National economic growth in 2009 is expected to exceed 4.3 percent, Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) chief Rusman Hermawan said here Wednesday.

“Although the official figures will only be made known by February 10, it seems economic growth in 2009 will exceed 4.3 percent,” he said.

BPS would officially make known the growth figures of the fourth quarter and the annual growth figures every February 10. That is why the growth figures for 2009 would only be made known on February 10, he said.

Rusman said economic growth in 2009 was particularly driven by growth in the fourth quarter when exports turned around significantly to positive from negative three months earlier.

In the fourth quarter of 2009, the BPS recorded exports grew 23 percent year-on-year but annually they dropped 15 percent.

“In the fourth quarter exports grew 23 percent. Exports turned around from being negative three months before to positive in the period, he said.

He said the growth in the fourth quarter of 2009 would pass 4.5 percent because the economy needed to grow 4.5 percent in the fourth quarter to make the annual growth in the year to reach 4.3 percent.

“Now we have recorded a 4.1 percent growth for the past three quarters. To make it 4.3 percent we need a 4.5 percent growth in the fourth quarter. It seems it will be achieved. So a 4.5 percent growth will be reached,” he said.

Source: Antara