MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WOMEN’S LABOR SUPPORT ASSOCIATION
Upon the request of the Women’s Labor Support Association, President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga held a meeting with its representatives today in the Citizen’s Chamber, State Palace.
At the beginning of the meeting, Sh.Ariunaa, President of the Association, delivered a statistical report on women’s labor in Mongolia and expressed her discontent with the operations of the SME Development Fund.
For instance, in the wake of issues surrounding the SME Development Fund and loans granted to high-ranking government officials, a survey on access to the loan has been conducted among businesswomen. The survey revealed that majority of the businesswomen had applied for a loan with the amount ranging from MNT 15 million-2.5 billion and 4-7 years of period, but were denied for reasons including insufficient funding and project rejection.
Moreover, it was conveyed to President Battulga that the businesswomen, who had originally accepted the denial of their loan applications, decided to express their stance and make several demands to the Cabinet after finding out that the loan had been granted to high-ranking government officials and their associates.
The members of the Association will demand several actions, including overseeing the investigation on the grantees of loan from the SME Development Fund, conducting a comparative analysis on the approved and rejected projects, and improving the corresponding law on government funds.
More women working in the textile industry and health sector exchanged their views with President Battulga.