ST. PETERSBURG, December 23. /TASS/. Long-term comprehensive socio-economic development plans for most important cities and settlements in the Arctic are due to be prepared and approved in 2025. At the moment, draft plans, approved by federal authorities, are being finalized, First Deputy Minister for Development of the Far East and Arctic Gadzhimagomed Guseynov said at the Arctic: Present and Future forum.

"The Ministry for Development of the Far East and Arctic together with the regions has prepared draft long-term comprehensive plans for socio-economic development until 2035. The draft plans have passed federal executive authorities and are being finalized to mind comments and suggestions. We plan to complete this work in the first quarter of next year. Our task is to make sure people in the North had a good quality of life," he said.

The current list of the Arctic's backbone settlements unites 16 key agglomerations with a population of 1.6 million people, he continued. A comprehensive master plan will be implemented in each of the agglomerations. The plans have been developed in compliance with opinions of the local residents - "the Northerners are concerned about healthcare, infrastructures, culture, sports, and leisure." Special attention in the plans is paid to the permafrost degradation, which requires adjustments to construction approaches in the northern regions.

The state has been supporting about 950 investment projects in the Arctic aimed at developing the economy, infrastructures and labor market, and the total amount of investments in these projects is more than 2 trillion rubles ($20 billion). More than 43,000 jobs will be created.

In 2022, the country started a presidential subsidy program to upgrade social infrastructures - hospitals, schools, kindergartens, landscaping zones. The deputy minister noted that so far the amount of funding was small, but the ministry expected to increase it as successful upgrade continued. A separate priority in development is the North's closed administrative-territorial formations (restricted-access areas), where military personnel and their families live. In 2024-2026, investments in renovation will make about 30 billion rubles ($293 million).

The deputy minister highlighted a great positive effect from the program to support the North's indigenous peoples - a cultural center in Chukotka, processing workshops and slaughterhouses for traditional livestock and hunting. Over 2022-2024, the government has allocated 1.4 billion rubles ($14 million) for this program, and further on in 2025-2027 budget investments will decrease to 1.2 billion rubles ($12 million).

About the forum

The forum was organized by the Association of Polar Explorers, with the support from the Federation Council, the State Duma, the Ministry for Development of the Far East and Arctic, the Foreign Ministry, and other ministries and authorities. TASS was the event's general information partner.