Singapore, 28 April 2021 – AIA Singapore today announced a new green pledge to mark its 90th anniversary in Singapore, pledging S$5 million to the National Parks Board's (NParks) registered charity, Garden City Fund, to plant 16,666 trees in Singapore's parks and nature reserves over the next 5 years. These trees will contribute to NParks' OneMillionTrees movement, which aims to plant more than a million trees across Singapore over the next 10 years, as we transform into a City in Nature. AIA's contribution is the largest by an organisation to the OneMillionTrees movement and Garden City Fund's Plant-A-Tree programme, to date.  

 

The life insurer is commemorating this new green pledge and its 90-year milestone today by planting 90 trees at the tranquil Rower's Bay, located at Lower Seletar Reservoir, led by Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration, Mr Desmond Lee. Together with Regional Chief Executive and Group Chief Life Operations Officer of AIA Group, Mr Tan Hak Leh, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Singapore, Ms Wong Sze Keed, Chief Executive Officer of NParks, Mr Kenneth Er, Chairman of Garden City Fund, Professor Leo Tan, as well as the senior management team together with its longest service employees and representatives from AIA.  

 

First opened in 2019, Rower's Bay serves as a rest stop and gathering point for park visitors along part of the first phase of the 150km Round Island Route (RIR). Featuring a picturesque boardwalk, the park brings visitors closer to the water and wetlands that provide food and shelter for native wildlife such as the White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) and Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea). Among the trees planted today include ciritcally endangered native species, namely the Penggu (Horsfieldia irya) and the Powder-Puff Tree (Barringtonia racemosa), which provide food for hornbills and sunbirds.  

 

The trees donated by AIA will enhance the green spaces along island-wide recreational corridors, such as the RIR and Coast-to-Coast Trail, bringing communities closer to scenic parks, as well as strengthening ecological connectivity. The planting of trees will also help create more naturalised landscapes, improving habitats for fauna such as garden birds, butterflies and dragonflies, and enabling visitors to get a closer experience with nature.   

 

Ms Wong Sze Keed, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Singapore, said: "Environmental wellness is a key focus for us moving forward as we look to connect our community more deeply with the environment. Spending time outdoors is integral to our wellbeing and there's nothing like an invigorating green space to keep our minds and bodies healthy. We're delighted to be taking proactive steps to advance the nation's Singapore Green Plan 2030, co-creating more naturalised green spaces and a more sustainable society for families to live healthier, longer, better lives together. As AIA celebrates 90 years in Singapore, we remain dedicated to making positive, long-term contributions to our customers, the community, and the wider environment and ensuring Singapore is a sustainable home for generations to come."   

 

AIA Singapore's green pledge is the first step in the leading life insurer's long-term commitment and investment in Environmental, Social, and Governance, which will see the company make positive contributions to Singapore's sustainability, health, and families. Through engaging initiatives, AIA aims to encourage, enable and empower Singaporeans, and champion inclusion and economic prosperity, while supporting those less fortunate by giving back to the community. In 2020, AIA Singapore also invested more than S$5 million to support employees, the local workforce and the wider community amid COVID-19. 

 

Professor Leo Tan, Chairman of Garden City Fund said: "AIA's contribution today is in line with their purpose to help people live healthier, longer and better lives. The planting of these trees under the OneMillionTrees movement is restoring nature across Singapore, beautifying our surroundings and creating a therapeutic environment for all.  In the long-term, as the trees grow, it will not only benefit the local flora and fauna but also contribute to the general well being of generations of people living in our City in Nature. We are grateful to AIA Singapore for their commitment and donation to this programme, and look forward to the start of a long-term partnership."  

 

In celebrating its 90th year in Singapore, AIA will be giving back to customers and the community, where they can look forward to a year of activities and initiatives that is focused on fulfilling its brand promise of enabling people to live healthier, longer, better lives.  

 

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AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively "AIA" or the "Group") comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR², Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei, Macau SAR³ and New Zealand, and a 49 per cent joint venture in India.

 

The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$326 billion as of 31 December 2020.

 

AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 38 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.

 

AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code "1299" with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: "AAGIY").

 

 

The National Parks Board (NParks) is responsible for enhancing and managing the urban ecosystems of our City in Nature. We are the lead agency for greenery, biodiversity conservation, and wildlife and animal health, welfare and management. We are also working closely with the community to enhance the quality of our living environment.

 

NParks manages more than 350 parks, 3,347 hectares of nature reserves, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Pulau Ubin and the Sisters' Islands Marine Park. Adding to this is the extensive network of Nature Ways, and the over 300 km Park Connector Network that links major parks, nature areas and residential estates island-wide. Every year, we run over 3,500 educational and outreach programmes across our various green spaces.

 

NParks has developed an urban biodiversity conservation model, which aims to conserve representative ecosystems in land-scarce Singapore. NParks also monitors and coordinates measures to enhance the presence of biodiversity in our urban landscape.

 

NParks is working closely with partners in the landscape, horticulture, veterinary and animal sectors to increase productivity, and provide training for all levels of the workforce. Enhancing the competencies of the industry will support Singapore's vision of being a City in Nature.

 

For more information, visit www.nparks.gov.sg and www.facebook.com/nparksbuzz.