MONGOLIA JOINS OGP ASIA, PACIFIC REGIONAL MEETING

Published On -

admin Open Government Partnership

The Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting took place in Manila from February 5 to 7, 2025. Representing Mongolia, Head of the Secretariat of the National Committee on State Productivity and OGP Point of Contact (POC), S. Tengis, along with OGP Analyst D. Nominchimeg, attended the event.

Other government representatives included S. Javkhlanbaatar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Extractive Industry and Mining; E. Lkhagva, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the State Great Hural (Parliament of Mongolia); D. Bat-Erdene, Chief of the Secretariat Office at the General Election Commission; B. Uyanga, Officer of the Administration Department; and B. Sunjidmaa, Researcher at the National Legal Institute.

Mongolian civil society organizations (CSOs) were also well represented, with attendees such as B. Dulamkhorloo, Founder and Chairperson of the Nest Center for Journalism Innovation and Development; D. Erdenechimeg and A. Gerelmaa, Program Managers at Open Society Forum; G. Undral, Director of the Democracy Education Center (DEMO); B. Bolorsaikhan, Director of the Mongolian Peace Building Institute; and T. Amarzaya, Director of the Mongolian Youth Council. Additional representatives included B. Tsolmon, Social Development Officer at the Asian Development Bank; G. Dorjkhand, Advisor at Women for Change NGO; E. Munkhjargal, Director of Transparency International Mongolia; and B. Bolormaa, Program Manager at the Media Council of Mongolia.

During the regional meeting, both government and civil society representatives participated in thematic discussions on key topics such as joint collaboration, media freedom, data usage in anti-corruption efforts, political finance, civic space, strengthening partnerships, energy transition, public participation, the justice system, and the vision of openness. A notable highlight of the event was Mongolia becoming the first Asian country to join the Open Government Challenge. As part of this initiative, the Mongolian General Election Commission aims to take the lead in enhancing transparency by disclosing political financing data.

As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized in his speech, “Let us be reminded of the powerful role of collaboration, especially in addressing the complex challenges of governance in the 21st century. May we see the grand opportunity we have today and use it to send a powerful message to the world: that open governance is fundamental to prosperity, stability, and security in a rapidly transforming world.”