Indonesia, South Korea Establish Essential Business Travel Corridor

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and her South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-Wha on Wednesday arranged a bilateral "essential business travel corridor" that allows essential business and diplomatic trips amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I hereby announce that the essential business travel corridor arrangement with South Korea has been agreed upon and will be inaugurated on Aug. 17, coinciding with Indonesia’s 75th Independence Day,” said Minister Retno in an online press conference. 

This marked the second essential business travel corridor arrangement, with the previous one being established with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on July 29, 2020. 

“I would like to reiterate that the travel corridor with South Korea is intended for essential businesspeople and members of the diplomatic community, not tourists,” said Retno Marsudi.

This policy is expected to provide leeway for state departments and businesses from Indonesia and South Korea to help reconnect and resume projects that were halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read: Indonesia Needs to Learn from South Korea for COVID-19 Handling

SUCI SEKARWATI