The Intermunicipal Community Minho-Lima, also known as CIM Alto Minho, was established on 15 October 2008 as a legal person of public law, under Law No. 45/2008 of 27 August, which establishes the legal regime of municipal associations, municipalities, municipalities comprising the match Drive Territorial Statistics Level III (NUT III) Minho-Lima, Ponte da Barca, Caminha, Melgaço, Monsoon, Paredes de Coura Ponte da Barca, Ponte de Lima, Valença, Viana do Castelo and Vila Nova de Cerveira.

Heir to a long and rich experience of partnerships developed by the previous municipal communities (Urban Community Valimar and the Community Intermunicipal of Vale do Minho), this organization aims to be the founder of Alto Minho "an area of environmental excellence with the ability to develop a new combination resources and tourism, renewable energy, the host business and provision of local services with quality and modernity, to meet the challenges of competitiveness, cohesion and sustainability.

Its main tasks focus on boosting the planning and management strategy of economic development, social and environmental aspects of the territory covered; articulation of city municipal interest, participation in the management of programs supporting regional development, particularly in the Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional (QREN), planning of public performances, whether supra.

It also provides a link between the actions of municipalities and central government services in the following areas: public supply networks, infrastructure, sanitation, wastewater treatment and municipal waste; network of health facilities, education network and vocational training, land management, nature conservation and natural resources, safety and civil protection, transport and mobility, the networks of public facilities, promotion of economic, social and cultural system and cultural and sports facilities and leisure activities.

CIM Alto Minho is situated at Santiago da Barra, in the city of Viana do Castelo, and the technical and administrative work in the former offices of GAT of Vale do Lima, also in Viana do Castelo, in the Villa Moraes Ponte de Lima and the former building of the GAT of Vale do Minho  in Valença.