CapitaLand pledges S$9 million to date to support COVID-19 relief efforts in Singapore, China, India and beyond

Latest contribution to India addresses nationwide healthcare needs with medical supplies, COVID Care Centre at CapitaLand’s business park and an oxygen-generating plant at a hospital

On 19 May 2021, the first batch of emergency medical supplies consisting oxygen concentrators were delivered to India

Singapore, 20 May 2021– CapitaLand and its philanthropic arm CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) have pledged almost S$9 million in total globally since the onset of COVID-19 to support the immediate needs of communities in which it operates, including Singapore, China and India.  In the latest round of aid committed this month for India, the Group’s donation will be used to procure more than 1,200 emergency medical supplies such as intensive care unit (ICU) beds, oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeters, ventilators, personal protection equipment (PPE) and surgical face masks, as well as to set up a COVID Care Centre at CapitaLand’s International Tech Park Bangalore.  CapitaLand will also support the installation and maintenance of a 60-metric tonne oxygen-generating plant at Stanley Government Hospital in Chennai.  To date, CapitaLand has committed about S$3.2 million (approximately INR 179 million1) in support of COVID-19 relief efforts in India. 

Oxygen concentrators to be dispatched to local government hospitals in Bangalore

Leveraging CapitaLand’s global network and resources, the first batch of emergency medical supplies comprising oxygen concentrators were delivered to India on 19 May 2021.  Over the next few weeks, more supplies will be delivered to government hospitals in the states of Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, including nine ICU beds to Jayanagar General Hospital and the Leprosy Hospital in Bangalore.

Mr Jonathan Yap, President, CapitaLand Financial

"CapitaLand has been contributing to the local community in India for 27 years; and it is more important than ever that we stand in solidarity with India during this difficult time.  This unprecedented global crisis calls for unprecedented unity.  We are doing everything we can to take care of our employees in India and stepping up our help to address critical needs across the nation.  CapitaLand is mobilising our resources in various countries and in India to ensure that vital medical supplies and support reach those most affected.

We have also set up a COVID Care Centre at our business park to provide additional healthcare support to employees, tenants and the neighbouring Bangalore Whitefield community.  We are thankful to like-minded partners like Temasek Foundation for joining our efforts to help the vulnerable impacted by the pandemic.  Through our collective efforts, we believe that India will emerge stronger from this crisis.”

Mr Jonathan Yap, President, CapitaLand Financial
Mr Vinamra Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer, Business Parks, CapitaLand India

“India is going through a trying time right now.  We have been working closely with the state governments where we have presence, to identify the needs of local hospitals and ensure that emergency medical supplies are procured and delivered as soon as possible.  Through CHF, our efforts on the ground have been significantly boosted.  We are also teaming up with our customers, partners, suppliers and service providers to enhance our support as the situation evolves.”

COVID Care Centre at International Tech Park Bangalore
Oxygen concentrators to be dispatched to local government hospitals in Chennai

To provide medical support for the Group’s employees, tenants and the neighbouring Bangalore Whitefield community who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, CapitaLand has set up a temporary COVID Care Centre at International Tech Park Bangalore.  The centre will be operated by private and government hospitals and equipped with 28 beds and medical supplies such as oxygen concentrators and cylinders.  An emergency ambulance will also be available for transporting patients from the centre to a hospital.

CapitaLand and its wholly owned lodging business unit, The Ascott Limited, will also provide oxygen concentrators to the COVID-19 facility at King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research in Chennai. 

Since April 2020, CapitaLand has dispatched more than 100,000 face masks, hand sanitisers, high flow nasal cannula ventilators, oximeters, PPE and thermal scanners to frontline workers in Bangalore, Chennai and Pune.  CapitaLand also donated an ambulance each to the Health Departments of Chennai and Hyderabad.  In October 2020, 95 smart tablets were distributed to students from low-income families at Sri Guru Harkrishan Public High School in Bangalore to enable them to attend lessons online at home.  

In March 2021, CapitaLand donated N95 masks and PPE to Sri Shankara Cancer Foundation in Bangalore as well as distributed rations and safety care kits to the elderly and homeless at a shelter run by The Earth Saviours Foundation in Gurgaon.  In April 2021, CapitaLand conducted two vaccination drives in International Tech Park Bangalore and International Tech Park Chennai, Taramani for its support staff, employees and their family members. 

