Gibran Aims for Rote Ndao Salt Industry to Create Jobs and Boost Welfare

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Vice President (Wapres) of the Republic of Indonesia, Gibran Rakabuming, visited the National Salt Industry Center (K-SIGN) in Rote Timur subdistrict, Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Friday 22 May 2026. The visit was to ensure the development of the national salt industry is progressing optimally. Gibran emphasised the importance of accelerating the operationalisation of the K-SIGN area so that its economic benefits are felt by the people, including through job creation.

‘We want this to be functional as soon as possible. We want to be able to create as many jobs as possible, local residents can be helped, their welfare improved, and most importantly the multiplier effect of this project’s construction should be felt. So it’s not just on paper but truly felt by the residents here,’ Gibran said in a written statement.

According to him, the national salt requirement of around 5 million tonnes per year cannot yet be fully met from domestic production. Therefore, the salt development project in Rote Ndao is regarded as strategically important in supporting national needs.

‘This is our salt requirement per year, 5 million tonnes, right. We cannot meet that yet, so this project here is very important to be able to meet domestic salt needs. Because the President has a concern for food self-sufficiency, salt is one of them,’ he said.

On the same occasion, Gibran said the needs to support fishermen activities will be followed up with the relevant ministries.

‘Therefore we want, later in places proposed by the Regent, productive fishing areas to have cold storage space, there is cold storage, there is an ice plant for slurry ice, and later there will be a dedicated fuel station for fishermen,’ he explained.

He stressed that the regional government is ready to fully support central government programmes that positively affect the welfare of the people.

‘He wants to ensure that central government attention through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), which budgets a fairly large amount, can run well so that the people of Rote Ndao, especially those affected by K-SIGN, can enjoy the fruits of this development,’ said Paulus.