The show will offer local entrepreneurs a chance to see the world's latest textile and garment machinery, embroidery and knitting machines, accessories, yarn and fabrics.

Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and Chan Chao International Co Ltd of Taiwan are jointly organising the four-day show at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Textiles Minister Abdul Matin Chowdhury will be present at the inaugural function.

The exposition will create an opportunity for local textile and garment factory owners to meet with machinery manufacturers, their agents and wholesalers, BTMA Chairman MA Awal told a press conference in Dhaka yesterday.

He said the show will accelerate technological advancement in Bangladesh textile sector and thus help increase output to meet domestic and export demand.

A total of 69 exhibitors from 20 countries including Taiwan, USA, China, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India, Hongkong and Czech Republic will participate at the exhibition.

On the first day of the show, Cotton Inc of the USA will made a presentation on Apparel and Colour Trend Forecast Spring Summer-2005, Awal said.

The exposition will remain open to all everyday from 10am to 6pm.

The BTMA president said Bangladesh holds only 2.5 percent share of the global textile market. At present the sector is meeting 90 percent of the local demand.

According to Awal, the global market size of the sector was $199 billion in 2000 and the amount is expected to increase to $350 billion in 2007.

Chan Chao International Co General Manager Tiger Lin also spoke on the occasion. BTMA Executive Committee Member Harun ur Rashid and Secretary General Schaukat Husein were also present.