With the economic crisis in the United States and Europe, global communications services and solutions provider BT Group is looking aggressively at the Asian markets and seeking opportunities in countries like India and China.

?We see good growth in India and China. There are many emerging multinational companies and that is where we see the most of the growth coming from. In markets like India, we would continue focusing on sectors like BPO and health,? BT Asia Pacific president Kevin Taylor said.

The health IT market across the world is undergoing a transformation driven by aging populations, increasing burden from chronic diseases and adoption of costlier medical and drug innovations. This would be the driver for growth for the company, which expects the healthcare market in Asia Pacific to be around ?1.3 billion in 2012-13 and ?1.6 billion by 2014-15.

To cater to the increasing demand, BT will create an Asia Pacific Health Practice where it would get experts in clinical design assurance, clinical safety management, technical architecture and major programme practice to coordinate its activities. ?BT has set out its intention to be a leader in networked IT services in the region, and the health IT sector is key to achieving this goal,? Taylor said.

The company registered a revenue of ?18,897 million for the year ended March 31, 2012. Of this, almost 26% came from the public sector. Taylor refused to share region-specific revenue share. Though theBT’s revenues have not been majorly hit by the European crisis, the company is renegotiating some contracts. Taylor said: ?There are no cancellations of service contracts with our European clients so far, but we are renegotiating some of them.?

In India, the communication has two joint venture companies. BT Telecom ? for which the company has tied up with Jubilant Enpro and holds 74% ? and Tech Mahindra ? where it has 24.4% stake. Now, the company is in talks with some of the universities in India for research and development (R&D).

Taylor, who has raised concerns over Chinese regulations as not being favourable for businesses, said there was no regulatory problems in the Indian market. However, the instability of government was a big challenge.

?The only challenge in the Indian market is that there is no consistency for business environment. We are happy to invest in India, but when we see inconstant government, it poses a challenge. But I am sure, they (Indian government) will work it out,? he added.

The company has also joined hands with an NGO, Foundation, in India to fund programmes to set up digital centres for underprivileged children.

(Travel for this report was sponsored by BT)