The Russian Geographical Society is working on a project to increase accessibility to the Arctic and to develop mineral deposits, the society's president, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, told RIA Novosti.

"We are now preparing an ambitious Arctic region project. I'm talking about regional mineral deposits that have been mostly discovered and studied there. But we need to connect all this with the merchant-marine and river transport system. After reaching sea and river ports, this freight should be delivered by rail from the north to any place in the world," Shoigu said at the Russian Geographical Society's offices.

He noted that work on the project could begin this year, and that it would involve research and development institutes and experts on economic geography.