Today, as part of the working visit of the Murmansk Region delegation to the Republic of Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko met with Governor Andrei Chibis. The parties discussed the strengthening of cooperation within the framework of existing projects and the prospects for cooperation.
Opening the meeting, Alexander Lukashenko stressed the strategic importance of the region for the Arctic borders, and also noted that there had been a significant increase in trade turnover between the Murmansk Region and the Republic of Belarus.
"We are ready to work with the Murmansk region, to build relationships not only based on the supply of our products to your region, but also to create joint ventures that are beneficial to all of us. The Murmansk Region is the closest Arctic region in the Russian Federation. During the Great Patriotic War, Murmansk was the gateway for the protection of our common Fatherland, the Soviet Union, and for the supply of necessary equipment and military equipment. In particular, thanks to this, Murmansk has covered itself with unfading glory. The Northerners fought worthily to lead us to a common Victory, which we celebrated in May 1945," Alexander Lukashenko stressed.
The President mentioned passenger and special equipment, elevator equipment, food and agriculture among the main areas of cooperation.
"We are working very intensively to get away from everything imported, Western, from those countries that have imposed sanctions against us. Let's move forward. We must protect our land, our people, and see our interests first. At any meeting with the Russian leadership, I express this position, focusing on the fact that we need to get rid of dependence on other countries, especially critical dependence. I am sure we will achieve results if we focus on intensive cooperation between your region and Belarus," Alexander Lukashenko said.
Governor Andrey Chibis stressed that the meeting was taking place a few days after the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State with the participation of President Vladimir Putin.
"Thank you for what you said about the hero city of Murmansk. It has always been of strategic importance. During the Great Patriotic War, thanks to the northern convoys, we managed to bring the overall Victory closer. Today, the deep–water, ice-free port of Murmansk, which is the mainstay for the Northern Sea Route, is becoming even more important for our country and partners. As part of the President's instructions, an updated Arctic development strategy has been prepared, and the head of state also supported our initiative to create a comprehensive project for the development of the Arctic zone and the Transarctic transport corridor, in which Murmansk and the Murmansk Region play a special role due to logistical opportunities," the governor emphasized.
Commenting on the results of the meeting, the governor noted that Belarus is a key partner of the Murmansk Region. In 2025, the trade turnover increased 4.5 times and reached its maximum in the last five years: mineral raw materials and seafood are exported, machinery and equipment are imported, including for the mining industry.
"We discussed in detail issues related to the development of the Transarctic Transport Corridor, which includes the Northern Sea Route, and the development of the Arctic. This is one of the key priorities for our country today. And there is a huge field for partnership with our Belarusian colleagues here. We discussed various options for the development of logistics to and from the Republic of Belarus via Murmansk via the Northern Sea Route. This includes a key strategic project – a terminal for transshipment of Belarusian goods in the port of Murmansk," Andrei Chibis said.
As the governor noted, container transportation along the Northern Sea Route is a separate area.
"Last year, we entered into a partnership with the Chinese company New-New Shipping Line, and in the summer of 2026 we are planning a test ship launch. This will open up additional opportunities for Belarusian exporters and importers to enter Asian markets through the Arctic route. I thank Alexander Grigoryevich for constructive cooperation. I am confident that our cooperation will continue to strengthen systematically and in the interests of our countries," said Andrey Chibis.
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /
Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Belarus