Construction of Salt Industry Special Economic Zone in Rote to be Completed in June 2026

Kupang (ANTARA) - The Deputy Governor of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Johni Asadoma, has targeted the completion of the National Strategic Project (PSN) for the National Salt Industry Centre (K-SIGN) in Rote Ndao Regency by June 2026. “As of today, the progress of the Rote Salt PSN is already 92 per cent, and we are pushing for completion in June 2026,” he said in Rote Ndao on Saturday, after inspecting the K-SIGN site in Rote Ndao, which is expected to become the national salt centre. He stated that to support the construction progress, the provincial and regency governments are ready to intervene to help overcome field challenges. During the visit, the Deputy Governor was accompanied by the Deputy Regent of Rote Ndao, Apremoi Dudelusy Dethan, elements of the local Forkopimda, and the regional government apparatus. In addition, the project is projected to have a significant impact on employment absorption in the area, with potential to reach 26,000 people, of which 80 to 90 per cent are local NTT workers. “This will become a new economic driver as well as a solution to reduce the still quite high unemployment rate in NTT,” he said. He noted that the number of unemployed in NTT is currently around 125,000 people, so the presence of a national-scale project like K-SIGN is considered very strategic for improving community welfare.