JAKARTA, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Indonesia's economy will find it tough to grow above 6 percent next year, given current global economic conditions, deputy central bank governor Hartadi Sarwono said on Wednesday.
Indonesia's quarterly economic growth has been averaging about 6 percent since the end of 2006 and the government is targeting full-year growth of 6.4 percent this year, despite the global credit crisis, in a bid to help reduce poverty and unemployment.
The central bank, however, is now less optimistic that the robust growth can be maintained.
"Given the current global crisis and it's impact on Indonesia, it's hard to imagine that the economy will grow above 6 percent next year," Sarwono said.
"Going forward, the economy will experience a mild slowdown because the decline in imports and exports will be felt next year. Exports grew 30-40 percent last year, now amid decreasing demand growth will seek for a new equilibrium."
Annual economic growth in Southeast Asia's largest economy accelerated to 6.39 percent in the second quarter, and the central bank expects a 6.3-6.4 percent expansion in the third quarter.
Indonesia was the hardest hit by the Asian financial crisis a decade ago due in part to large corporate foreign debt. But the economy has recovered in recent years, posting 6.3 percent GDP growth in 2007, the highest since the Asian crisis.
The statistics bureau is expected to announce third-quarter GDP data in the middle of November.

(Reporting by Adriana Nina Kusuma; Writing by Tyagita Silka; Editing by Ed Davies) Keywords: FINANCIAL INDONESIA/GROWTH (ga.arka@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: ga.arka.reuters.com@reuters.net; Tel: +62 21 384 6364 ext 911)

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