Murmansk Region Government and Poly International Holding Co. of China have signed a Cooperation Agreement in the framework of the IV International Arctic Forum ‘Arctic – Territory of Dialogue’ being held in Arkhangelsk. According to the press center of the Murmansk Region Government, the document implies cooperation in the fields of Murmansk Transport Hub development, investment projects being implemented in the Murmansk region as well as in science, research and personnel training.
“The range of our common interests is very extensive and the first step in our interaction will be the Cooperation Agreement we are signing today. I see this signing at the Arctic Forum supported by our President as a good sign. The Arctic is becoming a scene of enormous changes today and the interest of Chinese business in Arctic projects confirms their global significance”, Marina Kovtun said at the ceremony.
The project on comprehensive development of Murmansk Transport Hub is included into the Federal Targeted Programme “Development of Russia’s Transport System in 2010-2020”. The project which is being implemented through private-public partnership and which is to be completed in 2018 provides for the development of sea, rail and road transport infrastructure, as well as the development of logistics and storage infrastructure.
The project foresees the construction of a new railway branch to the left shore of the Kola Bay (including two railway stations and a railway bridge across the Kola Bay), where private investors will build a new coal transshipment facility (commercial seaport Lavna) and an oil terminal.