ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russia must confront major long-term challenges to create a coordinated national strategy by mid-century for the Arctic's sustainable development, an official said Tuesday.
Speaking at the 15th International Forum Arctic: Today and the Future, Andrei Chibis, governor of Russia's Murmansk Oblast, said the region's rising geopolitical and economic importance requires Russia to move beyond short-term measures and adopt an integrated, presidential-level framework capable of aligning all actors involved in Arctic affairs.
Chibis said the first challenge is maintaining cargo volumes along the Northern Sea Route and the emerging Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor after 2035, noting that Russia risks a decline in volumes unless new mining, energy, and deep-processing projects are launched promptly to form a stable, long-term cargo base.
The second challenge is reversing the long-term population decline across Russia's Arctic territories. While Murmansk managed to achieve positive migration for the first time since 1989, overall Arctic population numbers continue to fall, he said.
Chibis also stressed the importance of improving the quality of life, expanding housing construction and advancing modern urban master plans for key Arctic towns.
The third challenge is coordinating the large and diverse system of agencies, regions and companies operating across the vast area, which covers one-third of Russia's territory and spans 10 federal subjects, the governor said.
To meet these challenges, Chibis proposed creating a comprehensive Arctic development program with a planning horizon through 2050, supported by a dedicated development institution. Such a body, either by strengthening existing structures or by establishing a new Arctic Development Corporation, could issue Arctic bonds, attract private and foreign investment, and assume part of the risk of large-scale projects. Enditem
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