The APA, ex APT, was established in 1994 with the purpose of representing its members towards public Authorities and television networks (both public and private), to protect their interests, to back their organizational, technological and economic development. 54 independent production companies are members of APA: their work accounts for over 80% of the overall turnover of this sector, which amounts to some 500 million Euro per year, with an employment (either direct or included) of approximately 200.000 people.Because international markets and exchanges are so important, the APA has been organising the Italian stand at the Cannes MIP-TV (April) and MIP-COM (October) events since 1995. It has worked with the Italian foreign trade institute (ICE) on the coordination of Italian participation in the Natpe (USA), the MIP-ASIA (Hong Kong and Singapore) and the Shanghai TV Festival (Shanghai), and has organised co-production meetings in France (Paris) and Spain (Madrid). The APA is also the creator and promoter of the RomaFictionFest, a festival entirely devoted to TV products, at which it has been organising meetings between international producers, pitchings, seminars and master classes since 2007.