The Innoprom-2026 International Industrial Exhibition, the country's leading industrial exhibition, has opened in Yekaterinburg. Artem Kuksa, First Deputy Minister of Arctic Development and Economy of the Murmansk Region, is participating in the forum. He presented the region's industrial potential, focusing on key mineral extraction and processing projects, at a specialized session titled "Rare Earths: Sparks of the Future for Industry."

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Mikhail Yurin moderated the session.

Artem Kuksa discussed current projects being implemented in the Murmansk Region, as well as the presence of promising deposits. He emphasized that raw material extraction is one stage of a larger task. A key focus is the creation of a complete production chain for rare earth metals: from extraction and processing to final product manufacture. The Murmansk Region is one of the country's main raw material hubs, Artem Kuksa noted in his speech.

"The Murmansk Region's role in Russia's mineral resource complex is strategic. "The comprehensive development of the Alluaiv, Afrikandovskoye, Fedorova Tundra, Kulyok, Polmostundrovskoye, and Kolmozerskoye deposits is a crucial step toward achieving resource sovereignty for lithium, niobium, tantalum, and platinum group metals. These projects will not only strengthen Russia's position in the global strategic metals market and drive the development of high-tech industries, but will also ensure the creation of thousands of jobs and an influx of large-scale investment into the economy," emphasized Artem Kuksa.

Particular attention during the discussion was given to the initiative to create a metallurgical industrial cluster in the Murmansk Region for processing resources, particularly rare earth metals. Artem Kuksa noted that this initiative was previously discussed at a meeting of the State Council Commission on the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic, chaired by Murmansk Region Governor Andrei Chibis, during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) and is being considered as a potential new source of economic growth within the framework of the emerging comprehensive Arctic development project and the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor. 

During the discussion, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Mikhail Yurin asked how the region is prepared to support investors. Artem Kuksa described current business support measures, including tax incentives and investment project support, and emphasized that the Murmansk Region is ready to provide comprehensive support to investors and is interested in implementing projects aimed at developing deep processing and creating new production chains.

The Innoprom Forum and Exhibition is Russia's largest international industrial exhibition and business platform. It brings together government agencies, experts, and businesses to build long-term partnerships, including with international partner countries.

/ Murmansk Region Development Corporation /

Photo: official website of INNOPROM Yekaterinburg - 2026