VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The positive growth of the processing industry during the first quarter of 2019 has propped up the country's economic growth during the period to reach 5.07 percent, the head of the Central Bureau of Statistic (BPS) Suhariyanto said.   

"The processing industry has grown positively with the support of the food and beverage, textile and garments, tobacco processing, paper and paper products industries," Suhariyanto said in Jakarta on Monday.

However, the growth of the industry at 3.86 percent was less than the growth during the same period last year, which was recorded at 4.6 percent.

The growth of the food and beverage, textile and garment, as well as paper and paper products industries was supported by the increased production of crude palm oil (CPO), and high demand ahead of Ramadhan and Eid al-Fitr, and the general election.

"The growth of the tobacco processing industry was supported by the increased local and international demand," Suhariyanto remarked.

The processing industry has made the largest contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2019 at 20.07 percent, followed by the trade sector at 13.20 percent, and agriculture at 12.65 percent.

The trade sector grew 5.26 percent, higher than the previous year's growth at 4.99 percent, with the contribution of automotive and spare parts sales, logistics for campaign, and the sale of domestic goods.

The agriculture sector grew at 1.81 percent, lower than the growth in the first quarter of 2018 at 3.34 percent, with the contribution of the increased production of commodities such as palm oil, tea and coffee.

In the business sector, corporate services showed the highest growth at 10.36 percent, followed by other services at 9.99 percent, and information and communication at 9.03 percent. (ant)