JAKARTA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- E-commerce has been forecast to grow at a faster pace this year as Indonesian consumers are changing lifestyle amid stronger support from the government of online business.

The Indonesian retail association was upbeat on Wednesday about an expected 9-percent growth of e-commerce business in 2018.

That compares with the 7.5-percent expansion last year, Chairman of the association Roy Mandey said.

He said the government has strongly supported development of the business using e-commerce facilities.

"We see strong government attention to this way of business and the development of this business. So, we may be in progress in 2018," Mandey said.

Regarding to slow sales in many conventional shops recently, the chairman said it was partly caused by the change of people lifestyle.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has encouraged business community in the country to use e-commerce to expand their businesses.