During Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council, 11 regions will host events dedicated to economic cooperation, climate change and the environment in the Arctic, human capital development and emergency prevention.

“The events will involve 40,000 people, and they will be held in 11 regions. The activities will take place in 10 main areas, such as economic cooperation, climate change and the environment in the Arctic, human capital development, indigenous peoples, emergency prevention, infrastructure development and sustainable shipping,” said Minister of the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic Alexei Chekunkov at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

He also noted that great attention would be given to the development of the Northern Sea Route, international scientific cooperation, technology development, Arctic youth, Arctic tourism and culture.

According to the Ambassador of Finland to Russia Antti Helantera, the coronavirus pandemic has become a great challenge for the indigenous peoples of the North, including due to the forced closing of national borders.

“The pandemic is certainly a challenge for all of us, <…> considering that the borders meant almost nothing in the North and for its residents during the past several decades. However, the pandemic forced all the countries to close their borders, and the people living far from capital cities have no open border in the North. So the situation in the North has changed,” said the ambassador at the forum.

He also underscored the importance of cross-border cooperation between the Arctic states and expressed hope for interesting projects during Russia’s chairmanship.

The plan includes 116 activities during Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council.