09.12.2025
In Saint Petersburg, the Chilingarov Forum Arctic: Present and Future has begun. Hundreds of experts have gathered at the Expoforum.
At the center of the Forum and its plenary session is the transformation of ideas and initiatives into tangible results, with an emphasis on the practical steps needed to implement Arctic projects and fulfill the directives of the President of the Russian Federation to ensure a sustainable future for the macroregion. The Arctic is not only a source of resources and logistical routes but also a unique cultural space — the home of small-numbered peoples. In his report, Igor Barinov, head of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs of Russia, addressed how to protect the traditional way of life of the Small-Numbered Peoples of the North and ensure their sustainable development amid the rapid industrial expansion in the region.
Russia’s Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs takes a systematic approach to protecting the rights and traditional lifestyle of the Small-Numbered Peoples of the North. The main goal is to create conditions for their full economic participation and to support their transition from recipients of assistance to fully empowered participants in economic relations. The 15th International Forum will be held in Saint Petersburg on December 9–10, 2025. More than 400 speakers from Russian regions and foreign countries will take part in the program, which includes 40 sessions across 8 tracks, covering the full range of Arctic-related issues.
