Undaunted by the global financial crisis, State Bank of India is projecting increased growth at its Japanese branches for the financial year to March, according to Japanese regional head Arijit Basu.

"The balance sheet in Japan will show 30 percent to 40 percent growth from the previous year and mark $1.8 billion (in assets minus liabilities) for the business year to March," Basu told The Japan Times in a recent interview.

The bank's Tokyo branch focuses on short-term financing mainly for business between Japan and India, with some India-South Korea deals.