A slowdown in GDP growth by the largest economic sectors in the first quarter of 2007 has been partly compensated for by a stellar performance from the construction sector said an analyst. 

"While the manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and finance and business services sectors had a combined contribution of 3.6% to Q4 2006's GDP growth, this share dwindled to 2.6% in Q1 2007, but some of this shortfall in growth was compensated for in turn by the improved performance of the construction, trade and transport, and general government sectors," said the analyst.

"The construction sector in particular experienced stellar growth over the quarter, growing quarter-on-quarter (q/q) by 21.3%, even accounting for the upwardly revised output figures of the previous two quarters," said the analyst.

"Such is the growth of the sector that some industry analysts are predicting a doubling in the sector's size by 2013, bringing with it increased investment and employment creation," concluded the analyst.