(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)

Business owners Kendall Ong (left) and Tran Tran (right) share their experiences during an Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce event. Katy Gallert (center) moderated the discussion.

(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)

WestGroup Research President Glenn Iwata presents the business survey findings in ABACUS, a report detailing the economic impact of Asian Americans.

The Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce released its first detailed report about the economic impact of Asian Americans in the United States and Arizona.

The report, titled ABACUS, finds Arizona businesses that are at least 51 percent owned by Asians saw sales grow 35 percent between 2007 and 2012.

During that same period, all minority groups in Arizona reported a 26-percent increase in sales receipts, while the state average for all businesses was 1 percent.

According to research conducted by WestGroup for the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce, about half of businesses surveyed started just before or during the recession. 

"These are survivors," said WestGroup President and Chief Research Officer Glenn Iwata.

They’re quiet survivors, Iwata said. While leading the research project he said it was challenging to get people to talk about their work. Iwata found Asians in Arizona were the least likely to promote their status as minority-owned businesses and to market to minorities. 

“Seventy-eight percent of Asians do not target specific minority groups. In other words, yes, we are Asian but we don’t make a deal of it," he said.

While one-third of business owners reported ethnic-related challenges that led to slurs, lost opportunities and discriminatory behavior, they also mentioned positive stereotypes, like being seen as smart and hardworking, can help.