BBC Asian Network will present the main stage bringing the sound of Asian Britain to the festival. Award winning DJ Bobby Friction, talented urban turntablist DJ Kayper and radio presenter Noreen will be hosting the stage. World music DJ Pathaan will also be bringing the sounds of the globe together in one place at Heddon Street from their unmissable pink Asian Network station wagon.

Masala Zone restaurant will be taking to the streets to cook authentic street food for festival-goers: their staff will be cooking hot, spicy, aromatic food fresh to order from three fully-equipped stalls along Regent Street, which will be closed to traffic for the day.

Amongst the dishes on offer will be Vegetable Samosa with curried chickpeas and Aloo Tikki Chaat - delicious spiced mash cake with yoghurt and chutney - both from Delhi. No bustling Indian market would be complete without the tantalizing smells and sounds of Indian street food: it is eaten by millions throughout India every day. Simple, real, earthy and informal, and often cooked on the spot in front of you, it is an integral part of Indian culture.

Regent Street Festival is the climax of the Mayor of London's three month India Now season, which has seen over 200 cultural organisations and attractions participate across London. India Now showcases India's contribution to world culture, its rich tradition and most importantly celebrates new Indian trends across business, art, film, theatre, food, music and fashion.

INDIAN BUSINESS

There are over 10,000 Indian-owned businesses in London employing 49,000 people. Together they generate a combined turnover of $14.4 billion and represent 5% of London's economy.

India's overseas investment in Europe has multiplied ten times in the past eight years, London accounts for just over 32% of all European investment from India.

Almost two thirds of all London-based Indian businesses operate in the software market, with the second-biggest grouping represented by financial and business services. (Source: Think London)

INDIAN TOURISM

Flight routes from India to London are the country's busiest, with approximately 100 flights a week to and from seven Indian cities.

Flight numbers have increased 38% in the last six years with 212,000 Indian visitors to London in 2006.

India is the world's ninth largest economy with a population of over 1bn. India's economy is expected to grow by +7.3 percent in 2007. Source: UN, IMF World Economic Outlook Sept 2006.

India is London's second biggest Asian market after Japan and enjoys steadily rising visitor figures with 212,000 visits from Indians in 2006, up from 166,000 in 2005.

Visitors from India spent £139 million last year, up from £107 a year earlier. Compared to this, some 230,000 Japanese nationals visited London last year, spending a total of £123 million. (Source: Visit London)

INDIAN STUDENTS

It is estimated that London's international student population contribute approximately £1.5 billion to the London economy (in the 2005/6 academic year).

Indian student numbers in London have doubled in the last five years from 2,190 in 2001 to 4,320 in 2005. It is estimated that they collectively contribute £60 million to London's economy (in the 2005/6 academic year).

For students currently studying in London, the leading course choices for Indian students are in Business and Administrative (32 percent), followed by Computer Science (18 percent) and Engineering and Technology (16 percent).

India represents a large potential student market for London, especially for postgraduate students with 75 percent of Indian students studying postgraduate degrees (MScs and PhDs). There are also a growing number of collaborative programmes between Indian and London universities where students study in both locations. (Source: London Higher).