On March 27, 2025, a plenary session chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin was held as part of the VI International Arctic Forum "The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue" in Murmansk. The key event, like the entire forum, was held under the motto "Live in the North!"

The head of state announced new support measures for the development of the Arctic regions and their residents. Important decisions have been made that will make life in the Arctic more comfortable, the economy stronger, and the prospects even more ambitious.

Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that the capacity of the Murmansk transport hub should be increased at least threefold in the coming years.

"To increase the capacity and turnover of our northern ports at an accelerated pace. To do this on the basis of modern environmental solutions, including unmanned and automated cargo handling technologies. Thus, the capacity of the Murmansk transport hub should be increased at least threefold in the coming years due to the construction of new terminals and the expansion of railway approaches. Our partners from Belarus, China, the United Arab Emirates and other countries are showing interest in this project and in the development of Arctic transport and infrastructure in general. This is very interesting work from a business point of view. We intend to create large multimodal hubs as key logistics centers of the trans-Arctic corridor,” noted Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The head of state also recalled the need to strictly implement plans for the gasification of the Murmansk Region.

“The task must be completed by 2030, it is not being removed,” emphasized Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A number of instructions were also given to the Government of the Russian Federation and federal agencies during the plenary session. They concern accelerating the adoption of the schedule for the implementation of Arctic master plans, as well as extending the ZATO renovation program until 2030 with an annual volume of financial support from the federal budget of at least 10 billion rubles.

"Including, as I have already said, it is necessary to provide for separate Arctic sections in our national projects, and also to launch a mechanism to involve businesses and strategic investors who work in the Arctic or want to work here in the implementation of master plans," said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Another topic highlighted by Russian President Vladimir Putin is emergency housing.

"I instruct the Government to develop a plan of specific actions by September 1 of this year, and this plan - to solve this problem - should be calculated for at least ten years. In addition, as you know, the Affordable Rental Housing program has been launched in the Far East. Young people who come to the Far Eastern regions or graduate from educational institutions there, get a job, can rent apartments at fairly low rates. In this case, the rent is subsidized from the regional and federal budgets. I propose expanding this program to the Arctic's core communities so that rental housing becomes more affordable for those who begin their working careers in the region, who want to live and work here. The program should begin to operate in the Arctic as early as 2026," said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The head of state also reported that over the past ten years, the cargo flow of the Northern Sea Route - from the Kara Gate to the Bering Strait - has increased by an order of magnitude. If in 2014, quite recently, only four million tons of cargo were transported along it, then last year – almost 38 million tons. This is five times more than the Soviet-era record.

“We think, yes, we are sure, that by 2030 it will be 70-100 million tons. But our plans – both in terms of volumes and geography of transportation, for building up the Arctic fleet – are much more ambitious. The Northern Sea Route should become a key section of the Transarctic Transport Corridor, which will run from St. Petersburg through Murmansk to Vladivostok. It is designed to connect the world’s industrial, agricultural, energy centers and consumer markets via a shorter, safer, economically advantageous route. They talk about it everywhere, they write about it everywhere – both in the East and in the West, experts understand this perfectly well,” noted Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The head of state instructed the Russian Government — with the participation of Rosatom, VEB, and the relevant State Council commission — to approve the financial, economic, and organizational model for the development of the Transarctic Transport Corridor by August 1 of this year.

“To implement these and other major initiatives, it is necessary to combine the resources of the state, regions, and businesses, including banks with both state participation and private ones. It is also necessary to use the capabilities of the domestic stock market to attract capital to the Arctic infrastructure. In this regard, I propose considering the creation of a special project office under the auspices of our leading development institute, VEB, which will be engaged in supporting transport, logistics, and infrastructure projects in the Arctic, as well as urban development projects in the region, and will become the structure where a potential investor can directly contact and receive the necessary support. I ask the Government to prepare proposals on this matter,” the head of state said.

In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to provide a separate additional limit from the federal budget for the development of embankments, pedestrian zones and playgrounds, for the creation of parks, squares, etc. within the framework of the competition

. The head of state also separately highlighted the issue of accessibility of medical services in the North.

"I ask the Government to prepare a special mechanism for financing medical care. Also, to preserve the health of residents of the North, it is necessary to use digital technologies, equip mobile paramedic stations with artificial intelligence tools that allow both remotely and directly on-site to diagnose a person's health, identify certain diseases and give recommendations for their treatment," said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In addition, the head of state emphasized that Murmansk is developing dynamically, like other northern cities, constituent entities of the Federation, launching projects that are significant for the entire country.

"Murmansk is the capital of the Russian Arctic, a hero city," said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Following the plenary session, Murmansk Region Governor Andrey Chibis expressed confidence that all the tasks set for the development of the Arctic regions of Russia, in particular those that concern the Murmansk Region, will be accomplished.

“I thank the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for the new measures to support our region. My colleagues from the regional government and I work daily in these areas, and regularly communicate with federal agencies. Our goal is to develop and strengthen the economy, make the lives of northerners better, so that they stay here to live, work, and raise the future generation, which will certainly bring glory to our country,” Andrey Chibis noted.

Let us recall that the VI International Arctic Forum “The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue” has been held in Murmansk since March 26 under the motto “Live in the North!” The forum includes business, cultural, and sports programs. Participants are looking for new development paths for the Arctic zone of Russia, exchanging experiences and successful practices, and putting forward ideas and initiatives.


/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /