The conference "500 years of the Northern Sea Route as a national transport highway" was held in Arkhangelsk as part of the III Arctic-Regions Forum, dedicated to the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and strengthening international cooperation.
The conference became a platform for discussing topical issues of development of one of the most important transport routes in Russia. Special attention was paid to the historical aspects of the development of the Northern Sea Route and its role in the development of the Russian economy, as well as the significant potential for strengthening international trade relations and the development of the Arctic region.
During the conference, the participants discussed the development of the NSR port infrastructure. In particular, Artem Kuksa, General Director of the Murmansk Region Development Corporation, noted that investment projects using the transport potential of the port of Murmansk are already the basis of the region's investment portfolio.
"The Arctic zone of Russia is an area with great potential for industrial development and the largest free economic zone in the world. And the Northern Sea Route, connecting the Arctic regions, should become the basis for the development of investments in the macroregion. Thanks to its ice—free port, the Murmansk Region is already actively improving its investment attractiveness through two special regimes: the Russian Arctic Arctic and the Capital of the Arctic TOP," said Artem Kuksa, General Director of the Murmansk Region Development Corporation.
Artyom Kuksa also noted that as part of the fulfillment of President Vladimir Putin's instructions given following the results of the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk, the Commission of the State Council of the Russian Federation on the NSR and the Arctic, chaired by the Governor of the Murmansk Region, Andrey Chibis, is working to update the Arctic Development Strategy until 2050, as well as the financial, economic and organizational model. The Transarctic Transport Corridor, including the NSR. As the head of the Murmansk Region emphasized during the joint meeting of the State Council of the Russian Federation on the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic and International Cooperation and Export during the Arctic Regions forum, the development of the Arctic zone until 2050 is a strategic task on a national scale that requires the cooperation of all participants in the development process.
In addition to the prospects for the development of the Northern Sea Route, the participants discussed the relevance of improving the coordination system between shippers, the need to build new cargo and icebreaking vessels, modern navigation technologies in Arctic conditions, and environmental safety issues.
/Murmansk Region Development Corporation/