"We are the third highest in the world (by economic growth) after China and India," the president said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is among the three countries with the highest economic growth in recent years, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said.
"We are the third highest in the world (by economic growth) after China and India," the president said at a get-together with participants of the national leadership meeting of the National Mandate Party (PAN) at Bidakara Hotel here on Sunday.
He asked all components of the Indonesian nation to thank God that Indonesia posted positive growth amidst the global economic downturn.
"The World Bank has predicted that the global economic growth will slow down to 3.1 percent from 3.5 percent in 2016. This is a challenge that we must face," he said.
Despite the global economic slowdown, the Indonesian economy still expanded 4.91 percent in the first quarter of this year, 5.18 percent in the second quarter, and 5.02 percent in the third quarter, he said.
"Thanks be to God, we are the third highest after China and India," he said.
The president said several other indicators, including poverty rate and unemployment rate also have been improving.
"Poverty rate has been declining, albeit small. Likewise, unemployment rate has also been going down, while at the same time unemployment rate in other countries has been climbing," he said.
He noted the inflation rate in the past couple of years also remained under control. "It reached 3,5 percent last year and is expected to reach 3,0 percent this year. This means that the rise in commodity prices could be controlled," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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