On February 20-21, 2018 the Russian Chamber of Industry and Commerce will host the Third International Conference Arctic: Offshore Projects and Sustainable Development of Regions (ARCTIC 2018). The conference is to promote the sustainable socioeconomic development of the Arctic by stimulating scientific, technical and innovative activity and creating conditions to increase investment activity in the Russian Arctic.

The agenda includes the establishment of the core development zones and other provisions of the State Program on the Socioeconomic Development of the Russian Arctic, exploration and prospects for the oil and gas regions in northeastern Siberia, a review of 2017 research, scientific and ecological expeditions, climate change issues, development of specially protected areas in the Arctic and subarctic zones and amendments to Arctic-related legislation, including the issues of mineral resource management.

The program also includes issues concerning the promotion of international cooperation and cooperation within the framework of the EAEU to explore the Arctic, the implementation of digital economy mechanisms in complex projects and new construction technology during permafrost degradation.

The conference is held with support from the responsible committees of the Federation Council and the State Duma, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Energy Ministry, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, oil and gas businesses, the analytical center of the Russian government, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Union of the Polar and Extreme North Cities and the International Academy of Communications. The conference will be attended by representatives of large businesses and science as well as over 300 experts from various Russian regions, the US, Canada, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Denmark, Argentina and other countries.