Today, as part of the business program of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Governor of the Murmansk Region Andrey Chibis took part in the panel session "The Northern Sea Route: New Challenges". The discussion was joined by Sergey Anoprienko, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, Igor Levitin, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, as well as those who are interested in the development of the NSR. The session was moderated by the President of the Global Energy Association Sergey Brilev.
"The Northern Sea Route provides new opportunities for the Arctic regions. A strategic project, the Murmansk Transport Hub, is being implemented in the Murmansk Region with the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the federal government. This will create the necessary infrastructure on the western shore of the Kola Bay, including the port and railway tracks. It is planned that at the end of this year, the working movement from the new port "Lavna" will already be launched. We plan to complete the first stage of the project in 2024," Andrey Chibis said.
Igor Levitin, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, noted that the Northern Sea Route is one of the global transit projects in the future.
The Governor stressed that the Kola Polar region has the largest deep-water, ice-free, year-round port beyond the Arctic Circle, in 2022 the volume of cargo transshipment amounted to more than 56 million tons, which is five percent more than a year earlier.
"By 2030, this figure may reach 80 million tons. This is a huge potential and it is important that Murmansk is the base port for the development of the Northern Sea Route. With the support of the state, we are creating all the necessary infrastructure. The effect of such preferential regimes as the TOP "Capital of the Arctic" and the AZ of the Russian Federation allows industrial companies in the region to function successfully, production growth of more than 10 percent was noted, GRP – about 20 percent. Today we are implementing a significant project of NOVATEK – a center for the construction of large–capacity buildings and offshore structures," the head of the region said.
Sergey Frank, Chairman of the Council of Shipping Participants on the NSR, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sovcomflot, stressed that Artika is a large territory for public–private partnership, noting that business understands this and is ready to work together.
The head of the region noted that the most important topic for the development of the Northern Sea Route remains the creation of competent personnel.
"We need to prepare those people who were born and grow up in the Arctic, as they are adapted to the climate. This requires serious investments in education, we are investing with companies in secondary education, but it is also necessary in higher education. Earlier, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Valery Falkov, supported us and announced the decision to adjust federal programs so that universities in the Arctic zone could also participate in the project," the head of the region said.
Andrey Chibis identified another significant direction – improving the quality of life of people in the northern regions.
"People want to choose the best place to live and live. We agreed to identify the main cities of the Arctic, which are important for the development of the Northern Sea Route. The task is to attract and retain valuable personnel, for this it is necessary to invest in settlements right now. These moments in the Kola Arctic are indicated in the strategic plan "To live in the North". In addition, we have agreed with the head of the Ministry of Regional Development Alexey Chekunkov on the creation of a headquarters that will deal with investment issues in the main cities of the Arctic, including by increasing the Presidential single subsidy," the governor said.
Alexey Chekunkov agreed with Andrey Chibis, noting that it is also planned to extend the system of master plans to Arctic cities. The head of the Ministry of Regional Development stressed that it is necessary to make every effort to improve the quality of life of Northerners.
"The Northern Sea Route is not just a new corridor, the international situation makes it extremely popular. There is no doubt that we will implement this strategic project if we treat it as a big business. All this will allow residents of the Arctic to feel the development and change in the quality of life," said Alexey Chekunkov.
In addition, Andrey Chibis raised the issue of the need to develop ship repair, taking into account the accumulated competencies of the Arctic regions.
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /