THE COMMISSION ON INFORMATION AND Communications Technology is pushing Philippine-based business process outsourcing firms to venture out of North American markets and tap new ones, including Japan, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

In a statement, CICT Commissioner Monchito Ibrahim said the US continued to be the main source of contracts and revenues for Philippine-based BPO companies.

With the global recession severely hitting the US economy, however, he said BPO firms would do well to explore other markets.

He said Japan alone was a potential $5-billion market. Europe, Australia and New Zealand also present opportunities for BPO business.