Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene

Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene (born 29 June 1980) is a Mongolian politician who is the prime minister of Mongolia since 27 January 2021. He has been elected to the State Great Khural (Parliament) twice since 2016. Prior to becoming the prime minister, Oyun-Erdene was a Minister and Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat of the government of Mongolia from 2 February 2019 to 27 January 2021.
Childhood
Oyun-Erdene was born on 29 June 1980 in Ulaanbaatar. His parents divorced when he was young and he was raised by his maternal grandparents.
His father is an educator and an artist who helped to reform the Mongolian high-school system establishing the Mongeni high school complex in 1996. His mother was a musician who played clarinet in the Academic Theatre of Classical Arts. After retiring, she started the Soyol Foundation which aims to support the classical arts in Mongolia. Luvsannamsrai, Oyun-Erdene’s grandfather, was the first principal of a school in Mörön, Khentii Province. He guided Oyunerdene's self-paced study of Tibetan and Mongolian scripts as well as chess in his childhood.
He started his elementary school at School #28 in Ulaanbaatar but, he had to move back to Khentii province to live with his grandfather after his grandmother's death in 1990. He then finished high school in the Khentii province.
Oyun-Erdene's grandfather Luvsannamsrai was a Buddhist abbot (Mongolian: хамба лам), a master chess player and an instructor of mathematics, Mongolian language, and Old Mongolian script. He had a great respect for Batbayar Darma, one of the greatest figures in Mongolian literature, and so he asked Batbayar to train his grandson in Mongolian literature. Oyun-Erdene was enrolled in Bers University, founded by Batbayar Darma, and graduated with a degree in journalism.
Oyun-Erdene wrote his first book, Vision, in 2005. After graduating from Harvard University in 2015, he published his second book, Aziin Khuleg Uls, which translates as 'The Steed Country of Asia'. In this book he addressed a 30 year-development policy for Mongolia. He also founded "The Steed Country of Asia" National Policy Research Institute that same year.
At the age of 21, he was appointed as the Head of the Governor's Office in the village of Berkh, in the Khentii province. While giving a presentation for World Vision International representatives which aimed to secure with a mind to bring in an international project for his province, he was invited for the organization, an offer he accepted. He worked for World Vision International for more than six years and specialized in community-based development policy. During this time he attended specialized training for international development workers organized by World Vision in cooperation with the University of Melbourne, and also worked in the Philippines and Thailand for a short period of time.
Education
Oyun-Erdene graduated from the National University of Mongolia in 2008 with a Bachelor degree in law. He then went on to graduate from the School of Social Sciences of the National University of Mongolia in 2011 with a master's degree in Political Science. Oyun-Erdene then graduated from Harvard University in 2015 with a master's degree in Public Policy. The Prime Minister credits his time at Harvard for helping train him for his career in government.
Early career in politics
Oyun-Erdene entered politics in 2008. While serving as the head of the Social Development Department of the Bayanzurkh District of Mongolia's capital city Ulaannbaatar, he led a successful election campaign under the tagline Bayanzurkh-Neg Zurkh (verbally translated as 'Rich Heart - One Heart') in the largest district of the capital city. Shortly after being appointed as the Head of the then Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP)'s Political Department in 2009, he initiated and developed the AGENDA-6 Reform Program. His decision to remove the word "revolutionary" from the Party's name led to significant internal divisions within the party, and eventually, to its defeat in the 2012 parliamentary election.
In 2015, Oyun-Erdene founded the Asian Steed Policy Research Institute with his fellow alumni from several universities. In 2016, he was elected as a Member of Parliament in Mongolia for Khentii. He led multiple demonstrations, most notably one held in 2018 involving more than 30,000 citizens against government corruption.
Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat of Mongolia
At the request of Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Oyun-Erdene became the Minister and Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat of Mongolia in 2019. Shortly after his appointment, Oyun-Erdene headed working groups to regulate illegal mining operations and tackle allegations of corruption.
He also made a significant contribution to the amendment of the Constitution of Mongolia. The 2019 amendments strengthened the powers of the Prime Minister, with a view to ending instability and stagnation. They also shortened the presidential term to a single six-year term.
During his time in this role, Oyun-Erdene drafted plans for a 5-year program to expand Mongolia's digital infrastructure. The first action of this program was rolling-out E-Mongolia, an online platform which provides 182 different services to citizens.
Prime Minister of Mongolia
Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene was appointed Prime Minister of Mongolia on January 27, 2021. He reshuffled his cabinet and appointed new ministers on August 30, 2022.
Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene's priorities as Prime Minister include increasing Mongolia’s energy independence, expanding Mongolia’s links with the rest of the world, supporting the long-term expansion of the Mongolian economy, reforming government and tackling corruption.
Vision 2050 and New Recovery Policy
In 2020, Oyun-Erdene initiated and led the process around the development of Vision 2050, Mongolia's plan to become a leading regional power by the middle of the current century, and secured approval from the State Great Khural (Parliament). This policy document came into force on 1 January 2021.
In December 2021, Oyun-Erdene introduced the New Recovery Policy (or New Revival Policy) as part of Mongolia’s Vision 2050 program, focused on diversifying Mongolia’s economy, supporting the country’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and driving long-term development. The policy contains six pillars with each aimed at tackling existing economic constraints and unlocking growth in the following areas: border ports, energy, industrialization, urban and rural development, green development and state efficiency.
Partially as a result of the New Recovery Policy beginning to be implemented, the country’s economy grew by 4% in 2022, having been forecasted to grow by just 2.6%. The Mongolian budget deficit was reduced by 60%, with exports increasing. In December 2022, the Government announced that Mongolia had paid off the 1.5 billion USD ‘Chinggis bond’, a key milestone in the country’s long-term debt management strategy. In 2023, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development forecasted that Mongolia’s economy would see 7.2% growth in 2023 and 7.5% in 2024.
