Ranchi, Jan. 22: The Mongolian government has requested the state to open a liaison office in Jharkhand to channelise direct investment.

In a letter to chief minister Arjun Munda, the Academy of Management, Ulan Bator, Mongolia’s highest policy-making body, expressed its interest to open a liaison office in the state capital.

The body has also requested the government to allot the required land along with all infrastructural facilities to make its office functional at the earliest.

Sources said the liaison office wil be functional by July if the government grants permission.

A Mongolian delegation led by G. Tengsh Buren visited Ranchi with a kitty of Rs 5,000 crore in late 2001.

But Buren failed to meet the then chief minister Babulal Marandi, who had to leave for New Delhi on urgent “business”.

Though the mission proved abortive, the Mongols had promised to come back “at a suitable time”.

Tourism, horticulture, floriculture, agricultural equipment, and carpets would be on top of their agenda, sources said.

They added that the Mongols would like to set up tourist resorts in various parts of the state, which could be used by Chinese, Korean and Mongol tourists going to the Buddhist pilgrimage at Bodh Gaya in Bihar.

The Mongols also proposed to set up floriculture bases in the state as the hot and humid climate favoured abundant growth of roses and other flowers.

“The foreigners have proposed that they will enter into a complete buy-back arrangement with local growers by which the entire production will be earmarked for export,” sources said.

The Mongols were interested in setting up thermal power plants in Jharkhand as well as developing surface transport.