Singapore and Japan are set to resume essential business travel, both countries said on Thursday, Aug. 13.

Agreement to be finalised by early September

Singapore is one of the first countries with which Japan will begin the exchange of business travellers, the foreign ministries from both sides said in a joint statement.

Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and his Japanese counterpart, Motegi Toshimitsu, have agreed on the "major points" of the Business Track (Reciprocal Green Lane).

The agreement, to be finalised by early September this year, will provide for a special quota of business executives and business professionals (work pass holders) to travel between the two countries, with the necessary public health safeguards to be in place.

Such safeguards include the 14-day stay home notice upon arrival in the respective countries, the statement said.

Both Foreign Ministers affirmed "excellent" bilateral ties

In a Thursday Facebook post, Vivian said he was glad to have met Toshimitsu in person, albeit with safe distancing measures in place.

Both ministers reaffirmed the "excellent bilateral relationship" between the two countries, and discussed international and regional developments as well, he said.

The resumption of essential business travel between both countries is "an important step towards restoring connectivity" and "restarting [both] economies in a timely and safe manner", he added.

Toshimitsu, who is currently in Singapore from Wednesday to Friday (Aug. 13 to 15) for an official visit, was also hosted to lunch by Vivian on Thursday.

According to a statement issued by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Thursday, Aug. 13, both ministers also agreed on "the importance of ensuring supply chain connectivity, modernising international trade rules for the digital economy, and forging partnerships to promote 'vaccine multilateralism' amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic". 

Toshimitsu is PM Lee's first foreign visitor since Covid-19 hit

The Japanese Foreign Minister also paid a courtesy call to Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana on the same day.

Taking to Facebook on Thursday, Aug. 13, to write about the meeting, PM Lee said he is happy to welcome Toshimitsu, whom he said was his first foreign visitor since the pandemic led to entry restrictions and border closures.

He added that Japan is one of the countries with whom Singapore is discussing setting up reciprocal "green lanes" to resume essential travel with safety precautions in place.

Reaffirmed close and longstanding ties

According to MFA's statement, PM Lee and Toshimitsu reaffirmed ties and also discussed how both countries can better promote greater economic integration in the region through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

In addition, PM Lee welcomed Japan's continued engagement with Asean, and agreed that both countries can further strengthen cooperation amid the Covid-19 pandemic such as the facilitation of safe cross-border essential business travel for both sides.

Top image adapted via Ministry of Communications and Information