02/2021

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EASTERN ECONOMIC FORUM EVENTS
9 February 2021, TASSRussia expects to hold international forums in 2021
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Pankin spoke about plans concerning large international
forums in 2021. “As for leading business forums this year, we are cautiously optimistic. We do hope that our sanitaryand epidemiological situation will give us a chance to hold the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, theEastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, and the Russian Energy Week in 2021,” said Mr. Pankin.
At the same time, Deputy Minister noted that some of these events can be partially or fully held online.

tass.ru/politika/10658021

INTERNATIONAL ARCTIC FORUM EVENTS
3 February 2021, Lenta.ru

International Arctic Forum agenda discussed in Moscow
At a meeting with Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation Anton Kobyakov, Governor of
Murmansk Region Andrey Chibis presented discussion initiatives for this year's planned ‘Arctic: Territory of
Dialogue’ International Arctic Forum, as well as for the Russian Federation's chairmanship in the Arctic Council.
"It is important to continue developing region’s investment attractiveness abroad. As a promotion tool it isnecessary to restore one of the backbone industries in the country, namely the congress and exhibition industry. It
provides an opportunity to demonstrate our potential to a wide range of both Russian and foreign partners. I am
confident that soon it will be possible to defeat the pandemic and return to regular business activities,” said Mr.
Chibis.

lenta.ru/pressrelease/2021/02/03/forum

STATE POLICY IN THE FAR EAST AND THE ARCTIC
17 February 2021, Gazeta.ru

The first meeting of the Organizing Committee for preparing and supporting the RussianFederation's chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021-2023 was held
Issues pertaining to the preparation for the Russian Federation’s Chairmanship in the Arctic Council in
2021–2023 and the concept of the Russian Federation Chairmanship in the Arctic Council were on the agenda of
the first meeting of the Organizing Committee. The meeting was held under the leadership of the Deputy Prime
Minister of the Russian Federation – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in
the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev.
The meeting focused on discussing comprehensive measures for the development of Arctic territories,
environmental safety, transport support, and protection of indigenous minorities of the North. Particular attention
was paid to developing a roadmap of measures aimed at increasing the effectiveness of Russian participation in
the activities of the Arctic Council.
"The development of the Northern Sea Route, science and technology, environmental protection, defense
and security issues, and the development of Arctic deposits – this is an incomplete list of areas Russian specialists
are working in. It is possible and necessary to develop international cooperation in all these areas and involve ourforeign partners: scientists, experts, representatives of business and public organizations," Mr. Trutnev said.

gazeta.ru/gazeta/adv/13482086.shtml
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10 February 2021, TASSThe Government of the Russian Federation simplified checkpoint inspection proceduresin the Arctic zone
The passage of goods and transport through checkpoints in the Arctic zone will be accelerated by assigning
the power to carry out inspections to the customs authorities. The appropriate decree was signed by Mikhail
Mishustin. It is expected that this measure will reduce the costs for entrepreneurs and make doing business in theArctic region more comfortable.
The decision concerns different types of inspections: sanitary, veterinary, and phytosanitary. Previously
such checks were carried out by Rospotrebnadzor and Rosselkhoznadzor. A similar mechanism was previously
tested in the Free Port of Vladivostok and proved very efficient.

tass.ru/ekonomika/10664451
6 February 2021, TASS

New ministry for professional education and employment to appear in Primorye
The Ministry of Professional Education and Employment will deal with the training of personnel forsecondary education institutions, press service of the regional government reports.
The authorities expect that the new ministry will allow more effective training of personnel for the needs ofthe real sector of the regional economy. It is also expected to become a link between business and the education
system.
The agency is formed from the two structural divisions of the existing ministries of Primorye: Ministry ofEducation and Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. Staff from both units will be transferred to the new structure.

tass.ru/obschestvo/10639031
2 February 2021, TASS

Discounted airfare programme expanded to cover all Far East residents
Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree extending the subsidized air transportation programme to all residentsof the Far East. From now on, passengers of all categories registered as the Far Eastern Federal District residents
will be able to purchase tickets for flights that are subsidized by the state. The list includes 21 routes.
Previously, under the programme of subsidized flights to the Far East, Kaliningrad and Simferopol, only
citizens of Russia under 23 years old, men over 60 years old and women over 55, disabled people and membersof large families could purchase a discounted ticket in economy class.

