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Mongolian state bodies signed MNT 24.2 billion in media contracts in 2025

Uchirtai.mn compiled 2025 government spending on media contracts based on a National Audit Office study.

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Collage of politicians at press briefings, Uchirtai.mn
Collage of politicians at press briefings, Uchirtai.mn

Mongolian state bodies signed contracts worth a total of MNT 24.2 billion from the state budget with media organisations in 2025, according to a detailed report by Uchirtai.mn based on a study by the National Audit Office. The article, by O. Ariunbileg, was published on August 24, 2026.

Scope of the study

The National Audit Office examined contracts between media outlets and the government, its affiliated agencies and the Ulaanbaatar Governor's Office, drawing on financial statements and budget execution reports. It covered 411 organisations under five general budget managers. During 2025, L. Oyun-Erdene served as prime minister in the first half of the year and G. Zandanshatar in the second, while Kh. Nyambaatar was governor of the capital.

Biggest spenders

According to Uchirtai.mn's compilation, budget managers and 269 affiliated organisations signed MNT 17.123 billion in media contracts that were included in procurement plans. The largest were:

  • Cabinet Secretariat (15 affiliated bodies): MNT 3.303 billion
  • Chairman of the State Great Khural (2 bodies): MNT 2.064 billion
  • Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry (9 bodies): MNT 1.655 billion
  • Minister of Energy (15 bodies): MNT 1.471 billion
  • Deputy Prime Minister (43 bodies): MNT 975 million

In addition, MNT 11.061 billion was transferred to media outlets outside procurement plans, led by the Chairman of the State Great Khural (MNT 2.6 billion), the Cabinet Secretariat (MNT 1.6 billion) and the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry (MNT 1.6 billion).

Capital and provinces

At local level, the Ulaanbaatar governor led with MNT 2.758 billion in planned and MNT 1.8 billion in unplanned transfers to media, while among provinces the governors of Umnugovi (MNT 662 million) and Orkhon (MNT 542 million) spent the most. Totals for the capital and 21 provinces were MNT 5.2 billion in planned and MNT 2.9 billion in unplanned spending.

Audit findings

The National Audit Office concluded that affiliated organisations had not fully included media services in procurement plans, implemented them as planned or reported on them. It warned that concentrating such spending among a few budget managers could increase risks to public funds where oversight of planning, implementation and effectiveness is weak.

The article notes that government contracts with media are common internationally, but should respect transparency, preserve the press's critical role and give outlets equal opportunities.

Source: Uchirtai.mn (O. Ariunbileg, August 24, 2026)

https://uchirtai.mn/r/ytjgor

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