Trutnev holds meeting in Arkhangelsk on preparations for the Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ 5th International Arctic Forum

Yury Trutnev, Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ 5th International Arctic Forum, held a working visit to Arkhangelsk on 12 December 2018. This is Trutnev’s first working visit to Arkhangelsk as head of the State Commission for Arctic Development.

During his working trip, Trutnev, Arkhangelsk Region Governor Igor Orlov, and a group of heads from specialized departments visited the city airport, the territory of Northern (Arctic) Federal University (NArFU), which will host the main part of the Forum’s business programme, Naberezhnaya Severnoi Dviny, where exhibition pavilions are located, as well as the Lomonosov Arkhangelsk Drama Theatre, in which the plenary session of the Forum is scheduled to be held.

Following the inspection of the facilities, Trutnev held a meeting on the readiness of the facilities for the Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ 5th International Arctic Forum, which will be held on 9–10 April 2019.

“The International Arctic Forum has a positive effect on the region’s development. This is the right course – our work should improve people’s lives”, Trutnev said. “In 2017, the Forum was attended by representatives of 37 developed nations, and we want the participants to leave with a feeling of deep respect for Russia following the next forum. Igor Orlov’s team was given the requisite advice in preparing for the Forum”.

Adviser to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov made special note of the work the Arkhangelsk Region administration has carried out to prepare for the International Arctic Forum 2019. “The Forum is an international one and Russia is spending significant resources on establishing cooperation between the Arctic and countries interested in the development of this region. So we need to create conditions for the productive work of those involved in the business programme”, Kobyakov said in comments on the importance of the preparations. “I ask that you be extremely responsible in preparing the Forum venues, continue to carry out all the Organizing Committee’s instructions, and involve all the necessary departments in the work”.

“We are taking a serious approach to preparations for this international event and are ready for a significant amount of work to improve public urban spaces, the infrastructure of Arkhangelsk, and the Forum venues”, Orlov stressed.

In 2017, two new buildings were built at NASU for the Forum – an exhibition pavilion (a multifunctional sports complex for 800 people) and Centre for the Collective Use of Scientific Equipment No. 2. As part of preparations for the Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ 5th International Arctic Forum, there are plans to improve the structure and overall functional system of the Arkhangelsk airport and the city’s transport and tourist infrastructure as well as to modernize NASU.

The International Arctic Forum 2019 is organized by the Roscongress Foundation.