India's Manufacturing Grows 12% In Sept.

India's industrial production grew by a higher-than-expected 11.4% in September from a year earlier, according to official data Nov. 13, pointing to continued strong economic expansion in Asia's fourth-largest economy.

Manufacturing grew by 12% in September, while electricity generation expanded by 11.3%, the Central Statistical Organization said.

Economists said the industrial growth kept India on track to meet an official target of 8% growth for the financial year ending March 2007 after the economy expanded by 8.4% last year.

India, which logged 8.9% growth in the first quarter, has expanded at 8% for a record three years and is the world's second-fastest growing major economy after China.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2006