Keppel Land Ltd : Keppel Land China is named Top 10 ASEAN Companies in China for the second consecutive year

Mr Ang Wee Gee, CEO of Keppel Land, is also listed among the Top ASEAN Entrepreneurs in China

Keppel Land China Limited (Keppel Land China) has been conferred the Top 10 ASEAN Companies in China award by the China-ASEAN Business Council (CABC). Mr Ang Wee Gee, CEO of Keppel Land Limited (Keppel Land), has also been named one of the Top ASEAN Entrepreneurs in China.

The award, in its second year, took place in Beijing this evening in the presence of Mr Yu Ping, Vice Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Mr Ge Zhirong, State Department Counsellor and President of the China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association, and Mr Xu Ningning, Executive President of China-ASEAN Business Council. Receiving the award on behalf of Keppel Land China is Mr Ho Cheok Kong, President of Keppel Land China. This is the second consecutive year that Keppel Land China has been honoured for its economic and social contributions to the local Chinese communities.

Mr Ang Wee Gee, CEO of Keppel Land, said, "Our heartfelt thanks to the judging panel for recognising Keppel Land's contributions in China over the last two decades. Over the years, we have stayed the course and grown in tandem to meet the country's urbanisation needs. Today, our portfolio of award-winning residential, commercial, waterfront and lifestyle developments across 10 Chinese cities is distinguished for its quality and hallmark excellence.

"Looking ahead, we are confident that Keppel Land is well positioned to continue to grow with China. We will leverage our expertise and experience to scale up in the high-growth cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu and Wuxi, where Keppel Land China has established a firm foothold. We will also continue to play our role as a responsible corporate citizen through balancing economic viability with efforts in environmental protection and social responsibility."

Keppel Land in China

Keppel Land China is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Keppel Land, which is the property arm of the Keppel Group.

In 1994, the Keppel Group led the Singaporean consortium in the launch of the Suzhou Industrial Park project, a landmark bilateral project between the Chinese and Singapore governments. Keppel introduced its Singapore experience and knowledge of urban construction into the planning and development of the Suzhou Industrial Park, helping to lay a solid foundation for its sustainable economic and environmental development. The Suzhou Industrial Park marks its 20th anniversary in 2014.

Recognising the potential for Kunming as a lifestyle golfing destination, Keppel Land partnered the municipal government and embarked on the development of the Spring City Golf & Lake Resort (Spring City) project in 1998. The golf course is sculpted along natural land contours to preserve mature forestation and indigenous flora. Trees and wildflowers were replanted, and natural habitats of local fauna recreated to ensure a balanced eco-system. These efforts won Spring City the globally-recognised Audubon International Classic Sanctuary accolade in 2010, a reflection of Keppel Land's commitment and effort towards environmental sustainability. Today, Spring City continues to maintain its repute as an international award-winning eco-resort that has put Kunming and China on the world map as a coveted golfing destination.

In 2007, the Keppel Group was entrusted to lead the Singapore private sector consortium for another landmark bilateral cooperation project, the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (Tianjin Eco-City). Keppel Land China is an investor as well as developer cum project manager for the Keppel Group development in the Start-Up Area within the Tianjin Eco-City.

Committed to further grow with China, Keppel Land and China Vanke Co., Ltd (Vanke), China's leading property developer, entered into a strategic alliance in 2013 that will see both companies jointly develop properties in China and Singapore. Leveraging Vanke's deep insight and keen knowledge of the Chinese market, the partnership will put Keppel Land China in good stead as it looks to deepen its presence in high-growth cities in China.

As at end-2013, Keppel Land has a portfolio of assets worth S$5.8 billion (RMB28.2 billion) in China, comprising more than 20 projects in 10 cities, with a focus on five cities, namely Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu and Wuxi. Its land bank of 5.6 million sm translates to a pipeline of about 40,000 homes. To date, Keppel Land China has sold over 22,000 homes and completed over 20,000 homes.

Shaping a sustainable future

Beyond sustaining growth in its businesses, Keppel Land China is also committed to contributing and enriching lives of communities wherever it operates.

As a green developer, Keppel Land China's environmental management system is aligned with the international ISO 14001 requirements. The Company has also set the goal of achieving at least the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore's (BCA) Green Mark Gold rating, or its equivalent, for all its new projects overseas. To date, nine of Keppel Land China's projects have achieved the BCA Green Mark Gold rating.

Safety is also an integral aspect of Keppel Land China's operations. The Company aims for zero incidents and zero-harm at the workplace so that everyone who comes to work goes home safe. Keppel Land has received the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS) 18001 certification for the successful implementation of the system at all its development projects and properties under management in Singapore, China and Vietnam. An international standard, OHSAS 18001 enables organisations to manage and control occupational health and safety risks as well as improve performance.

As a responsible corporate citizen, Keppel Land China aligns its business practices to international benchmarks, including the ISO 26000 Guidelines on Social Responsibility and the United Nations Global Compact's universal principles. As the Company's operations take it into the heart of the local communities overseas, it strives to positively impact and contribute back to these communities wherever it operates.

For instance, Spring City is a long-term supporter of voluntary doctors and nurses who provide free cataract operations to needy villagers through Bless China International, a non-government organisation. The Company also believes in investing and providing opportunities to talented local youths. Under the Junior Academy Programme at Spring City, middle-school students from neighbouring villages are given the opportunity to be trained in golf. Promising students from the rural areas are selected and given training from a young age to provide them with career prospects as a professional golfer.

About Keppel Land China

Keppel Land China Limited (Keppel Land China) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Keppel Land Limited (Keppel Land), which is the property arm of the Keppel Group.

Keppel Land is one of the largest property companies by total assets on the Singapore Exchange. The Company focuses on a two-pronged strategy of property development for sale and property fund management.

One of Asia's premier property developers, Keppel Land is recognised for its sterling portfolio of quality award-winning residential developments and investment-grade commercial properties, as well as high standards of corporate governance and transparency.

Keppel Land China is focused on developing township, residential, waterfront, commercial and mixed-use developments in China. Over the years, the Company has been expanding its footprint in China to 10 cities. To date, Keppel Land China has over 20 projects with a total GFA of 7.7 million sm, which translates to about 40,000 homes.

Keppel Land China is also an investor as well as developer cum project manager for the Keppel Group development, in the landmark Singapore-China government project, the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City.

About China-ASEAN Business Council

The China-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) consists of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry, national business leaders, well-known enterprises and experts from ASEAN member states.

The judging panel for the Award comprised the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, ASEAN Ambassadors, and various commerce chambers from ASEAN and China. Companies were assessed based on their scale of investment, their rate of development in China, contribution to economic progress and philanthropic efforts.

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