The role of the Murmansk Region in pursuing Russia’s national interests in the Arctic is determined by the region’s competitive advantages, press center of the regional government cites Aleksei Tyukavin, Deputy Governor of the Murmansk Region, as saying at The Arctic Frontier seminar held in Murmansk on December 1.
The seminar participants representing the Russian and the Norwegian side discussed their cooperation in the field of education, fishery research as well as search and rescue operations in the Arctic. Among the topical issues was the development of Murmansk Region - Troms County relationship.
“Today’s meeting is yet another evidence of the consistent interest to the Arctic issues. Many experts believe that it is the region destined to determine one of the key vectors of development both in Russia and worldwide”, Aleksei Tyukavin said in his keynote speech.
He reminded about a number of recent landmark decisions made on the federal level in Russia. Among the decisions able to have a significant impact on the future of Russian Arctic was the list of RF Arctic Zone’s land territories including the Murmansk Region.
“The role of the Murmansk Region in pursuing Russia’s national interests in the Arctic is determined by our region’s competitive advantages. According to the long-term strategy up to 2025, the Murmansk Region is to become a strategic center of the Russian Federation’s Arctic zone”, he said.
Having summarized the advantages and opportunities of the region, Aleksei Tyukavin said that the extension of international cooperation would be considered as a key factor for diversification of the region’s economy, promotion of innovations and coping with different challenges.
Speakers representing both sides of the meeting emphasized the significance of further cooperation between the Murmansk Region and the Troms County of Norway. Education, science, culture, sports and indigenous communities were named among the basic fields of cooperation.