The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER,
The 3.6 percent growth in gross domestic product was projected in December last year.
The country's top economic planner, the Council for Economic Planning and Development, earlier this month revised downward its economic growth forecast for this yearto 3.05 percent from 3.68 percent. The economy grew 3.54 percent last year mainly because of brisk exports.
But the economic activities would eventually pick up steam as the world economy gradually recovered and the SARS was brought under control, it said.
GDP would grow 2.98 percent in the second quarter, 3.03 percent in the third and 3.79 percent in the fourth, after rising 4.24 percent in the first, according to the council's latest projections.
The council said it also expected a 3.98 percent GDP growth for next year, down from the 4.49 percent forecast made in December.
For the full year, exports of commodities and services were projected to grow 6.71 percent and imports would increase 7.54 percent from a year earlier, it said.
Private consumption was expected to growth 2.55 percent and domestic investment would grow 2.48 percent, it said.
Inflation is expected to rise 0.17 percent and the Taiwan dollar would trade at an average of 34.38 against the US dollar.
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