The first ever Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Investment Forum 2026, jointly organized by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Export Import Bank of Mongolia, opened on June 29, bringing together government officials, private sector representatives, international organizations, development partners, investors and entrepreneurs to forge new investment opportunities and strategic partnerships.
Opening the forum, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Ts.Iderbat and FAO Resident Representative to Mongolia Qingyun Diao delivered welcoming remarks, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in strengthening the competitiveness of the country’s food and agricultural sector, attracting investment and supporting sustainable development. In his address, Minister Ts.Iderbat said that by the end of 2026, the sector is expected to account for 34 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product, five percent of export earnings and 49 percent of total employment, figures he said demonstrate the sector’s potential to create jobs, develop value added production and diversify exports. He also expressed gratitude to the embassies of France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Turkey, the USA, Canada and Russia, along with other development partners, for their continued support.
During the forum’s opening session, State Secretary of the Ministry T.Jambaltseren presented Mongolia’s agricultural strategic initiatives, while FAO Senior Policy Officer for Asia and the Pacific Zhang Xiaoruo outlined the country’s agricultural development policy, investment environment and opportunities under the Hand in Hand initiative framework. Head of the Department for Coordination of Light Industry Policy Implementation at the Ministry M.Dondogdorj spoke about the state of the leather industry, noting that the quality of Mongolian processed leather and finished products is recognized internationally, with both major factories holding international quality certificates. He underlined that the collapse of the raw material preparation system has driven down leather prices and left factories and manufacturers unable to operate at full capacity. In response, the President of Mongolia launched the White Gold National Movement, now in its second year, under which leather factories have received investment and working capital loans. This year alone, 35 billion MNT in soft loans is being distributed to help purchase and prepare leather from herders and expand production.
Minister Ts.Iderbat added that Mongolia prefers long term partnerships that bring knowledge, technology, management expertise and experience entering international markets, noting that while the agricultural sector holds great potential. The government policy is focused on developing export oriented agricultural production going forward, he mentioned.
Among the highlights of the two day forum was the presentation of 12 investment projects seeking strategic partnerships, financing and market expansion, spanning food production, wool and cashmere, leather, agroparks, renewable materials, innovation and biotechnology. One standout project came from Airy Felt LLC, which has certified three air filter products made from Mongolian sheep’s wool as intellectual property. Company CEO Ts.Khulan introduced the products as an effective solution against air pollution, capable of purifying air in indoor environments. The company has also successfully tested its innovative wool based filter for use in car air conditioning systems. The core of the technology lies in what it calls the Air Wool Filter solution, a method for filtering fine particles from indoor air. According to the company, the solution outperforms comparable filters currently available on the market and offers an environmentally friendly alternative grounded in traditional Mongolian materials.
The forum also featured panel discussions and presentations on a range of topics, including food, agriculture and light industry value chains, supply chain financing and blended finance opportunities, the expectations of international investors, successful investment experiences in Mongolia, export opportunities in the meat, dairy, wool and cashmere sectors, lessons from Australia’s experience, climate resilient food systems, safe management of chemicals in the supply chain and the potential of carbon markets in the agricultural sector.
Alongside the panels, B2B meetings were held between investors and enterprises seeking funding, creating opportunities to establish business partnerships and begin investment negotiations. An exhibition showcasing investment projects, products and services, along with the activities of the Mongolian National Youth Council of the World Food Forum, was also open to the public throughout the event.
Organizers described the forum as an important step in strengthening cooperation between government, private enterprise, international organizations and investors, and in driving sustainable investment, value added production and export growth across Mongolia’s food, agriculture and light industry sectors.
