On August 17 (Moscow time), according to TASS news agency, Russian Minister of Development for the Far East and Arctic region - Mr. Alexey Chekunkov - said that India, South Korea, Southeast Asian countries and the UAE are increasingly interested in using the Northern Maritime Route (NSR) for regular transportation.
Mr. Chekunkov said that interest in Russia's maritime route running along the Arctic coast is increasing, not only from China but also from many Asian and Middle Eastern countries.
We see increasing interest from countries in the Northern Sea Route. This is not only related to China, a country that aims to increase the volume of goods transported through this route to 20 million tons by 2030, but also India, South Korea, Southeast Asian countries and the UAE," he said.
According to Minister Chekunkov, more and more businesses are considering NSR as a regular transport route.
The Northern Maritime Route runs through the Arctic Ocean along Russia's northern coast, connecting Europe with the Asia-Pacific. This route is considered an alternative transport corridor to traditional maritime routes such as through the Suez Canal.
Interest in NSR is also increasing in the context of geopolitical instability disrupting or increasing risks to some international transport routes. Russian officials believe that this is one of the factors driving transport companies to seek alternative routes.
Previously, Russian officials said that China is playing a prominent role in the development of NSR. A regular container transport route through the Arctic has been deployed, with the transportation time from China to Europe possibly being significantly shorter than the journey through the Suez Canal.
India has also repeatedly expressed interest in developing NSR and maritime corridors connecting with Russia. Several plans are being considered to strengthen trade connections between India and Russia's Arctic region.
However, this route still faces many challenges, including harsh ice conditions, high operating costs, seasonal operating hours, ship insurance issues and risks related to sanctions against Russia.
