Governor of the Murmansk region Andrey Chibis noted the active social development of the region thanks to the contribution of Norilsk Nickel, Phosagro, EuroChem and NOVATEK companies.
Among other things, Chibis noted that the average salary of residents of the Murmansk region reached 95,000 rubles ($950) in the first half of this year.
The Murmansk region has ceased to be subsidized from the state budget, Chibis noted. “The growth of domestic regional product per capita over 4 years was up 2.5 times. In fact, 900 billion rubles were invested in projects in the Murmansk region. Projects have been structured for further implementation for 10 years ahead for another 1 trillion 200 billion rubles.”
The governor thanked Norilsk Nickel, PhosAgro, EuroChem and NOVATEK companies, which, according to him, are doing everything necessary to adequately pay the people who work for them. In addition, he noted, thanks to the agreements with each of these companies, social projects and programs that are important for the region are being implemented.
Andrey Chibis noted the efficient work of residents of the “Capital of the Arctic” advanced special economic zone and the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation overall. “Residents invested 192 billion rubles and created about 5,000 jobs. Thanks to this, we have seen an increase in the working-age population. The Murmansk region is a leader both in terms of investment volume and the number of residents,” said the head of the region.
Among the promising projects for the development of the region, Chibis named the construction of an LNG plant by NOVATEK. Another point of growth for the decade ahead should be the development of lithium deposits by a joint venture between Rosatom and Norilsk Nickel. In turn, the comprehensive development of the Murmansk transport hub, the modernization of the deep-water ice-free port of Murmansk and the construction of a railway to the western shore of the Kola Bay will make it possible to double the volume of cargo transportation by 2027.
“The issue of gas infrastructure of the region has been resolved, which will reduce the population’s expenses for housing and communal services and reboot the industry. What is mined today will be processed in the Murmansk region, in the Arctic, and, accordingly, will reduce costs,” the governor said.
The social sphere of the Murmansk region is actively developing, he added. In addition to national projects, it is implementing its own “Live in the North!” program, which takes into account projects in the field of healthcare and education, implemented in conjunction with the largest employers in the region. Among them are Arctic University, specialized classes, a “Uniqum” special project, etc.
According to the governor, the most important decisions of the State Council working group on the development of the Arctic are the extension of preferential mortgages to the Arctic region, the renovation of closed administrative towns and the development of pivot cities. He also drew attention to the need for financial support from the federal government to develop the social sphere and increase salaries of public sector employees.
