Arctic accounts for over tenth of Russia's national income - Patrushev
MOSCOW. Sept 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The Arctic region provides about 11% of Russia's national income, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said after a sixth international meeting of the Arctic Council member states.
"For the Russian Federation, this region is a crucial resource base. It provides about 11% of Russia's national income. This place creates 22% of all Russian exports, extracts and produces over 90% of nickel and cobalt, 60% of copper, 100% of barite and apatite concentrate," he told reporters on Thursday.
Arctic exploration is one of the priorities both for Russia and other leading countries, he said.
"Nearly 30% of global oil and gas resources were surveyed here. The fishing industry produces around 15% of the country's total output of fish products and other water biological resources," Patrushev said.