Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin on Thursday said the decline in corruption has opened the door for a reduction in energy prices.

He also said energy prices had risen due to the previous government’s procurement deals, but now there is a possibility of a decrease.

He made the remarks while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 19th Dhaka International Textile and Garment Machinery Exhibition (DTG) 2025 at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka.

Bashir, who also serves as the textiles and jute adviser, emphasised the importance of increasing the use of renewable energy, particularly solar power, to reduce production costs and stabilise energy prices.

He encouraged businesses to adopt solar energy at the lowest possible cost, citing Akij Group's commitment to replacing gas with electricity from the Renewable Energy Board (REB). The group aims to generate 50% of its energy through solar power.

Addressing the post-LDC graduation scenario, Bashir pointed out that preferential market access would no longer be available. He urged businesses to reduce fixed costs to maintain competitiveness and improve efficiency.

Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) organised the three-day DTG exhibition for 19th edition of its kind. Hafizur Rahman, administrator at Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Showkat Aziz Russell, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), were present as special guests at the inaugural session.

FBCCI Administrator Hafizur Rahman said that such trade fairs will play an important role in finding sustainable technologies to address the challenges of the industry.

BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell said $22 billion has been invested in this sector, which has created the capacity to supply 100% knit garments for the export-oriented industry.

Further investments could be made if the government provided a long-term forecast of gas prices and bank interest rates for the next 10 years, as uncertainty deters investors, he added.

The expo will feature 1,600 stalls and more than 1,100 brands from 33 countries including China, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Turkey, showcasing the latest technologies in the textile and garment sector.

There are scheduled seminars on sustainable production and modern technology. In addition, there will be a DTG fashion show at ICCB Hall 3 on 21 February and 22.

The event will also feature discussions, seminars, and the DTG Fashion Show from 21-22 February in Hall 3 of ICCB.