MP J.BAT-ERDENE SHEDS LIGHT ON MOVEMENT TO DISMISS CABINET AND HIS NEW SME PROJECT

Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) Member of Parliament J.BatErdene was the initiator of the Shine Khuduu project to support small and medium enterprises in the countryside. The MP sat down with Unuudur to discuss the current controversy surrounding his party’s infighting and the progress of his new project.

Can you tell us your thoughts on the current political situation at hand? Your fellow party members have begun to take sides and criticize each other harshly. How do you see the situation?

I was one of the members of the party that pushed the idea of party reform. I was the vice organizer of the Tradition, Reform, Democracy, Justice Faction. I believe that we must always be discussing party reform. I believe the ongoing issue we have at hand should be decided in October when the fall session of Parliament commences. The Ruling Council of MPP has decided that we will address the current issue during the fall session. Instead of politicizing issues, we need to focus on drafting a better fiscal policy. There are also many other worrying issues at hand. I want to tell my fellow party members that these issues should be addressed in October.

There have been unconfirmed reports that around 30 MPs signed a document supporting the dismissal of the current Cabinet. Have you signed this document?

I did not sign the document. I will voice my opinions on this matter during parliamentary sessions and meetings of MPP.

Many members of Parliament, economists, and individuals have criticized the current Cabinet for being passive. Is the current Cabinet passive in your opinion?

I was chosen as a Member of Parliament from Bulgan Province. For instance, many residents in Bulgan Province voice complaints that the administration is doing their jobs very poorly. Pertaining to the higher echelon of politics, people complain that Cabinet is doing its jobs poorly. It seems to me that people are reaching the wrong conclusions. It has been one year since this Cabinet was formed. The work that the current Cabinet has done is certainly not any worse than previous administrations. I believe they are making the right decisions and taking the right steps in times of economic hardship. The current Cabinet is probably better in this aspect compared to previous cabinets. I don’t recall any other administration accomplishing this much in a year.

So then why have certain members of your party signed documents to support the dismissal of Cabinet?

The politicization surrounding the recent presidential election has not passed. Many have no interest in putting aside the issues that arose during the campaigns of the presidential election. This has become a political game for many factions that seek to continue the politicization that intensified during the presidential election. If the current Cabinet is dismissed, it will only benefit a few and fulfill their ambitions. It will accomplish nothing else.

Policy will remain the same. Forming a new cabinet will not suddenly result in better policy or extraordinary results. They will uphold the same policies as this Cabinet. This is just empty politicization.

Deputy Minister U.Khurelsukh has sought his resignation with allegations that Prime Minister J.Erdenebat sells off government positions. U.Khurelsukh has said he can no longer work alongside him. What are your thoughts on this?

I don’t want to conclude on the personal actions of anyone.

The views and policies that U.Khurelsukh and his faction upholds is in direct conflict with the policies of MPP. U.Khurelsukh has said that he will seek justice. What do you say about this?

To be direct, this is a matter of the Democratic Party making a move and taking advantage of the politicization that occurred during the presidential election.

Our party, MPP, is a large party that established a great victory in the parliamentary elections in 2016. Why is MPP getting caught up in the political games of a currently weaker party?

We will see if they will be able to take advantage of us. I personally believe we will eventually not get caught up in the political games of the Democratic Party. What they want will not come to fruition. It is true that political parties are trying to take advantage of the situation. Their ambitions will not have the results they hope for. As a major party, MPP will probably not get too caught up in their games.

Isn’t 30 MPs signing a document to support the dismissal of Cabinet a sign that the situation has worsened?

I haven’t seen how many MPs signed the document.

So you are confident that the party will be able to overcome this and continue on as usual?

I will say it again. MPP is a large party. It most likely won’t trip up over a small issue.

Let’s discuss the Shine Khuduu (new countryside) project that you initiated. How will this project help improve the living standards of rural residents and make an impact on their lives?

We have drafted policies and initiatives to improve the standard of living amongst rural residents a long time ago. However, we have not been able to fully implement those policies and initiatives. I envision a countryside where residents have a steady income, with local businesses with improved operations, and where the economy can prosper. That is the reason I initiated the Shine Khuduu project.

In developing countries, rural residents run small and medium enterprises such as farms and are able to prosper. We want the same for the rural residents of Mongolia. In the past, we discussed large policies such as creating an industrial and technology complex and park using Oyu Tolgoi and Tavan Tolgoi. We have created anticipation among citizens that any day now these mines will give large amounts of money back to the economy.

Rural citizens have been forgotten and neglected in the face of large projects such as these. I proposed including funding for the Shine Khuduu project in the state budget for the fiscal year of 2018 during my presentation to Prime Minister J.Erdenebat

You estimate that 500 billion MNT is required for the implementation of the Shine Khuduu project. The state budget is currently facing difficulties. Does Mongolia have the capability to fund one project with this much funding?

We cannot postpone this project due to insufficient funds in the state budget. We need to use whatever resources we have at hand to implement this project. There is a saying, “If you’re going to plant crops, first grow them in your mind”. Akin to this, we need to plant the idea that this project is necessary inside the minds of MPs and ministers.

By implementing this project, it will give confidence to our citizens that are willing to work to develop our country. We do not want to shy away from numbers.

How many years of financial assistance do you estimate that rural residents will require before their standard of living improves?

Of course, implementing the project in 2018 will not immediately improve the standard of living for citizens. Within the framework of the current Cabinet’s four year action plan, we will work to continue the project for three years. Even after Cabinet’s action plan concludes, the implementation of this policy must continue.

How receptive were rural residents to your new project? Have you listened to their input?

They were very pleased with the project. When I visited small factories and talked about my proposed project, many people were genuinely happy. They told me about how they could improve their factories and develop them further if they were able to receive financing. I saw that many people are eager for the project to be financed.

The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund and the Rural Development Fund provide soft loans to businesses to develop factories and financing to help improve the standard of living for rural residents. Yet, there have been no tangible results. What if your project provides more soft loans and does not result in anything concrete?

Many MPs and ministers have expressed their concern that this project might become another dead project. We cannot be afraid that the project might not accomplish results when we haven’t even started it. We need to work towards reaching results. In order to accomplish the results of the project, we need to teach our citizens how to run businesses. Due to welfare, we haven’t been able to help our residents work.

Herders in Jargalant soum and Bornuur soum are working to expand their customer base that buys their milk. Yet, some individuals don’t have a clue about this. They don’t believe that they will be able to establish a milk farm. When individuals create a milk farm, they will be able to improve their operations to increase profit. Some plant their own fodder and feed. We need to help citizens move towards this model of business.

If they run away from opportunities, the lives of rural residents will not improve. Let’s say maybe if we give financing to 10 families, two might fail. If that happens, we can’t say the project doesn’t work. The lives of the remaining eight families will improve. Of course we have to regulate and maintain the project very well. A good financing mechanism needs to be put in place. A discounted loan is not welfare; there must be consequences if it is misappropriated.

You have proposed your project during a difficult time in the political sphere. Are you confident it will receive support?

I am anticipating more support from citizens rather than politicians. My decision to propose the project during a unique circumstance in politics is because of the state budget (which will be approved soon). The law on the 2018 budget is being drafted right now. If we don’t get Cabinet’s support now, it might be too late.

...Forming a new cabinet will not suddenly result in better policy or extraordinary results. They will uphold the same policies as this Cabinet. This is just empty politicization...