One-third of the government’s agencies will be consolidated under plans approved by parliament.  Action will see agencies reduced from the current 65 to only 42, with an expected savings of $1.9 million.

Vice Premier M.Enkhbold, who is the head of the Mongolian part of the Mongolian-Chinese intergovernmental commission, has met with the director of the international department of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China Wang Jiarui.

Mongolia will seek to increase its manufacturing exports in 2009.  The government has designated 2009 as the Industrialization Support Year to diversify the country’s exports from their traditional minerals to the manufacturing sector.

Up to five Mongolian mining firms are negotiating to have their stocks listed on the Hong Kong exchange, as was reported Saturday.
"There are four to five of them, and all are engaged in mining coal, iron ore, uranium, copper and gold," according to S.Batbold, Mongolian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, as quoted in the South China Morning Post paper.

Talking to journalists on Thursday, President N.Enkhbayar said he had not given any serious thought yet whether to seek another term as head of state. “I have held all the top positions in the country, and have no hankering left for any particular office. I shall continue to serve the people, irrespective of the position I hold. Whatever success I have achieved in my public life has been because the whole nation supported me,” he said.