The plenary session "Arctic 2050: The Future Starts Today" was held as part of the XV International Forum "The Arctic: Present and Future." Andrey Chibis, Governor of the Murmansk Region and Chairman of the State Council Commission on the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic, delivered the keynote address. Opening his speech, Chibis cited data confirming the Arctic"s exceptional role for the country: Arctic regions, home to less than 2% of the population, account for up to 10% of Russia"s GDP. They produce approximately 80% of the country"s gas, 10% of its oil, and almost 100% of its nickel, rare earth metals, platinum group metals, and apatite ores.
"When we were working on how to ensure that by 2050 the Arctic not only remains ours, as it is today, but also becomes powerfully developed, we came to the conclusion that developing the Arctic for the Russian Federation—given its geopolitical significance, resources, and the rapidly developing new maritime transport corridor—is a task comparable to space exploration for the Soviet Union. This could well be a national idea for the 21st century. The Arctic is vital for us in terms of geopolitical security and the country"s connectivity. In the north, this connection is ensured by the Northern Sea Route, and in the south by the railway artery, the Trans-Siberian Railway, which connects the European part of Russia, Siberia, and the Far East. These two highways ensure the integrity of our state. All existing foreign policy threats only increase the need for even more active development of the Arctic macroregion. "And, of course, the Arctic is home to the longest maritime border, and we understand the scale of our responsibility: the Arctic comprises almost a third of the country"s territory," said Andrey Chibis.
The governor outlined systemic challenges hindering development: unprecedented sanctions pressure, the militarization of the global Arctic following Finland and Sweden"s accession to NATO, and a systematic population decline in the Russian Arctic while the population in the Arctic is growing.
In response to these challenges, Andrey Chibis, drawing on the results of the comprehensive work of the State Council"s relevant commission with the participation of the Maritime Board, presented the presidential project "Arctic and the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor."
The project will integrate five key areas: ensuring security, developing mineral resource centers, creating a world-class transport corridor, and science and innovation for a comfortable living environment and the environment.
Speaking about the region"s future, the governor noted that the Murmansk Region is already showing positive trends: in 2023, for the first time in 35 years, migration growth was recorded. By 2050, the region should become not just an industrial base, but a full-fledged center of Arctic expertise.
/Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region
