was in Paris for the signing of the agreement between Oman and the conglomerate which will build the gas pipeline between Oman and India.

Mr. Deuss, the owner of Transworld Oil Company, has already masterminded plans by Oman to construct in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan and represented Bermuda-based Oman Oil Company (OOC) in Paris.

An OOC spokesman said: "The Oman-India gas pipeline will not only link Oman's rich gas reserves with India but will also potentially provide our neighbouring countries outlets for their gas to the Indian sub-continent and provide future marketing opportunities for gas to other countries in the region.''