New Delhi: The Home Ministry has given in-principle approval to a plan which would facilitate leading businessmen from India and 15 other countries, including China and Japan to make visa-free short business trips to each other’s territory to boost commercial ties.
The member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a proposed mega trade agreement, will discuss the matter at its next meeting scheduled to be held in Busan, South Korea, from October 12 to October 16.
Sixteen-member RCEP comprises 10 ASEAN member states and their trading partners — India, South Korea, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand.
As per the proposal, a special business travel card, modelled on that of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), will be issued to leading businessmen of RCEP member countries for uninterrupted, visa-free short business trips to each other’s territory.
If the proposal gets clearance, bona fide business travellers with the special card will avoid visa documentation and long queues at airports.
