Workshop on “Mongolian Camel Milk Cluster - New Organization for Effective Cooperation and Export Promotion"

Dedicated to the International Year of Camelids, Dairy Asia, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia, FAO, and the EU funded project “International Trade Development” jointly organized the workshop “Mongolian Camel Milk Cluster - New Organization for Effective Cooperation and Export Promotion” that was held on 18 April 2024 at the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ulaanbaatar.

The event was attended by many different organizations including the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry of Mongolia, the Dairy Asia secretariat office, the FAO office in Mongolia, Mongol Bactrian association, and the National Association of Mongolian Agricultural cooperatives, as well as a number of Mongolian universities and affiliated institutes.

Opening the conference were Ms. O.Onon, head of the division for Trade and Food Service, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia, and Mr. K. Carl, senior expert, “International Trade Development”.

Moderated by Batbaatar Bayarmagnai, CEO and coordinator of, the Dairy Asia secretariat, the event introduced a variety of presentations by the many different present organisations and institutions, all highlighting the importance of camel milk production, value chain, and export.

Participants agreed to establish a Mongolian camel milk cluster. In addition, it was agreed that the cluster would focus on pasture management, grazing and feeding systems, camel health, breeding selection, camel husbandry, milk supply chain, nutrition, value addition, cooperative forming, capacity building, productivity, and competitiveness, marketing, and branding in the domestic and international market.

Furthermore, the cluster would function in the direction of knowledge and information sharing, technology, standardization, sustainability, cooperation, and partnership in the sector. Moreover, participants raised important issues related to protecting the genetics of Bactrian camels, increasing the incentive for camel milk production, enhancing the livelihood of camel herders, improving the labor in the husbandry, increasing productivity, and cooperating with the stakeholders in the international market.

In closing, a working group was formed to review the Mongolian camel milk cluster charter, framework, strategy, and related documents. The working group members include the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia, Dairy Asia, FAO, Mongol Bactrian Association, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Technology, “Suu” SC, “TESO group” LLC, “Western Mongolia” LLC and a representative from camel herders.