CNN International turns its "EYE ON India' for a week of live business coverage

New industries and rising business cities, high-profile interviews with industrialists and entrepreneurs and exclusive access inside corporate India make "Eye on India', a must-watch week of business coverage on CNN. Beginning March 14, the network focuses on the world's second most populous nation to bring global viewers a week of in-depth business coverage live from Mumbai and around the country.

The week of live programming centers around 'World Business Today', hosted from India's financial hub, as business specialist Andrew Stevens and CNN's team of India correspondents profile the players, companies and trends contributing to the country's economic growth. Eye on India also features a special edition of Talk Asia in front of a live audience with Indian business icon Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the multinational Aditya Birla Group. A dedicated site, cnn.com/eyeon, has additional reports, special features and more information about the week of programming.

As an additional aspect of Eye on India, CNN invites its global audience, especially those in India, to participate by sharing their views on everything that is "Uniquely India'. Viewers can submit pictures and videos via iReport (www.ireport.com/eyeonindia) on the unique aspects that they believe define this vast and diverse country. Selected submissions will feature on cnn.com and across the week's programming.

Per the latest figures released by the Government of India, the Indian economy is expected to grow at 8.6 % in 2010-11 (next fiscal at 9%) with industrial output growing by 8.6% and manufacturing growth at 9.1 %.

"These are exciting times for Indian business and industry as the country's performance on the global economic stage make it an obvious choice for our week of business-focused programming. Eye on India promises our global viewers smart, insightful and surprising reporting from this hugely compelling destination" said Mike McCarthy, CNN International's vice president of coverage and feature programming.

Stories airing through the week include a look at how a rapidly increasing demand for luxury in segments including apparel, automobiles, retail and real estate, due to India's increasing number of millionaires, juxtaposes sharply with parts of the country that still lack basic infrastructure. Away from metropolitan India, the emergence of smaller towns as growth and consumption drivers are profiled. Seen by some as a "model state', a visit to Gujarat suggests how India can maximize its economic potential, while a pioneering cardiac surgeon reveals how he provides world class medical care for the masses at minimal cost.

CNN's EYE ON¦takes you on journeys to different countries around the world, exploring the new, revealing the surprising and uncovering the unknown aspects of compelling destinations. Multiple viewpoints and insights come through the lens of local business, culture and personalities, as viewers are taken on smart, forward-looking adventures that you may not expect from a news organization. The hallmark of every EYE ON story is unique, relevant and intelligent reporting, delivering consumers an up-close look through interviews and in-depth coverage on the ground that places the country firmly in an international context.