Rivalista

Indonesia`s exports keep increasing with Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu saying she was optimistic they could grow by 14 percent this year.

"Right now, namely in the first semester of this year, they have already grown 18 percent year-on-year. So I predict they may grow by up to 14 percent. Imports are more difficult to predict but they may grow 12 to 14 percent," she said after attending a coordination meting with Bank Indonesia here on Monday.

She said although the trade surplus would drop due to increasing imports it would be compensated for in the next six months.

"It usually happens when imports are rising and exports will then also rise in an around six month period," she said.

She said the growth of exports of several prime commodities was quite high including textile and textile products, electronic and automotive products.

"We are optimistic if no sharp downturn happens everything will be okey. It is because exports of products have all recorded high growth including not only commodities but also exlectronic, automotive and textile and textile products. The growth of textile and textile product exports was 26 percent in the first semester. It was the highest in the past five years. Footwear exports are also high," she said.

She said the growth of exports of plantation commodities such as rubber was also high reaching almost 60 percent driven by a good price.