The Arctic region stands as a key reservoir of resources and a cornerstone of economic sovereignty for Russia, yet it requires a skilled workforce to turn potential into progress. This takeaway emerged from the XIII international forum “Arctic: Present and Future” held in St. Petersburg on 7–8 December, where participants gathered to map out the region’s future trajectory.
During the forum, organizers highlighted a robust schedule featuring 50 sessions across 11 thematic areas. More than 500 speakers contributed ideas and solutions aimed at advancing Arctic development, and the event drew over 2,000 attendees from across Russia and several foreign countries, underscoring the region’s growing global significance.
Representatives from federal agencies stressed that the Arctic remains a strategic priority for the entire country. Numerous projects are already underway, illustrating tangible progress on the ground in the northern territories.
Gadzhimagomed Guseinov, the First Deputy Minister for Far Eastern and Arctic Development, noted that the establishment of targeted economic preferences in the Russian Arctic in 2020 has already generated a pipeline of 766 announced investment projects. The anticipated investment volume is about 1.75 trillion rubles, with an expected creation of roughly 40 thousand jobs. Current figures show more than 13 thousand jobs already in place. The mining sector leads in investment activity, with 44 projects valued at 862 billion rubles under construction. In terms of industrial structure, the service sector accounts for the largest share of projects with 197, followed by 143 in construction and development, and 127 in tourism, illustrating a diversified Arctic economy.
The forum also hosted a two-day conference focused on the future of the Arctic transport corridor, specifically the concept of a reliable year-round link along the Northern Sea Route, framed as Northern Sea Route-365. The discussions aimed to identify practical measures to enhance mobility, reduce transit times, and improve logistical resilience in the Arctic sea lanes.
Three sessions were devoted to the new vector of international cooperation. Delegates from scientific communities and public organizations from Norway, the United States, China, India, Australia, and other nations participated in the dialogue, reflecting a broad interest in collaborative Arctic governance and innovation.
Elvira Nurgalieva, Deputy Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, emphasized a strong emphasis on the creative economy within the Arctic. The aim is to encourage young talents to pursue creative professions at home, aligning their potential with regional opportunities and preventing a brain drain to other regions.
As part of the program, sessions also explored fresh approaches to youth engagement and personnel policies across major companies and regional authorities. The discussions sought practical strategies to attract, retain, and develop talent capable of supporting Arctic projects across industries—from extractive sectors to high-tech services and infrastructure development.
It bears noting that the international forum “North Pole: Present and Future” was organized by the Association of Polar Explorers with the support of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, and the State Development Commission, alongside relevant ministries and agencies overseeing Arctic affairs. The event underscored the ongoing collaboration between government, business, and scientific communities in shaping the Arctic’s path forward.
Rambler&Co served as the official information partner for coverage of the forum, with additional participation from other news outlets to disseminate insights and outcomes to a broad audience across the region and beyond.