The Northern Sea Route will be the key to developing the Russian Arctic and Far East, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual address to the Federal Assembly.
“The Northern Sea Route will be the key to developing the Russian Arctic and Far East. By 2025, cargo traffic along this route will surge tenfold to 80 million tonnes. Our goal is to make it a truly global and competitive transport route. Let me remind you that the Northern Sea Route was used more actively in Soviet times compared to how we have been using it so far. We will definitely develop this route and reach new horizons. I have no doubt about it”, said the President.
According to him, proactive policy to attract investment and create social and economic growth centres in Russia’s Far East will be continued. “We will create all the conditions to ensure a people-friendly living environment, so that people move to this region and its population grows”, he emphasized.
“A number of large-scale industrial projects have been launched in the Arctic. They comply with the highest environmental standards. We are strengthening the research, transport, navigation and military infrastructure, which is expected to guarantee Russia’s interests in this strategic region. Russia builds cutting-edge nuclear icebreakers. We have had the most powerful icebreaker fleet in the world, and this will remain so”, said Vladimir Putin.
The ceremony took place at the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall.