JAKARTA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia will increase capital expenditure of state-owned companies this year by 72 percent to 20.05 billion U.S. dollars, from that of in last year, as one of efforts to help stimulate economic growth, according to Jakarta globe Wednesday.

    State Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar quoted by the Jakarta globe as saying that the spending would create a multiplier effect in the economy and would provide more jobs.

    It aimed to boost gross domestic product to 5.5 percent this year from that of at last year forecast of 4.3 percent.

    "We expect this year will be better than last year as the economy will be growing. Therefore, the state firms should keep investing to help the government stimulate the economy. The spending will help the government create a multiplier effect in the economy and will provide new jobs and opportunities for many Indonesians," he said.

    The government expected net profit from the firms to rise by 21percent to 90 trillion rupiah (some 9.83 billion U.S. dollars) this year, compared to that of at last year.

    Indonesia has 138 state-owned firms. The firms specializing in energy, telecommunications, transportation, mining and plantations will spend the largest amount on capital expenditure this year.

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