U.S STILL A DESTINATION OF W SUMATRA'S NON-OIL/GAS EXPORTS

Padang, W Sumatra, Sept 1 (ANTARA) - The United States is still a destination of West Sumatra's non-oil/gas exports, which in July 2008 reached 73.837 thousand US dollars, to Singapore worth 51,994.3 thousand US dollars, and to India 33,253.4 thousand US dollars.

Head of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) West Sumatra chapter Muchlis Ayub said in Padang on Monday that the total exports in the first semester of 2008 to the US increased 54.19 percent from last year's same period of 272,217.7 thousand US dollars to 419,725.9 thousand US dollars.

West Sumatra's exports to Singapore also increased 146.81 percent and to India 244.31 percent.

In the first semester of 2008, the exports to India accounted for 30.03 percent of West Sumatra's total exports, to the US accounting for 23.16 percent, and to Singapore 16.19 percent. Thus, in the January-July 2008 period West Sumatra's total exports to the three countries accounted for 69.38 percent.

Actually, West Sumatra's exports also went to some other countries, including China with 11,159.8 thousand US dollars, Myanmar 6,640.8 thousand US dollars, and to Bangladesh 6,550.7 thousand US dollars.

The exports to their destinations went through the Padang's Teluk Bayur port, and the Minangkabau International airport.