“We'll have to develop the woven sub-sector to help the garments industry survive in the quota-free world,” he said, inaugurating a 4-day textile and RMG machinery show at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Some 236 exhibitors from 22 technologically developed countries are attending the 3rd Dhaka International Textiles and Garments Machinery Exhibition-2006, organised by Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) in association with Malaysian company ES Event Management.

Energy and Mineral Resources Advisor and BoI Executive Chairman Mahmudur Rahman and ES Event Management Director Chong Chong Tik also spoke at the function, chaired by BTMA Vice-chairman M Jamal Uddin.

The minister said the locally produced woven fabrics contribute only 25 percent to the total demand of the country's RMG industry while knit sub-sector's contribution reached 80 percent, indicating more investment is required in the woven sub-sector.

He mentioned the incentives Bangladesh offers to the investors in the textile industry, which include duty-free import of machinery and spare parts by the factories inside EPZs and industrial park areas.

The exhibitors are displaying a wide range of hi-tech primary textile and RMG machinery in 500 stalls -- considered the highest as compared to any other events in the country.