The consolidation of the APICER capacity in the process of modernization and promotion of the sector and its associates largely pass by the reinforcement of its abilities, endowing it with the ways necessary to promote actions with the companies associates, in the following dominies:

a)- REPRESENTATION

Representation of the interests of the associates in the national and international organisms
In the scope of the national organisms:
CENCAL (Centre of Professional Formation for Ceramic Industry)
CTCV (Technological Centre of Ceramics and the Glass)
APCER (Portuguese Association of Certification)
CERTIF (Association for the Certification of Products)
CEDINTEC (Centre for the Technological Development and Innovation)

In the scope of the international organisms:

Cerame-Unie (Bureau de Liasion des Industries Ceramiques Europeennes)
CET (European Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Federation)
FEPF (Fédération Européenne des Industries de Porcelaine et de Faience de Table et d'Ornementation)
FECS (Fédération Européenne des Fabricants des Céramiques Sanitaires)
TBE (Fédération Européenne des Fabricants de Tuiles et de Briques)

Other partnerships and protocols:
GDP - Gás de Portugal, Sg.p.s.,
SA COSEC - Companhia de Seguros de Créditos, SA
Marsh Maclenam, Insurances

b) - INFORMATION

Gathering, systematisation and spreading of statisticians and information technician-economical
Elaboration and spreading of studies of sectarian, regional or thematic nature.
Activities of spreading of the productive capacity of the sector.
Elaboration and edition of the magazine “Kéramica”

c) – ACCOMPANIMENT AND ASSISTANCE

Assistance technique or consulter given through permanent technician, external consulting or, if necessary, with appeal of the support organisms.

d) - DEFENCE OF THE INTERESTS OF THE SECTOR, NOMINATED IN THE EXTENT OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
Environment
Raw materials
Collective act of work contract
Energy and fuel
Inter-enterprise cooperation

C) PROMOTION OF THE SECTOR AND THE CERAMIC PRODUCTS

Regular participation in international fairs, appointed in the “CERAMEX”, “SK” and “HOUSEWARES INTERNATIONAL” (Birmingham), through stands of our own.
Elaboration and distribution of promotional material, appointed directories and paperbacks.

F) PROFESSIONAL FORMATION

In the context of a sector that uses more than 32,000 people, its competitiveness passes, among others factors, for the update and promotion of the qualification of the human resources of the companies. APICER looks for to provide to the sector the necessary activities of professional formation in contribution with other organism’s appropriated for this area, to be precise, the CENCAL. The activities and actions given for the APICER are destined basically to its associates, even so, in some circumstance, do not restrict those. It is the situation of the Kéramica magazine and diverse publications that are disposable to all the interested parties.