Cambodia and Japan yesterday signed an agreement that would pave the way for airlines to commence scheduled flights between the two countries.

The Air Service Agreements, which Japan has signed with nine out of 10 ASEAN member states prior to regional integration in December, grants airlines customs exemptions and determines safety and capacity standards for operators servicing both nations.

Japan’s Ambassador to Cambodia Kumamaru Yuji and Mao Havannall, secretary of state of State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia (SSCA), signed the agreement during a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Phnom Penh yesterday.

“This agreement will allow for the stable operation of scheduled flights between Japan and Cambodia and will further promote people-to-people and economics exchanges,” a press release from the SSCA said.

Koy Koung, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the agreement will eventually result in direct flights between the two countries and therefore ease transit connections for tourists and investors.

“Thousands of Cambodians now travel to other Asian countries such as Japan during our national holidays,” he said.

“And the ease of travelling will increase the number of Japanese tourists and investors coming to Cambodia.”

Koung said more than 200,000 Japanese visitors travelled to Cambodia during the past 12 months, making them the fifth largest visitor market to the Kingdom.