UNDP Mongolia through the Enterprise Mongolia Project organized the One Village One Product (OVOP) National Summit on 12-13 October, 2007 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in cooperation with the Government of Mongolia and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).  The summit made a great success to provide learning opportunities and facilitate discussion/information exchanges among OVOP stakeholders in the presence of then Deputy Prime Minister Mr. M. Enkhsaikhan, Japanese Ambassador in Mongolia Mr. Yasuyoshi Ichihashi, Executive Vice-President of JETRO Mr. Masaki Takeda and Resident Coordinator of UN Country Team / Resident Representative of UNDP Mongolia Ms. Pratibha Mehta.

                The government representatives from related ministries and agencies, parliament members, aimag governors and representative from the private sector including the EMP beneficiaries participated in the Summit and actively discuss their achievements and lessons.  In addition, International guest speakers shared their experiences with participants. Delegations of JETRO presented policies and SME promotion programs in Japan, while Oita OVOP International Exchange Promotion Committee presented the cases of the OVOP movement in Japan. A representative of the government of Thailand also introduced their experiences to adopt the OVOP concept as a means of local industry development. 

                In parallel with the OVOP National Summit, the OVOP National Exposition was held in Misheel Expo Center on 12-14 October, 2007.  The participation fees were covered by UNDP through the EMP and about 140 producers, most of which were micro, small and medium enterprises, participated in the Expo. Each aimag selected at least 3-4 products as brand products of their regions. The EMP itself occupied 2 stands; one was for 12 OVOP Initiative clients and the other was for 27 clusters benefited by the Local Cluster Development Initiative under the EMP. For participation of the EMP clients in the Expo, the project provided comprehensive supports including product development, packaging and labeling. 

The following 10 products were awarded “Best Production of 2007” by the OVOP National Committee chaired by then Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Enkhsaihan.

1. Best fruits (Water melons), Hovd aimag, Han Tungalag cooperative
   Best milk based products (Aaruul), Arkhangai aimag, Ikh tamir soum
   
2. Best meat/fish products (Smoked fish), Huvsgul aimag, Umart zogsool cooperative
3. Best packages (Dairy products), Dundgobi aimag Mandalgobi huns Limited.  
4. Best camel milk products, Bayanhongor aimag, Ikh Halbagant cooperative
5. Best apparels, Bayanhongor aimag, Khongoriin Sor cooperative
6. Best export products (Sea buckhorn), Uvs aimag, Us Erdene Limited.
7. Best design (Hand-made carpet), Ulaanbaatar, Art Weave Mongolia
8. Best services (Community-based tourism /recreation services), Uvurhangai aimag, Hujirt Rashaan suvilal
9. Best health product (Herbal tea)Ulaanbaatar, Gantamga Limited.

The EMP awarded following 5 products for a comprehensive service package.

1. Uvs aimag “Durvun bulag” LLC – shoes
2. Tuv aimag, Ganbat – ceramic products
3. Darkhan –uul  aimag, San-orgiu LLC
4. Orkhon aimag, Natural Alifa LLC, yak hair products
5. Mo-Tu-Uv LLC – traditional toys

About 35,000 people as a total visited the OVOP National Exposition in the 3 days, and the total amount of the sales income was estimated to reach as high as 310 million Tugrugs.

                The One-Village One-Product Initiative is a unique approach to regional development, which was originated in Japan in the 1970s. In June 2005, the Government of Mongolia approved the National One Village One Product (OVOP) Programme and established the National OVOP Committee under the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office. The EMP has taken a lead role to implement the Mongolian government’s OVOP initiative at the ground level.

The poorest and marginalized men and women in Mongolia have been left behind the economic growth. Most of them live in rural and remote areas where available income-generating resources and employment opportunities are still limited. By developing entrepreneurial capacity as well as facilitating business-conducive environment in local communities through the EMP, UNDP has made tangible contributions to provide business opportunities to those marginalized men and women and furthermore reduce rural poverty in Mongolia.