Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has issued instructions to update checkpoints on the Russian border along the Northern Sea Route, TASS news agency said.

"When talking about the potential for Russian Arctic port infrastructure, we shouldn't overlook the influence that modernized border checkpoints could have on expediting cargo traffic," Rogozin said. "Of course things are improving, but there is some potential that remains unused," he said at a joint session of the State Commission for Arctic Development and the Russian Government's Maritime Board.

Rogozin said that currently the border check points slow cargo traffic which in turn hinders foreign economic activity. "Business is hit the most and the Russian economy becomes less competitive. I want our Arctic border checkpoints to be overhauled and I'd like proposals for concepts on how to modernize them and improve this system of state control," the deputy prime minister said.