AEPF is a leading association in the furniture sector, recognized by the "Capital do Móvel" brand. Among its wide range of competencies, it is important to highlight its contribution to the internationalization process of companies in the region, particularly those dedicated to the furniture trade and industry.

For more than 30 years, AEPF has been promoting Portuguese furniture in diversified international markets under the "Capital do Móvel" brand, helping to build a credible image associated with quality, functionality and design.

The main objective of the Joint Project "Internationalization of SMEs" developed by AEPF is to build the business capacity of SMEs in the Vale do Sousa region for internationalization.

Among the range of initiatives, the pioneering actions were the organization of international exhibitions in the Spanish market whose products were exclusively Portuguese. Subsequently, and up to the present day, it has promoted collective participations in international multisectoral fairs or those geared towards the home sector.

Spain and France are strategic markets in that Portuguese furniture is widely accepted. The French market is the main destination for exports from the furniture sector, followed by Spain. These markets are particularly important for furniture companies that have found an alternative for their business in the local markets.

At the same time, in order to support the furniture industry, AEPF regularly promotes Business Missions, to Markets and Inversas, putting entrepreneurs in contact with importers and institutional entities that are crucial in disseminating good practices and information about the markets.

In general terms, we can group the actions envisaged in this project essentially into two groups:

1. Business missions (to markets and back)
2. Promotion of the "Capital of Furniture" in Spain (in the Galicia region) and France.

With business missions and collective participation in exhibitions, we are directing companies to markets where we recognize good prospects for the export of "Made in Portugal" furniture by winning market shares (nearby markets that traditionally import furniture, France and Spain) and penetrating emerging markets with enormous potential (new foreign markets).

The actions listed above seek to meet the needs of the two types of companies identified, i.e. companies at a more advanced stage in their process that want to diversify their markets and companies at an early stage in their internationalization process (new exporters).

The project includes market prospecting, promotion and international marketing actions that contribute to increasing the international recognition of the brands of the participating companies, as well as the "Capital do Móvel" brand, which represents an entire region heavily dependent on the furniture industry and trade.

The main mission is to respond to the needs of the business community, making a real contribution to empowering SMEs for internationalization, allowing them to increase their export capacity and the international recognition of the national furniture sector.

This project fits in with AEPF's mission, given that:

• It contributes to the business development of the target sector in order to improve international positioning and increase the competitiveness of the offer;
• It strengthens the business community's capacity for marketing innovation, by improving its image and international exposure, and digital marketing through the implementation of a web platform.