Dairy Asia

Consultative Meeting on the Dairy Asia Perspective

ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA – In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Mongolia’s accession to the United Nations, the “Dairy Asia Perspective” Consultative Meeting was jointly organized on October 7, 2021, by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Dairy Asia Secretariat.

The meeting was attended by ambassadors, representatives, and officials from the embassies of the United States, India, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, Cuba, Bulgaria, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Vietnam, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Türkiye, Switzerland, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Belarus, and the European Union.

Opening remarks were delivered by:

H.E. Mr. Z. Mendsaikhan, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia;
H.E. Ms. B. Battsetseg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia; and
Dr. Vinod Ahuja, FAO Representative in Mongolia.

The meeting featured two key presentations:

Mr. B. Batbaatar, Dairy Asia Coordinator, presented on the “Dairy Asia Perspective.”
Ms. O. Onon, Assistant Director of the Food Production Policy Implementation and Coordination Department at the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, presented on “Mongolia’s Dairy Sector Development.”

The agenda encompassed a comprehensive discussion on several critical topics, including:

An introduction to the Dairy Asia partnership, its objectives, sustainability framework, and planned actions.
A comparative analysis of the Asian and European dairy sectors, including cow and non-cow milk production.
The importance of sharing knowledge and practical experiences within the dairy sector.
The proposed expansion of the Dairy Asia action network into North-East Asia, Central Asia, and West Asia, including the process for obtaining membership.
The current state of Mongolia’s dairy sector, its policy and legal environment, and the uniqueness of its traditional livestock heritage.
The dairy value chain, consumer prospects, and avenues for international dairy cooperation.

Coinciding with the meeting, the Mongolian Food Industry Association the Mongolian Dairy Professional Council jointly hosted an exhibition of Mongolian dairy products for the participants.