NATIONAL ECONOMY TO GROW 4 - 4.5 PCT : BI

Manado, Indonesia, Oct 8 (ANTARA) - Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Budi Mulya said he was optimistic that Indonesia's economic growth would reach 4 to 4.5 percent later this year.

"Previously, BI was a little bit pessimistic and predicted that national economic growth would be below 4 percent. But seeing the latest developments, the BI board of governors raised its estimate to 4 to 4.5 percent," Budi Mulya said here on Thursday.

He said that the indicators of the economic growth included strong domestic market which was supported by big number of population reaching 220 million.

Besides, prices of Indonesia's commodities overseas were showing an upward trend, which was an indication that national economy would be able to grow.

"Imports will remain to exist but incline to show a downward trend. Indonesia's exports also are rising so that Indonesia has enjoyed a trade surplus," he said.

He said that the positive growth of Indonesia's economy was also not separated from the good resilience of national economy in the face global financial crisis recently.

"We are grateful of the fact that national economy was strong in the face of the crisis when many countries adversely experienced negative growth," Mulya said.***