ULAN BATOR, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The central bank of Mongolia purchased a total of 22 tons of gold from legal entities and individuals in 2018, up 9.5 percent from the previous year, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.

It means that the bank almost reached its goal.

The Bank of Mongolia, which bought 20.01 tons of gold in 2017, had set a target to increase its gold purchases by at least 10 percent in 2018.

The bank attributed the growth to a five-month campaign called "National Gold to the Fund of Treasures," as well as the establishment of two precious metal testing laboratories respectively in the northern province of Darkhan-Uul and the southwestern province of Bayankhongor.

The campaign launched in May encouraged gold miners and individuals to sell gold to banks.