Singapore, Indonesia agree to launch green lane for essential business and official travel

Singapore and Indonesia have agreed to set up a reciprocal green lane (RGL) for essential business and official travel between both countries. Applications for the RGL will open on Oct 26 and travel will start soon after, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Monday. The agreement comes less than two months after MFA said on Aug 25 that Singapore and Indonesia planned to begin talks for a reciprocal green lane. Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi told CNA last week the two countries were in the final phase of negotiations for the green lane, and that preparations were being made on the ground to facilitate arrivals. MFA said on Monday that Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Mdm Marsudi have reaffirmed the “excellent and longstanding relations” between Singapore and Indonesia in a telephone conversation. <br/>