BPS: RI's Economy Grows 6.4 Pct In Q2

Jakarta, Aug 7 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian economy in the second quarter of 2012 grew by 6.4 percent year-on-year, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). "The Indonesian economic growth measured by a rise in GDP (gross domestic product) increased to 6.4 percent from the same quarter of 2011," BPS Chief Suryamin said on Monday. The second-quarter growth showed a 0.1 percent rise from 6.3 percent in the previous quarter, he said. He attributed the second-quarter economic performance to the growth of large and medium scale manufacturing industries which reached 3.94 percent quarter-to-quarter and the growth of foreign tourist arrivals which reached 3.61 percent quarterly and 4.77 percent annually. "The government expenditures including capital spending in the second quarter which increased to Rp384.5 trillion from Rp244.9 trillion in the same period last year also contributed to the second-quarter growth," he said. He said strong growth in the import of capital goods to support domestic investment also added to the second-quarter economic growth. Data from the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) show investment in the second quarter grew by 8 percent on a quarterly basis and 24 percent on a yearly basis. Yet a slowdown in global economy reduced Indonesia`s exports in the second quarter, he said. He said three sectors recorded the highest growth in the second quarter. They were the trade, hotel and restaurant sector which grew 5.2 percent, the electricity, gas and clean water sector which expanded 4.4 percent and the construction sector which rose 4.4 percent. "On a yearly basis, the transportation and communication sector grew 10.1 percent, the trade, hotel and restaurant sector 8.9 percent and the construction sector 7.3 percent," he said. Compared to the same period last year, household consumption grew 5 percent, government consumption rose 7 percent, exports increased 1.9 percent and imports expanded 10.9 percent in the second quarter of 2012.