In late January, a bill proposing the inclusion of two districts from the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area into the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation was presented to the State Duma. The bill will be discussed until mid-February, but many experts already consider the matter settled — Beloyarsky and Belozersky districts are expected to soon join the preferential zone, complete with a full suite of preferences and benefits for robust economic development. Mikhail Mishustin, the Head of Government, noted that these municipalities have significant investment potential in sectors such as mining, manufacturing, timber processing, energy, and tourism. He also pointed out the potential for establishing new logistics chains that would simplify the transportation of goods to the Arctic and the "mainland".

The document was drafted by the Government of the Russian Federation and received a personal endorsement from President Vladimir Putin. Natalia Komarova, Governor of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, announced this last summer. She stated that tax incentives and preferences should have a comprehensive impact on both the new entities of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area and the region as a whole. Residents are anticipating advancements in science and industry, along with a significant influx of investments.

This year, Surgutneftegas was the first to celebrate the news. According to the CEO, Vladimir Bogdanov, the transportation of hard-to-extract resources from the company's four fields should now become significantly easier. In his comments to RIA Novosti, he noted that the introduction of new regulations will facilitate hydrocarbon extraction in the Beloyarsk and Belozersk districts.

In a commentary for Kommersant, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev stated that incorporating new regions into the AZRF will create new jobs and generate approximately 4 billion in new tax revenues between 2024 and 2033. Currently, the anticipated volume of private investments stands at around RUB 3.5 billion. The Russian Government has identified promising investment areas such as expanding knowledge-intensive industries, developing geological exploration programs, and exploiting new resource deposits. Special focus will be given to preserving the traditional lifestyle, language, and culture of the local indigenous minorities.

The initiative to include certain regions in the AZRF originates from the country's entities. The Commission evaluates not only economic prospects but also the similarities between regions in terms of social and climatic characteristics with the geographical Arctic Circle. However, everything is in order with the Beloyarsk and Belozersk municipalities of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area. Both are classified as Far North regions, boasting vast territories and low population densities. The Berezovsky district is known as the birthplace of Tyumen oil, as it marked the beginning of hydrocarbon extraction in Western Siberia. The first gas field was discovered there in 1953, and today Gazprom actively operates the district. The Beloyarsk district is an area of interest for Surgutneftegaz and Lukoil. Approximately 25% of its territory is marshland, and 45% is forest. The Khanty, Mansi, and Nenets people live in these territories, engaging in reindeer herding, hunting, and fishing. In addition to industrial growth and infrastructure development, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area is also anticipating the growth of tourism. Like other Arctic regions, joining the AZRF will likely pave the way for the emergence of dozens of new hospitality businesses, ranging from campgrounds and hotels to restaurants and expedition bureaus.

The State Duma is expected to complete the review process for the bill to include new districts by early February. Currently, there's no reason to anticipate any significant changes to the document's text, so a new economic reality will soon commence in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area.