JAPAN AND SINGAPORE OPEN BUSINESS “GREEN LANE”
Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu (pictured above) and Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan have announced the conclusion of negotiations between their nations on a reciprocal “Green Lane” for business travel.
It’s the first time such a business track has been implemented, setting the stage for other major trading partners to follow suit. The World Travel and Tourism Council has been calling for such a corridor between London and New York, so far, to little avail.
The Business Track, which will be launched on 18 September 2020, will facilitate essential business and official travel for residents from both countries. It is the first such framework that Japan will implement with another country, and will help restore connectivity and support economic recovery for Japan and Singapore.
The Business Track will allow the safe resumption of cross-border travel and business exchanges with the necessary public health safeguards in place. These safeguards include pre-departure and post-arrival testing as well as the need to adhere to a controlled itinerary for the first 14 days in the receiving country, rather than total isolation.
Operational details including the requirements, health protocols and application process will be published on the website of the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/cp/page22e_000925.html) and the SafeTravel website (safetravel.ica.gov.sg) by 18 September 2020.
Photo – top of page: Toshimitsu Motegi – Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs – by Greg Webb / IAEA