TS. GARAMJAV: IF MONGOLIA IMPLEMENTS AN INDUSTRIALIZATION POLICY IN EARNEST, OUR NATION CAN DEVELOP RAPIDLY

Mongolian women are known for their integrity, resilience, and determination to create and build. Few embody these qualities as strongly as Ts. Garamjav, founder of the Monpolymet Group. A geologist by training, she entered the mining sector in the 1990s, engaging first in geological exploration before moving into full-scale production. Over the years, she has devoted the fruits of her labor to the prosperity of her country. Beyond mining, she pioneered exemplary practices in land rehabilitation, introduced modern technologies, spearheaded major construction projects, and created thousands of jobs as a national industrialist. 33 years ago, she founded Monpolymet LLC, which has since grown into a group employing more than 1,000 people and consistently ranking among Mongolia’s “Top-100 Enterprises,” contributing billions in taxes to the state budget. Her journey has not been without hardship—she has endured the turbulence of Mongolia’s transition years, intense business competition, and even state pressure—yet she remains an unwavering leader, colleague, and mother figure, committed to building a better society. Despite the challenges of bureaucracy, corruption, and unfair political targeting, she continues to stand as an example of perseverance, integrity, and patriotism. We sat down with one of Mongolia’s most resilient women entrepreneurs to hear her story.

-Monpolymet was born in the turbulent 1990s. Can you take us back to those early days and how you entered the mining sector?

-I am a mining engineer and geologist by profession. I began my business career during the transition between two political and economic systems. At that time, Mongolia’s earliest private companies and citizens worked tirelessly to develop the economy. The government prioritized the mining industry, launching numerous programs to jumpstart the economy. We joined those programs and committed ourselves to geological exploration. In 1992, Monpolymet was officially established with a mandate to conduct geological exploration, research, and construction. Our first steps began modestly, leasing a small land in Zaamar soum. Later, when the Toson mining license was officially transferred to us, we embarked on professional, responsible mining. The path was full of challenges, but we transitioned from mining into manufacturing, which became an early model of sustainable development. Looking back, these 33 years have proven that Mongolian engineers are fully capable of building and operating heavy industries.

-Monpolymet has set a national benchmark in environmental policy and land rehabilitation, proving that it is possible not only to extract resources but also to restore the land. How did you achieve this?

-Alongside mining operations, we took an empathetic approach to the environment and local communities to develop together. Monpolymet has been recognized 23 times as a leading company in rehabilitation and sustainable development. Unlike others who do reclamation for a year or two and stop, we’ve carried it out consistently over decades, restoring land to conditions even better than before. We focused on making the land habitable and useful for people and livestock alike. Today, we have completed technical rehabilitation on 90% of our mined areas, and biological rehabilitation on 60%. In recent years, climate change, desertification, and land degradation have become pressing issues. Mining is mainly blamed for these. But responsible mining, in fact, helps mitigate these effects. For example, we have planted and successfully grown over 460,000 trees across eight groves. We’ve cultivated 300 hectares of pastureland with nutritious perennial plants. A single mature tree of 15-20 years absorbs 18–20 kilograms of dust annually while releasing 120–250 kilograms of oxygen. That means our trees generate more than 40 million kilograms of oxygen every year and filter over 10 million kilograms of dust—a measurable contribution to slowing desertification and preventing land degradation. We even created a 16-hectare artificial lake, officially registered in Mongolia’s 2011 pure water census. Today it is “home” to eight species of fish, countless birds, and even migratory swans that return each year. When people see swans gracing a former mining site, they can hardly believe it. To me, it feels as though swans recognize many years of our hard work in rehabilitation.

Monpolymet has demonstrated that a mined site can be rehabilitated to look as though no extraction ever took place, setting a positive example for the industry

This year, with drought affecting the country and forage scarce, around 6,000 livestock are grazing on our reclaimed land. What was once an extraction site is now pastureland, a source of water, and a leisure space for local families. After seeing hundreds of trees and perennial plants we planted, people often remark, “It doesn’t look like mining ever took place here”. These testaments are the greatest encouragement for us. On the other hand, there must also be professional principles. My teachers and professors used to emphasize to us as students that even if you dig just a small hole during extraction, you must restore it. I have always carried that philosophy with me. Monpolymet has demonstrated that a mined site can be rehabilitated to look as though no extraction ever took place, setting a positive example for the industry. Many mining companies in Zaamar have since followed our model, undertaking rehabilitation and planting vegetation. Unfortunately, there are still many that do not—something I consider deeply unethical. There is still much to be done in the mining sector. For example, the Minerals Law should ensure that responsible, professional, and skilled companies are granted the right to freely conduct extraction and rehabilitation activities.

-It is often said that Mongolia can only develop through industrialization. From your perspective, what steps should the government take to foster industrial growth?

