Founded in 1984, the Portuguese Council of Shopping Centres - APCC, is a national scope and not-for-profit association and currently has 65 members representing a total of 127 Shopping Centres, with a Gross Leasable Area – GLA of 2.895.433 m².

The Associated Shopping Centres cover 9.286 small and large retailers, representing 90.000 direct jobs, and more than 205.000 indirect jobs.

APCC is also member of ICSC – International Council of Shopping Centres.

APCC is also member of European Property Federation – EPF. Founded in Brussels in 1997, this organism represents all aspects of private property ownership and investment; residential landlords, commercial property companies, shopping centres and property interests of the institutional investors.

The objectives of the Portuguese Association of Shopping Centres are the protection of the legitimate interests and rights of the owners, promoters and managers of commercial developments designated as Shopping Centres, as well as enhancing their standing, the legal and strict definition of this type of integrated commercial complex, and to mediate with Public Administration entities in the preparation of legislation.

APCC has two kinds of members: owners, managers and promoters of Shopping Centres are full members; institutional, company and complementary members are associate members.

Those which, within the scope of their activity, study, analyse or express views on the design and location of shopping centres, are considered to be institutional members.

Company Members are all companies directly or indirectly co-operating in the design, construction, commercialisation, and in the promotion or management of shopping centres.

Complementary members are companies running anchor shops with an area in excess of 2000m2, or running commercial chains with more than 5 shops, partially or totally, located at Shopping Centres.