MFA Press Statement: Signing Ceremony of the Singapore-Brazil Partial Visa Abolition Agreement (VAA), 14 December 2011

Caption: Deputy Secretary (Asia Pacific) Vanu Gopala Menon and Brazilian Ambassador to Singapore Luis Fernando de Andrade Serra exchanging signed copies of the Singapore - Brazil Partial Visa Abolition Agreement. [Photo: MFA]

The Government of the Republic of Singapore and the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil have signed an Agreement on Partial Exemption of Visa Requirements for Ordinary Passport Holders which will allow ordinary passport holders from both countries to visit the other country for business or tourism purposes for a period of up to 30 days without the need to apply for a visa. Only individuals intending to stay for more than 30 days at a time, or for more than 180 days a year, or to seek employment, are required to apply for the appropriate visa. The Agreement will only enter in force after both countries have fulfilled their respective ratification procedures.

The partial VAA is a positive milestone in Singapore-Brazil relations as it will facilitate greater business and tourism flows between both countries.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
14 DECEMBER 2011

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REMARKS BY DEPUTY SECRETARY (ASIA PACIFIC) VANU GOPALA MENON AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY OF THE SINGAPORE - BRAZIL PARTIAL VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENT, AT THE MFA OLD TANGLIN OFFICERS' PRESS ROOM ON WEDNESDAY 14 DECEMBER 2011 AT 1600 HOURS
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Your Excellency Luis Fernando de Andrade Serra,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

1 Good afternoon.

2 I am most pleased to see so many friends, from Singapore and Brazil, at MFA this afternoon for the signing ceremony of the Singapore - Brazil Partial Visa Abolition Agreement.

3 The Partial Visa Abolition Agreement, or VAA for short, is an important milestone in Singapore-Brazil Relations. Once the VAA enters into force, ordinary passport holders from both countries will be able to enter and stay in the territory of the other country for business and tourism purposes, visa free, for a period of up to 30 days.

4 The signing of the VAA is a particularly welcome and timely development, especially when one considers the other important bilateral developments that have taken place over the past year, including the launch of the Singapore Airlines' thrice weekly direct flights from Singapore to Sao Paulo in March 2011, and the Singapore Government's decision to establish a resident Embassy in Brasilia, our first in Latin America.

5 Asia and Latin America are the two continents with the fastest growing economies of the 21st century. Both regions are increasingly becoming aware of the considerable potential of our direct partnership. Brazil makes up a large proportion of Latin America's economy, while Singapore is the business and logistical hub in Asia. It is therefore natural that our trade and investment links with Brazil have been growing steadily. We have an increasingly sizeable business community which travels frequently to Brazil. There is also increasing interest from Brazilians in Singapore as a tourist destination and vice-versa. About 11,335 Brazilian residents visited Singapore between January and October 2011 - a 45% increase over 2010. We have also seen the number of Singaporeans visiting Brazil increase by about 30% since the launch of the Singapore Airlines direct flight to Sao Paulo.

6 Geographical distance has long been citied as a barrier to further cooperation, but the VAA will make travelling to and doing business in both countries slightly easier. That must be the role of the Government - while we cannot reduce the physical distance, we must do what we can to remove the impediments and facilitate the increase in business and tourist flows from both sides. Such exchanges will in turn act as a catalyst to deepen and strengthen our already good bilateral relationship. I am sure after the signing, both sides will work hard to ensure that the VAA is properly ratified by our respective governments, as many of our friends here are now eagerly awaiting its actual implementation!

7 I am confident that all these positive developments over the past year will spur both sides to continue to look at how we can resolve other outstanding bilateral issues for the benefit of our people and business communities. We also look forward more exchanges of high-level visits between the two countries.

8 Before I conclude my remarks this afternoon, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Ambassador Serra, his embassy staff and colleagues in Brasilia, as well as all our agencies who had worked tirelessly to ensure that the VAA was completed before the end of the year. This is indeed a very welcome achievement that will ensure that Singapore and Brazil relations start 2012 on a positive note!

9 Thank you, or as they say in Brazil, Muito Obrigado! I also wish you all Happy Holidays and a peaceful start to the New Year.