Okinawa Prefecture and Changi Airport Sign MOU

The Governor of Okinawa Prefectural Government, Mr. Hirokazu Nakaima and Changi Airport Senior Advisor, Mr. Wong Woon Liong, have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the aviation network between Okinawa and Singapore.

Under the MOU agreement, Okinawa and the Changi Airport have agreed to work closely to promote tourism and trade exchange between Okinawa and Singapore as well as South East Asia, India and Australia.

Initiatives in the pipeline will include working with airline partners to create new direct routes between the two cities and promotion of these flights to increase the numbers of visitors from Singapore and other regions.

Regional promotions to the 1.2 billion residents of South East and South Asian countries will promote Singapore as the key travel hub to Okinawa.

Trade will also receive a boost with Okinawa aiming to work with enterprises with access to international air cargo logistics to grow distribution channels for Okinawan products to Singapore and neighboring markets. Okinawa is a robust exporter of reputable, healthy and high quality food including fresh produce, brown sugar lump, salt and sweet goods.

“It is a great honor for me to be here for the signing of the MOU between Singapore Changi Airport and Okinawa Prefecture. This MOU is aimed at enhancing direct air connectivity between the two cities. Changi Airport is keen to establish a direct link to Okinawa. The prefecture shares the common interest to promote tourism, trade and transport people from one destination to another,” said Mr. Wong Woon Liong. “With this non-stop flight inauguration, it will decrease flight time to Okinawa, and provide greater comfort and convenience to business and leisure travelers. To start with, we will work together with key travel agencies to launch charter flights between Singapore and Okinawa. This will create and further develop the Singapore-Okinawa market for the first scheduled direct flights. We are also planning to conduct marketing promotion activities together.”

Mr. Hirozaku Nakaima, Governor of Okinawa Prefectural Government, said, “Changi Airport is one of the world’s leading airports and remains a key travel hub for the 1.2 billion residents in the South East and South Asian region. Through this relationship with Changi Airport, we expect our prefecture’s aviation network will be further strengthened to increase tourism and air cargo.”