GDP growth for FY07 estimated at 9.2%

Driven by robust performance in manufacturing and financial services, the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected at 9.2% during FY07, against 9% in the previous year.

"The 9.2% GDP growth FY07 is projected on top of 9% for FY06, taking the growth to over 9% for the second year running," according to advanced estimates released by the CSO here.

However, the advance estimates showed that growth in agriculture dipped again to 2.7% in FY07 after rising to 6% in the previous year.

The manufacturing sector grew at 11.3% against 9.1% while construction took a breather to 9.4% against 14.2% last year.

The financing, insurance, real estate and business services continued to perform well logging in 11.1% growth against 10.9%.

There was a marginal improvement in mining and quarry to 4.5% from 3.6% last year.