During a meeting of the discussion club on the topic of “Cities and settlements of the Arctic zone of Russia: how to ensure sustainable development?”, organized by the Project Office for Arctic Development (POAD), representatives of the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (FEDC) spoke about the influence of creative industries on the economic development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and the Far Eastern Federal District. The participants also discussed the current state of Arctic settlements, natural challenges associated with global warming, and ways to ensure sustainable development of territories in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Vyacheslav Zavalin, Deputy Director of the Territorial Development Department of FEDC, spoke about the importance of the creative economy for northern cities. He noted that creative industries not only influence the economy, but also shape residents' leisure time, improve the quality of life and create opportunities for self-realization for residents of the Far East and the Arctic, make their lives more interesting and transform employment in cities - more and more young people want to work in the creative industries. By 2030, the share of the creative economy in the country's GDP should reach 6%, which poses the task for regions to develop the education sector and creative clusters.