Georgia, Japan team up for visa facilitation
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
Georgia and Japan have teamed up to work on simplifying visa procedures for Georgian citizens wanting to travel to Japan.
Japan will lift its visa regime for Georgian citizens who hold diplomatic passports, according to Georgia's Foreign Ministry.
The ministry said an agreement, signed on May 2, noted that Georgian citizens with diplomatic passports will have an opportunity to stay in Japan for 90 days without a visa. The agreement will come into effect on June 1, 2015.
"It creates very good grounds for further continuation of the work to launch easier visa procedures for Georgian citizens to Japan," the ministry said.
The Japanese delegation's visit to Georgia also brought the two countries' collaboration in the fields of trade and investment on the agenda.
The start of Georgian-Japanese relations dates back to August 3, 1992, a year after Georgia announced its independence from the collapsed Soviet Union. Since November 2006, Georgia has maintained an embassy in Tokyo, and Japan has an embassy in Tbilisi.
Japan has extended foreign aid to Georgia for various economic and cultural development projects. Both countries have enjoyed good relations. The trade balance between the two nations is heavily in favor of Japan, with Japan exporting automobiles and manufactured goods, and Georgia exporting food products and chemicals
- - -
Follow Mushvig Mehdiyev on Twitter: @Mushviggo
Follow us on Twitter: @Azernews