Chukotka and Southeast Asia countries are interested in upgrading the port of Tiksi in Yakutia, Chairman of the republic's State Committee on Arctic Affairs Prokopy Nikolayev said at a briefing.

In order to develop the Northern Sea Route, Yakutia needs to modernize the port and supporting infrastructure and to build new ships, he noted.

"Chukotka has voiced its readiness to modernize the Zelyony Mys port, now a sea terminal at the port of Tiksi, jointly with the government of Yakutia. The region, which is intensively mining major copper and gold deposits, has suggested that the seaport be jointly expanded," Nikolayev said.

According to Nikolayev, local businesses have already started developing this route and exporting coal by ships. Southeast Asia is also interested in developing the Northern Sea Route.

"Major Chinese companies transport freight via this route, and it takes them ten days to reach Europe. The southern route is three times longer, with deliveries taking 30 days. But these companies need guarantees and a ramified transport infrastructure," Nikolayev added.