Iodized salt from C. Java

Iodized salt from C. Java

SEMARANG, Central Java: The province hopes to export some
60,000 tons of iodized salt, which is vital to children's
intelligence growth and the prevention of goiter, to other
provinces this year.

"If the target is achieved, Central Java will be able to make
available 47 percent of Indonesia's demand for iodized salt,"
said Nuri Handayani of the local office of the Association of
Indonesian Iodized Salt Producers.

Central Java has 48 producers of the salt, Nuri said
yesterday.

Currently, local salt producers export their products to West
Java, Jakarta, West Sumatra, North Sumatra, West Kalimantan,
South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan.

She said the local salt makers will have to face a serious
challenge if the government goes ahead with its plan to set up
its own factories.

The government intends to build factories worth several
billion rupiahs in Central Java, East Java and South Sulawesi.
(pan)