Kupang (ANTARA) \u2013 Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, while\ninspecting the Kawasan Sentra Industri Garam Nasional (K-SIGN) in East\nRote District, Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, said that\nsalt development in Rote Ndao plays a strategic role in supporting\nnational needs.<\/p>\n
During his remarks in Rote Ndao on Friday, he emphasised that the\nnational demand for salt, which runs at around 5 million tonnes per\nyear, cannot yet be fully met by domestic production.<\/p>\n
\u2018This is our annual salt requirement of about 5 million tonnes. We\nhave not yet been able to meet that; that is why the project here is\nvery important in order to meet domestic salt needs. Because the\nPresident is committed to food self-sufficiency, salt is one of the\nareas,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
In addition to supporting self-sufficiency, the Vice-President\nstressed the importance of accelerating the area\u2019s operational readiness\nso that its economic benefits can be felt by local communities soon.<\/p>\n
\u2018We want this to become functional as soon as possible. We want to\ncreate as many jobs as possible, so that local residents are helped,\ntheir welfare improves, and most importantly the multiplier effect of\nthe construction of this project can be felt. So it is not just on paper\nbut truly experienced by the people living here,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
Beyond the salt sector, the Vice-President also considered the\npotential for seaweed development and the fishermen\u2019s village in Rote\nNdao. Responding to proposals from the local government, he assured that\nthe needs supporting fishermen\u2019s activities would be followed up\ntogether with the relevant ministries.<\/p>\n
\u2018So we want, in the places proposed by the Regent, productive fishing\nareas to have refrigeration space, cold storage, a slurry ice factory\nand, later, a dedicated fishermen\u2019s fuel station,\u2019 the Vice-President\nexplained.<\/p>\n
In the dialogue, the Vice-President also received reports on\ninfrastructure, education, and health in Rote Ndao, including the need\nfor revitalising community health centres (puskesmas) and improving\nregional hospital facilities.<\/p>\n
In response, he asked for strengthened coordination with the relevant\nministries so that the public\u2019s needs can be promptly acted upon by the\ncentral government.<\/p>\n
Rote Ndao Regent Paulus Henuk expressed hope that the strategic\nproject would bring direct benefits to the community, particularly\nresidents affected by the salt-pond development. He emphasised that the\nregional government stands ready to fully support central government\nprogrammes that positively affect welfare.<\/p>\n
\u2018He wants to ensure that central government attention through the\nMinistry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), which has allocated a\nsubstantial budget, can be implemented well so that the people of Rote\nNdao, especially those affected by K-SIGN, can enjoy the outcomes of\nthis development,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
Also present on the VP\u2019s working visit were East Nusa Tenggara\nGovernor Melki Laka Lena, the Director General of Maritime Resource\nManagement A. Koswara, and Nindya Karya\u2019s President Director\nFirmansyah.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vice-president-salt-development-in-rote-ndao-supports-national-needs-1779542119", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }