New Delhi: Mongolia’s Ambassador to India, Ganbold Dambajav in September lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, highlighting that over 37 initiatives — including highly successful ‘Make In India’ and ‘Digital India’ — have been implemented since 2014.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Dambajav called PM Modi “one of the most popular politicians in the world”, citing his numerous achievements, including steering India towards becoming the third-largest economy in the world in the near future.

Several world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Dominican PM Roosevelt Skerrit, Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon, Guyana President Irfaan Ali, and former UK PM Rishi Sunak extended wishes to PM Modi on his 75th birthday on Wednesday.

Extending greetings to PM Modi, the Mongolian Ambassador said: “I would like to deliver heartfelt congratulations and well-being wishes from the Mongolian people to Honourable Prime Minister Modi ji. Today we celebrated his birthday by planting a tree in the name of our mothers, one of his initiatives. I felt privileged to honour Modi ji in this way, alongside colleagues, ambassadors and diplomats.”

The diplomat recalled PM Modi’s State Visit to Mongolia in 2015, when the Mongolian Parliament held a special Sunday session to hear his address — an honour reserved for very few world leaders.

He also noted that India and Mongolia are marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025. “Our relations, with roots in centuries of history, were elevated to a Strategic Partnership during Modi’s 2015 visit. Today, cooperation spans politics, defence, economy, health, education and IT. For Mongolians, India is the land of Lord Buddha, and many visit on pilgrimage or study Buddhism here. We also have students benefiting from ICCR scholarships and short-term high-tech training.”

Highlighting economic collaboration, he added: “Our pioneer oil refinery project is under construction and will be fully operational by 2027, providing 70 percent of Mongolia’s petroleum needs — eventually 100 per cent.”