A season of panel discussions featuring Asian business leaders and role models including Sir Gulam Noon and film director Shekhar Kapur are being held at the British Library starting on Tuesday 11 May, 6.30 - 8.30pm. Lisa Aziz, Sky News presenter, Parminder Vir, head of diversity at Carlton Television, and Adam Shaw, presenter of BBC Two's Working Lunch will chair the events, which are designed to help businesses tap into the affluent British Asian market, estimated to be worth £10 billion per year.

Sir Gulam Noon, Karan Bilimoria (founder of Cobra Beer) and Shekhar Kapur (the Oscar winning director of the film 'Elizabeth', and collaborator with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the hit West End show 'Bombay Dreams') are amongst the panelists revealing the secrets of their success, and showing how Asian businesses have prospered in the UK. Audience members will also have the opportunity to put questions to the panelists.

The series starts on 11 May with 'The Secret Ingredient of Success'. This discussion aims to show how Asian businesses have broken away from the 'corner shop' stereotype into mainstream business success. The event will be chaired by Sky News presenter Lisa Aziz, with panelists Karan Bilimoria, Zahid Kasim, Sir Gulam Noon and Mike Jatania (Chief Executive of cosmetic and beauty company, Lornamead Group).

Sir Gulam Noon, MBE, Managing Director of Noon Products, says: "These events are a must for the aspiring entrepreneur or company which wants to tap into the growing UK Asian market. The British Library is a wonderful resource for all businesses and should be the first stop for Asian entrepreneurs wishing to do business and intellectual property research. Using the Library's services and resources could save valuable time and money, precious commodities in today's fast moving business environment."

The three Asian Business Events are:

THE SECRET INGREDIENT OF SUCCESS
Tuesday 11 May, 18.30 - 21.30.

This event will show how Asian entrepreneurs have broken away from the local 'balti house' or 'corner shop open-all-hours' stereotypes into mainstream business sectors in the UK. Benefit from the lessons learnt by some of the most successful in the business. This event will be chaired by Lisa Aziz, and the panel will be Karan Bilimoria, Zahid Kasim, Sir Gulam Noon and Mike Jatania (Chief Executive of cosmetic and beauty company, Lornamead Group).

MAKING IT BY DESIGN
Tuesday 29 June, 18.30 - 21.30

The many successes achieved by young British Asians in all areas of our creative industries are too little known. Chaired by Parminder Vir, with guest panellists Dr Suran Goonatilake - founder of Bodymetrics which has revolutionalised the fashion industry by introducing 'virtually try on clothes', Shekhar Kapur - director of Elizabeth, The Four Feathers and The Bandit Queen, Imtaz Khaliq - Recently named by Cosmopolitan one of the 4 top tailors in London, and Damini Kumar - up-and-coming designer and inventor of the non-drip teapot.

'CHASING THE 'BROWN POUND'
Tuesday 20 July, 18.30 - 21.30

The British Asian community numbers some two million with an estimated annual spending power of over £10 billion. This event highlights the opportunities and challenges in reaching the British Asian consumer. Hear from some of those already tapping into this enormous potential market. Chaired by Adam Shaw, presenter of BBC 2s 'Working Lunch', with the panel consisting of Anjna Raheja - Managing Director of Media Moguls, a specialist ethnic marketing company, and coiner of the phrase 'brown pound', Kamaljeet Jandu - Diversity Manager of Ford of Britain, which has successfully targeted the Asian community, and Sayed Jaffery, Area Director of the Bank of Scotland.

To book for the British Library's Asian Business Events contact 020 7412 7222, e-mail: boxoffice@bl.uk. Each events costs £10 (£7.50 concessions).