Allocations for the socioeconomic development of the Arctic were increased by 2.3 billion rubles.

“In general, allocations for the Arctic in 2023 will amount to 7.5 billion rubles. About 500 investment projects are being implemented as part of preferential conditions in the Arctic,” said Nikolai Kharitonov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic. He also noted that the difficult geopolitical situation had no effect on the plans for developing the Russian Arctic zone.

“The current geopolitical situation has had no effect on Arctic development programs. During these months, we are finally approving the federal budget, in which the amounts for the socioeconomic development of the Arctic are higher than previously planned,” Kharitonov said.

At the same time, investments under the agreements total over 1.3 trillion rubles.

“All these funds need to be disbursed. The implementation of these projects will create more than 30,000 new jobs; over 6,500 jobs have already been created,” he said and added that foreign policy has little effect on work in the Arctic.