“The center is especially important today during a time of economic crisis because it provides an important alliance between the East and the West, and offers the first step towards developing new opportunities to grow and prosper,” said John Wang, president of the Asian American Business Development Center.
   Meyer added that exporters have especially been hit hard during these times and they are looking for “a new set of long-term players.” He believes the center will offer those types of businesses the penetration of the United States market needed for economic vitality.
   The center can also help American companies that want to penetrate the Chinese market as well, Meyer said.
   The facility provides fully furnished office space, translation services for English, Chinese and Korean, as well as basic office support, said Jennifer Williams, the vice president of e888 International, Inc., which is the marketing arm of F & T Group.
   The center reduces the overhead costs for businesses so they only have to pay one flat rate per month to rent an office. So far, six offices in the center have been rented out of the 27 available, Williams said.
   Among the services designed to attract businesses to Queens Crossing is the ability to participate in web conferencing. Businesses will be able to take advantage of three conference rooms that are equipped with new video conferencing technology.
   Warren Lee, the technology department manager, demonstrated how the video conferencing technology worked at a press conference last Thursday. Businesses would dial in to a phone system and be instantly connected with others sharing the same connection.
   He also demonstrated how to write and display information on the smart board in front of the room. The boards project the desktop of a computer for the use of web conferencing and PowerPoint presentations, but they are also interactive.
   Users can write notes on the screen. The software can even interpret handwriting and convert it into text.
   The conference rooms can be rented at a rate of $70 per hour, Williams said. The three rooms vary in size and can seat from six to 12 people.
   Mervin Fong, executive vice president of e888, said that when businesses are entertaining clients, they do not even have to leave the building.
   Restaurants and retail shops are located throughout the building, including a banquet hall for wedding receptions, an English tea house and a food court.
   Businesses that sign up for a special debit card for use at the restaurants and retail shops are eligible to receive discounts, Fong said.
   “This is the next step to building a bridge this side of the Pacific Ocean,” Meyer said, hoping that the center would foster cooperation and cross-investment between the East and the West.