The Government of the Murmansk Region and Nornickel have concluded a cooperation agreement to foster the development of the Murmansk Region and enhance its attractiveness for tourists and investors. The signing ceremony took place in Moscow on 17 October 2019. The agreement was signed by Andrey Chibis, governor of the Murmansk Region, and Vladimir Potanin, President of Nornickel.

The parties are intending to work towards improving the quality of life in the cities of the Company’s footprint and implementing social projects and initiatives that benefit Murmansk Region residents.

The cooperation between the government and big business will help Nornickel increase the effectiveness its own initiatives. The Company’s programmes are aligned with the highest social standards and social responsibility principles, and focused on production optimisation, replacement of outdated facilities and improvement of the environment in the region.

Another priority for the parties is to create favourable conditions for a more diverse economy and new business fields. To this end, the local government and Nornickel are planning to roll out joint educational projects to build a talent pool in R&D and education that will fit the needs of the Company. The new business fields include, among other things, tourism development (including Nornickel’s large-scale regional tourism infrastructure project), and promotion of social and cultural activities.

According to Andrey Chibis, governor of the Murmansk Region, socially-focused businesses play an important role for the region’s sustainable development.

“We have developed an extensive joint action plan. We do appreciate that industry majors look at the Murmansk Region not just as a place to locate their production facilities, but as a region of opportunities, including in our priority areas such as tourism and education,” said Andrey Chibis.

“The development of the areas where we work is our clear priority, with the Murmansk Region being one of Nornickel’s core regions of operation. We are happy to see that the region’s government is prepared to listen and engage with business. Mutual cooperation is key to the successful development both of the region and the Company. Our plans are ambitious and not limited to our core business. We are confident that that the Murmansk Region has great tourism potential and we want to make a difference by improving the environment and creating a large tourism infrastructure,” said Vladimir Potanin, President of Nornickel, at the signing ceremony.

Government of the Murmansk Region and Nornickel Join Forces to Boost the Region's Development