a joint factory and export to the Chinese market. Furthermore, we can cooperate in the defense industry.”
In response President Elbegdorj said, “I’ll point to three things that will define the importance of the visit. Our countries have had traditional economic relations. Many years have passed since this relationship went into hibernation. This visit is stimulating our relations. Both Mongolia and Bulgaria have a little money. The private sector has money and wants to cooperate. Our duty is to connect the state and the private sector. We believe that by connecting them, industry and business relations will be created.
“There are various products that are being exported to the European market from Bulgaria, we see possibilities for developing and collaborating in this business in Mongolia. Minister of Food and Industry R.Burmaa will conduct a visit to Bulgaria shortly. I believe that she will show that there are many other ways to cooperate in the business sector. Also, we are discussing a visit to Bulgaria by Governor of UB E.Bat-Uul. He will study a subway system that was built at a low-cost in a short time. We also will collaborate in the educational and environmental sectors.”
The business forum took place in the presence of representatives from the Employers Association, Information and Software Association of Bulgaria, and Bulgarian businesses. The Mongolian side was represented by the Ministry of Mining; the Information Technology, Post and Telecommunications Authority; Invest Mongolia Agency; and other business sector delegates.
The business forum concluded the Bulgarian President’s official events in Mongolia, and he will head back to Bulgaria today.

Mongolian Pavilion at Venice Biennale opens

The 56th Venice Biennale, an international art exhibition, is opening to the public from May 9 to November 22, 2015 in Venice, Italy.

The Mongolia Pavilion officially opened at the Venice Biennale on May 7, for Mongolia’s first-ever participation in the event. Ulaanbaatar-born, Freiburg-based artist Kh.Unen-Enkh and artist T.Enkhbold are sharing their artwork at the event.
The Mongolia Pavilion explores modern-day mobility and displacement, raising questions about what and where “home” is and humanity’s relationship with nature. The artists work with natural organic products from Mongolian nomadic traditions, such as felt, horsehair, horse dung, and wood. The Mongolia Pavilion consists of two presentations: a sedentary pavilion space at the Palazzo Mora and a nomadic pavilion with artist T.Enkhbold’s performances presented at designated public spaces around the city of Venice.
The two artists were born and raised in Mongolia and experienced migration as young adults. Artist Kh.Unen-Enkh attended art schools in Prague and Budapest and later moved to the German city of Freiburg in Breisgau, where he completely transformed his art from two-dimensional graphic media to sculptures made with natural ‘materials from his homeland.
T.Enkhbold’s art includes a variety of media. His two-dimensional works, made primarily of horse dung, ash, sand, and wood, will be displayed at the Palazzo Mora. With these works, T.Enkhbold joins the artists who defy the traditional concept of painting and its usual materials. T.Enkhbold’s performance art in Venice further develops ideas that he has explored previously at different locales around the world. T.Enkhbold questions the division between urban forms and his nature-based ger.
Venice was built by residents fleeing invasions by nomads, including Attila and the Huns in the 5th century. Centuries later, Venetian merchant Marco Polo (1254-1324) traveled to the Mongol Empire, where he spent 16 years at the Mongol Khan’s court. T.Enkhbold, building upon the historical legacy of Venice’s relationship with nomads and Mongols, will bring his performance art to the heart of Venice by settling around the city and socializing with Venice locals and visitors.
The Mongolia Pavilion is funded by leading Mongolian businesses and supported by Mayor of Ulaanbaatar E.Bat-Uul.