“We have realigned our programs to fit with Mongolian government goals and our development project aims,” Adrian Ruthenberg, Country Director at ADB's Mongolia Resident Mission, told MonInfo Friday morning.

Key in the ADB’s new project focus is the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Even though previous reports by the World Bank and the ADB have noted a lack of progress towards MDG standards, bank officials remain optimistic.

“Mongolia has done reasonably well so far compared to other Asian nations,” said Ruthenberg.

Last Friday Mongolian government officials presented a nine-plus year US $874 million endeavor for the UN’s MDG target of increasing access to safe drinking water and raising sanitation standards. Mongolia’s access to safe drinking water remained at the same level between 1990 and 2002.

“That amount of money asked for and the amount they might get could be very far apart,” Ruthenberg said. “The water tariffs and political obstacles create considerable impediments.”

Recent movements in the Mongolian government have also pushed for the development of manufacturing and exporting value added products, an enterprise which ADB is looking to expand.

“Even though Mongolia is landlocked and small, it is still strategic, especially in natural resources. Through the development of supply chains for Mongolian companies they can fill international niche markets,” stated Ruthenberg.

Projects related to countryside infrastructure development will be a key focus of the ADB’s proposed US $48 million assistance until 2009, bank officials said.

In the ADB’s Outlook 2006 report released in early September, they stated that Mongolia’s growth forecast was upgraded because of increased metal demand and prices as well as direct investment in Mongolia’s minerals sector.

“Mongolia’s current fiscal position looks great and they are collecting huge revenues from taxes,” said Ruthenberg.