Dhaka, Sept 15 (UNB) - Commerce Minister Faruk Khan on Thursday requested Marubeni, a Japanese leading international group of companies, to raise investment in Bangladesh to get benefit from the buoyant economic and diversified open-market scenario.

He made the request when he met Marubeni Vice President Sekiyama and its top executives at the Marubeni headquarters today(Thursday).

Marubeni officials expressed satisfaction over their operation in apparel and fashion industry in Bangladesh which was initiated in 2009.

They hoped that they could double their investment by next year in textile and apparel projects.

Marubeni officials also unveiled plans to expand their investment in fertilizer industry and their participation in power generation and its support industries.

During the talks, the Marubeni officials sought support from the government in their further business operation in Bangladesh, to which Khan affirmatively acknowledged.

The Commerce Minister congratulated Marubeni, after hearing a brief on their 38 years’ successful operation in Bangladesh.

He offered all possible government support in its ongoing power, railway locomotives, fertilizers and IT projects and other infrastructure projects.

In response to their queries on the shortage of power and gas supply, Khan informed Marubeni about the current initiatives of the government to add 7000 MW of power by 2015 including the ongoing drilling and exploration schemes to increase the output of the gas.

In the afternoon, Khan was hosted to a luncheon by the Japan Bangladesh Parliamentary League.

DPJ lawmaker Ichiro Tsukada, Deputy Secretary General of the Parliamentary League informed that a parliamentary league delegation could visit Bangladesh sometime early next year.

The Commerce Minister welcomed the plans by the Parliamentary League to undertake a visit to Bangladesh.