Interaction between indigenous peoples and business to be discussed at Arctic Forum 2025

As part of the business programme of the ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ International Arctic Forum, a thematic session ‘Best Practices for Relations Between Indigenous Peoples and Businesses: Achievements and New Opportunities’ will be held on 26 March. The Forum is organized by the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation.

The discussion will focus on the impact of development projects in Russia’s Arctic zone on the indigenous minorities of the North, as well as approaches to further building their relations with the state and industrial business.

The agenda of the session combines state and public interests such as general socio-economic development while preserving opportunities for sustainable development of dozens of indigenous minorities, said Igor Barinov, Head of the Federal Agency for Nationalities Affairs.

“These issues are particularly relevant to our country, where 47 small indigenous peoples live in 34 regions. With industrial development, they are among the most vulnerable groups. Their livelihood systems, culture, and identity are critically dependent on the fragile traditional environment in which they live,” noted Igor Barinov.

The session participants will consider options for building equal cooperation between indigenous peoples and businesses in implementing projects on the traditional lands of indigenous peoples, related government and corporate policies, as well as increasing the level of responsibility and monitoring the implementation of production initiatives.

In addition, Andrey Grachev, Vice President for Federal and Regional Programmes of Norilsk Nickel, will present the results of the five-year programme to support indigenous minorities, including the preservation of culture, traditional economic activities, and spiritual values.

“We do not only implement projects but seek to build a system of relations with indigenous peoples in which they independently determine its principles and priorities for financial support,” noted Andrey Grachev.

In addition to Igor Barinov, Head of the Federal Agency for Nationalities Affairs, and Andrey Grachev, Vice President of Norilsk Nickel, the discussion will be attended by Aysen Nikolaev, Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia); Hanieh Moghani, Vice-Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; Prabindra Shakya, Head of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE), Director of the Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ); as well as leaders of regional indigenous organizations and other experts.

The Forum will also include the signing of an annual agreement between Norilsk Nickel and the Federal Agency for Nationalities Affairs on joint programmes to support indigenous minorities.

The Forum business programme in 2025 includes about 20 thematic sessions divided into four tracks: ‘The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route: Competing on the Global Stage’, ‘The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route: A Magnet for Investment’, ‘The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route: Developing Key Settlements’, and ‘International Cooperation and the Environment’.

The 6th ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ International Arctic Forum will take place on 26–27 March in Murmansk under the motto ‘To Live in the North’. It is a key platform for discussing important issues of socio-economic development of the Arctic territories, elaboration of multilateral mechanisms for joint disclosure and effective development of the powerful resource potential of the Arctic region.

More information is available on the official Forum website forumarctica.ru.