TIJUANA – The sparkling green glass of the new eight-story World Trade Center Tijuana stands out in the city's east side, where these types of buildings are not common.

It's a sprawling area jammed with low-income neighborhoods, industrial parks and tiny residential developments.

It's hoped that the center becomes an anchor for a business district in what is known as the third phase of the Tijuana River, said Héctor Bustamante, at a press conference Tuesday to unveil the new facility.

The building is a franchise of the New York City-based World Trade Center, which promotes international business among 101 affiliate countries.

Tijuana is the fourth city in Mexico to have such a center, after Mexico City, Guadalajara and Veracruz.

The WTC Tijuana will organize conventions, promote economic development and rent offices, said Bustamante, the center's marketing manager.

Gregorio Goldstein, the director of the WTC Tijuana, said the facility will not conflict with the Metropolitan Convention Center, under construction in the southern part of the city, because it will focus on smaller gatherings.

"There's no problem; everyone will have their area," Goldstein said.

WTC Tijuana was built on nearly 9.5 acres besides Morelos Park and the children's museum Museo del Trompo. The building has around 69,300 square feet, of which 29,700 is available to rent.

The building has two rooms for 20 and 40 people, a 176-seat auditorium and a multiple-use area, plus 337 parking spaces.

The WTC Tijuana will be inaugurated on July 14. Space ranging in size form 270 square feet to 4,240 square feet will available to lease starting on that date.

"Our idea is to support entrepreneurs," said Bustamante. "It will be a place for people who want or are offering products from anywhere in the world."

Omar.millan@sandiegored.com