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The profile of the western United States region described below presents interesting facts and information which may be useful to both US and expatriate executives working in San Francisco.

The western United States has a rich history of pioneering spirits. The covered wagon adventurers and gold rush prospectors of the old west set a standard that survives today in the business culture from Seattle, Washington to San Diego, California. Innovation and fearless risk-taking continue to be respected attributes in the business community. Over the past century, the industries that have risen from the unsettled wilderness run the gamut of agriculture, manufacturing and mining to banking, technology, aerospace and movie making.

The Western United States plays host to a dynamic economy and workforce that makes it an ideal place to do business. The region boasts the headquarters of a number of Fortune 500 firms, along with a large number of small and mid-cap companies. Cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle and Portland offer vital business communities, top universities and some of the most sought-after living environments in the United States. The diverse population that calls the West Coast home are challenged professionally and also entertained personally by sophisticated cultural opportunities along with coastal and wilderness playgrounds that are immediately available to urban centers.

The Western United States is home to Silicon Valley, the epicenter of technology, biotechnology and, most recently, Clean Technology innovations. Silicon Valley is the birthplace of companies like Hewlett Packard, Apple Computer, Cisco, Intel and Google. Firms like Gilead and Genentech lead the world in drug discovery. Venture Capital launched their industry here with influencers like Sequoia Capital, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

The financial services industry is well represented in the Western United States with giants such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo having their roots here. These and smaller institutions provide individuals and corporations a full range of financial services including corporate and investment banking, consumer banking, trade finance and private wealth management. The west is also the gateway to the Asia-Pacific region facilitating cross border flows of capital and trade.

Los Angeles and San Diego host aerospace and entertainment giants like Northrop Grumman, Rockwell, Disney and MGM. These major industries, along with telecommunications, manufacturing, heavy and commercial construction and a myriad of service industries make the region one of the most robust economies in the United States.