JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has confirmed that the giant salt pond project in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) will open thousands of jobs involving various sectors, including local communities and land owners around the region.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said the construction of the National Salt Industry Center (K-SIGN) with a total area of 20 thousand hectares is projected to absorb around 26,000 workers.
"The K-SIGN program is also estimated to absorb around 26,000 workers and will improve the economy of the local community and revive other derivative businesses," Trenggono said as quoted from his written statement, Wednesday, June 4.
According to Trenggono, the development program is part of a concrete effort by the government to realize salt self-sufficiency in 2027.
Later, he said, the area will not only be a production center, but a symbol of the nation's independence.
"We want to end the dependence on salt imports and raise local potential to the national stage," he said.
The construction of a national salt industry center will be carried out through an integrated extensification approach, including the construction of modern salt ponds, warehouse and processing facilities to institutional arrangement and production cooperation.
The plan is that the construction is scheduled to last for two years with a detailed and measurable stage of work.
The development stages will include land planning and preparation, licensing, infrastructure development, institutional establishment to operational trials of salt production stages I and II. In addition, a national salt warehouse and processing unit will be built to strengthen supply chains and added value of products.
The implementation of the K-SIGN program is strengthened by the issuance of the Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Kepmen KP) Number 28 of 2025 concerning the Development Location of the National Salt Industry Center Area for 2025-2026, which is set on June 2, 2025.
The designated area covers a land area of 10,764 hectares, spread over 13 villages in three sub-districts.
The three sub-districts are Landu Lenko, Pantai Baru and East Rote as well as water areas in Teluk Pantai Baru.
The three sub-districts were chosen based on the availability of potential land and support for coastal ecosystems that support the salt production process efficiently and sustainably.
SEE ALSO:
With the start of the development of the area, KKP hopes that Indonesia can immediately get out of dependence on industrial salt imports and make Rote Ndao a model for the success of the development of the regional, inclusive and sustainable national salt industry.
Meanwhile, Regent Rote Ndao Paulus Henuk expressed his joy because Rote Ndao could be a part of efforts to realize salt self-sufficiency.
"We express our gratitude to the central government for making Rote Ndao a national salt industry center area," he said.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
