Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - Bali has to make a breakthrough in the manufacturing industry since it plays an important role in boosting the national economic growth, according to an official at the Central Statistics Agency.

"The breakthrough is critically needed since the manufacturing industry has not been fully developed and is under the national economic growth rate," Bali Central Statistics Agency Head Gede Suarsa said on Friday.

He said large and medium-sized manufacturing businesses decelerated by 3.05 percent in the third quarter of 2012, compared to 3.30 percent in the second quarter of 2012.

On a national level, the manufacturing industry in Bali increased by 2.06 percent in the third quarter of 2012 (q-q).

Based on year on year (y-y) growth, the production of large and medium-sized manufacturing businesses accelerated by 6.57 percent compared to 6.12 percent in the second quarter of 2012.

"The growth is higher than 5.80 percent in the third quarter of 2011 and it is also higher if compared to the national growth of 3.61 percent in the third quarter of 2012," he said.

Suarsa said that Bali plays an important role in developing the manufacturing industry, given the decreasing contributions of some primary sectors, particularly the agricultural sector.

In addition, he pointed out that the global economic crisis has a negative impact on the European zone and this affects the national economic condition, particularly in Bali.

"The future of the global economy will be bleak if the crisis is not immediately tackled. Thus, the uncertainty will possibly cover the global economy," he said.

Suarsa added that the economic condition in America is getting worse, weakening the global economic growth as a result. Hence, a breakthrough in the manufacturing industry is required to increase the quantity of the products and improve their quality.

He added that the government has to provide more opportunities to regional private businesses so that they can produce a wider range of higher quality products.

According to Suarsa, the manufacturing industry in Bali makes a significant contribution to the regional gross domestic product. The regional gross domestic product in 2011 stood at 8.95 percent, lower than in 2010, when it was 9.18 percent.

(J010/INE/KR-BSR/F001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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