Expanding Green Lane for Business Travel to China without Sponsors
Ministry of Trade and IndustrySpeakers
Summary
This question concerns a request by Mr Christopher de Souza to expand the Singapore-China Fast Lane by allowing business travel without sponsors to assist small businesses. Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing explained that sponsoring hosts and controlled itineraries are essential measures to minimize community exposure in lieu of a quarantine period. He noted feedback regarding challenges such as securing invitation letters and the 14-day quarantine imposed by certain local authorities. Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing stated that these requirements remain integral to the safety protocols for both countries. The Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have conveyed these concerns to Chinese authorities to improve the arrangement.
Transcript
21 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Trade and Industry whether the Ministry will consider expanding the Green Lane to allow for business travel to China without sponsors so that small businesses may continue travelling for business to China.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: The Singapore-China Fast Lane was launched on 8 June 2020 to facilitate essential cross-border travel between Singapore and six Chinese provinces and municipalities1. It was Singapore's first fast lane arrangement with a foreign partner, and China's first with a Southeast Asian country.
The Singapore Government has received feedback from the Singapore business community on the challenges our businesses face in obtaining approval from the Chinese authorities for Fast Lane travel to China. These include difficulties in securing Fast Lane Letters of Invitation (LOI)2, the restrictions under a controlled itinerary, and being subjected to a 14-day quarantine by some local authorities. Requirements such as the need for a controlled itinerary supervised by a sponsoring local government agency or host company are integral to the Fast Lane. They are intended to minimise the exposure of such Fast Lane travellers to the broader community, in lieu of a quarantine period. This applies to Fast Lane users of both Singapore and China.
MTI, together with MFA, has conveyed the feedback from our business community to the relevant Chinese authorities. We will continue working with the Chinese authorities to improve the Fast Lane to bring greater benefit to the business communities of both countries.