"The growth is higher than expected."Padang (ANTARA News) - West Sumatra`s economy grew 6.8 percent in the third quarter of 2012 from 6.2 percent in the same period last year, according to the local office of the central bank.
"The growth is higher than expected," assistant director of Bank Indonesia office in West Sumatra M Setyawan Santoso said here on Friday.
The third-quarter growth was fueled by strong demand during the fasting month of Ramadhan and Idul Fitri festivities, he said.
The high demand during Ramadhan and Idul Fitri boosted the manufacturing, trade, hotel and restaurant, and transportation and communication sectors, he said.
The economic growth of 6.8 percent is also higher than the national economic growth of 6.2 percent in the quarter ending September 2012, he said.
He said neighboring provinces including Riau, Jambi and Riau Islands also recorded higher growth in the third quarter of 2012 compared to the same period last year.
Riau`s economy grew 4.06 percent from 3.96 percent, and Riau Islands` economy expanded 8.6 percent from 7.2 percent, he said.
Meanwhile, Jambi`s economic growth in the July-September 2012 period remained unchanged at 7.1 percent compared to the same period last year, he said.
(Uu.S012/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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