According to Aleksandr Krutikov, Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, the current level of practical interaction between the Russian Arctic regions and the Arctic regions of other countries is extremely low, which leads to the loss of many opportunities related to trade and the export of products produced in the Russian Arctic.

'As a part of the programme of our country's chairmanship in the Arctic Council, we intend to offer our regions and our partners in the Arctic Council a new programme to stimulate cross-border cooperation, interregional interaction, including among indigenous peoples, which will allow us to launch joint projects among the regions of the Arctic countries', said Krutikov.

The Arctic Council is an international organisation which promotes cooperation of the polar regions in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development. It was founded in 1996. It includes Russia, Canada, Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the USA. In 2021, the Arctic Council will be chaired by Russia.