Norway opens Honorary Consulate General in Mongolia.

Present at the opening ceremony were representatives of Mongolian authorities, parlamentarians, the resident diplomatic corps and the local Norwegian contingent. All Nordic countries are now officially represented in Mongolia. Norway's first Honorary Consul General is Ms. L. Sarangerel. She is the Director of the International SOS Clinic in Ulaanbaatar. She is also Director of one of Mongolia's largest sewing factories, and was awarded the title "Lady Entrepreneur of the Year" for 2004 by the Mongolian Chamber of Commerce.
 
In his congratulary speech to the new Consul General, Ambassador Saether said that he hoped the establishment of a Consulate General in Mongolia and the imminent transfer of the Mongolian Embassy to Norway from Brussels to Stockholm, would facilitate the further development of bilateral contacts and stronger relations between Norway and Mongolia.  Consul General Sarangerel on her part emphasised that Mongolia has a lot to learn from the experience of Norwegian development, especially today when Mongolia stands at a crossroads in its own development.
 
Mongolia is a young, parliamentary democracy, with significant unexploited mineral resources. Mongolia's clear ambition is to exploit these resources in a sustainable manner, benefitting the whole population. Around half of the population of approximately 2,5 million people are today living for less that 2 dollars per day. Norway and Mongolia established diplomatic relations in 1968, and the 40th anniversary was marked in 2008 by the visit to Mongolia by H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon, in his capacity as UNDP Goodwill Ambassador.