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An interagency meeting was held in Moscow to discuss the continued implementation of the programme of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023. The meeting participants recapped the initial results of Russia’s chairmanship and also discussed the country’s key projects and future plans on the Arctic agenda. In 2022, Russia hosted a total of 25 Arctic-related events in 10 regions that were attended by more than 20,000 participants.

«The extensive work that has been carried out as part of the chairmanship enables us to build up expertise that contributes to the sustainable development of the Far North. The implementation of planned measures and the launch of new initiatives provide a substantive contribution to the strategic development of the Arctic region. I am certain that Russia’s experience will have important value for all northern territories once the situation on the geopolitical front changes sooner or later,» said Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the Russian President and Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee for Russia’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023.

The meeting participants noted the effectiveness of holding Arctic-themed events and exhibitions dedicated to northern ethnic groups on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the Eastern Economic Forum in 2022. They proposed continuing the practice of including the Arctic agenda and themes of the Indigenous peoples of the North in the programmes of the Roscongress Foundation’s key business events. In addition, they noted the need to integrate the theme of Arctic ecology into the programme of the Nevsky International Environmental Congress in May 2023.

Special attention was paid to the promotion of creative industries in the North that has been initiated as part of Russia’s chairmanship. One of the most impactful projects implemented during the chairmanship was the ‘Soul of Russia. The North’ festival of audio-visual culture, which was held for the first time at the Eastern Economic Forum 2022. In an effort to develop an interregional dialogue, the participants proposed continuing the implementation of this and other creative projects.

In addition, a discussion was held about the need to prepare for several special events to showcase the results and achievements of Russia’s chairmanship. Such events include a fact-finding trip to Russia’s Arctic zone by representatives of foreign embassies as well as the establishment of a permanent platform for cooperation between the Indigenous peoples of the North at the Far East Street exhibition in Vladivostok as a legacy of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

Kobyakov specifically stressed the need to continue and further develop the best projects that have been initiated and implemented during Russia’s chairmanship. He noted that key measures and initiatives could be implemented with the involvement of other Russian regions after the chairmanship concludes.

Russia is chairing the Arctic Council in 2021–2023. A cross-cutting priority of the chairmanship is to ensure responsible governance over the sustainable development of the Arctic. The comprehensive programme of Russia’s chairmanship calls for promoting multilateral cooperation in such areas as the Arctic population, including Indigenous peoples, environmental protection, climate change, socioeconomic development, and the strengthening of Arctic cooperation. The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

18.11.2022