February of 2010

1. Organizing the “National Business Consultant” training course
2. Participant’s thought on “Developmental Japanese Language” research team’s 20th meeting

Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan is a contribution to the resolution of many evolving challenges which the international community and developing countries face. The ODA to Mongolia started between 1977 and 1979, when the Gobi Cashmere Factory was established with assistance from Japan, the biggest donor to Mongolia.

1. Why does Japan assist Mongolia?
   1. The social and economic reform that Mongolia has carried out to establish a democratic society since 1990
   2. Sustainable development in Mongolia has a significant influence on the political and economic development of the region.
   3. Mongolia has a weak economy and it continues to make the transition to a market economy.
2. Japan considers the following five aspects of Mongolia to be the most in-need
   1. Strengthening the economy to accelerate industrialization (primarily infrastructure)
   2. Building institutions and developing human resources necessary for promoting a market economy
   3. Supporting the development of a comprehensive crop-livestock management model
   4. Supporting municipal infrastructure (primarily education, health, and water)
   5. Environmental protection
3. Technical cooperation
   1. Dispatch experts. 339 experts have been appointed to Mongolia through 2001.
   2. Training. 842 have received training through 2001.
   3. Dispatch volunteers. 94 volunteers have been appointed to work in Mongolia through 2001.
   4. Dispatch elderly volunteers. 10 elderly volunteers have been appointed to work in Mongolia through 2001.

4. Development research

1. Development research on natural resources in the Erdenet region.
2. Rehabilitation project on the 4th Thermal Power Plant in Ulaanbaatar.
3. The project for construction of the eastern arterial road and improvement of the related equipment.
4. A study on improving local telecommunications.

5.Grants

Сумдыг дизель мотороор хангах төсөл. Project to supply soums with electricity generators. Project for improvement of primary education facilities. Capital city rehabilitation project. Project to improve the fire fighting technology and equipment maintenance. Railway transportation rehabilitation project. During 1999-2002, multiple dzuds (lage amounts of snow combined with extreme cold temperatures, a natural disaster that occurs during the winter time) which were the most severe in the last 30 years occurred and were responsible for 2,400,000 livestock that damaged much of Mongolia’s economy and herders’ livelihoods. In 2000, the government of Japan rendered emergency assistance worth $10 million to Mongolia after damage from drought and dzud..

Japan is a democratic country with free market economy. The constitution of the country that came into effect in 1947 reflects the following three basic principles and concepts: the sovereignty of the country, human rights, and freedom.

There is universal suffrage for adults over 20 years of age, with a secret ballot for all elective offices. Japan's legislative organ is the National Diet, a bicameral parliament. The Diet consists of a House of Representatives and House of Councillors. The Prime Minister of Japan is the head of state. The position is not appointed directly as it is in US and France, being more like the process in Great Britain and Canada, whose constitutional monarchies give very little power to the monarch. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members and the PM builds their team to work for the country.

The Government is divided into three sovereign branches that have a degree of control over one another: legislative, executive, and judicial. In this way, power domination of a branch is limited such that human rights and civil liberties are protected. As a ceremonial figurehead, the Emperor, who does not take part in the day-to-day functions of government, is defined by the constitution as “the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people.” Local administrative bodies are chosen by local elections.