The regional bank and other economists concur that a COVID-19 spike over Ramadan and potential delays in the vaccination rollout are key risks to recovery.
he Asian Development Bank (ADB) has held its growth forecast for Indonesia at 4.5 percent this year, on the back of the ongoing vaccination drive and government efforts, and against the potential risk of a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.
After a rebound this year, the bank forecast that the Indonesian economy would return to moderate growth of 5 percent next year. This was in line with the trend expected to unfold across developing Asian economies, with the ADB forecasting average growth of 7.3 percent in 2021 and 5.3 percent in 2022.
“[The] Indonesian economy, we envision, will rebound strongly, reflecting accommodative fiscal and monetary policy position, a pickup in pent-up consumer demand,” ADB chief economist Yasuyuki Sawada said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday.
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data showed that gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 2.07 percent in 2020, the first annual contraction in over two decades. The figure was only slightly less severe than the ADB forecast of 2.2 percent contraction as a result of the government’s COVID-19 containment measures, which were looser than expected.
The ADB joins the World Bank in maintaining their growth projections for Indonesia, while the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) upgraded its forecast and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded its forecast.
Read also: IMF lowers Indonesia’s 2021 GDP growth outlook
The regional development bank’s latest forecast falls within the government’s growth range projection of between 4.5 percent and 5.3 percent this year.
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.