APECOM - Associação Portuguesa das Empresas de Conselho em Comunicação e Relações Públicas, (Portuguese Association of Portuguese Communications and Public Relations Consulting Companies) was founded in 1989 and is the Portuguese business association that represents the sector of communications and public relations consultancy companies in Portugal. The association currently has 32 member companies that account for the vast majority of the sector’s activity and employment.

Amongst its main objectives is the defence and promotion of the interests of its associated agencies as companies dedicated to communications, image and public relations consulting, as well as representing them in relation to public or private, national and foreign entities and providing support for the sustainable development of the market.

APECOM also has the mission of promoting exchange and new knowledge within the sector, the endorsement and promotion of its associates and their activity in and outside of Portugal, as well as organising professional training activities, congresses, seminars and sector surveys, amongst other things.

APECOM and all the professionals of the companies that are part of the association are ruled by strict codes of ethics, which are universally-accepted by the sector, as is the case with the Stockholm Charter.

APECOM has always been an active member of the ICCO - International Communication Consultancies Organization (the world organisation representing the sector, which brings together around 1000 companies from 30 countries) and is part of its Board of Management.