‘It is possible to export domestic products with modernized technology’
Prime Minister of Mongolia L.Oyun-Erdene, together with Minister of Education and Science L.Enh-Amgalan, held a morning meeting with scientists and leaders of the scientific field.
At the beginning of the meeting, Minister L.Enkh-Amgalan made a brief presentation about the sector, and the premier presented the New Revival Policy speech.
The prime minister said that salary reform has been included in the draft amendment to the 2023 state budget. A total of 566 salary levels of government employees will be reduced to 61 and the difference will be eliminated. He noted that the government will work together to bring the science sector into economic competition and raise its status to a higher level.
As of 2021, there are 71 higher education institutions operating in the public and private sectors of academic and professional level in Mongolia. A total of 5,085 researchers work in the sector, 26.5 percent or 1,349 of them are full-time academic staff.
Industry representatives told the prime minister that 47.7 billion MNT was approved for the science sector last year, most of which was related to salary increases and one-time retirement benefits for government employees. In addition, they mentioned that the funding of research, testing and orientation work has not increased in the last five years, and the cost of one study is 14.4 million MNT, which negatively affects the quality and results of research and development.
They also asked the premier to open up the right of scientific institutes to enter into contracts with SOEs, explaining that for example, stateowned mines call for tenders for feasibility studies. However, the Tender Law limits the right to participate in the tender, the scientists said.
During the meeting, Director of the Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology L.Jargalsaikhan commented, “We support the government’s e-policy. We have 10 laboratories. I wish the government would use the knowledge of its scientists. We are like stepchildren in the family. In some years, no money is budgeted for research. Minister L.Enkh-Amgalan made a decision to provide basic funding to the scientists. This is very important.”
Head of the Plant and Agriculture Department of Darkhan-Uul Province T.Atarsaikhan expressed, “Our sector produces 100 percent of the agricultural seed varieties. We produce 40 percent of wheat seeds, and we need equipment for 100 percent domestic seed processing.”
Director of the Institute of Veterinary Medicine B.Battsetseg underscored that export of livestock products is only five percent. There is an opportunity to increase it. The institute has many innovative products that were made by the local scientists and researchers. However, Biocombinat’s technology is very backward, so they cannot be put into economic circulation. If the technology is modernized, it is possible to export domestic products. Diagnostics are bought for 1.4 billion MNT per year. There are more than 10 types of diagnostics developed by the Mongolian scientists, but today only the tender issue is raised. The hard work of researchers remains on paper, she said.
At the end of the meeting, Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene emphasized, “We will examine the issue of institutes not being able to participate in tenders. Please submit your suggestions. This issue will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting.”