MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. Over the next 10 years, the main and auxiliary industries that ensure the development of regions adjacent to the Northern Sea Route will need 184,000 workers, Minister for Development of the Far East and Arctic Alexey Chekunkov said in an interview with TASS.
"The growing investment activity has been warming up the labor market. The additional staffing demand in the main and auxiliary industries that ensure development of regions adjacent to the Northern Sea Route will exceed 184,000 people over two coming five-year periods," he said.
According to the minister, 7,500 specialists will be needed for the Arctic fleet's new vessels alone. "Another 75,000 people will be of demand in mining, 40,000 - in manufacturing, and 25,000 - in construction. High demand for specialists has been accumulating in the social sphere," he explained.
The cost of investment projects implemented in the Arctic is more than 35 trillion rubles ($416 billion). "This cost takes into account the projects implemented by business residents of the Russian Federation's Arctic Zone, who enjoy a wide range of benefits and incentives. More than 1,000 investment projects are being implemented using state support mechanisms, and they have attracted more than 2 trillion rubles in investment ($24 billion), and 45,000 jobs are being created. Almost 300 new enterprises have been put into operation," he added.
The Northern Sea Route's development
Major Arctic projects are related to the Northern Sea Route (NSR), he continued. Some domestic export cargoes as well as foreign shipping companies have been using the Northern Sea Route as an alternative to the southern route via the Suez Canal.
"Over two years, the number has doubled, to 14 voyages. 37.9 million tons of cargo were transported along NSR in 2024. Cargo traffic is planned at up to 109 million tons for 2030. The NSR development plan to 2035 is being implemented - it includes 155 events with investments of about 1.8 trillion rubles ($21 billion). NSR's financial model is being formed, it will link the needs of shippers with the infrastructures development, including the icebreaker fleet, with identifying possible financial sources," the minister said.