PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Economic Growth Rate (LPE) of West Java Province grew by 4.93 percent (yoy) in the first quarter - 2024.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in West Java was also recorded as positive, falling quite significantly in the last year.

Data from the West Java Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the number of unemployed people in West Java in February 2024 was 1.79 million people, down 217,000 people compared to February 2023.

Head of West Java BPS Marsudijono said that economic growth in the first quarter of 2024 was still not very pleasant, but he was optimistic that it would get better in the second quarter.

"Year on year, West Java LPE grew 4.93 percent, while month to month (m to m) grew by 0.3 percent," he said when delivering the LPE release at the West Java BPS office, Bandung City, Monday (6/5 /2024).

Indeed, West Java's economic growth in the first quarter - 2024 is still below the national level, which reached 5.11 percent (yoy) or 0.83 percent (m to m).

However, West Java LPE makes a large contribution to National GRDP, which is in 3rd place, below DIY and East Java.

According to Marsudijono, many factors cause the rise and fall of LPE, one of which is the growth of industry, trade, construction and the agricultural sector.

"Everything is positive, but the agricultural sector is experiencing contraction. In the second quarter, I am optimistic that it will improve, including the agricultural sector," he stressed.

Head of the West Java Province Food Crops and Horticulture Service, Dadan Hidayat, is optimistic that the growth of the agricultural sector in the second quarter of 2024 will improve.

Moreover, according to him, West Java will receive a pumping program from the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture to accelerate the addition of planting areas in several points in the West Java region.

"We are responding to concerns with vigilance. Moreover, West Java is getting a pumping program to support the expansion of planting after the big harvest in April and May. Optimistic, there will be growth in the West Java agricultural sector," said Dadan Hidayat when present at the West Java BPS.