As part of the SPIEF-2023 business program, Governor Andrey Chibis presented the investment potential of the Murmansk Region during the work of the Arctic – the Territory of Dialogue stand.
Thus, the head of the region outlined three key events – the construction of the Murmansk transport hub, the decision on gasification of the Murmansk region, the launch of processes for the development of lithium ore deposits.
"Everything unique in the Arctic is the Kola Arctic. Murmansk Region is 100% Arctic territory. We are only 1.5 hours from St. Petersburg and 2 hours from Moscow. Unique people live here, charged with energy and drive. It is important that we have the necessary transport infrastructure – three seaports, two airports, one of them near the popular Khibiny resort, a developed network of highways and rail links," the governor said.
Another indisputable advantage, which was indicated by the head of the region, is logistics.
"Murmansk is the base, the world's largest ice–free port beyond the Arctic Circle, an exceptional feature is access to both the east and the west. It is important that it does not depend on any other states. It is safe from the point of view of cargo export. Projects are also being implemented: the Center for the construction of large–tonnage offshore structures, the terminal for the transshipment of mineral fertilizers "Tuloma", - said Andrey Chibis.
In addition, the Russian Government has allocated 37.7 billion rubles for the comprehensive development of the Murmansk transport hub. The Murmansk Region has a large-scale resource potential. The share in the all–Russian production is 100% apatite, nepheline, loparite concentrates, 95% nickel. Preparations are underway for the development of lithium deposits. More than 50% of Russia's reserves of this metal are concentrated in the Kola Arctic. The governor stressed that the key project is the gasification of the region.
"This decision was made thanks to the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, work is underway on the design of the gas pipeline, it changes the technological structure and gives new opportunities. NOVATEK has announced its readiness and desire to build gas liquefaction facilities," the head of the region said.
The fishing industry is actively developing. The industry employs 7.5 thousand people. 850 jobs have been created this year. Aquaculture is seriously developing, the volume of fish cultivation in 2022 increased by 18.8%.
"Today, the point of growth for us is the creation of a ship repair cluster. We managed to achieve a decision on a zero VAT rate, now it is important that the law be adopted promptly," the governor said.
Energy is an important factor. The Murmansk Region has great potential. This will allow you to invest and create new production facilities. Recently, the world's most powerful wind farm, located beyond the Arctic Circle, was introduced. During the pandemic, with the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Ministry of Regional Development, and the federal government, such regimes as the TOP and the AZ of the Russian Federation have been launched in the Murmansk Region. Tax incentives have also been created for small and medium-sized businesses.
"We have something to be proud of – 900 billion investments have been invested in four years, we are in second place in the NWFD in terms of investment growth, leaders in the number of residents of the AZ of the Russian Federation. This gives new opportunities for our youth. An important story is personnel and their training. We are starting this work with schools, career guidance classes, restarting colleges, as well as Murmansk Arctic University," Andrei Chibis stressed.
The Governor noted that last year the first data processing center in the Arctic zone of Russia was opened in Murmansk. The infrastructure project was implemented by Rostelecom under an agreement with the regional government. Andrey Chibis stressed that the center covers the needs of the economy, solves the problems of the public sector and enterprises of the Kola Arctic. The tourist infrastructure is growing, the regional government actively supports the sphere, including thanks to the tools of the federal center.
"There are more and more places in different parts of the region. Now not only Teriberka is popular, but also Kandalaksha, the Sredny and Rybachy peninsulas, the Tersk coast. Tourist destinations in the region are in demand all year round. The tourist flow to the Murmansk region in 2022 amounted to almost 540 thousand people. This is a record for the number of guests for all time in our region and among all regions of the Arctic zone. We have topped the top travel destinations in 2023. "To live in the North" is a principle, because it is necessary to live here and now, and in the North it is getting better every day. We invite everyone who is ready to invest and leave their mark in history to the Murmansk region," the governor concluded.
At the end of the presentation, a drawing of a tour to the Murmansk region took place.
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /