The Indonesian economy grew by 4. 97 percent in the first half of 2006 compared with the same period of last year, the Central Statistics Agency announced Monday.

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth was recorded at 5.22 percent in the second quarter against 4.7 percent in the first quarter, it said.

Separately, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Boediono said the government was upbeat that the GDP growth could reach 5.8 percent in 2006 as targeted in the revised state budget.

He said private consumption began to rise and export was good enough to lift the economic growth.

"Hopefully, export will keep increasing, so will the government spending," he told reporters.

Source: Xinhua