The African Petroleum Producers Association was formed in 1987 by a group of African oil producing countries to be a common platform for cooperation and exchanges of experience and information in order to derive maximum benefits from their petroleum resources. APPA is the only African intergovernmental organisation concerned with hydrocarbon affairs and plays a significant role in facilitating cooperation, coordination, exchanges and technical assistance for the growth of the continent's oil industry. APPA produces a biannual journal, the APPA Bulletin. The current President of the APPA Council of Ministers is HE Mrs Albina De Assis Africano, Angolan Minister of Petroleum. The current Executive Secretary of APPA is Mohamed Souidi.