2013 Growth Rate Target Of 6.2 Pct Realistic

Jakarta, May 28 (Antara) - Finance Minister Chatib Basri said the economic growth target of 6.2 percent set in the revised 2013 state budget is realistic in light of the latest economic conditions. "It is very important to give a signal of credible growth rate which really reflects the existing trend," he said at a meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission XI discussing the government`s macro-economic assumptions for the 2013 state budget here on Tuesday. Chatib said the growth forecast is realistic since the first-quarter growth only reached 6.02 percent due to slowing investment and unfavorable global economic conditions. Therefore, he added that to achieve the growth rate of 6.2 percent, the government must push the economic growth rate in the following quarters to 6.4 percent. "To achieve the growth rate of 6.2 percent for this year, the third-and fourth-quarter growth rates must respectively reach 6.4 percent without which the growth target will not be achieved," he said. At the meeting, a number of House Commission XI members questioned the government`s decision to lower the growth rate target in the revised 2013 state budget to 6.2 percent. Melchias Markus Mekeng of the Golkar Party faction wanted the assumed growth rate set at 6.5 percent, arguing the absorption of budget funds which serves as one of the growth engines still can be optimized. "Last year the economy grew 6.2 percent when the growth rate target was set at 6.2 percent. As the growth target is set at 6.2 percent now, does it mean that our economy is slowing down?" he asked. Meanwhile, Andi Timo Pangerang of the Democratic Party faction agreed to the government`s growth rate target of 6.2 percent, citing the global economic conditions which have shown no sign of improvement.