In absolute terms, the deficit is high. However, this will contribute significantly to the country's gross domestic product. As economic activity gets a boost, the deficit will indirectly spur further economic growth.

I hope that the project will continue selling to India beyond the 15 years agreement, unless India says otherwise, and we have not thought of any other country at the moment.

The government is maintaining full vigilance on the inflationary front and will take all measures that are necessary to keep inflation under control for macro-economic stability and growth.

The dimension of the current Five Year Plan (2001-2005) ending on December 31, 2005, entails economic balance and sustainable growth. Conservatively, the focus has been on real average income per capita by targeting annual GDP growth of not less than three per cent at constant rates. As the plan comes to a close, we expect to have achieved this target comfortably.

Oman's oil production has been declining over the last few years. Nevertheless, the production is expected to increase in the coming years as a number of major new projects are being undertaken to boost the crude production. The average production estimated for the next Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) is 827,000 barrels per day.

On an average, we estimate to produce approximately 746,000 barrels of oil per day in 2006.