Rote Ndao, NTT (ANTARA) - Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said the first phase of development of the National Salt Industry Center Area (K-SIGN) in Rote Ndao district, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), will begin in July 2025.

"There are around 1,300 hectares that we will soon build this year. Hopefully, we can start immediately this July," he informed in Rote Ndao on Tuesday.

The second phase of development is targeted to begin in 2026 and cover an area of around 9 thousand hectares.

"Thus, we expect more than 10 thousand hectares of national industrial salt land to be included in the category that equivalent to imported salt," Trenggono said.

The minister launched the development of the K-SIGN in Matasio village, East Rote sub-district, Rote Ndao district, on Tuesday— a strategic step toward realizing national salt self-sufficiency by 2027.

The minister determined the location for the development of the K-SIGN, which covers an area of 10,764 hectares, through the Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 28 of 2025.

The decree outlines the development site for 2025–2026.

The K-SIGN will serve as a national pilot model that will adopt modern technology, integrate supply chains from upstream to downstream, support partnership schemes for salt farmers and industry, and strengthen institutional access to financing for salt farmers.

The government will also collaborate with state-owned salt company PT Garam to ensure the sustainability of the national salt industry.

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Translator: Aji Cakti, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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