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No. S 90

International Organisations
(Immunities and Privileges) Act

(CHAPTER 145)

International Organisations
(Immunities and Privileges)
(World Bank Group Organisations)
Order 2020

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Act, the President makes the following Order:

Citation and commencement

1. This Order is the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (World Bank Group Organisations) Order 2020 and comes into operation on 6 February 2020.

Definitions

2. In this Order —

“Office” means the Sub-offices collectively of the World Bank Group Organisations in Singapore;

“Office Representative” means the head of each Sub-office appointed by the relevant World Bank Group Organisation;

“Sub-office” means the office of any World Bank Group Organisation in Singapore;

“World Bank Group Organisation” means any of the following:

(a)	the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, including the International Development Association;
(b)	the International Finance Corporation;
(c)	the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.

Immunities and privileges in addition to those conferred by other written laws

3. The immunities and privileges conferred by this Order on a World Bank Group Organisation are in addition to, and do not derogate from, those conferred by any other written law, including —

(a)	the Bretton Woods Agreements Order (Cap. 27, O 1);
(b)	the International Development Association Act (Cap. 144A);
(c)	the International Finance Corporation Act (Cap. 144);
(d)	the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency) Order (O 16);
(e)	the Diplomatic and Consular Relations (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency) Order 2020 (G.N. No. S 87/2020); and
(f)	the Diplomatic and Consular Relations (World Bank Group Organisations) Order 2020 (G.N. No. S 88/2020).

Status of World Bank Group Organisations

4. Besides the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (which is such an organisation by reason of paragraph 3 of the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency) Order, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (including the International Development Association) and the International Finance Corporation are also organisations of which the Government and the governments of foreign sovereign Powers are members.

Immunities and privileges of World Bank Group Organisations

5.—(1) The premises of the Office have the like inviolability as is accorded in respect of the premises of an envoy of a foreign sovereign Power accredited to the President, and no public officer or officer of a statutory body may enter those premises except with the consent of, and under such conditions as may be approved by, any Office Representative.

(2) The consent mentioned in sub‑paragraph (1) is treated as having been given in the event of fire or other such emergency, if immediate protective measures are required.

(3) The World Bank Group Organisations have the like exemption and relief from all taxes and duties as may be accorded to a foreign sovereign Power accredited to the President, including the following:

(a)	goods and services tax on all imports;
(b)	goods and services tax in respect of goods and services consumed in Singapore by the World Bank Group Organisations;
(c)	tax in respect of utilities and telephone services supplied to the premises of the Office;
(d)	property tax payable by the Organisations on the premises of the Office owned by the Organisations or under a tenancy agreement entered into for the premises of the Office;
(e)	stamp duty in respect of any tenancy agreement entered into for the premises of the Office.

(4) A World Bank Group Organisation is exempt from any prohibition or restriction on the direct importation or exportation of any goods or publications necessary for the operations of the Office, except where such prohibition or restriction is mandated by international law obligations binding on Singapore.

(5) No goods or publications imported by a World Bank Group Organisation under the exemption in sub‑paragraph (4) may be sold in Singapore except under conditions agreed to between that Organisation and the Government.

(6) The restriction in sub‑paragraph (5) does not apply in relation to any goods or publication produced by any World Bank Group Organisation.

Made on 3 February 2020.

By Command,

TAN KEE YONG

Secretary to the Cabinet,
Singapore.

[MFA C800-273/02/09; AG/LLRD/SL/145/2010/6 Vol. 3]