PM Modi promises support for Bangladeshi investment in Gujarat

DHAKA (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his support on Sunday to a Bangladeshi proposal to invest $25 million in selling Bangladeshi garments in India, the main Bangladeshi business group said.

Modi, on the second and final day of a state visit to India's eastern neighbour, had promised on Saturday to help to reduce India's huge trade surplus with Bangladesh.

In a meeting on Sunday, the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry told Modi it was seeking 50 acres of land either free of cost or at a nominal price in Gujarat.

"We told him that we want to set up warehouses and retail shops, and for that we will invest $25 million. The purpose is to sell and distribute our garments products directly," said Matlub Ahmed, president of the Chamber.

"If we get this facility, then our sell will rise to $1 billion from the present $300 million in the next three years."

After the meeting, he told Reuters that Modi had promised "all cooperation and support" for the proposal.

Bangladeshi exports were worth $24 billion in the fiscal year that ended in June 2014.

The textile industry is an important contributor to the economy, with duty-free access to Western markets having helped to make Bangladesh the world's largest apparel exporter after China.

But the industry, which supplies many Western brands such as Wal-Mart, Tesco and H&M, has faced pressure after a string of fatal factory accidents, including a building collapse in 2013 that killed more than 1,130 people.

Modi sealed several deals during his visit, including a land boundary agreement.

(Reporting By Serajul Quadir; Editing by Kevin Liffey)