JAKARTA. The head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Suryamin, says that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.71 percent in the first quarter of this year, the lowest GDP growth the country has recorded since 2009.

"GDP growth declined from 5.14 percent in the first quarter of last year to 4.71 percent in the first quarter of this year. It was caused by slowing demand from major export partners as well as the fall of global oil prices," Suryamin told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.

Compared to the fourth quarter of last year, the economy declined by 0.18 percent in the first quarter.

The islands of Bali and Nusa Tenggara recorded the highest GDP growth in the first quarter with a rise of 8.86 percent, followed by Sulawesi and Java, which rose by 7.32 percent and 5.17 percent respectively.

Maluku and Papua came fourth with an increase of 3.74 percent, while Sumatra and Kalimantan stood at fifth and sixth place, with rises of 3.53 percent and 1.06 percent respectively.

"Java and Sumatra dominated Indonesia's economic structure in the first quarter this year," Suryamin said. (Grace D Amianti)

Editor: Yudho Winarto