On November 12, the first kick-off meeting of the Northern Forum Working Group on Creative Industries took place.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the member-regions of the Northern Forum from Khabarovsk Krai, Yakutia, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Lapland (Finland), Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. There were also guests from other regions and countries: Hungary, Primorsky Krai, Surgut.

All participants shared their experience in developing the best creative projects in their regions, and took part in the discussion.

Arja Haikara, Chair of the Northern Forum Regional Coordinators Committee, Administrative Director of International Cooperation of the Regional Council of Lapland, Finland, welcomed all participants of the meeting and shared her vision of common problems of the creative industries in the regions.

Senator of the Russian Federation - representative from the Government of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra, member of the Regional Coordinators Committee of the Northern Forum Eduard Isakov thanked everyone for their participation and spoke about the development of the creative industries in the region that initiated the creation of this working group.

Executive Director of the International Organization of Northern Regions "The Northern Forum" Vladimir Vasilev made a welcoming speech.

Goodwill ambassador of the International Organization of Northern Regions "The Northern Forum", member of Public Chamber of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra, vice-president of the public organization "Spasenie Ugry", ethnomusician Vera Kondratyeva presented the participants with an ethnic song in her own performance and expressed hope for cooperation of indigenous peoples of the north in creative projects.

The participants of the meeting decided to approve all the working documents presented at the meeting, as well as hold similar meetings of the working group once a quarter.