Damascus (Syria), Aug 03: India has bagged a major contract to enhance oil production in one of Syria's desert reserves which at present produces 5.3 lakh barrels a day, India's ambassador to Syria Arif S. Khan has said. The deal has been struck in principle between ONGC(Videsh) and Syrian Petroleum Company in the face of stiff international competition. The issue came in for detailed discussion during meetings external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha had with Syrian President Bashar al Assad and deputy prime minister and foreign minister Farouk al Shaara during the day.
"The contract, which has been achieved in face of large number of the international firms bidding for it, will be signed in the next few week," khan said here.

Khan said after Sinha's meetings that - ONGC (Videsh) would work with an American firm to enhance oil production in Syria's Dier-e-Zour oil reserves in the desert. The Indian company would also explore the possibility of finding new oil and gas deposits."
The ambassador said "all discussions have been completed with Syrian Petroleum Company and the work would start soon." Bureau Report