Prospects for developing Russia's Arctic and Northern Sea Route discussed at the "Inventing the Future" Symposium
At the International Symposium "Inventing the Future" held at the National Centre RUSSIA grounds, the session "New Arctic Exploration" brought together Russian and international experts from government, business, and scientific circles to discuss the development of Arctic territories and the Northern Sea Route (NSR).
Participants discussed the implementation of major investment projects in Russia's Arctic zone, the role of the nuclear icebreaker fleet in the development of the NSR, urban growth in the extreme conditions of the Far North, and key directions for polar tourism.
Igor Levitin, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation and Deputy Chair of the Russian Maritime Board, emphasized the strategic importance of the Northern Sea Route and Russia's Arctic for both the nation's economic growth and sovereignty. He highlighted the need for an integrated approach to developing this key transport artery of the Far North.
"Coastal infrastructure is especially crucial — we need to create maritime safety system and well-developed port facilities. We require container hubs in Primorye, Khabarovsk Region, Murmansk, and Arkhangelsk. Additionally, we need to improve local transport accessibility and facilitate cargo exchange. Ensuring the stability of essential northern deliveries is one of the most critical objectives in this context," Levitin stated.
Alexei Chekunkov, Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, noted that the dedication and long-term efforts of people working in extremely challenging conditions play a vital role in Arctic development. According to him, people remain the central focus in the Far North. He also stressed that Russia has always been a pioneer in northern technology development.
"Investment projects valued at over 30 trillion rubles are underway in the Arctic zone today. This represents one-fifth of our economy and Russian exports. The overarching project connecting the Arctic with other Russian regions and the world is the development of the Northern Sea Route. A unified development plan has been adopted for the NSR, with a total investment of 1.8 trillion rubles planned until 2035, including 760 billion rubles from the state budget. The plan includes the construction of 10 icebreakers, 116 new ice-class cargo vessels, railway and emergency infrastructure, 14 sea ports and terminals, and expansion of satellite capabilities," Chekunkov noted.
Murmansk Region Governor Andrei Chibis highlighted the importance of social development in implementing Arctic projects. He mentioned that Murmansk has accumulated valuable experience in making the area more attractive to residents. For the first time since 1989, more Russians moved to the Murmansk Region than left last year.
"This is primarily due to economic growth and the creation of new jobs. We are increasingly competitive in attracting skilled and proactive professionals, not only with other regions but also with both Russian capitals. We invest heavily in education, healthcare, sports, and public amenities. As a result, Murmansk is now among the top five most comfortable cities in harsh climates," Chibis reported.
The session also acknowledged the crucial role of large businesses in developing Arctic territories.
Nikolai Utkin, First Vice President and Head of Government Relations at Nornickel MMC, announced that the company is continuing to expand its own icebreaker fleet, which currently includes six vessels. This expansion is expected to increase the company's cargo transport along the NSR from 1.6 million tons annually to 3 million tons by 2028.
The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is being held from November 4 to 6. Participants include scientists, researchers, futurists, science fiction writers, and representatives from government bodies from 101 countries, including Russia, India, Italy, Iran, China, the UAE, Serbia, the USA, and France. The program features over 60 sessions across four tracks: "Future of Human," "Future of Technology," "Future of Multipolar World," and "Future of Civilizations." The program and event broadcasts are available at the website future.russia.ru.
The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is the first event of the National Centre RUSSIA, which was established on July 1, 2024, by the order of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The Centre aims to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens. The work of the Centre involves federal authorities, state companies, corporations, and regions.