Under the New Recovery Policy, Mongolia has already built the Zuunbayan-Khangi rail link, which opened in November 2022, and started construction on the New Settlement Zone of Khushigt Valley.
Other New Recovery Policy Projects completed in 2022 include the Borkh solar thermal power plant charge storage system in Uliastgai and the solar thermal power plant hybrid system in Altai soum.
Tourism
On 29th November 2022, the Government of Mongolia unveiled a major package of measures to promote the country as a growing tourist destination. This included the Government launch of its ‘Welcome to Mongolia’ campaign, as well as designating 2023-2025 as the ‘Years to Visit Mongolia’. The aim of the campaign is to encourage overseas travelers to visit Mongolia for both leisure and tourism. The Government’s reforms are focused on opening up more travel routes, modernizing Mongolia’s visa system and reducing the cost of flights to the country.
In June 2022, Mongolia started allowing South Koreans to enter and stay without a visa for up to 90 days. In January 2023, nationals of 34 countries became exempt from visa requirements for those traveling to Mongolia for tourism purposes.
In August 2023, during Oyun-Erdene’s visit to the United States, the Prime Minister met with Vice President Kamala Harris and held a joint press conference. During the visit, it was announced that there would be direct flights between the US and Mongolia starting in 2024.
Digital
In December 2022, Oyun-Erdene’s government launched its new online procurement portal, Mindgolia, to boost the country’s tech sector and to transition the country’s economy “from mining to mind.” The website allows companies to search for products by software category, view reviews, and choose products and services by looking at other people’s ratings of them.
In April 2023, Oyun-Erdene launched the E-Business online platform to help businesses start and grow more easily, cutting down on bureaucracy and waiting times by streamlining exchanges between government and business.
At the Mongolia Economic Forum in July 2023, the Government announced an agreement with SpaceX and Starlink to launch a new era of high-speed internet connectivity. Mongolia now has two licences for SpaceX to operate as an internet provider in Mongolia using low-orbit satellites. This will enable many more Mongolians to access high-speed connectivity with Starlink, including those in rural areas.
In August 2023, during Oyun-Erdene’s official visit to the United States, it was announced that Google would be partnering with Mongolia to enhance the digital skills of Mongolian teachers and young people, including the provision of 20,000 Chromebooks to schools.
Commencement of underground production at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine
On 13th March 2023, the Prime Minister joined Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm 1.3 kilometers underground to celebrate the commencement of underground production at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in the Gobi Desert.
A partnership between Rio Tinto and Mongolia, the Oyu Tolgoi open pit and concentrator have been operating since 2011. The total workforce of Oyu Tolgoi is currently around 20,000 people, of which 97% are Mongolian. Oyu Tolgoi works with more than 500 national suppliers and has spent around $15 billion in Mongolia since 2010, including $4 billion of taxes, fees and other payments to the state budget.
Oyu Tolgoi is expected to produce an average of 500,000 tons of copper per year from 2028 to 2036 from the open pit and underground, which would be enough to produce around 6 million electric vehicles per year, and an average of close to 290,000 tons over the reserve life of around 30 years.
Speaking at the commencement ceremony, the Prime Minister said “I am proud to celebrate this major milestone with our partner Rio Tinto as we look towards Mongolia becoming one of the world’s key copper producers. The start of underground production at Oyu Tolgoi demonstrates our ability to work together with investors in a sustainable manner and become a trusted partner. The next phase of the partnership will enable the continued successful delivery of Mongolia’s ‘New Recovery Policy’ and Vision 2050 economic diversification strategy. Mongolia stands ready to work actively and mutually beneficially with global investors and partners.”
Tackling corruption
During the December 2022 Mongolian protests, thousands protested in Mongolia’s capital against alleged corruption in Mongolia’s coal industry and inflation.
As part of the New Recovery Policy’s pillar to tackle corruption and in light of these protests, the Prime Minister put forward an initiative to change the governance of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi JSC (ETT), making the company public. This was aimed at improving transparency within the mining sector. The Prime Minister also set up a six-month investigation into ETT.
In January 2023, Mongolia took further steps to crack down on corruption by passing the Commodities Exchange Law, which will require state-owned enterprises to trade export commodities on a new mining commodity exchange.
In February 2023, the Government declared that 2023 would be the “Year to Combat Corruption.” This includes amending Mongolia’s whistleblower protection law and strengthening protections for the politically exposed. The month before, Mongolia’s anti-corruption authority had announced that over 30 officials, including the chief executive of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi, were under investigation for embezzlement.
In May 2023, the Mongolian Parliament passed constitutional amendments to enlarge the legislative body, from 76 members to 126, and adopt a more proportional electoral system for the 2024 elections. In the Great State Khural, Oyun-Erdene stated, “The proportional system will prevent businesspeople from joining politics to make a profit or use political power to their advantage.” In his closing remarks, he stated: “Today, I express my gratitude towards the members for their decision to decentralize power. The role of a parliament member will no longer be dominated by business minds. This pivotal change will ensure that the fundamental principle of truly representing the people and serving as a public representative is fulfilled. It will open doors for more citizen representatives to enter the political arena.”
In July 2023, Mongolia became the first APAC country to implement all 40 recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force, and the fifth globally.
References
External links
Progressive Alliance
Talk with Jargal De Facto on YouTube
Mongolian politicians
Harvard Kennedy School alumni
1980 births
Living people
Prime Ministers of Mongolia
21st-century Mongolian politicians