Singapore’s minister for trade and industry Chan Chun Sing has announced a new initiative that will enable entry from “a limited number of business, official, and high economic value travellers from all countries who are coming to Singapore for short-term stays of up to 14 days”.
The Connect@Singapore scheme, which will begin in mid-January, will “allow us to establish ourselves as a safe and secure meeting place for travellers who may not otherwise be able to conduct face-to-face meetings due to travel restrictions between their countries,” said Chan.
The scheme will require travellers to stay at an appointed facility during the entirety of their visit to the country, undergo regular routine rapid Covid tests during their stay and strictly observe all prevailing safe management measures in the country.
Chan made the announcement while visiting the Connect@Changi centre, a joint development by Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Temasek, serviced apartment provider The Ascott Limited, Changi Airport and others. The centre has been proposed as a potential facility for the new scheme, with other facilities approved later.
Connect@Changi is located at Singapore Expo halls 7 and 8, a five-minute drive from the airport, and includes more than 670 guest rooms and some 170 meeting rooms that can accommodate a range of meeting sizes, from four to 22 attendees.
The rooms are fitted with air-tight glass panels for complete segregation, even while meeting each other face-to-face and entrances, exits and ventilation systems for both guests and Singapore-based visitors are separated. The centre also offers more traditional features, such as high-speed internet access and audio-visual equipment.
Singapore also operates a Reciprocal Green Lane scheme that allows short term visits from seven countries, including China, Malaysia, Japan and Germany.