By Azera Rahman
New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Mongolia, the land of the legendary warrior Chinggis Khan, is all set to open its first major IT outsourcing centre with India’s help. While the two countries are working together in a number of fields, information technology (IT) is one in which they have close collaborations, the country’s envoy said.

Mongolian Ambassador Voroshilov Enkhbold said in an interview to IANS: “We do have BPOs, but with India’s help we are going to set up a major IT outsourcing centre very soon. This is one of the many collaborations that Mongolia and India has in the IT sector.”

One of those collaborations, Enkhbold said, was the setting up of an India-Mongolia IT school there a few years back.

“About four-five years back an India-Mongolia IT school was established in Mongolia with the Indian government’s help. Initially the staff there was trained by Indian experts, but now we are on our own,” he said.

In order to build their own skills so that they can further develop the IT sector in their country, a growing number of Mongolian youngsters are making way to India — especially to Bangalore — to pursue higher studies in the field.

With close to 400 IT companies, Bangalore is often called the IT capital of India, harbouring a very cosmopolitan population.

“Mongolian students have long been coming to India to pursue higher studies. This year more than 500 students came here for that purpose. While some went to Pune and Delhi, many have gone to Bangalore to study information technology,” Enkhbold told IANS.

Mining is another sector in which the two countries are forging strong ties, with companies like Jindal Steel and MESCO Steel Limited setting up manufacturing units in the central Asian country.

A country half the size of India but with less than three million people, Mongolia is also seeking collaborations in the tourism sector.

“Distance is one deterrent when we promote Mongolia in India. There are no direct flights, you have to go via Beijing or Seoul which takes eight hours. Then for half the year it is very cold there. The ideal time to visit Mongolia is between mid-May and mid-September,” the ambassador said.

“Despite all that we are trying to promote our country here and although I agree that our efforts have not been strong enough till now, it will be hereon; 2010 will the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and India and to mark that we are planning a host of cultural activities here which will showcase the rich diversity of our country,” Enkhbold said.

“Also, through the recently held Grand Chinggis Khaan Golf Cup tournament and other such tournaments in the future we are promoting our country here. Mongolia is a beautiful and, very importantly, a peaceful country. So we want people to come and experience the nomadic way of life, wildlife and beauty of our country.”

Enkhbold added that the Mongolian government is planning to invite Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to their country some time next year to further ties.

(Azera Rahman can be contacted at azera.p@ians.in)