CapitaLand, through its philanthropic arm CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF), is committing about INR157 million (approximately S$2.8 million) to provide India with immediate medical and healthcare support as the country fights against the second wave of COVID-19. The 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 INR 179 million (approximately S$3.2 million) in support of COVID-19 relief efforts in India.
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, who also oversees CapitaLand’s business in India, said: “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 Vinamra Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer, Business Parks, CapitaLand India, said: “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.”
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 Programme[1] and Ascendas India Logistics Programme[2], 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.
[1] 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.
[2] 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.