Much of the economic news of the last year or more has focused on financial turmoil in asia. Currency devaluations, recession, and other fall-out from the so-called Asian flu have had a direct impact on Minnesota workers and companies of all sizes. 3M, for example, cut its work force as problems in asia cut into profits. But officials with 3M and other observers say Asia appears to be stabilizing and may now be on the upswing.