On 18 and 24 March, the Cabinet Secretariat’s Open Government sponsored nationally televised chats between policy makers, national leaders, and citizens on how Mongolia can benefit from mining revenues. The first program had four Members of Parliament answering questions from citizens: MP D. Enkhbat, Standing Committee on Environment and Agriculture, MP Z. Enkhbold, Chairman of Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy, MP S. Oyun, Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy, and MP. D Zorig, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy (MMRE).
The second program, held on 24 March, had Mr. M. Bold, CEO of Xac Bank, Mr. S. Ganbaatar, President of the Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions (CMTU), and Mr. D. Jargalsaikhan, Executive Director, Mongolians for Fair Taxes & Wise Spending.
The nationally broadcast Stakeholders Talk programs provide a platform for dialogue between citizens and senior level decision makers from the public sector, business, and civil society. Citizens send their questions to panelists by telephone or SMS throughout the one-hour live program.
The two Stakeholders Talk programs focused on what to do with mining revenues that Mongolia is expected to receive from investments in the sector. The recently enacted law to establish a Human Development Fund generated many questions from citizens to panelists. Under the law, the Government distributed MNT 70,000 to children, disabled, and elderly Mongolians before Tsagaan Sar, and has announced plans to distribute funds to other citizens beginning in April 2010. Many citizens calling during the programs felt that this falls far short of the campaign promises made by both parties in the 2008 elections and the Presidential election of 2009. Other citizens were against these distributions and expressed that mining proceeds should be used for improving health or education services. Other questions from citizens expressed concerns about reporting, governance, and overall management of revenues. A large number of questions came in concerning jobs and employment opportunities that mining investments may bring. The program provided a useful opportunity for citizens across the country to engage in a dialogue with panelists and share questions,
concerns, and suggestions on what to do with mining revenues.
The Stakeholders Talk programs are a continuation of the Open Talks series, also sponsored by the Cabinet Secretariat’s Open Government. Nine Open Talks program previously broadcasted have included national multimedia chats between citizens and policy makers on topics such as tax reform, housing finance, the national action plan, transportation, and others. Support for the two national chats on mining revenues came from the project in collaboration with the Open Society Forum (OSF) and the Mongolian National Public Radio and Television (MNPRTV).
The nationally broadcast Stakeholders Talk programs provide a platform for dialogue between citizens and senior level decision makers from the public sector, business, and civil society. Citizens send their questions to panelists by telephone or SMS throughout the one-hour live program. The two Stakeholders Talk programs focused on what to do with mining revenues that Mongolia is expected to receive from investments in the sector. The recently enacted law to establish a Human Development Fund generated many questions from citizens to panelists. Under the law, the Government distributed MNT 70,000 to children, disabled, and elderly Mongolians before Tsagaan Sar, and has announced plans to distribute funds to other citizens beginning in April 2010. Many citizens calling during the programs felt that this falls far short of the campaign promises made by both parties in the 2008 elections and the Presidential election of 2009. Other citizens were against these distributions and expressed that mining proceeds should be used for improving health or education services. Other questions from citizens expressed concerns about reporting, governance, and overall management of revenues. A large number of questions came in concerning jobs and employment opportunities that mining investments may bring. The program provided a useful opportunity for citizens across the country to engage in a dialogue with panelists and share questions,
concerns, and suggestions on what to do with mining revenues. The Stakeholders Talk programs are a continuation of the Open Talks series, also sponsored by the Cabinet Secretariat’s Open Government. Nine Open Talks program previously broadcasted have included national multimedia chats between citizens and policy makers on topics such as tax reform, housing finance, the national action plan, transportation, and others. Support for the two national chats on mining revenues came from the project in collaboration with the Open Society Forum (OSF) and the Mongolian National Public Radio and Television (MNPRTV).