International Arctic Forum 2025 business programme published

The official website published the business programme of the ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ International Arctic Forum, which will be held on 26–27 March in Murmansk under the motto ‘To Live in the North!’. The Forum is organized by the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation.

“The Arctic is receiving unprecedented attention today. Natural resources and logistical opportunities make it a territory with fierce economic and geopolitical competition. Russia remains open for cooperation because the Arctic is an important part of international interaction. We will continue to discuss logistics, environmental protection and life in this region. Countries that withdraw from this cooperation will lose out. In terms of the Russian Arctic economy, three advanced development territories and the world’s largest free economic zone with an area of 5 million square kilometres have been created here. Almost 1,000 new projects have been launched with a total investment volume of over RUB 2 trillion, including RUB 800 billion already invested in the economy. Three hundred enterprises were put into operation, with 18 thousand jobs created. These are only the investments of residents of preferential regimes. The total volume of investment projects being implemented in the Arctic exceeds RUB 35 trillion. The Russian Arctic is a strategically important region for national security, economic development and international transport links. At the Forum, we will be addressing all key areas,” said Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District.

The Forum business programme in 2025 includes about 20 thematic sessions divided into four tracks: ‘The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route: Competing on the Global Stage’, ‘The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route: A Magnet for Investment’, ‘The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route: Developing Key Settlements’, and ‘International Cooperation and the Environment’.

“The Arctic is not only a unique region with the richest reserves of natural resources, but also a strategically important territory for the whole world. Its sustainable development, the use of innovative technologies and practices for the development of the Far North is a priority for Russia, especially in the current geopolitical situation. The business programme of the International Arctic Forum addresses the topics that are fundamental to the global agenda, including the role of the Northern Sea Route in the global logistics system, the formation of new approaches to mineral extraction, and the preservation of biodiversity to maintain environmental safety. The event will become a platform for consolidating the efforts of the government, business and scientific community for the integrated development of the Polar region,” emphasized Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the International Arctic Forum Organizing Committee.

One of the central tracks will be ‘The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route: Competing on the Global Stage’. Participants will assess the current state of the Northern Sea Route and identify strategic prospects for the Arctic in global logistics. In particular, experts will analyse the prospects for the development of the icebreaker fleet, port infrastructure, the opening of new trade links, ensuring that the route operates without being tied to the season, the growth of related economic sectors and other issues.

‘The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route: A Magnet for Investment’ track will discuss the improvement of support measures for businesses operating in the Far North, including through preferential regimes, as well as the development of mineral extraction and increasing the share of tourist trips to the Arctic Circle.

The ‘The Arctic and the Northern Sea Route: A Magnet for Investment’ track will be a platform for discussing infrastructure projects, government support for northern imports, and harmonisation of relations between business and indigenous minorities of the North. Special attention will be paid to opportunities for professional growth and career building in the Arctic as part of the Muravyov-Amursky 2030 human resources project.

The ’International Cooperation and the Environment’ track will bring together experts to discuss important issues of interaction between countries, as well as the role of business and government in addressing humanitarian and environmental challenges. Special focus will be placed on scientific research, including monitoring of geotechnical processes and development of measures to adapt to permafrost thawing. 

There will also be a presentation of the results of the International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Polar Bear Universe: Effective Cooperation in the Arctic’, which will be held on the eve of the Forum – from 18 to 21 March. The conference, held under the auspices of the International Arctic Forum, will be held in Moscow, Anadyr, St. Petersburg and Yakutsk, with a teleconference organized for the participation of the Arctic regions. 

A joint meeting of the commissions of the State Council of the Russian Federation on the Northern Sea Route and the Arctic, Efficient Transport System and International Cooperation and Export is scheduled as part of the business programme. 

The 6th ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ International Arctic Forum is a key platform for discussing important issues of socio-economic development of the Arctic territories, elaboration of multilateral mechanisms for joint disclosure and effective development of the powerful resource potential of the Arctic region.

Online registration for media and blogosphere representatives for the Forum events is open on the official website until 14 March.

More information is available on the official Forum website forumarctica.ru.