A joint meeting of the commissions of the State Council of the Russian Federation was held in Murmansk as part of the VI International Arctic Forum "The Arctic – the Territory of Dialogue".
It was attended by Igor Levitin, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the field of transport; Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation; Alexey Dyumin, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Secretary of the State Council of the Russian Federation; Andrey Chibis, Governor of the Murmansk Region, Chairman of the State Council of the Russian Federation Commission on the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic, as well as heads of the regions of the Russian Federation, federal agencies, corporations and companies.
Among the participants: Alexander Tsybulsky, Chairman of the Commission of the State Council of the Russian Federation on International Cooperation and Export, Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region; Alexey Tsydenov, Chairman of the Commission of the State Council of the Russian Federation on Efficient Transport System, Head of the Republic of Buryatia.; Chairman of the Commission of the State Council of the Russian Federation on Energy, Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Aisen Nikolaev, Chairman of the Commission of the State Council of the Russian Federation on Youth and Children, Governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Dmitry Artyukhov, as well as heads of the Arctic regions.
A key item on the agenda is the need to launch a comprehensive project for the development of the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route. This was the proposal made by the head of the region, Andrey Chibis, in February 2025 at a meeting of the Commission of the State Council of the Russian Federation on the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic. Earlier, in July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed the head of the region as chairman of the commission.
The meeting began with the solemn start of the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the beginning of Russia's exploration of the Northern Sea Route. Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Russian Maritime Board, noted that for the Russian Maritime Board, the theme of the discovery of the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route is an integral and important part of the history of the state.
"It is connected with the feat of Russian scientists, discoverers, and navigators. All of them have contributed to the development of the polar territories. Russia is a leader in scientific research in the fields of oceanology, terrestrial hydrology, marine biology, and others. We are the only ones with a nuclear icebreaker fleet. Based on the accumulated knowledge and experience, it is important to use an integrated approach, since taking into account the political situation The Arctic is gaining strategic importance both for strengthening international positions and for internal development, preserving sovereignty, as well as the Northern Sea Route and shelves. All these are important tasks that ensure our national interests. The Maritime Board has taken measures for the integrated development and protection of the Arctic regions," Nikolai Patrushev emphasized.
The Presidential aide noted that Russia's Arctic territory is the largest in the world, so the interests of the Arctic population and the state are a priority.
"Only an integrated approach will make it possible to use this potential more effectively. We need to coordinate the efforts of business, the public, and the state. Despite the changes in geopolitics and sanctions, our plans must be implemented," Nikolai Patrushev said.
In honor of the launch, Nikolai Patrushev presented Andrey Chibis and Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom State Corporation, with a statuette that will be consistently transferred from region to region during the jubilee year, uniting the territories of the Arctic zone of Russia and the Far Eastern Federal District in perpetuating the historical memory of the events of the Great Northern Campaign of Russia, as well as in designing and creating the Arctic of the future. She will finish her trip in Vladivostok at the Eastern Economic Forum.
Alexey Dyumin, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation and Secretary of the State Council of the Russian Federation, stressed that the Arctic is a huge resource base and a promising transport corridor. Based on this, it is necessary to determine the prospects, timing, and volume of development of minerals in the Arctic zone, along with gas, coal (Taimyr), polymetals, and copper (Chukotka), and so on.
"And the NSR, which currently acts primarily as a transport project, needs to be considered in conjunction with the development of Arctic territories. In the context of global trends in the intensification of the struggle for the resource base, it is important to respond promptly and redistribute resources to key areas of development that will help Russia consolidate its position as a leader in Arctic exploration," said Alexey Dyumin.
Alexey Chekunkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, also addressed the participants. The head of the federal agency stressed the invaluable importance of the Arctic for the whole world.
"The bulk of hydrocarbons are produced here, there are large reserves of rare earths and non-ferrous metals, and the shortest route from Europe to Asia passes through the Northern Sea Route. Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved strategic documents. Government support mechanisms have helped launch more than a thousand investment projects, in which over two trillion dollars will be invested. In fact, more than 740 billion rubles have been invested, 44,000 new jobs are being created, and about 18,000 have already been created. The total volume of investment projects implemented in the Arctic exceeds 35 trillion. rubles'. In 2024, a record cargo flow along the Northern Sea Route was achieved, almost 38 million tons," said the head of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation.
Alexey Chekunkov noted that systematic work is underway in the AZ of the Russian Federation to improve the quality of life of people and attract young professionals.
