Société Internationale de Plantations et de Finance was incorporated in 1919 with the principal aims of promoting and managing plantation companies which would operate in both tropical and sub-tropical areas. At that time the company had two "agencies", one operating in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the other in Medan, Indonesia. In the course of the years the Company has developed into an agro-industrial group with processing and shipping facilities in Asia and Oceania, Africa and South America, where it manages important plantations. In addition SA SIPEF NV provides management, marketing and consultancy services in the agro-industry. A programme of diversification was started in the 1970's when, in addition to the traditional crops of rubber, oil palm and tea, other crops such as bananas, pineapples, ornamental plants, guava and pepper were introduced. These products are marketed by the Group worldwide. Currently the estates extend to some 66,000 planted hectares. An insurance business, originating from our involvement in commodities and their shipping, has been extended and now includes a wide range of insurance services. Investments in real estate have been made in the past in Belgium and the United States of America, but this activity has been phased out. In de last decade SIPEF is fully concentrating on the production of palm oil, rubber, tea and tropical fruits in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and Ivory Coast.