A drilling company is believed to have signed a multi-million pound deal with an obscure Government better-known as the home of a comedy creation.

Representatives from Dando Drilling International, based in Littlehampton, joined Prime Minister David Cameron on a trade mission to Kazakhstan.

The central Asian nation is rich in natural resources but is more famous as the home of comedy creation Borat – a film Mr Cameron admitted he has seen.

The Sussex company is part of a 33-strong business delegation which wants to build better ties with the mineral–rich nation.

It is understood that Dando executives travelled with the Prime Minister and the company has signed a £22 million deal to produce drilling equipment with the Kazahk government.

The deal would safeguard 50 jobs at the company’s Wharf Road headquarters and create an additional 20.

It is part of a larger £700 million deal.

Yet despite the comedy connotations of the Kazakh connection the visit has proved controversial.

The Kazakh government has been accused of human rights abuses including torture, imprisonment, controls speech and poor workers’ rights.

Human rights

Allan Hogarth, Amnesty International's UK head of policy and government affairs, said: "Kazakhstan might be knee-deep in oil and gas wealth, but David Cameron shouldn't let lucrative energy deals prevent him from raising human rights during his trip.

"There are reports that the police in Kazakhstan have beaten up and detained oil workers who'd gone on strike to protest at the management's refusal to allow an independent trade union."

Leader Nursultan Nazarbayev won 95.5% of the vote in election in April 2011 and told the PM he would vote for him.

Mr Cameron said he raised Kazakhstan's human rights record with its leader during meetings but insisted the trip was primarily to promote British business.

Mr Cameron said: “Let’s be clear, why am I in Kazakhstan on a Sunday? We are in a global race. This is one of the next emerging countries of the world.”

Worldwide drilling company Dando was founded in 1867 to provide a clean water supply in Littlehampton following an outbreak of Cholera.

In 2006 the company acquired Southern Drilling Services, based nearby in Ford, near Arundel.

Dando was unable to comment as The Argus went to press yesterday.