"A decision to import salt was taken at a meeting of the coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment," Trenggono noted here on Sunday.
The minister confirmed to still be awaiting data related to the salt demand in Indonesia. In the event of any shortage of salt, the commodity will be imported. Salt imports are also conducted in accordance with the trade balance, so that the domestic demand for salt can be met.
"For instance, how much shortage of salt are we facing that will be imported. We are awaiting it (the data). This is since it is already included in the Law on Job Creation," he stated.
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Meanwhile, member of Commission IV of the House of Representatives (DPR) Ono Surono remarked that he will supervise the import of salt by the government, so that the policy would not be burdensome for traditional salt farmers.
"We will closely monitor to ensure that salt imports will not affect the consumption of salt that has been sufficiently supplied by the local salt (farmers)," he remarked.
Surono admitted that the salt problem in Indonesia had yet to be resolved owing to discrepancies in data on its demand between the Ministry of Trade and the KKP ministry.
It is deemed important that the government have a clear picture of the real figures of salt requirement in the country, the exact quantity supplied by local salt farmers, and the actual demand for industrial salt.
"Imports are related to the salt balance, in which the Ministry of Fisheries (KKP) and the Ministry of Trade always (have) different (data)," he stated. Related news: BPPT builds pilot project to produce industrial salt
Translator: Khaerul Izan, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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