The official website has published the business program of the International Arctic Forum "The Arctic – the territory of dialogue" (IAF), which will be held on March 26-27 in Murmansk under the motto "Live in the North!". The Forum is organized by the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation.
"Unprecedented attention is focused on the Arctic today. Natural resources and logistical capabilities make it a territory with fierce economic and geopolitical competition. Russia remains open to cooperation because the Arctic is an important part of international cooperation. We will continue to discuss logistics, ecology, and the lives of people in this region. The countries that withdraw from this cooperation will lose. If we talk about the economy of the Russian Arctic, there are three priority development territories and the world's largest free economic zone with an area of 5 million km2. Almost 1,000 new projects have been launched with a total investment of more than 2 trillion rubles, of which 800 billion rubles have already been invested in the economy. 300 enterprises have been put into operation. 18,000 jobs have been created. These are only investments by residents of preferential regimes. In total, the volume of investment projects implemented in the Arctic exceeds 35 trillion rubles. The Russian Arctic is a strategically important region for ensuring national security, economic development and international transport links. We will work in all key areas at the Forum," said Yuri Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District.
The IAF-2025 business program includes about 20 thematic sessions divided into four blocks: "The Arctic and the NSR: how to win the competition of world routes", "The Arctic and the NSR: the pole of attracting investments", "The Arctic and the NSR: the development of anchor settlements", "International cooperation and ecology".
"The Arctic is not only a unique region with the richest reserves of natural resources, but also a strategically important territory for the whole world. Its sustainable development, the use of innovative technologies and practices for the development of the Far North is a priority for Russia, especially in the current geopolitical situation. The business program of the International Arctic Forum reflects topics that are fundamental on the global agenda, including the role of the Northern Sea Route in the global logistics system, the formation of new approaches to mining and the conservation of biodiversity to maintain environmental security. The event will become a platform for consolidating the efforts of the state, business and the scientific community for the integrated development of the Arctic," said Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, Executive Secretary of the IAF–2025 Organizing Committee.
One of the central blocks will be "The Arctic and the NSR: how to win the competition of global routes." The participants will assess the current state of the Northern Sea Route and determine the strategic prospects of the Arctic in global logistics. In particular, experts will analyze the prospects for the development of the icebreaking fleet, port infrastructure, the opening of new trade links, ensuring the operation of the route without reference to the season, the growth of related economic sectors and other issues.
As part of the track "The Arctic and the NSR: the pole of attracting investment", they will discuss improving support measures for businesses operating in the Far North, including through preferential treatment, as well as the development of mining and increasing the share of tourist trips to the Arctic.
The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route: Development of Anchor Settlements will become a platform for discussing infrastructure projects, state support for northern imports and the harmonization of relations between business and the indigenous peoples of the North. Special attention will be paid to the opportunities for professional growth and career building in the Arctic within the framework of the personnel project "Muravyov-Amursky 2030".
The track "International Cooperation and Ecology" will bring together experts to discuss topical issues of cooperation between countries, as well as the role of business and government in solving humanitarian and environmental problems. A special focus will be placed on scientific research, including monitoring geotechnical processes and developing measures to adapt to permafrost melting.
There will also be a presentation of the results of the International Scientific and Practical Conference "The Universe of the Polar Bear: effective cooperation in the Arctic", which will be held on the eve of the Forum, from March 18 to 21. The conference, organized under the auspices of the International Arctic Forum, will be held in Moscow, Anadyr, St. Petersburg and Yakutsk, and a teleconference will be organized for the participation of the Arctic regions.
As part of the business program, a joint meeting of the commissions of the State Council of the Russian Federation is planned in the areas of "The Northern Sea Route and the Arctic", "Efficient Transport system" and "International cooperation and export".
The VI International Arctic Forum "The Arctic – the Territory of Dialogue" is a key platform for discussing topical issues of socio-economic development of the Arctic territories, developing multi-level multilateral mechanisms for joint disclosure and effective development of the powerful resource potential of the Arctic region.
Online registration of media and blogosphere representatives for the Forum's events is open on the official website until March 14.
More information about the event is available on the website.
/ Roscongress Foundation /