ADDRESS TO THE 23rd EAOC TOP LEVEL MEETING

ADDRESS TO THE 23rd EAOC TOP LEVEL MEETING

By

Mr. Bayartsaikhan Nadmid

President of NAMAC

October 08-11, Niigata, Japan

Mr. Akira Banzai, President of Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Japan (JA-ZENCHU)

Mr. Won Byung Choi, Chairman of National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF)

Mr. Ching-Tien Hsiao, Chairman of the National Farmers’ Association, R.O.C (NFA)

Mr. Natwarlal Pitamberdas Patel, Chairman of Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd. of India (IFFCO)

Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentleman!

It gives me great pleasure to join you all here in Japan for the 23rd EAOC Top Level Meeting proceedings on the topic, “Cooperative Enterprises Remain Strong in Times of Crisis”. On behalf of NAMAC’s over 500 cooperative member organizations, I thank you for your cordial invitation to participate in this meeting. I look forward to a fruitful discussion throughout this session.

Since our convening in my country last year for the 22nd EAOC Top Level Meeting, I hope that all of us have begun to address the challenges affecting our respective agricultural sectors. I am confident that through our collaborative efforts and agriculturally centered conversations, we have become stronger and the road to shared agricultural recovery is well within sight.

In order to place Mongolia’s agriculture in its proper context, I would like to briefly discuss Mongolia’s current Economic situation.

Mongolia’s recent economic growth has reached staggering proportions on the shoulders of its growing mining sector, which possesses some of the largest and richest reserves in the world. The recent flow of new capital to Mongolia has caused real-estate development to boom and value-added processing in the mining and agricultural sectors to be in increased demand. As evidence of this mining sector driven success, Mongolia is currently recognized as the very best performing economy globally with a 2012 growth rate of 11.9%.

Despite this huge GDP growth, serious concerns loom over Mongolia’s mining sector. For instance, of great concern is that the booming mining sector has led to the decline of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors by reducing their price competitiveness and access to labor.

Without the foreign investment that the mining sector attracts, Mongolia’s agricultural industry, may not have the investment needed to modernize. Only 1% of Mongolia’s vast territory is used for crop production. In order to increase this percentage and increase food security,

modernization and cutting-edge agricultural systems must be acquired through new sources of capital. Moreover, agriculture has suffered from mining industry triggered environmental damage, including the destruction of the grasslands and water resources on which livestock and nomads depend.

NAMAC has been challenged to cure our Country’s agricultural environment against this socioeconomic backdrop. To name a few recent initiatives, we have grown stronger by combating the land desertification issues arising from a 20 million livestock increase, by combating rural poverty through education and pro-poor investments, and by elevating herder income and access to market channels with The Mongolian Government.

Let me encourage you that despite the problems, Mongolian agriculture remains strong and poised for renewal by way of agriculturally centered international collaboration. Our country is undergoing the process of rebuilding its agricultural sector, which is the untapped huge resource of Mongolia. Additionally, current conditions position certain industries friendly and complimentary to agriculture, such as renewable energy, ripe for investment and development.

Still, much effort is required to resolve our individual and collective challenges in a way that will strengthen and safeguard our Countries’ respective traditions and agricultural practices. At this juncture, let us be reminded that which does not defeat us makes us stronger. May we always keep working towards a collective brighter tomorrow.I believe that we should immediately begin by partnering to develop trainings, educational seminars, and field observations to our respective countries to fulfill our members’ unmet needs.

As I close, I would like to report that just last month, The Prime Minister of Mongolia, N.Altankhuyag, visited Japan by the invitation from the Japanese Government. N.Altankhuyag met with the Japanese Emperor, Prime Minister, and leading companies to discuss investment in Mongolia and economic relations between our Countries. At this time, I sincerely urge JA-ZENCHU to join Japan’s movement toward Mongolia by deepening its cooperation with NAMAC. Let our Organizations together open the door for rewarding economic, diplomatic, and humanitarian relations between Mongolia and Japan.

Lastly, our General Assembly will be convened in June next year, where we will hold our election for the top management and I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your kind cooperation and support for the term I have served in NAMAC, and all the best wishes and prosperity to you all. Please receive my warm thanks to The Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Japan for their wonderful hospitality and to the entire body of delegates and guests for their kind attention.

Thank you.