CapitaLand’s presence in India

CapitaLand has a strong presence in India with a portfolio of over 20 business and IT parks, industrial, lodging and logistics properties across seven cities – Bangalore, Chennai, Goa, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune.  80% of the portfolio is under Ascendas India Trust (a-iTrust) and two private funds - Ascendas India Growth Programme2 and Ascendas India Logistics Programme3, and 20% is under its balance sheet. 

CapitaLand has deep expertise in India across the full real estate value chain - from owning, developing and managing properties to fund management through a-iTrust and private funds.  CapitaLand is a key contributor to India’s IT industry development, having pioneered the renowned International Tech Park Bangalore in 1994. 

Please refer to Annex for highlights of CapitaLand’s philanthropic support for the communities impacted by COVID-19 globally.

  • Annex - Highlights of CapitaLand’s philanthropic support for the communities impacted by COVID-19 globally

    Since 27 January 2020, the Group has pledged almost S$9 million to support the immediate needs of communities affected by COVID-19 globally.  CapitaLand’s support centres on those who are at-risk including healthcare workers, vulnerable elderly, underprivileged children and community care staff in various markets where it operates.  The Group focuses on needs such as healthcare, food security, social assistance, lodging and digital inclusion. 

    In Singapore, CapitaLand was one of the earliest companies to support the immediate needs of communities affected by COVID-19, contributing more than S$2 million.  CapitaLand has mobilised more than 1,000 staff and community volunteers and provided more than 47,000 meals and food bundles containing food, snacks and drinks, as well as laptops, refrigerators, rice and smart tablets to uplift more than 9,000 elderly and other vulnerable groups, including children from low-income families as well as community care staff.

    CapitaLand set up a RMB10 million (about S$2 million4) healthcare fund on 27 January 2020 to support China’s COVID-19 relief efforts.  Within two weeks of setting up the healthcare fund, the medical supplies were quickly dispatched to hospitals in Wuhan and subsequently across China.  The swift response attracted like-minded corporate donors in Singapore to contribute to the healthcare fund, doubling the fund size to about RMB20 million.

    CapitaLand donated 15,000 face masks to support vulnerable communities affected by COVID-19 in Japan.  These include 9,000 face masks to an infant care non-governmental organisation in Tokyo.  In Malaysia, about S$70,000 worth of groceries, hand sanitisers and surgical masks were distributed in Johor, Klang Valley, Kuantan and Penang to assist about 4,300 children and needy families impacted by the movement control order in Malaysia. 

    In Vietnam, US$1 million (about S$1.4 million5) worth of COVID-19 test kits were donated to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, a government agency that oversees the country’s social programmes, and Vietnam Ministry of Health.  CHF, together with CapitaLand's wholly owned lodging business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott) collaborated with Vietnam Red Cross Society to donate health kits to more than 1,400 students at four CapitaLand Hope Primary Schools and Kindergartens in Vietnam. 

    Ascott contributed its management and operational expertise as a lodging provider to enhance Singapore’s response to COVID-19; helping to care for healthy individuals and migrant workers in alternative accommodations.  In collaboration with CHF, Ascott raised a total of US$200,000 (S$283,0005) through its #StayHomeWithAscott campaign, by rallying the global community to curb the spread of COVID-19 by staying home.  Funds raised went towards Save the Children’s food security and assistance programmes, to support about 13,000 underprivileged children affected by the pandemic.

    For more information about CapitaLand’s support for the communities impacted by COVID-19, visit: https://www.capitaland.com/chfcovid19

Notes:

1 Exchange rate of S$1 to INR 56.05381.

2 The S$300 million Ascendas India Growth Programme was launched in 2013 with GIC as the principal investor.  The programme invests in greenfield and brownfield office developments in India including their complementary uses such as residential, retail and hospitality.

3 The S$400 million Ascendas India Logistics Programme was launched in 2018 with Temasek Holdings as the principal investor.  The programme targets to develop a portfolio of logistics and industrial spaces in key warehousing and manufacturing hubs.

4 Exchange rate of RMB1 to S$0.202.

5 Exchange rate of US$1 to S$1.415.

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