Japan is planning to offer visa-free travel for Kuwaitis and is on the verge of introducing waivers for diplomats, said a top official.
The Japanese government is looking to facilitate travel of Kuwaitis to Japan, taking several measures to realise this goal, said Japanese Ambassador Morino Yasunari.
“What we are now trying to do, is to exempt the Kuwaiti people who hold official and diplomatic passports from visas.
Kuwait-Japan visas
“We have already reached an agreement in principle with the Kuwaiti government and we are waiting for the final procedure,” Ambassador Morino said,
Asked if tourism visa would follow the approval of official and diplomatic passports, Ambassador Morino said: “Of course, that would be the next step. We will consult with the Kuwaiti government on how to facilitate the people’s movement”.
More than 5,000 citizens have visited Japan in the past year and there have been student exchanges between the two countries.
The comments were made on the sidelines of an Embassy reception commemorating the birthday of the Emperor of Japan. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Ambassador Morino lauded the longstanding relations between the two countries and said Japan would like to attract foreign investments from the country.
He said: “We are proud of our high-quality human capital and competitive R&D. Japan is aiming to reach JY100tn ($666bn) as the investment balance in 2030”.
On the upcoming Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, the Ambassador revealed that it was now one year and two months before the opening of the grand international event.
He said: “We hope the 2025 Expo, which will be held in Osaka and Kansai area, will be an epoch-making occasion to reaffirm the importance of mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation for peace and further development of the mankind.”