Economic reform and development: ”what to do and how” delivered by Sambuu Demberel, Chairman & CEO of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.2005

 WHY ?

Is Mongolia undergoing any tangible economic reform? Have the early 90s naive and gullible, optimistic and thrilling of mid-way transition period, and the most recent post-2000 reform efforts produced any results? Since “reform” itself is a process, the shortest legitimate answer would perhaps be that “the reform is still going on”.

At certain stages the reform efforts and measures did indeed accomplish certain goals within certain scope, confines, time and space.

At certain stages the reform efforts and measures did indeed accomplish certain goals within certain scope, confines, time and space. Yet8 why then a sustainable economic growth expected to be attained in the process of economic reforms is not enjoyed8 recognized and felt by people? Why some people are proud with the record-hit 10.6 % of economic growth of this year whereas the majority is reluctant to recognize this growth and remain frustratingly shocked of the news. How may it be ever conceivable that corruption is sprouting and poverty is aggravating while we are reforming our economy?

How come red-tape and bureaucracy are ever more bounding and the financial environment is deteriorating despite the fact that macro-economic guidelines and monetary policies are being discussed and adopted every year? Why are people evading from taxes, from the government, eventually, from their native shores?

Why do we Mongols take pride of the Great Mongol Empire and the Great Chinggis Khan in front of foreign tourists, but in fact, do not have any decent deed to be proud of ? What is the reason for the failure to embed the values of democracy in our society and why crimes, poverty, alcoholism and What is the reason for the failure to embed the values of democracy in our society and why crimes, poverty, alcoholism and “the grey society” are b-coming a routine in Mongolia?

Should we ask all these questions from ourselves, or should we seek answers to them in large volumes of writings on development and just continue deceiving ourselves with superficial cosmetic changes complacent with a foolish and empty pride with our great ancestors? Not only should we ask ourselves, but answers should be sought to these questions by ourselves.

Alike a human who casts a look back to his past life to learn lessons from experiences, it is the most appropriate lime for the Mongolian Government to review its past 15-year-long path so as to derive wisdom to navigate ahead our chosen course. The time has come for Mongols to draw the most realistic map to rely upon in our efforts to develop Mongolia. I would hasten to add, however, that by saying so I do not mean to develop thick volumes of utopian proclamations to reach certain levels by 2020-2030 or make Mongolia one of the Asian tigers or an Asian financial hub or picturing a brand-new model of development with free flow of labor, capital, all fed by disguised dreams. We have already accumulated huge piles of paper over the past years produced by ourselves and with numerous foreign and international projects. The enough is enough. Any country has a mission to carry on and a vision to abide by. No less important are the core values of development and the strategies to attain and safeguard these values. Yet the actual process of translating these values into reality must be clear, realistic meticulous and efficient. We do not need papers for this.

Development starts with the very and every simple effort to create wellbeing for every individual member of the society be that a nomadic herdsman, or a civil servant, or a student, or a businessman, or an unemployed.

All in all, the essence of development is fundamentally an issue of improving people’s lives, their ability to attain and sustain an enjoyable living. Indeed, this is the ultimate pinnacle of thought of all the wisest men of the world at all times throughout the history of humankind.