The event was organized by the Government of the Arkhangelsk Region and co-organized by NEVA International LLC, a member of the EXPOFORUM Group of Companies.

The State Corporation «Rosatom» became the titular partner of the Forum, the business program partners were the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (KRDV) and the Association of Suppliers of the Oil and Gas Industry «Sozvezdie».

Over 1,300 delegates from more than 40 regions of Russia took part in the Forum for two days.

Government delegations represented Arkhangelsk Region, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk Region, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Republic of Karelia, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug (Yugra), Republic of Komi, and Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

The Forum was participated by representatives of state corporations, federal and regional authorities, port units, operators of oil and gas and mining projects in the Arctic, manufacturers and suppliers of infrastructure solutions for developing the Arctic resource base, owners of transport, fishing and icebreaking fleets, the financial sector, large industrial and logistics companies, major shipbuilding, engineering and ship repairs enterprises, design organizations, engineering and construction contractors operating in the Arctic, industry experts, scientific and educational organizations, as well as the tourism sector.

Besides, the Forum was visited by foreign delegates from friendly countries: China, Kazakhstan, the UAE and India.

In general, the 2nd Forum «Arctic – Regions» was aimed at jointly solving efficient development of shipping and maritime logistics along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), construction and repairs of the Arctic fleet, modernization of port infrastructure, and staffing.

The business agenda touched upon strategic issues of federal significance, while special attention was focused on construction of the new deep-water seaport area provided for by the Complex Development Plan of the Arkhangelsk Transport Hub until 2035, as well as discussion of the master plan of the Arkhangelsk agglomeration.

«The currently proposed master plan is the set of activities related to social and economic development. The basic focus is on construction of the new deep-water seaport area, which will become a driver for economic development. It is equally important to strengthen the scientific and educational link: at present, the interuniversity campus is being built. This will allow us to link together capabilities of our educational institutions and science, which must work on the order of major business, developing those projects that will be commercialized at enterprises in future. Well, the most important thing is to preserve the very history that the Arkhangelsk Region is proud of, while creating the modern competitive economy of the future», commented Aleksander Tsybulsky, Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region.

In total, more than 20 business events took place within the framework of the Forum, including strategic sessions and round tables. They were attended by over 200 speakers.

The Plenary Session «The Arctic: One Step Ahead» was focused on new approaches to the use of the Arctic mineral-resource base, development of the Northern Sea Route and disclosure of the investment potential of the Arctic regions.

The discussion was participated by Aleksey Chekunkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for Development of the Far East and the Arctic, Aleksander Tsybulsky, Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region, Vladimir Panov, Special Representative of the State Corporation «Rosatom» for the Arctic Development Affairs, Deputy Chairman of the State Commission for the Arctic Development Affairs, Andrey Grachev, Vice President for Federal and Regional Programs at MMC «Norilsky Nickel», and other representatives of government and business.

With the support of Russia’s Ministry for Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, the cycle of thematic sessions devoted to development of stronghold cities in the Russian Arctic area was held. The discussions were participated by representatives of delegations from the northern regions, federal ministries and departments, heads of leading scientific and educational organizations and other experts. They discussed the world’s best practices for master plans of stronghold cities of the Russian Arctic, specific features of construction beyond the polar circle, tools for developing Arctic cities, Arctic medicine, development of science and technology, as well as domestic tourism within the Arctic.

With the support of the State Corporation «Rosatom», two parts of the large-scale conference on the NSR was organized. At the Session «The Northern Sea Route as the Arctic Connection of the Regions», the participants discussed new Arctic projects that can be implemented due to the NSR to be developed and its infrastructure to be integrated into existing projects. At the Session «Security in the Arctic: Priorities», the participants discussed in detail applying the Single Platform for Digital Services of the Northern Sea Route and mechanisms for cooperation between ship-owning companies and marine operators with relevant departments for data collection and analysis in the Arctic.

