RI`s GDP may reach Rp5,275.9 trillion

The government and the House of Representatives (DPR) are looking into the possibility of raising the country`s gross domestic product (GDP) to Rp5,275.9 trillion by relying on exports and investments.

"With the GDP reaching that amount, our per capita GDP has actually exceeded US$2,700. But it seems that we were still at the level of middle income countries," Syahrial Loetan, secretary of the state minister for national development planning/chief secretary of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), said on Monday. Hopefully, non-oil/non-gas exports would be the main foreign exchange earner while natural resources would be the main factor to attract investments next year, he said. "But we must keep in mind that the improving economy will make the people`s consumption stronger," he said. The Rp5,275.9 trillion GDP could be achieved if the economy grew by 6.2 percent and the inflation rate reached 6.5 percent, he said.

source: Antara | 16 June 2008