(a) whether Japan is planning to issue multiple entry visas for Indians coming to Japan;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and the benefits to be received by Indians by the said move;
(c) the time by which these multiple entry visas are likely to be issued; and
(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (GEN.RETD. V.K. SINGH)
(a) Yes.
(b) & (c) The Japanese side has informed the Ministry of External Affairs that they would issue multiple entry visas for short-term stay to Indian nationals (ordinary passport holders) for a period of stay of 15 days with a validity up to three years with effect from 3rd July, 2014. Those who have fulfilled certain conditions and who have an Ordinary Machine-Readable passport (MRP) in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards are eligible to apply in any of the Japanese Embassies/Consulates in India and abroad. It is expected that this will help increase the number of Indian tourists to Japan and improve convenience in business activities, thus further increasing exchanges between India and Japan.
(d) India has a Strategic and Global partnership with Japan. There is a mechanism of Annual Summit Meeting. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid an official visit to India on 25-27 January 2014 where he was also the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations. Both sides have an elaborate architecture of dialogue mechanisms in all sectors, which are being held regularly. Some specific infrastructure projects being pursued with financial and technical assistance from Japan include the Delhi Metro, Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, and the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.