Can you find a quote or two from a respected researcher or business
leader in a reputable publication (International Herald Tribune, AP,
Science Magazine, BioIT) that says bioinformatics (or computational
biology -- they're the same) is growing in the Asia-Pacific region? It
should be no more than one year old.

Dear Loqui, 

IDC (International Data Corporation) conducted a market research on
computational biology, whose early results were published last month
(the full results are due this month). The results of the research
indicate, that there is a rapid growth in bioinformatics in the Asia
Pacific Region. IDC also predict, that by 2006, bioinformatics
revenues should reach $3.83 billion: "According to the IDC report,
bioinformatics revenues for the region should reach US$3.83 billion by
2006, a massive increase from the US$384 million spent in 2001. IDC
further estimates that around US$50 billion worth of private and
public sector money will have been injected into the Asian biotech
market by 2006, helping to achieve compound annual growth of around 58
percent from now until 2006, compared with a global market average of
just under 25 percent base on a global market projection of US$38
billion by 2006" (Source: David Binning, "Asia gets serious about
bio-IT" Australian Biotechnology News (Online),
<http://www.idgnews.net/intl/international.nsf/0/00256AF50054FFC14A256C4F002A295E?OpenDocument>).

The Sydney Morning Harold reports the same information, "Not
surprisingly, much of the action is centred in the United States,
which accounts for 51 per cent of total expenditure, but the
Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing, up 28 per cent on last
year. ... Within the sector, research from IDC suggests the strongest
segments are software, which is growing at 28 per cent, followed by
services (21 per cent) and hardware (16 per cent)." (Source: Zenon
Pasieczny, "Life sciences a huge boost for the tech sector" October 29
2002
The Sydney Morning Herald
<http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/26/1035504890621.html>).

Further possible source could be 
http://www.apbionet.org/ The Asia Pacific BioInformatics Network
(APBioNET).
IDC site is http://www.idc.org, but it seems to be down now (at least
for me).

I hope that answers your question. If you need any clarifications on
the answer, please let me know. I have searched for "bioinformatics OR
conputational biology" with terms such as "asia pacific" "growth" (or
"growing"). I'd be pleased to provide any clarifications on the answer
before you rate it.

Fantastic! More than I expected!