Jakarta, Nov. 11 -- The domestic food and beverage industry will grow eight percent at the end of 2019, falling short of the target of nine percent, the Industry Ministry has stated in its projections for the year. "I hope the growth will still be above eight percent. It seems difficult to reach nine percent, more so because it is still affected by (the growth) in the first semester of 2019," Director General of Agro-Industry of the Industry Ministry Abdul Rochim said in Jakarta Monday.

The food and beverage industry only grew 7.4 percent in the first semester of 2019, well below the target of nine percent due to the general elections, he said

"As we know there were legislative and presidential elections in the first semester so investo...