Chinese Government provides $500,000 grant — via a December 2002 ETCA — for the Altanbulag Free Trade Zone Project (Linked to Record ID#40400, #40211, and #85384)

On December 31, 2002, the Chinese Government and the Government of Mongolia signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), which committed $4 million for multiple projects (see linked Record ID#40211).

Wang Fukang, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia, and Mongolia's Foreign Minister Luvsangiin Erdenechuluun signed the agreement.

Then, on March 5, 2003, the Government of Mongolia issued a resolution that stated that the grant proceeds from the ETCA would be allocated to following projects/activities: (1) $2 million for Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building Construction Project (captured by linked Record ID#40400); (2) $1.5 million for the development of an “Altanbulag” free trade zone master plan and feasibility study as well as Phase 1 “Altanbulag” free trade zone construction activities; and (3) $500,000 of the grant proceeds from the ETCA would be earmarked for the Wholesale Network Project (“Бөөний худалдааны сүлжээ” хөтөлбөрийг) (captured by linked Record ID#85384).

It is unclear whether the Chinese Government ever disbursed funds for the Altanbulag free trade zone construction project or for the Wholesale Network project, as the Chinese Government ended up devoting over $4 million to the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building Construction Project alone.