tass.ru/ekonomika/10600689

ECONOMY OF THE FAR EAST AND THE ARCTIC
22 February 2020, Rossiyskaya Gazeta

Kamchatka to host ‘Far East: The Winter of Discoveries’ Forum
The Forum will start on 24 February in the Kamchatka territory as part of the Beringia 2021 winter festival.
Members of the government, business and expert community representatives will discuss the development of thehospitality industry in the territory and in the Far East in general. Key topics will include MICE-tourism, theinvestment potential of Kamchatka, as well issues of sustainable tourism.

rg.ru/2021/02/22/reg-dfo/na-kamchatke-projdet-delovoj-forum-dalnij-vostok-zima-otkrytij
317 February 2020, Interfax

Primorye became the most efficient territory in Russia in terms of livestock farming
Production growth in livestock farming in Primorsky Territory in 2020 compared to 2019 was 23.9%, thehighest figure not only in the Far East (growth of 1.9%), but also in the Russian Federation as a whole (growth of2%). The news is reported by the press service of the regional government with reference to Rosstat data.
As previously reported, almost RUB 4 billion are provided for agricultural development in Primorye in 2021.
The state support will make it possible to meet the targets and reduce the cost of production.

interfax-russia.ru/far-east/news/primorskiy-kray-dostig-v-2020-godu-samogo-vysokogo-v-straneindeksa-proizvodstva-v-sfere-zhivotnovodstva-pravitelstvo-regiona
15 February 2020, Kommersant

Ministry of Energy in talks with Ministry of Finance to subsidize fuel transportation to theFar East consumers
The point of the subsidy is to significantly reduce transport disparity in the region, which affects final
wholesale prices.
"We expect that the proposed solution will significantly increase the number of oil refineries that ship to theregion, create competition between them, and form stable fuel stocks in Zabaikalye for the summer period for all,including independent gas station networks," said Alexander Osipov, Governor of Zabaikalye Territory.

kommersant.ru/doc/4692594
11 February 2020, Izvestya

New town might appear on Sakhalin
Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Plenipotentiary Representative of thePresident of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District, announced plans to build a new town on
Sakhalin, which will be connected to the port of Korsakov.
"There are additional resources in the region, which we have decided to allocate towards improving thequality of life in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Additionally, we are considering building a town that will be built properly fromthe start," said Yuri Trutnev. Work is underway on the master plan of the new settlement.

iz.ru/1123274/2021-02-11/trutnev-zaiavil-o-planakh-postroit-na-sakhaline-novyi-gorod

NEW MECHANISMS FOR THE FAR EAST
DEVELOPMENT: SUCCESS STORIES
11 February 2021, Kommersant

St. Petersburg and Yakutia to join forces in Arctic vegetation research
The developments are conducted as part of the ‘North: The Territory of Sustainable Development’ scientificand educational centre. The laboratory is planned to be established by the end of the year. It will conduct researchon bioactive substances of the polar region plants.
A separate branch of joint work will focus on elaboration of the doublet storages for the national collectionof cultivated plants. One of the plans includes repurposing the existing mines in the Arctic.

kommersant.ru/doc/4684046
4 February 2021, Lenta.ru
4Arctic residents' liability protecting indigenous peoples comes into force
The standard approved by the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East andthe Arctic establishes a list of principles for relations with the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far
East of the Russian Federation and is aimed at lobbying their interests.
Now, according to the new code of conduct, resident companies are recommended to: assist in thedevelopment of small-numbered peoples, improve their quality of life and preserve their habitat; take into accountthe opinion of indigenous minorities when developing natural resources in their areas of residence and economicactivity; cooperate in improving the social and economic situation; and minimize the negative impact of theiractivities.

lenta.ru/news/2021/02/05/standart/
The Roscongress Foundation is a socially oriented non-financial development institution and a major organizer ofinternational conventions; exhibitions; and business, public, sporting, and cultural events. It was established in pursuance of adecision by the President of the Russian Federation.
The Foundation was established in 2007 with the aim of facilitating the development of Russia’s economic potential,
promoting its national interests, and strengthening the country’s image. One of the roles of the Foundation is to comprehensively
evaluate, analyse, and cover issues on the Russian and global economic agendas. It also offers administrative services,
provides promotional support for business projects and attracting investment, and helps foster social entrepreneurship andcharitable initiatives.
Each year, the Foundation’s events draw participants from 208 countries and territories, with more than 15,000 media
representatives working on-site at Roscongress’ various venues. The Foundation benefits from analytical and professional
expertise provided by 5000 people working in Russia and abroad. In addition, it works in close cooperation with 133 economic
partners; industrialists’ and entrepreneurs’ unions; and financial, trade, and business associations from 70 countries worldwide.
roscongress.org
ORGANIZER OF THE EASTERN ECONOMIC FORUM AND THE INTERNATIONAL ARCTIC FORUM

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