Indonesia, Japan agree on business travel corridor amid the pandemic

Bogor, West Java (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian and Japanese governments agreed on travel corridor that allows people to travel between the two countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The travel corridor agreement was discussed at a bilateral meeting between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga at Indonesia’s Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java on Tuesday afternoon.

“Prime Minister Suga and I have agreed on the importance of establishing a Travel Corridor Arrangement for essential businesses,” the head of state said in a joint press statement.

The foreign ministers of the two countries will hold discussions to determine the details of the plan within a month, the president added.

“We are sure to reopen trips between the two countries for business people, including nurses and care givers within the framework of the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA),” PM Suga said.

He added that the reopening of reciprocal travel for the two countries should be done immediately for short-term business purposes by relaxing self-isolation measures for 14 days after entering the destination country.

The visit of PM Yoshihide Suga to Indonesia was a series of his visits after being inaugurated last September, replacing Shinzo Abe who resigned for health reasons.

The Japanese prime minister will be in Indonesia until Wednesday (October 21).

The Japanese PM’s visit is the first visit of a head of government to Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reporting by Indonesia Window