Main themes identified for 5th International Arctic Forum

The business programme working group of the Organizing Committee of the 5^th ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ International Arctic Forum held a meeting in Moscow chaired by Adviser to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov. The meeting was attended by representatives of agencies and institutions involved in organizing the event and creating its business programme.

The main theme of the upcoming Forum is ‘The Arctic. An Ocean of Opportunities’. The business programme will consist of three sections: ‘Coastal Territories’, ‘The Open Ocean’, and ‘Sustainable Development’. The central event will be the plenary session attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The programme of the 2019 International Arctic Forum will cover the full range of focuses for the development of the Arctic regions. Experts invited to take part in the Forum’s sessions and discussions will devote attention to both the current state of affairs and the immediate prospects for using these territories to develop industry, energy, construction, shipping, tourism, education, research, and other sectors. I am certain that the topics raised at this international discussion platform will provide an impetus for the further development of the Arctic and the full use of the enormous opportunities offered by this region”, Adviser to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov said.

At the same time, Russian Presidential Aide Igor Levitin presented information about the need to invite representatives of the Indian government and business circles to take part in the Forum in order to discuss issues concerning the development of trade and economic relations on an international scale as part of the project to develop the North–South International Transport Corridor.

Russian Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East Alexander Krutikov also took part in the working group meeting. “A new system of preferences for companies investing in projects in the Arctic region will also be presented at the International Arctic Forum in St. Petersburg”, he said

The working group meeting paid special attention to a proposal by Special Representative of the Russian President on International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctica Artur Chilingarov to hold a special session called ‘Researchers Dialogue’ on the sidelines of the International Arctic Forum devoted to international cooperation on scientific research in the Arctic. The event would bring together leading Russian and foreign experts and scientists working on this subject. “The concept presented today serves as a well-developed foundation for creating a comprehensive business programme that will enable us to establish new constructive contacts with the international community. During the Forum, we are organizing the work of the Transarctic 19 scientific expedition on the Academician Treshnikov scientific research expedition vessel. The North Pole 41 annual scientific expedition, which will begin in September 2020, will also be presented at the Forum. It will involve 23 research institutes from the Russian Academy of Sciences and other agencies, and more than 60 fundamental and applied research projects will be implemented”, Chilingarov noted during the meeting.

Plans were also announced to hold a meeting of the Industry and Technology Development working group of the State Commission for Arctic Development chaired by Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov at the Forum site.

United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) President Alexey Rakhmanov said that the Arctic is a zone of special attention for Russia and USC as the flagship of the national shipbuilding industry. “The Corporation and its enterprises traditionally take part in the ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ Forum. Today, during the year of the 60^th anniversary of the nuclear icebreaking fleet, for us the Forum is not only an opportunity for business dialogue, but also a platform for drawing attention to key aspects of the development of the shipbuilding industry in Russia”, he said during the working group meeting.

In addition, the offsite event ‘Prospects for the Development of the Northern Sea Route’ will be organized on board the 50 Years of Victory nuclear icebreaker in real navigation conditions in the Kara Sea’s Oka Bay as part of the Forum programme on 7–8 April based on a proposal from the Directorate of the Northern Sea Route.

The final draft of the Forum programme with proposals on moderators and speakers is expected to be prepared by 15 February 2019.

The 5^th ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ International Arctic Forum will take place in St. Petersburg on 9–10 April 2019.