ARCTIC PROJECTS AS A RESOURCE FOR PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL IMAGE OF THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

Peter Yu. Samoylenko
Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok
Russian Society of Political Scientists, Moscow

Abstract: The article deals with the problems of the Arctic and
Northern Sea Route development as a part of modern Russian policy
“Pivot to the East” and the advanced investments in Russian Far
Eastern regions. These processes are analyzed basing on Russia’s
strategic interests, cross-border logistics, tourism, maritime
education and shipping within the Arctic Ocean’s Russian zone.
The particular importance is laid on the international image of the
Russian Far East, that means the region is not only integrated into
Asia-Pacific but also connects transcontinental logistics corridors
through the land and sea routes. As well, the prospects for increase
of transit logistics’ volume through the Russian Far East and for
growth of cargo transportation through the Northern Sea route are
analyzed.
Keywords: Pivot to the East policy, Russian Far East, AsiaPacific region, Northeast Asia, sanctions, Arctic, Northern Sea
Route, international security, logistics, tourism, international image,
transport, shipping, maritime education

The experts admitted a long time ago that the Arctic projects
now being discussed in Russia are able to affect in principle not only
the Russian Arctic but also the Russian Far East. Considering their
content one can clearly note the connection between the marine
infrastructure on the Russian Pacific coast and the opportunities for
the development of Russia as a whole. Considering their content, one
can clearly note the connection between the abilities of marine
infrastructure on the Russian Pacific coast and the chances for
development of Russia as a whole and Far Eastern region in
particular. The development of Arctic natural resources and Northern
Sea Route (NSR), realization of tourist strategy in the Arctic –
practical implementation of all these tasks is connected with the
Russian Far East. As well, it’s also necessary to take into account the

historical features of the region’s development, its transportation
links with the Arctic, capacities of transport and logistics
infrastructure, the availability of specialized educational institutions,
the role of modern politics’ impact on regional events. Only a
comprehensive vision of these aspects can help to see in Arctic
projects the reserve possibilities for promotion of international
image of the Russian Far Eastern region.

NSR and sea transportation

The international image of the Russian Far East is mostly
associated with maritime transport, which is based on Far Eastern
ice-free ports and the of the Northern Sea Route [1].
A special role and the bulk of cargo turnover is implemented
by the major ports of Primorsky Region – Vladivostok, Nakhodka
and Vostochny. Considering this topic we can talk about a certain
continuity. Far Eastern ports largely influenced the international
image of the USSR in 1970-1990. It was through them that a large
volume of exports and imports of various cargoes went. Today, one
can again observe the strengthening of such role for Far Eastern
ports.
In this sense, there is both difference and similarity with the
past. The stable historical trends in the perception of the Far Eastern
ports include the following:

Seaports are traditionally an essential part of the region’s
economy and largely influence its development;
The port complex of the Far East is of high value not only as
a separate sector of the economy, but also as an integral part of
international economic processes and foreign economic activity [3];
It is the port cities that are widely known abroad as the points
of Russian capabilities in the Far East and Asia-Pacific. Vivid
examples are Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Korsakov, Vanino, Slavyanka,
Vostochny, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Magadan.
Regional seaports have always been traditionally associated
with the security and national interests of Russia. We can recall here
about Lend-Lease during World War II, Russian supplies to Vietnam
in 1960s etc. All these cargo transportation passed through Far
Eastern ports.

Along with the above-mentioned components, which are quite
stable for decades, new trends related to the port logistics of the Far

East are of great importance. Among them we can indicate the
following:

Transcontinental logistics

Cross-border logistics is a separate trend in the region’s
development. The modern Russian policy called “Eastern Vector” is
largely based on two key elements – the extraction and processing of
natural resources and their export abroad. Therefore, cross-border
logistics more and more becomes an area of direct (without
brokerage) economic activity within the region. An export of raw
materials from the Russian Far East abroad is combined with the
significant volumes of external import traffic from Asian economies.
All together it steadily “loads” the cargo port capacities and regional
transport corridors.
It should be noted that transcontinental logistics through the
Far East in one or the other form exists for quite a long time.
However, it is due to the realities of recent years (COVID-19
pandemic and Western anti-Russian sanctions) the volume of transit
cargo traffic through Russian territory has increased significantly
[5] .
The most of transcontinental logistics operations is currently
carried out in Euroasian direction, while through the Russian Far
East run multi-modal transport corridors connecting seaports and
railways.
The key trends of modern transit logistics which affect the
image of the Russian Far East in Asia-Pacific, are the following:

– For the last 10-15 years transit container traffic significantly
increased. This is reflected in the image change of the regional
seaports, they begin to be considered as sites, handling containerized
cargo. This trend also affects the re-profiling of port facilities for the
corresponding nomenclature of cargo, the change in the appearance
of regional port cities. On their territory the number of container sites
and other places for storing such cargo is growing.

The number of seaports is gradually increasing, especially in
Primorsky Region. This is due to emergence of specialized logistics
facilities, such as coal ports etc.
Transit logistics within the region leads to the formation of
economy’s sustainable sector aimed to service logistics demands –
bunkering of ships, modernization of roads and railways, re-profiling
and construction of new port facilities.

Tourism

Tourism in the region has suffered significantly due to COVID
and sanctions restrictions. Нowever, it becomes quite clear that the
role of this sector of economy (largely associated with the region’s
maritime image and transit logistics) is gradually increasing. The
authorities have taken various measures in line with the image of the
region as integrated into the Asia-Pacific region. For example, it was
proposed to organize a sea cruise company in Primorye for the
development of marine tourism in the Far East.
It should also be noted that the development of tourism in the
Far East has certain peculiarities related to the Arctic. Here we may
indicate at the following directions:

–development of sea cruises visiting the northern parts of the
Pacific Ocean and pre-polar Russian territory;
– development of natural and ecological tourism to such
Russian regions adjacent to the Arctic as Yakutia and Chukotka.

It should also be noted that the development of tourism in the
Far East has certain peculiarities related to the Arctic. Here are the
following directions:

The image of the Russian Arctic today is quite attractive today
for both international and domestic tourism, but the problem consists
of the lack of well considered market proposals and profitable tourist
routes.
In the coming years the trends of tourism development in the
Far East may be the following:

seasonal, associated with the sea and recreation;
ecological, integrated into poorly developed territories,
which include Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, such as Yakutia,
Chukotka, Kamchatka, the northern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.

(End of introductory fragment)

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