India-headquartered Axis Bank has moved its regional branch to new premises in the Dubai International Financial Centre and is looking for 30 per cent regional growth this year, executive director Srinivasan Varadarajan has told Gulf News.

"Our operations from the DIFC will spearhead our regional expansion plans. Initially we will focus on corporate banking and private banking services," said Varadarajan.

"We will cover the whole spectrum of firms looking for business finance and have no plan to exclude companies that are not Indian owned."

Varadarajan believes there is growing demand for financing from companies of all sizes in the UAE and the region and that the financial crisis has not impacted loan demand and the expansion plans of a large number of businesses in the region.