"The Ministry of Regional Development of Russia has begun analyzing the implementation of the first stage of the Arctic development strategy, and proposals will be prepared to update this fundamental document. The solutions developed today will make an important contribution to the further development of the Arctic," concluded Alexey Chekunov.
Andrey Chibis, Governor of the Murmansk Region, stressed that hosting the International Arctic Forum "The Arctic is a Territory of Dialogue" in Murmansk is a great honor and a high responsibility.
"Previously, an unprecedented amount of decisions was made: the definition of strongholds, the introduction of the "Arctic Mortgage", a serious impetus was given to the development of construction, renovation of garrisons and BUT. It is important that the positive dynamics are noticeable. But we face serious challenges, of course, first of all, it is necessary to overcome the population decline in the Arctic. To do this, we need to create jobs, develop the economy and improve the quality of life. The priority measures that need to be taken are separate sections in the existing national projects on the Arctic's main cities, so that specific facilities and activities are taken into account, as well as sources of funding are identified," said the head of the region.
The governor outlined the development of military garrisons as the second task.
"I thank Russian President Vladimir Putin for his support. Today, there is a powerful dynamic of changes in the quality of life of military personnel. We see feedback from people. This is a question of the state's attitude towards an important profession. A number of other topics require special attention: landscaping, preferential rental housing, relocation from emergency housing. In addition, it is necessary to introduce polar markings from the first day to young specialists in federal agencies. We have already built such a work in the public sector, which has had a great effect – large companies have also joined in. The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route are already developing the economy of our entire country, if we want powerful progress, then we need a clear and long–term comprehensive action plan," said Andrey Chibis.
The Governor stressed that it is necessary to develop mineral resource centers, the NSR as a transport corridor, port infrastructure, living environment, educational sphere, research and security in the Arctic.
"If everything is scattered into different blocks, it creates risks for investors, and when there is a plan and strict coordination of implementation, it attracts private investment, including international investment, so we need an end–to–end comprehensive plan," concluded Andrey Chibis.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, noted that many investors support the allocation of this topic into a separate national project or as part of a clear element of projects.
"I agree with Governor Andrey Chibis. The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route are strategic assets and investments, with great potential. You need to invest a lot here. This is also a global resource base that needs to be developed. The Arctic region is a unique asset of Russia," he said.
Alexander Tsybulsky, the head of the Arkhangelsk Region, also supported the initiative of Governor Andrey Chibis.
"I fully support the idea of creating a separate project [for the development of the Arctic], the discussion will continue, as to what to call it, but definitely a separate document, a separate strategy that will be filled with specific activities, prioritized in time and accepted by [financial] means, exactly what we need. If we say today that this is our national priority, and everyone agrees with this, I think that the project is necessary, it should be filled with activities, and the Northern Sea Route should be an integral part of the strategy, since the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation was originally intended as a territory that tends economically, industrially, and logistically to the waters of the Northern Sea Route. The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is a territory belonging to the Northern Sea Route, therefore it is the main driver of the development of the Arctic territory," said Alexander Tsybulsky, Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region.
Alexey Likhachev, General Director of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, stressed that a set of measures aimed at attracting investors and ensuring competitive conditions is necessary.
"Development, as well as a flexible mechanism for supporting such long–term projects in the region, should be planned for decades," said Alexey Likhachev.
Dmitry Artyukhov, Chairman of the Commission of the State Council of the Russian Federation on Youth and children, Governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, noted that the nationwide concentration of resources in the Arctic provides the necessary development and results, and such decisions should be taken in the future.
Igor Levitin, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the field of transport, stressed that the Northern Sea Route cannot exist without the Arctic and territories.
"The project must be comprehensive, if we want to develop production in the Arctic, the infrastructure must be supported by the state. It is necessary to develop both the NSR and the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, one cannot work without the other. This should be a single project under the auspices of Russian President Vladimir Putin, where financing and investments will be prescribed at least until 2050. The Arctic should have its own budget, which will be distributed within the Arctic programs. And we need to agree on this as soon as possible," Igor Levitin said.
In conclusion, Nikolai Patrushev noted that the project should be national, and then all the nuances for effective work will be taken into account.
"We have the head of the region, Andrey Vladimirovich Chibis, who said, "Live in the North!" This is the right position. We can create all conditions here for the development of all areas of a comfortable life for the population. Our activities must be effective, coordinated and synchronous," concluded Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation.
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /