Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin today urged textile millers to increase the use of solar energy to cut production costs and reduce dependence on gas and fossil fuels in order to stay competitive.

Businesses must enhance their capacity to remain competitive in global trade as Bangladesh will no longer enjoy the preferential market access after it graduates from the least developed country (LDC) category, he said.

"The fixed cost must be reduced at any cost," he said while inaugurating the 19th edition of the Dhaka International Textile & Garment Machinery Exhibition (DTG) at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital.

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), in collaboration with Hong Kong-based Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Co Ltd, organised the four-day exhibition, which showcases the latest fabrics and textile technologies. The event will conclude on February 23.

DTG 2025, the country's largest textile machinery exhibition, features 1,600 stalls and over 1,100 top brands from 33 countries, focusing on advancements in textile machinery, fabric production, dyeing technology, and accessories.

Leading enterprises from China, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and Turkey are participating in the show.

BTMA President Mohammad Ali Khokon said investment in the primary textile sector stands at $22 billion, and entrepreneurs are willing to invest more if the government ensures long-term projections on gas prices and bank interest rates for the next 10 years.

Md Hafizur Rahman, administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and Akai Lin, overseas director of Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Co Ltd, were also present at the inauguration.