TANAKA Akihiko

JICA President Akihiko Tanaka held talks with Mongolian Minister for Economic Development Nyamjav Batbayar at JICA headquarters in Tokyo, on Aug. 1.

Mongolian Minister for Economic Development Nyamjav Batbayar, right, and JICA President Akihiko Tanaka

Mongolia, which has experienced a high rate of economic growth in recent years as it has developed its mineral resources, faces many problems that must be solved to achieve sustainable growth. These include diversifying an economic structure that relies excessively on income from mineral resources, servicing decaying infrastructure and improving social services. In August 2012, the government of Mongolia, to further promote national development, established a Ministry of Economic Development, which centrally oversees issues including promoting foreign assistance, trade and investment, and Batbayar became the first minister in charge of it.

"Since Mongolia began its democratization and transition to a free market economy in 1990, JICA has cooperated in the areas of human resource development and improving the economic and social infrastructure, and we would like to continue cooperating with Mongolia as a partner," Tanaka said at the beginning of the talks.

Batbayar said, "JICA is a familiar presence to the people of Mongolia that is thought of affectionately," and he expressed his appreciation of and gratitude for JICA's cooperation toward Mongolia.

"Cooperation in a wide range of areas, including Ulaanbaatar's air pollution, severe traffic congestion and other urban problems, as well as infrastructure development and promotion of industry in regional towns and cities, is needed," he said, expressing his expectations for future cooperation through JICA.

In response, Tanaka said, "Based on Mongolia's state planning, JICA would like to provide cooperation in areas where it can contribute from a long-term perspective, and toward building a mutually beneficial relationship between Japan and Mongolia."