One Year Passed Since Adoption of Strategy 2035

Photo: Dolya Sergey/GeoPhoto.ru

One Year Passed Since Adoption of Strategy 2035

A year ago, on 26 October 2020, the Arctic Strategy drafted at a series of strategic sessions organized by PORA was announced. As outlined by the document, a preferential economic regime was introduced in the Russian Arctic to open the way for developing new projects in the High North. The Far East and Arctic Ministry gave an overview of the results achieved in the Russian Arctic in the course of the year.

According to the Ministry, 250 residents of both the Russian Arctic Zone and the Arctic Capital Special Economic Area were registered, while the amount of funds (to be) invested by such residents now exceeds 420 billion rubles (USD 6 billion). Companies and businesspeople invest into such sectors as logistics, mining, tourism, fisheries, services and agriculture. This will help create some 15,000 new jobs in the Russian Arctic in the near future.

The Arctic Capital Special Economic Area established in Murmansk Oblast shows a rapid and steady economic growth. It will become home to 9 major infrastructure, logistical and industrial projects worth some 103 billion rubles (USD 1.5 billion).

It is only the beginning. “Our key goal is to make living and working in the Arctic comfortable. Our strategic objectives for 2035 are to create 200,000 new jobs, ensure growth of wages by 2.5 times, increase the average life expectancy by 10 years, and reverse the negative migration trend”, says Far East and Arctic Minister Chekunkov.

The Arctic Hectare initiative is expected to stimulate growth of economic activity while making the Russian Arctic more attractive as a region to live, work, invest and visit. In just several months after the programme’s inauguration, about 5,000 people applied for free land plots in the Russian Arctic to build houses and/or launch new businesses.

The Russian Arctic has all chances to become a scientific powerhouse. Two major research and study centres in Arkhangelsk Oblast and Yakutia will be established as part of the ambitious plan announced by Russian authorities. Snowflake, a state-of-the-art climate research station will be constructed in Yamal. In 2022, the ice-resistant research platform North Pole will take an international team of scientists to the High Arctic.

Arctic Today is a column by PORA CEO Alexander Stotskiy analyzing major international, national and regional events and trends in the Arctic.
Alexander Stotskiy
28 October 2021
Arctic Today