Mongolia | Ulaanbaatar

Mongolian president meets IRU for high-level talks on trade and transport

15 Nov 2023 · Prosperity

IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto and the President of Mongolia have held high-level talks on measures to further streamline trade and professionalise the country’s road transport industry.

A rapidly evolving transit and transport hub, Mongolia can cement its land-linked status with tried-and-tested UN conventions and professionalisation, IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto stressed during his meeting with Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, the President of Mongolia.

Mongolia has already made significant development gains over recent years. IRU encourages Mongolia to continue acceding to other key UN conventions in addition to TIR and CMR to further elevate its role as a trade and transit hub.

Umberto de Pretto also emphasised that TIR is the key trade facilitation tool ensuring seamless cross-border movements and enabling the implementation of the WTO’s Agreement on Trade Facilitation and the UNESCAP’s Agreement on the Asian Highway Network.

The two also discussed the ongoing professionalisation of Mongolia’s road transport industry. IRU member the National Road Transport Association of Mongolia (NARTAM) is continuing its efforts to establish a framework for harmonised training, compliant with high-level international quality standards. With support from regional development partners, IRU and NARTAM will launch a major project to implement IRU Academy training programmes in 2024.

Umberto de Pretto also congratulated the President for coming from a family of heroes, as his parents and brothers were drivers, highlighting that this year's IRU Grand Prix d’Honneur was awarded to all commercial drivers for their heroism during the pandemic, natural disasters and conflicts.

Furthermore, IRU's Secretary General held separate talks with the Minister of Road and Transport Development of Mongolia, Byambatsogt Sandag, and the Director General of the Customs Central Administration of Mongolia, Otgonjargal Regjiibuu.

IRU's Secretary General with the Minister of Road and Transport Development of Mongolia, Byambatsogt Sandag, and the Director General of the Customs Central Administration of Mongolia, Otgonjargal Regjiibuu

From left to right: Vadim Zakharenko (IRU), Umberto de Pretto (IRU), Young Tae Kim (ITF), Byambatsogt Sandag (Minister of Road and Transport Development of Mongolia), Bat-Erdene Bat-ulzii (Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mongolia), Vijay Kumar Saraswat (NITI Aayog, India), Mohinder Pratap Singh (Ambassador of the Republic of India to Mongolia), Hannes A. Takacs (Head of Mongolia, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)