The Northern Sea Route as a driver of socio-economic development of the Murmansk region

The article examines the role of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as a tool for overcoming key socio-economic constraints in the development of the Murmansk region and ensuring its sustainable growth in the long term. It has been established that, despite the presence of significant resource potential and unique infrastructure (ice-free ports, nuclear icebreaker and navy fleet), the region has been facing a number of problems for a long time, including demographic decline, low economic diversification and limited logistics capabilities. The provisions of federal programs - the action plan for the development of the NSR until 2035 and the national project «Arctic and NSR» - are analyzed as an institutional basis for the implementation of comprehensive infrastructure solutions and attracting investment. A comparison of the main problematic blocks of the region's development with the measures implemented within the framework of the regional strategy «Living in the North» and NSR development activities is made. It is substantiated that the integration of the Murmansk region into global Arctic logistics chains and inclusion in infrastructure initiatives (port special economic zone, transport and industrial cluster) can ensure sustainable economic growth of the region by creating new jobs, modernizing basic industries and attracting investment. Particular attention is paid to the role of public policy and international cooperation, including with China, in forming long-term competitive advantages of the region in the context of a changing geoeconomic environment.