COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 19, 1998 -- American Electric Power (NYSE:AEP) industrial customers who want to explore export options in Mexico may be able to receive financial support and other assistance to attend a trade show in Monterrey. RepCom '98, the second of five trade shows this year that are included in the electric utility's Going Global export assistance program, will be held March 31 through April 2. RepCom '98 is expected to attract 50 exhibitors and up to 3,000 trade show attendees, said Christine Sorg, AEP's international development manager. "Our customers will greatly benefit from their experience at RepCom '98," said Sorg. "The economy is strong in Monterrey, and the region is healthy and growing." The trade fair will focus on helping U.S. companies find the right agent or distributor to market their products in the Monterrey industrial region, Sorg said. Trade show participants will be able to exhibit any product that is at least 51 percent American-made. As part of AEP's Going Global program, exhibitors will also have an assigned trade specialist who will perform an extensive telemarketing campaign to arrange up to six prescreened and prequalified appointments for each trade fair participant. During the last four years, AEP has helped more than 90 industrial customers enter new markets in Mexico, Canada, Chile and the United Kingdom. Customers who want to take advantage of the Monterrey trade fair should contact Christine Sorg no later than March 2 at 614/220-4762. AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States' largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 2.9 million customers in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom and China. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, consulting and management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio.