The National Salt Industry Center (K-SIGN) will soon commence construction on a 10,000-hectare site in Rote Ndao, East Nusa Tenggara, which will be divided into 10 zones. There are three to four interested investors, both domestic and foreign, who have expressed interest in participating in the K-SIGN project. PT Garam CEO Abraham Mose stated that investors are likely to be interested, as starting in 2028, the government will cease importing industrial salt in order to achieve the target of achieving salt self-sufficiency by the end of 2027. Consequently, with this policy in effect, manufacturers will establish salt processing facilities in Indonesia to meet their needs.
Director General of Marine Resources Management at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, A. Koswara, stated that in the development of Zone 1 of the industrial hub, the government will provide full funding for the project, including land preparation, construction, and infrastructure development across the entire area, with an estimated budget of approximately IDR 750 billion. The development of Zones 2-10 will be entrusted to investors for construction, while the government will be responsible for preparing the land. The development of K-SIGN is expected to increase salt productivity to 200 tons per hectare per cycle, with sodium chloride (NaCl) content exceeding 97%. The project is expected to generate employment opportunities for 26,000 individuals and enhance community welfare by ensuring a minimum income of 2.5 times the Regional Minimum Wage (UMR).