«In conditions of re-focusing supply chains to the East, as well as transport tensions in the sections of the Eastern Railway Landfill, the seaport of Arkhangelsk is an alternative transport hub for cargo transshipment. At present, the issue of involving the Arkhangelsk seaport in the project by Rosatom and DP World (UAE) «International Container Logistics» that implies container transportation along the NSR between the eastern and western parts of Eurasia, along the Vladivostok – Murmansk route, is being worked out», said Gadzhimagomed Huseynov, First Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for Development of the Far East and the Arctic.

Vladimir Panov, Special Representative of the State Corporation «Rosatom» for the Arctic Development Affairs, Deputy Chairman of the State Commission for the Arctic Development Affairs, stated that this year cargo transportation along the NSR will set a new absolute record. Transit grows especially fast. First of all, these are Russian companies’ cargoes coming from the ports of the North-West to the countries of the Asia-Pacific Region.

«For implementing all the projects planned, it is necessary to ensure year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route in the near years», is the expert convinced. «And this will require the grouping of at least 14 icebreakers in the western and eastern parts of the NSR by 2030».

Vasily Boytsov, Deputy General Director for Innovation and Technical Development of the USC (United Shipbuilding Corporation), spoke about the modern technologies offered by the United Shipbuilding Corporation for sustainable development of the Arctic. According to him, the USC is synchronizing its strategy with the Strategy for Development of the Shipbuilding Industry to be prepared by Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade. In turn, Ke Jin, Managing Director of the Chinese Transport and Logistics Company, noted that China was the first to enter the NSR last year, and is increasing the number of trips this year.

The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping held the Panel Discussion «Construction of the Civil Fleet and Marine Equipment for the Arctic» and the Practical Session «Technological Sovereignty in the Arctic. Import Substitution in the Shipbuilding Industry».

A separate section was dedicated to the issues of human resources for this industry. In particular, at the Round Table «Opportunities of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 Program for the Russian Arctic Regions», the participants discussed expansion of this management training program for the Far East to the territory of the Russian Arctic. Besides, the youth track was presented for the first time. In particular, youth entrepreneurship in the Russian Arctic Regions was discussed.

The Forum was supported with the bright exhibition. The Government of the Arkhangelsk Region presented the joint stand of the major enterprises of the region, including the Center for Propulsive Systems of the Ship Repair Center «Zvezdochka», the Arkhangelsk Commercial Seaport, the Arkhangelsk Fleet Repair and Maintenance Base, the Arkhangelsk Trawl Fleet, the Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill, «Industrial Technologies», the NPA (Northern Production Association) «Arctic», etc. The individual stands of the State Corporation «Rosatom», Severstal, SPO «Spetskabel», GMS Group, Import Lubricants attracted the visitors’ great attention. In total, there were 50 exhibitors to be represented. The VIP delegation participated by Aleksander Tsybulsky, Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region, made the official tour around the Exhibition.

Six cooperation agreements were signed on the Forum sidelines.

The key venues were the Lomonosov Theater and the square in front of the theater, where two convention and exhibition pavilions «Polyarny» and «Morskoy», with their area of 1,000 m2, were specially built. For comfortable communication of the guests, the open lounge area was arranged, as well as the Business Contact Center for the participants to independently negotiate was organized. For two days, on the official Telegram channel of the Forum, online voting on the most pressing issues took place, with about 700 respondents in total to vote.

About 200 delegates attended unique excursions to the major enterprises of the region: the Ship Repair Center «Zvezdochka», «Industrial Technologies», the Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill and the Arkhangelsk Commercial Seaport.

As part of the cultural program, 150 people attended the welcome dinner for VIP participants, and about 1,000 people attended the grand reception on behalf of the Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region. 300 people took a river trip along the Severnaya Dvina River on the unique steamship-wheeler «N. V. Gogol». Everyone who liked could also visit the shipyard of traditional wooden shipbuilding on Moseyev Island and the Arkhangelsk State Museum-Reserve of Wooden Architecture and Folk Art «Malye Korely».

The Forum was widely covered by federal and regional media, with over 100 correspondents to be accredited. TASS operated as the main information partner.

In future, the Forum «Arctic – Regions» is planned to be held annually in summer, in Arkhangelsk.

See about the event in more detail on the web-site: https://arcticports.ru/