Joint Press Statement by H.E. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and H.E. Motegi Toshimitsu on the Resumption of Essential Business Travel between Singapore and Japan

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT BY

H.E. DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE

REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

AND

H.E. MOTEGI TOSHIMITSU

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN

ON THE

RESUMPTION OF ESSENTIAL BUSINESS TRAVEL

BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND JAPAN

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Motegi Toshimitsu welcomed the ongoing negotiations on the setting up of a “Residence Track” as early as September 2020. This will provide for a special quota of cross-border travel by business executives and business professionals (work pass holders) with the necessary public health safeguards, including the 14-day stay home notice upon arrival in the respective countries.

The Ministers also agreed on the major points on the Business Track (Reciprocal Green Lane), in which short-term business travellers will be subject to a controlled itinerary for the first 14 days, with the necessary public health safeguards. They tasked officials to finalise the agreement by early September 2020, with Singapore being amongst one of the first countries with which Japan will begin this exchange of business travellers.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, JAPAN

13 AUGUST 2020