UB Impulse 5 with Prof Dr. Peter Eigen
For the fifth edition of UB Impulse, on 13 October 2014, the School of International Relations and Public Administration welcomed, in cooperation with the Integrated Mineral Resource Initiative of the `Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit’ (GIZ) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), Prof. Dr. Peter Eigen to the National University of Mongolia (NUM). Professor Eigen is the founder of `Transparency International’ (TI), which yields a global influence and has a chapter in Mongolia. Additionally, Professor Eigen worked at the World Bank, was chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) board, is a member of the African Progress Panel, and taught at the Free University Berlin.
The event started with inaugural remarks by Prof. Dr. A. Galtbayar, President of the NUM, Dr.Dr.h.c. Stefan Hanselmann, Director of GIZ IMRI, Ms. Ch. Oyungerel, Project Coordinator, Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), who all stressed the necessity of transparent governance and government and the fight against corruption in Mongolia’s ongoing transition and development as well as the importance of UB Impulse as a platform that hosts and fosters the public debate on important issues for Mongolia.
The subsequent talk given by Professor Eigen further elaborated the role of transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption efforts in the context of a functioning state and a sustainable and equitable development. Drawing from his rich portfolio of experiences, Professor Eigen urged the need of further reform and open government, especially in the light of the growing importance of the extractive industries in Mongolia and the influx of Foreign Direct Investments. But he was also optimistic about Mongolia’s capability to provide for a transparent and accountable political class, especially with the help of the local EITI branch and Mongolia’s TI chapter, which are both becoming success stories.
The talk was followed by an open discussion, hosted by Mr. Jargalsaikhan Dambadarjaa, host of the TV show `De Facto’, which gave room for interesting questions, especially elaborating the role of anti-corruption measures within the political caste and the growing mining sector. The audience, consistent of faculty members and students of the NUM, members of international organizations and NGOs, and journalists, entered into a vivid debate that was carried on even after Prof. Dr. Battulga S., Director of the School of International Relations and Public Administration, and Dr. Dr.h.c. Stefan Hanselmann found the closing remarks. In summary, the School of International Relations and Public Administration is very grateful to have had Professor Eigen as a speaker and was happy to host another inspiring edition of UB Impulse. It shows that UB Impulse has established itself as one of the mouthpieces of the public debate on relevant issues for Mongolia and will further accompany the country on its way into the future.
