Japan’s information technology market will grow at an annual rate of 4.6% and reach a value of 6 trillion yen ($51.3 bn) by 2003 from 4.8 trillion yen ($41 bn) last year, according to a survey by International Data Corporation Japan. Internet-based electronic commerce and data system outsourcing will fuel the expansion, the report said, with the market for information system outsourcing growing 9.3% annually to 1.1 trillion yen ($9.4bn) by 2003, from 707bn yen ($6bn) in 1998. Data processing, the biggest segment of the market, will experience modest growth of 1.7% per annum to 1.45 trillion yen ($12.4bn). The report said particularly strong demand is expected for settlement of credit card transactions, salary transfers and similar services.
