"The 5.1 percent target is quite credible. In fact, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) has projected it at 4.9 percent. But the IMF is known for being conservative. Thus, wed better achieve a higher level than to peg it at a higher level, but that is not credible," he said at the parliament building here on Thursday.
The relatively difficult global economy has affected the national economic growth rate since last year. The economy this year is also not as bright as many sides have expected, he stated.
"The same is also true with our economy. We have projected the growth rate at 5.3 percent in our state budget, but many sides have forecast it will be lower than that," he said.
Both the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday night agreed on a change in the macro-economic growth assumption in the draft revision of the 2016 state budget from 5.3 percent to 5.1 percent, which they consider to be more relevant to the current economic conditions.
To achieve an economic growth forecast of 5.1 percent, the economy must grow by an average of 5.3 percent during the three remaining quarters. The national economy grew 4.52 percent in the first quarter.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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