A strategic session "Northern Delivery: Reliable, Fast, Affordable" was held at the National Centre RUSSIA

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On December 3, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted the opening of a two-day forum, "Northern Delivery: Reliable, Fast, Affordable," organized by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, with support from Norilsk Nickel PJSC and the Rosatom State Corporation. Over 200 participants joined the event, which began with a round table discussion titled "Management System for Northern Delivery."

Northern Delivery refers to a series of measures and financial mechanisms designed to ensure the regular and uninterrupted supply of essential goods to the remote areas of the Extreme North and equivalent regions. The delivery of cargo to these territories is accompanied by various challenges due to the harsh climate. Goods are transported by air, river, and sea, including through the Northern Sea Route. 

The session's business program was inaugurated by Gadzhimagomed Guseinov, First Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic. He highlighted the key innovations of the Federal Law "On Northern Delivery" and emphasized its successful implementation thanks to the coordinated efforts of all participants.

"We have already processed over 15,000 regional requests for the delivery of essential goods in manual mode. Back in March, when we started this work, over 1,500 containers were delayed. As of today, only two freight cars are experiencing slight delays, all thanks to the joint efforts of you, representatives of Russian Railways and regional authorities," said Gadzhimagomed Guseinov.

It should be noted that the Federal Law "On Northern Delivery" came into force on April 1, 2024. Before its implementation, there was no unified legal framework in Russia to regulate the processes, rights, and responsibilities of Northern Delivery participants. The new law has become an effective tool to ensure regular and uninterrupted supply to remote regions, reduce delivery times, and lower transportation costs. 

Currently, the program includes 21 regions, 170 municipal formations, and 2,950 settlements. Through Northern Delivery, more than two million residents of remote areas receive essential goods, as outlined in the Federal Law "On Northern Delivery." These include socially significant products, non-food essentials, medications, medical devices, fuel, and lubricants. According to the Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, the Northern Delivery program for the current year is 99% complete, amounting to over 3.4 million tons of goods delivered, including all adjustments.

"I want us to discuss today how to improve and refine the law and address existing challenges. The priority is ensuring uninterrupted cargo deliveries at affordable prices. We are responsible for the people in the Far North, and I hope that together we can develop valuable and practical solutions to make the law work at full capacity. This depends on us, and it is crucial that we do not halt this work," concluded Gadzhimagomed Guseinov.

Deputy Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Region Valery Semyonov, Deputy Governor and Chair of the Government of the Chukotka Autonomous Area Konstantin Solonsky, Deputy Minister for Civil Defense and Emergency Response of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Nikita Pavlov, Head of the Zapolyarny Municipal District in the Nenets Autonomous Area Nadezhda Mikhailova, and Anatoly Tolmachev, Head of the Department of Economic Development for the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area — Yugra, shared best regional practices for developing management systems for Northern Delivery. They also addressed the issue of forming a strategic reserve of goods and other pressing legal application matters.

The moderator of the opening round table was Inna Mikhalko, Deputy Director for Development at the ANO "Information and Analytical Centre of the State Commission for Arctic Development." 

On the first day of the strategic session, the venue hosted open discussions on topics such as "Northern Delivery Planning," "Northern Delivery Logistics," and "Mechanisms to Reduce the Cost of Northern Delivery." The thematic round tables featured experts from the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic and specialized federal ministries and agencies.

Participants reviewed common mistakes made by subjects when developing Northern Delivery plans, discussed the specifics of planning the supply of fuel and energy resources to power supply facilities, issues surrounding priority shipments and the identification of Northern Delivery goods, the need for route optimization, and other pressing matters. Experts placed special emphasis on challenges related to state regulation of prices, surcharges, and tariffs, the application of banking instruments to support participants in northern delivery, and the provision of budget loans to municipalities for the purchase and delivery of goods.

On December 4, the strategic session "Northern Delivery: Reliable, Fast, Accessible" will conclude with a plenary meeting titled "Northern Delivery: Initial Results and Development Directions." This session will feature representatives from the leadership of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, governors of Far Eastern and Arctic regions, and heads of relevant committees of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

The National Centre RUSSIA was established by order of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and to showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens on a permanent basis. Federal government agencies, state companies, corporations, and regions take part in the Centre’s work.

The National Centre RUSSIA is located at 14 Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, Moscow. The Centre is open from 10:00 to 20:00 every day except Monday.