On April 28, members of the Public Council of Russia’s Arctic Zone held a meeting as part of the business program of the 18th International Fair-Exhibition Treasures of the North: Masters and Artists of Russia-2023.

Addressing the meeting, Director of the Arctic Zone Development Department Maksm Dankin discussed the implementation of measures in the program of state support for the traditional economic activities of the indigenous ethnic groups in the Russian Arctic.

To implement the program, the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic (Minvostokrazvitiya) allocated a subsidy worth 516.24 million rubles to three Arctic territories in 2022. The breakdown is as follows: the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia): 356.2 million rubles; the Nenets Autonomous Area: 79.46 million rubles; the Chukotka Autonomous Area: 80.59 million rubles.

“We provide state support for reindeer-breeding farms and traditional folk crafts. Several farms have received slaughterhouses and quad-copter drones. The living quarters of some reindeer breeders feature renewable energy sources. We have also built corrals and fences. In addition, we have established some social tourism infrastructure, and we are building transport and logistics centers under the Arctic deliveries program. It is necessary to pay attention to the northern reindeer-breeding sector and to measures ensuring reindeer breeders from among small indigenous ethnic group that their products would be sold on the domestic market,” Maksim Dankin noted.

In 2023, the Government will spend an additional 450 million rubles on the program to support the indigenous northern ethic groups. The Government will also fund construction of reindeer-breeder anchor bases, economic and administrative facilities and service centers, as well as the creation of logistics and production centers and other measures to preserve the unique culture of the northern peoples and their traditions.

The meeting participants also focused on a bill to specify the territory in the Arctic zone where it is possible to allot free land plots. It is necessary to coordinate the bill’s amendments with public organizations, including those representing the interests of the indigenous northern ethnic groups. The republics of Komi and Karelia submitted their bills.