Anna Bezdudnaya, Editor-in-Chief of the FBA EAC Herald, took part in the VI International Arctic Forum in Murmansk as an expert
Anna Bezdudnaya, Editor-in-Chief of the FBA EAC Herald, Doctor of Economics, Professor of St. Petersburg State University of Economics, Executive Director of the Scientific and Educational Center for the Ecological and Economic Research of the Arctic, took part in the VI International Arctic Forum “Arctic: Territory of Dialogue”, which was held in Murmansk with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Key events of the forum
1. Vladimir Putin's speech
At the plenary session, the Russian President emphasized the strategic importance of the Arctic for the country's economy, noting the need for:
• development of the Northern Sea Route as a global transport artery;
• creation of new production facilities with a focus on environmental safety;
• strengthening international cooperation in the Arctic region.
2. Development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation
Anna Bezdudnaya participated in the expert sessions that discussed:
• tax benefits and special customs regimes for business;
• concessional lending programs for investment projects;
• prospects for creating new industrial clusters.
3. Modernization of the northern delivery
‘It is critically important to modernize the fleet involved in the northern delivery. The wear of vessels reaches 80%. There is a need for a comprehensive program to develop logistics through the ports of the Lena, the Yenisey, and the Ob,’ said Anna Bezdudnaya.
4. Environmental safety
The participants discussed the replacement of traditional garbage dumps with specialized landfills, requiring careful site selection with a view to the fragility of the Arctic ecosystem.
‘Organizing environmentally safe waste management in the Arctic is a complex but solvable task. We need a comprehensive approach that takes into account the geological, hydrological and climatic features of the region,’ Anna Bezdudnaya stressed.
The forum confirmed the importance of joint efforts of the state and business aimed at the sustainable development of the Arctic region.