-Developing our population has become an urgent challenge. And demographic policy is, at its core, an industrial policy. Wherever industries are established, infrastructure follows—energy, roads, railways, transportation all develop around them. We need to build factories in every corner of the country to create jobs for our youth. When young people have opportunities, they will thrive and succeed. That is why we must build as many factories as possible. If we do so, Mongolians living abroad will also be encouraged to return home. If Mongolia pursues industrialization in a real and practical way, our nation has the potential to rise swiftly. Since Mongolia transitioned to democracy, not a single heavy industry plant had been built. It was only in 2015 that Monpolymet commissioned the Moncement plant—a modern, environmentally friendly facility equipped with advanced technology. The plant, with a production capacity of one million tons of cement, was the result of immense hard work and relentless dedication. This year marks its 10th anniversary.

Back in 2015, Mongolia’s cement demand stood at 500,000 tons. Today, it exceeds two million tons. Alongside our plant, three more factories have been established, enabling domestic producers to fully meet the country’s needs. This is an achievement worthy of recognition, and a major contribution of ours to Mongolia’s economy. We have managed to keep foreign currency flows within the country while producing a strategic product domestically. Monpolymet has demonstrated that a plant can breathe life into entire communities by creating thousands of jobs, suppliers, and business partners. The Moncement plant is located in Urgun soum of Dornogobi province. We built a 53.2 km power transmission line, a 3.2 km railway, and a water reservoir, among other essential infrastructure.

For the first time in Mongolia, we also introduced technology to generate electricity from the waste heat emitted during the cement production process. In addition, Urgun soum’s households had long suffered from a bad quality of drinking water—a problem we solved by building an 11.2 km pipeline. Strictly speaking, this was something the government should have done. But the plant brought development instead. This is why I always emphasize that we should build factories in every province, district, and soum.

-Moncement is a major industrial project that makes a real contribution to the economy. Yet, government actions have created obstacles, putting your company and yourself in a very difficult position. How do you respond to this?

-There has been no sense of gratitude toward us. On the contrary, the attitude was “You chose to build this factory, so pay back your loan with interest-it’s your problem.” This stance was reinforced by political pressure, as organized smear campaigns and unfounded accusations were linked to the Development Bank loans. In reality, our project should have been one of the showcase examples of the Development Bank. We utilized the loan strictly for its intended purpose, completed the factory within the required timeframe, and launched operations successfully. Repeatedly, both the Development Bank and parliamentary as well as government hearings declared our project to be among the best. And yet, our company was investigated numerous times by the General Intelligence Agency and the Independent Authority Against Corruption.

Even after all accounts and reports had been thoroughly checked, false information continued to be spread. This has been profoundly disheartening. Many people have asked “Why are responsible national companies being harassed, while those who truly caused damage to the country go unchecked?”. Sadly, Mongolia does not protect the reputation of its entrepreneurs, nor does it support companies that work honestly and build for the nation. Instead, when one establishes a factory of real value to the country, the state not only fails to recognize it but often tries to brand you as a criminal—leaving no choice but disappointment.

-The Mongolian people see you as someone who has endured tremendous challenges. Beyond the countless inspections, and pressure from state institutions, you were also sent to jail. How have you managed to withstand and overcome all of this?

-I have nothing to fear because I know I am on the right path. Over the many years I’ve been in business, of course there have been both successes and failures. But one thing I can say with certainty: I have never stolen, never looted my country, and never strayed from the law. I am a woman entrepreneur who has genuinely contributed to Mongolia’s development. Even in times of difficulty, my focus has always been on moving forward along the right track and doing my work to the best of my ability. This mindset does not allow me to be distracted, and perhaps it is precisely what has helped me overcome so many obstacles.

-What are your thoughts on Mongolian women? How do you view their role in national development?

-The role of Mongolian women in society is steadily improving. In the past, political power and senior leadership in business were almost exclusively in the hands of men, but this is changing. Going forward, women must have an even stronger presence in society. Women are fair-minded and, by nature, pursue the well-being and progress of the community. Their vision is not only to nurture their families but also to advance the nation as a whole. As business leaders, women also strive to run their companies successfully, care for their employees, and increase salaries. Globally, there is a growing demand for female leadership. Increasingly, countries are electing women as Presidents and Prime Ministers. I sincerely hope that in Mongolia, more experienced women from diverse walks of life will be elected to Parliament. The time for women has come, and I wish to see more women shaping policies for the country’s development.

-What are your views on improving the business environment?

-To strengthen the business environment, we need to refine the legal and policy framework and ensure that the Constitution incorporates clear provisions on economic relations. For instance, there should be a constitutional guarantee that the state will not compete with the private sector. It is essential to create a fairer legal environment for businesses and to better regulate taxation and social insurance. The growth of companies is deeply influenced by social fairness, sound policies, and a reliable legal framework. What businesses want above all is simply a fair business environment.

-How do you envision the future of Monpolymet Group?

-Our most important goal and direction is to focus on environmentally friendly technologies and sustainable development. I firmly believe that the people of Monpolymet will continue to grow alongside global progress, launch new projects, and contribute meaningfully to the development of Mongolia. On this, I have absolute confidence.