PERC said in its latest report on `Technological Trends in Asia' that the world's leading banks and multinationals were not forsaking the region despite Asia's problem.

"Most seem to be viewing the crisis as a repositioning opportunity. Part of this repositioning will involve bringing in new technology," PERC said in the report received by Reuters on Friday.

It said it would be important to monitor the pattern of new investment over the next two years, including both new investments and re-orientation of existing operations.

Those countries chosen for new investments or as places to locate coordinating operations would be the ones that got access to the latest technology, PERC said.

"Those countries that are avoided will fall behind, perhaps putting them at acompetitive disadvantage for years to come," the consultancy agency said.

On a broader front, it said Taiwan and Singapore were going to experience significant falls in dollar-value incomes this year.

PERC said Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand would suffer falls from which it would take years to recover unless their currencies appreciated significantly.

"This is not a cyclical slump; it is structural," it said.

PERC said companies would have to cut sales projections sharply after years of double-digit growth.

It said virtually every Asian government wanted to attract the latest technology but differences arose usually less over the introduction than its ownership and control.

PERC said countries with most foresight were those which left the biggest role for the private sector, confining government participation to the provision of infrastructure.

"Singapore and Taiwan have taken the lead here," it said.

It said Singapore had the best high-tech infrastructure in Asia, but had notcreated the conditions in which a Silicon Valley-type entrepreneurial flair could flourish.

In contrast, Taiwan had taken a more focused approach of high-tech niches and left much more room for entrepreneurs to pick up the ball and run with it.