Singapore and China to launch dual-currency transit card

The world's first dual currency transport smart card is being developed for use in Singapore and the Chinese province of Guangdong.

Dubbed the SINO Visitor Pass, it will allow commuters to travel in both cities with just one card, according to a press release on Wednesday. The contactless smart card will be launched in the first half of 2014 by Singapore payment service provider EZ-Link and Guangdong Lingnan Pass Company.

The smart card will store both Singapore dollars and Chinese Renminbi. Besides public transport, it will also be accepted at more than 100,000 points in both cities, including retail and food and beverage.

Additional functions will be progressively added after the launch such as inter-city top-up features and the integration of e-tickets to hold products such as tourist passes.

"This means that in the future, visitors can also gain access to tourist attractions, food and beverage, retail deals and other lifestyle applications in both countries with this pass," said EZ-Link's CEO Nicholas Lee, in the statement.