Mongolia has secured agreements for 863 megawatts of data centre capacity, signing ten memoranda of understanding at a high-level investment event held alongside COP17 (the 17th conference of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification) in Ulaanbaatar this month. Deputy Prime Minister Togmid Dorjkhand cited three competitive advantages: renewable energy priced below four cents per kilowatt-hour — roughly a quarter of US rates — a cold climate that cuts cooling costs, and a stable democratic legal framework that protects investors. The push is striking given the conference's backdrop: around 77% of Mongolia's land is affected by desertification, yet the government is reframing its harsh climate and vast terrain as economic assets, positioning the country as a data sovereignty option for firms seeking to serve the Chinese market while storing data outside China.