As CapitaLand marks the 20th anniversary of its listing on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited this month, it is unveiling its new business transformation framework, ‘The Next 20’ (TN20), which is built on the three core tenets of People, Sustainability and Digitalisation.

The framework supports CapitaLand’s vision of becoming a global real estate player as it continues to invest in its three strategic growth businesses: development across asset classes in its core markets, and global expansion through its fund management and lodging platforms.

Lee Chee Koon, Group CEO of CapitaLand Group, said: “As we reflect on CapitaLand’s first 20 years, we are taking this opportunity to reaffirm the company’s commitment to build a lasting business.”

“The impact of COVID-19 is expected to adversely impact CapitaLand’s financial performance for 2020. But CapitaLand’s fundamentals remain strong and our financial position continues to be resilient. Notwithstanding short-term challenges, we expect CapitaLand to emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis.”

TN20 – People

CapitaLand aims to be a progressive employer of choice that empowers its people to realise their potential in a post-COVID-19 economy. It is focused on growing talent and building its leadership pipeline, in addition to equipping staff with capabilities such as digital competency required for the business of today and the future.

CapitaLand’s Building Capability Framework was launched in August 2019 to develop a competent, adaptable and future-ready workforce, and about 90 per cent of CapitaLand employees in Singapore have attended at least one digital skills training programme.

This is supplemented by active programmes in attracting talent with the right competencies and recruiting promising young graduates for development to leadership positions.

Under the SGUnited Traineeships Programme and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme, CapitaLand has also committed to 90 job positions for fresh graduates and mid-career joiners respectively.

A screenshot from CapitaLand’s virtual 2020 Learning CAREnival, which encouraged staff to stay engaged and upskill themselves

TN20 – Sustainability

Through the eventual deployment of innovations identified from its inaugural CapitaLand Sustainability X Challenge, the company seeks to accelerate innovation for sustainability and collaboration within the built environment to meet the sustainability goals set out in its 2030 Sustainability Master Plan launched in October 2020. 

Focusing on the three themes of building portfolio resilience and resource efficiency, enabling thriving and future-adaptive communities and accelerating sustainability innovation and collaboration, the master plan builds upon the company’s sustainability achievements over the past 20 years to accelerate and amplify its sustainability efforts over the next 10 years.

Amid current and foreseeable challenges, CapitaLand remains committed to support the communities in which it operates. 

It has so far contributed more than S$2 million in Singapore and over S$6 million globally to support local communities impacted by the pandemic.

More than 1,000 staff and community volunteers were also mobilised as part of employee volunteerism. 

For its philanthropic efforts, CapitaLand has been conferred the “Organisation of Good” award, the highest honour in Singapore for giving to the community.

Lee Chee Koon, CEO of CapitaLand Group and director of CapitaLand Hope Foundation, receives the ‘Organisation of Good’ award from Singapore President Halimah Yacob at the 2020 President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards (Photo credit: National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre)

TN20 – Digitalisation

CapitaLand is charting its way forward in digital and tech transformation to future-proof its business model. Digital initiatives that drive progress and innovation to better meet customer needs are being accelerated. 

Through fast-tracking its digitalisation strategy, CapitaLand goes beyond a mere brick-and-mortar landlord to one that empowers its tenants to grow their businesses sustainably in an omnichannel environment.

CapitaStar, the Group’s digital retail eco-system, has expanded its membership base to 13 million in Singapore and China. Through data analytics, CapitaLand is able to work with its retailers to better customise shopping experiences that cater to shoppers’ preferences. 

The Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab, Southeast Asia’s first industry-led lab for developing smart city solutions, brings together leaders in the smart cities space to co-create and test innovations with local built environment and technology enterprises in a live environment at CapitaLand’s 5G-enabled Singapore Science Park.  

Together with industry partners, the company has committed up to S$10 million in the lab as a start to catalyse development and deployment of smart cities solutions in Singapore and overseas.

The Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab is located at The Galen in CapitaLand’s 5G-enabled Singapore Science Park. It is Southeast Asia’s first industry-led lab for developing smart city solutions

Across its operations, CapitaLand is focusing on building key enablers that give its businesses a competitive edge amidst digital disruption, such as using data analytics capabilities to enable faster data-driven decisions and using robots and sensors to boost work productivity.

CapitaLand is one of Asia’s largest diversified real estate groups with a portfolio spanning diverse real estate classes including commercial, retail, business parks, industrial and logistics, integrated development, urban development, lodging, and residential.