The quality of life in the Russian Arctic zone can reach the average in Russia in 10 years if social programs receive financing from the tax revenues of investment projects in the region, according to Deputy Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexander Krutikov.

"Of course, all these goals (to increase the quality of life in the Arctic) require money and resources… this is why a new mechanism has been suggested for the Arctic development strategy, which envisages that the tax revenue from the implementation of new projects in the Arctic zone must remain there… until the goals of increasing the quality of life to the average level across Russia are met. I don't mean that we would reduce taxes in the Arctic to zero, but this would provide for a significant resource, which would make it possible to achieve this goal in the next ten years," Krutikov said at the Arctic: Today and the Future international forum.

According to Krutikov, costs of the development of social services in the Arctic, including access to medicine, education, recreation, accommodation, food and transportation, are estimated at about 350 billion rubles. Krutikov said that currently the budget lacks that money.