Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy in the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev held a meeting to discuss master plans for the development of towns in the Spitzbergen Archipelago where Russian citizens live, as well as the creation of an international science and education center, according to the press service of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic.

“The climatic stability of the entire world largely depends on the Arctic. We should therefore continue to study permafrost layers in the Arctic zone, as well as its atmosphere and hydrosphere. To accomplish this objective, a new international science and education center will be established in the archipelago,” Trutnev said.

There are also plans to expand the tourism industry in the townships of Barentsburg and Pyramiden. There are plans to annually receive 50,000 tourists by 2040. For this purpose, buildings will be reconstructed, and tourist routes established.