Milk is defined as ‘Strategic Food’ by Mongolian Food Law. Therefore, I would specify importance of milk production and consumption for the country with nomadic culture and dominated pastoral husbandry system.

Mongolians have a proverb “even little help strengthens the cord”. Thus the establishment of Dairy Asia Secretariat Office in Ulaanbaatar provides an opportunity for Asian countries on mutual exchange of knowledge and best practices. Mongolia is ready to learn from other countries and share own experiences and knowledge.

The Asian region is home for more than 60% of world population and produces close to 40 percent of the global milk production. There are 48 countries in Asian Continent, and we are calling other counties who haven’t done yet joined Dairy Asia. Based on multilateral foreign policy and active collaboration in agriculture sector, Mongolia will work on increasing membership of Dairy Asia platform with countries in Central, North-East and Western Asian countries as well as to expand and organize Secretariat Office’s activities.

The Mongolian Government will actively work with Dairy Asia Secretariat in supporting sustainable intensification of dairy farming, as well as work towards development of non-cow milk production, including camel, yak, mare, ewe, goat, introducing appropriate combination of modern farming system with traditional pastoral husbandry system, sustainable raw milk procurement and value-added production in the region.

The sustainable dairy production in Asia will play important role in rural poverty alleviation, livelihood support, improving nutrition and quality of food, providing food security, and protecting the environment.

Hope all Asian countries will join hands and collaborate actively towards sustainable development of dairy sector in the region.

Wish blossom up for each good thing!