Zorigt Dashdorj is founding CEO of the Economic Development Board of Mongolia.
As the former Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy of Mongolia (2008-2012), he is one of most prominent public figures in Mongolia's mining and energy sectors. During his tenure, large copper-gold, coal and other mining and energy projects were signed or initiated, both private and state-owned, propelling the country to become one of the fastest growing frontier economies with the GDP growth of 17.3% in 2011. He is a strong backer of private investment in large infrastructure and renewable energy projects and with his support international banks invested in the first commercial scale privately held wind farm project in Mongolia. He was elected a member of Parliament and held a seat in 2009-2012.
Prior to becoming a government minister, Zorigt was the founding chief executive officer of a state-owned mining company Erdenes Mongol LLC in charge of strategic mining projects. Currently, the company is the largest contributor to the national budget and sovereign wealth fund. He worked in civil service for 14 years and was director of policy planning in the Ministry of Industry and Trade and director of ODA department in the Ministry of Finance and Economy. Zorigt started his career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Coordination Department and First Secretary of Mongolia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
During his work in the private sector in 2015-24, Zorigt served on corporate board of directors of telecom and IPTV provider, copper cathode producer and international hypermarket franchise. He practiced his own Eurasia risk consulting service.
Zorigt also dedicated his time to the Mongolia Development Strategy Institute, private research institute, set up by former foreign and civil service professionals to research and bring into a public discourse regional and policy issues affecting Mongolia’s development. He was also an active member of Badraa Foundation for Justice, dedicated to his late brother, which provided scholarships and mentorship to over 200 students in leading national universities of Mongolia.
He has LLD (Doctor of Laws) and LLM from Kyushu University, Japan, MA in International Relations from Australian National University and MA in Political Science from Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO).