Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo has predicted the Indonesian economy will perform better in the second quarter than in the first quarter of this year when it grew 6.3 percent.

"Usually the economic growth in the second, third and fourth quarters is higher than that in the first quarter," he said here on Wednesday night.

Therefore, to increase economic growth the government would speed up the realization of capital spending and raise the limit of untaxed income as a fiscal stimulus, he said.

"If the stimulus in the form of expedited infrastructure financing is disbursed it will surely cause our economy to perform better. Likewise, the plan to raise the limit of untaxed income will boost the people`s economy," he said.

He expressed optimism the economic growth was still relevant to the assumed economic growth rate of 6.5 percent in the revised 2012 state budget and would not be affected by the lingering European economic crisis.

"We hope that the economic growth of 6.5 percent could still be achieved," he said.

He said the state and fiscal budget remained sound although the average Indonesian crude oil production did not exceed the assumed budget and the global crude price was also declining.

He said the government remained optimistic a deficit of state budget would increase at a range of 2.3-2.4 percent.

"There have not been significant developments. But our fiscal remain sound," he said. The disbursement of state budget runs properly." he said. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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