JAKARTA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Retail business in Indonesia is expected to grow higher this year amid rising commodities' prices.
Indonesia's retail association was upbeat over the achievement of a 9 percent growth in the sector this year, comparing with last year's 7.5 percent.
"Commodities' prices are rising now, we think we will grow better this year," said Roy N. Mandey, chairman of the association on Thursday.
The government support to boost productivity and policy is also expected to accelerate the expansion of the business in 2018, according to him.
Indonesia is the world's largest exporter of thermal coal, crude palm oil and the world's third biggest exporter of cocoa and rubber, as well as home of the world's second biggest copper mine.
The government has unveiled a policy to boost people's purchasing power by keeping the fuel and electricity prices, the major contributors to inflation, steady in the first quarter of this year.
Consumption accounts for more than half of the country's economic growth.
Indonesia has set a 5.4 percent GDP growth target for this year and expected last year's growth at 5.17 percent.
