Probably the biggest concern of the Mongolian government officials and mining industry revolved around the Millennium Challenge Grant. This program was signed during the Bush Administration and targets about 300 million U.S dollars for Mongolia. This money will be spent for some medical concerns, some vocational education, and some legal work on land entitlement, however, the major part of it will be going to improve the rail system in Mongolia that goes primarily from China to Russia. It was not discussed today of course, but one could ask, why are we helping Russia and China develop a better trade route. The unofficial answer seems to be that the rich mineral reserves of Mongolia are its long range hope. If you are going to export large quantities of coal, copper, uranium, gold and other precious commodities out of the country, then you need a rail system to export the product. If Mongolia is going to make it economically and be an effective Democracy embracing fair trade and commerce here between the two giants of Russia and China, then it needs some help as it tries to find its way, after being a part of the Soviet Union. 
Ambassador Minton also lifted up there were over a 100 Peace Corp Volunteers in the country and the program would continue. I liked the part where he said the U.S Aid Program would continue and increase, but he did not put at the end of that sentence "in Mongolia" and that is what I was hoping to hear. He also said he was in daily contact with the International Monetary Fund and that was probably the elephant in the room that was barely mentioned, since the economy in Mongolia is truly on the edge.
Meanwhile, CHF is doing everything it can to enable the micro and small businesses here in Mongolia to make it in a down economy. If it works here, maybe we will be funded by Mongolia to try and make it happen in the U.S.
