India's economic landscape has transformed significantly, with the number of malls skyrocketing from 3 in 1999 to an anticipated 700 by 2010 and a booming BPO sector projected to reach $64 billion by 2012. Housing prices in desirable areas have surged fivefold over five years and the automotive industry aims to produce 50 million cars annually by 2030. Additionally, the country has become a leader in the global retail market, with a value exceeding $300 billion and predictions of doubling in the next five years.

1. A new mall called Hyderabad Central, India. In 1999 there were only 3 malls in the entire country, 300 have been built recently, and there will be 700 by 2010.

2. I-flex office building, Bangalore, India. Bangalore is the IT hot spot of the world and now employs 150 thousand IT workers, compared to 120 thousand in all of Silicon Valley.

3. A worker fixes the taillight of a Maruti Suzuki Swift diesel car at a car assembly plant opened last month south of New Delhi, India. With companies such as Honda, Toyota, GM, Ford, Volkswagen and many other foreign and Indian car makers the country has set a goal of producing 50 million cars a year by 2030

4. A resident of Bangalore's most sought after address, the Palm Meadows development in Whitefield, poses in front of some million dollar homes. Housing prices in the area have gone up 5 times their original value over the last 5 years.

5. BPO Office, India. The business process outsourcing sector in India will be worth $64 billion (US) and employ 3 million people by 2012.

6. Metro Rail, New Delhi, India. The country is replacing much of its old infrastructure and needs $330 billion (US) to complete projects, such as new rail systems.

7. A new Sun Life Insurance Office in Mumbai, India. The Canadian insurance giant partnered with the Indian company Birla to form what is now one of the largest insurance companies in India.

8. A security guard holds the door to a McDonald's outlet. After 10 years in India, the fast food chain operates 86 restaurants all over the country and plans to open 25 more in the next three years, investing around $90 million (U.S.).

9. Supervisor Inspects CD Quality. The World Bank has been raising India's competitiveness ranking because of its ability to absorb high levels of technology.

10. High rise residential buildings, under construction at Gurgoan, Haryana, India. The country's red hot real estate market is having problems keeping up with the demand for luxury accommodations.

11. An Indian farmer talks on his cell phone. There are a 150 million cell phone users in India and in March 2006 alone, more than 5 million new cell phone subscribers signed up for service.

12. Workers put together a Honda Scooter in an Indian factory. More than 7.6 million scooters, motorcycles and mopeds were built in India last year.

13. Inside Ranbaxy laboratories' facility in New Delhi, India. The country graduates 120 thousand chemists, 7 thousand science PhDs, 350 thousand engineers and a total of 2.5 million university graduates each year.

14. People shop in a mall in Gurgaon, India. India is now the number one emerging retail market in the world. Clothing sales are expected to double by 2010.

15. A technopark in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. The campus houses 100 IT companies which employ almost 15 thousand workers.

16. South Extension Market at night, New Delhi, India. The Indian retail sector now worth over $300 billion (US) is expected to double over the next 5 years.

17. BPO, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The business process outsourcing industry, in which Indian companies handle call centres, accounting, research, billing and other back office needs of overseas companies, grew 40% in 2004.

18. One of four Ranbaxy laboratories R&D facilities in New Delhi. India's largest generic drug company currently has global sales of $1 billion (US) and has set a goal of reaching $5 billion by 2012.

19. PVR Cinema,Metropolitan Mall,Shopping Mall at Gurgaon, India. In 2004, paid attendance at Indian cinemas reached the 3 billion mark.