Ulaanbaatar – 16 December, 2010 –– Ms. D. Nergui attends the Seminar on “International Trade of Mongolian Minerals: Current State and Challenges” jointly organized by the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Institute of International Studies of MAS and the Mongolian Exporters’ Association today. Prof. B. Enkhtuvshin opened this Seminar and Prof. D. Galsandorj, Executive Director of Mongolian Exporters’ Association, Dr. Bat–Erdene, President of the Mongolian Industry Geologists’ Association and Mr. T. Munkhjargal, President of the Mongolian Metallurgists’ Association made presentations on their respective areas, including international markets and Mongolia exports of copper, gold, coal and iron ore. M–ICP CEO comments on PPPs included the support of establishment of Commodity Exchanges in Mongolia, support to recommendations on establishment of copper smelters and other manufacturing facilities for minerals in Mongolia, instead of exporting raw mineral commodities. She advised the Seminar organizers to include a specific section on the introduction of Trade credit offset/Offset/Countertrade for larger procurements in the minerals sector to enable Mongolia to increase its capacity to compete and the technology competence, and a need for increasing capacity of local banks and financial institutions to meet Mongolia’s expanding market demand for financial services in their recommendation Note to the Government for consideration. Ms. Nergui also expressed her concerns which relate to technologies used and/or could be used in the mining sector because of environmental and health problems caused to date and likely to be caused in the future due to heavy mining in the country. She also suggested that it is extremely important for Mongolia to look for waterless technologies and consider using technologies for water recycling due to shortage of water especially in the Gobi region to avoid of further desertification.