United States provides USD 5.159 million in grant assistance for Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ In a formal ceremony at the Ministry of Economic Development, the United States Ambassador to Mongolia Ms Piper Anne Wind Campbell and the Minister of Economic Development Mr N.Batbayar Thursday signed amendments to two Strategic Objective Grant Agreements providing USD 5,159,337 in additional U.S. Government development assistance to Mongolia. Acting USAID Representative to Mongolia, Richard Chen witnessed the signing. The amendment to the Economic Growth Strategic Objective Grant Agreement supports USAID’s Business Plus Initiative (BPI) project which is implemented by Chemonics, International. BPI assists the Government of Mongolia in deepening reform efforts that improve the business enabling environment in areas, including starting a business, trading across borders, construction permits, and paying taxes. Funds also support an increase in the capacity and competitiveness of Mongolian companies and facilitate an effective dialogue between the Government of Mongolia and the private sector to improve the business enabling environment. The amendment to the Democracy Strategic Objective Grant Agreement supports two USAID governance projects: The Strengthening Transparency and Governance (STAGE) project which is implemented by The Asia Foundation; and the Active Participation and Public Engagement for Accountable Localities (APPEAL) project, implemented by Mercy Corps. Through capacity building of government and civil society strengthening, these projects work to improve administrative reform and strengthen anti-corruption efforts and good governance at the national and local government levels. Since 1991, the US Government assistance to Mongolia through USAID amounts to over 230 million USD.