The discussion "Development of regions and small territories: Digital opportunities and quality of life" took place on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Andrey Chibis, Governor of the Murmansk Region, took part in a discussion on the role of digital platforms in the economy of the Territories. The head of the region said that platforms are neither good nor evil, but a new economic reality, and the task of the authorities is to integrate the interests of northerners into it, while preserving tax justice.
The head of the region stressed that marketplaces for the North are an instrument of justice. For remote settlements, platforms erase geography and equalize opportunities.
"A person in a small northern village today receives the same assortment and prices as a resident of the capital. This is the quality of life. I want to say it bluntly and honestly: there is and will be life in small towns. We don't just keep the heat and light there, we create conditions for people to stay, not because there is nowhere to go, but because it is normal, comfortable and promising here," said Andrey Chibis.
In addition, the platforms help to develop local businesses and bring goods and services to entrepreneurs at the federal level. Today, two of the largest marketplaces have opened about 900 pick-up points in the Murmansk region, and the turnover of online commerce has exceeded 130 billion rubles in three years.
Recognizing the benefits of marketplaces for consumers and entrepreneurs, the governor drew attention to the fact that the regional budget receives practically nothing. The governor called the way out of the situation the linking of income tax to the place of actual turnover and consumption.
"The principle is simple and honest: where people buy, a part of the tax base should remain there. This model will provide budgets with serious funds. The economy should be mutually beneficial — this is the key to the sustainable development of small territories," the governor said.
Andrey Chibis also recalled that on the sidelines of SPIEF 2026, agreements were signed between the Government of the Murmansk Region and the largest marketplaces - Ozon and RWB — on the creation of logistics hubs in the region. The implementation of these projects will speed up the delivery of goods, create new jobs and give an additional impetus to the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the Kola Arctic.
The governor noted that in 2025, a record figure was recorded in recent years: the number of people who decided to move to the Murmansk region for permanent residence and work increased by 35%, so today it is important to talk not about outflow, but about qualitative changes in the environment in small towns.
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /