Business programme

Challenges and Opportunities in the Next Round of Development in the Arctic

03 Jun , 15:00–16:15
Joining Forces to Advance Development
Passage in zone G, Passage Hall

The Arctic contains around 40% of the world’s reserves of rare-earth metals, 30% of its diamonds, 20% of its platinum, 20% of its aquatic bioresources, and 10% of its nickel and titanium. As well as being a rich source of natural resources, the global commercialization of the Arctic is being driven by climate change. Russia has drafted a set of strategic documents outlining the economic agenda for developing the Arctic over the coming decades. The Russian government is taking gradual and pragmatic steps to develop these further by adding tangible elements, such as new infrastructure and industrial projects. An unprecedented programme to construct a fleet of next-generation nuclear-powered icebreakers is under way. An incentive system for investors has also been developed, encompassing tax breaks, reduced red tape, and subsidies for building infrastructure. In addition, initiators of Arctic projects can take advantage of concessionary financing from a special government fund. What projects are already under way in the Arctic? What makes the Arctic an attractive region to investors, and what difficulties have entrepreneurs encountered? How effective is the government’s proposed support package, and what mechanisms under the Arctic Concession public-private partnership are helping to attract investment in infrastructure projects? What are the priority areas of international economic cooperation? And what needs to be done to protect the Arctic’s unique ecosystem?

Moderator
Yekaterina Gracheva, Anchor, Russia 24 TV Channel

Panellists
Alexey Besprozvannykh, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Andrey Grachev, Vice President for Federal and Regional Programs, Norilsk Nickel
Chang Young-Tae, President, Korea Maritime Institute (online)
Oleg Novachuk, Chairman of the Board of Directors, GDK Baimskaya
Svetlana Orlova, Auditor of Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Panov, Special Representative for the Development of the Arctic, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM; Deputy Chairman, State Commission for the Development of the Arctic
Roman Trotsenko, Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors, AEON Corporation
Vyacheslav Fetisov, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Physical Culture, Sport, Tourism and Youth Affairs; Chairman, Central Council, All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation
Felix H. Tschudi, Chairman, Tschudi Group (online)
Alexey Chekunkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic

Front row participants
Dmitry Artyukhov, Governor of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region
Igor Bogachev, General Director, Zyfra
Venkatesh Varma Datla Bala, Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation
Lars Georg Fordal, Head, The Norwegian Barents Secretariat (online)
Alexander Tsybulskiy, Governor of Arkhangelsk region
Andrey Chibis, Governor of Murmansk Region

Broadcast