Many of the region's economies are again expanding, and exchange rates and interest rates have stabilized in some countries. California remains intricately entwined with the region, however. Singapore on Friday opened its first consulate and trade office in San Francisco. California trade officials plan to open an office in the Philippines in the next few months. California exports to several Southeast Asian countries are rising again.
Tech companies are bullish on the prospects of a huge developing market of literate computer users.
Even during the financial crisis, San Jose's Cisco Systems grew its staff in Southeast Asia said Todd Lowe, Cisco's sales director in Hong Kong.