Japan Mongolia Forum

ULAANBAATAR — Mongolian and Japanese representatives discussed potential public-private partnership projects and investment opportunities in urban development, transport and infrastructure.

The Ministry of Economy and Development and the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, in cooperation with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, held the Mongolia-Japan Urban Development Forum in Ulaanbaatar on October 5, 2026. The forum focused on expanding cooperation among the two countries’ public and private sectors, research institutions and professional organizations, as well as potential public-private partnership projects and investment proposals.

Japan’s JOIN presents financing opportunities for projects in Mongolia

One of the forum’s main topics was the potential role of Japan’s Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) in Mongolia.

JOIN is a Japanese public-private investment corporation that supports overseas projects in transport, urban development and infrastructure. At the forum, it presented financing and investment opportunities for medium- and large-scale projects that could be implemented in Mongolia.

JOIN was established in 2014 and had assets of ¥284.65 billion as of the end of March 2026. Of this amount, ¥278.7 billion was provided by the Japanese government and ¥59.45 billion by private-sector investors.

Housing and energy-efficient building projects discussed

Mongolia’s Public-Private Partnership Center introduced the country’s legal framework for public-private partnerships, as well as the processes for developing, evaluating and selecting projects. It also expressed interest in cooperating by using Japanese private-sector technology and expertise.

The Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, the State Housing Corporation, Khan Bank and BESTGER presented housing policies, partnership projects in the housing sector, private-sector social responsibility initiatives and an energy-efficient passive house project.

The two sides exchanged views on opportunities to expand cooperation in technology, expertise, financing and investment through these projects.

Mongolia and Japan to work on model projects

Following the forum, on October 6, T. Bayasgalan, director of the Public-Private Partnership Department at the Ministry of Economy and Development, met with a delegation led by Katsuhiko Kita, a representative of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

At the meeting, the sides agreed to expand their engagement and cooperation and work together to implement specific model projects.

The cooperation could create new opportunities to attract Japanese technology, expertise and private investment to Mongolia’s urban development, housing, transport and infrastructure projects, while also accelerating the implementation of public-private partnership projects.