Gov’t to Allow Export of Industrial Salt

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (Photo by: Agung/PR)

In a bid to immediately meet demand for salt for industries, the Government has announced it will allow import of the commodity, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has said.

According to Luhut, the measure was taken because national salt production cannot yet fulfill demand for the commodity for national industries both in terms of quality and quantity.

“For food industries and industries that need salt as raw material, they will be granted with an import permit with a recommendation from Ministry of Industry,” Luhut told reporters after attending the Limited Cabinet Meeting through video conference on the Acceleration of  Locally-produced Salt Use, Monday (5/10).

Ministry of Industry, the Minister continued, will also perform data collection and make a list of importing industries to be released for the public. “That way, the public can monitor them,” Luhut added.

However, the Government, he added, will revoke import permits for importers who violate the rules.

“If the importers sell the salts abroad, Ministry of Industry will revoke their license or they will be imposed with a penalty,” the Minister concluded.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo during the meeting ordered his Cabinet to take measures to boost productivities and quality of salt produced by the people in order to meet demands for national industries. The President also emphasized the importance of the use of technology.

“(Lands for cultivating salt) must be integrated (with industries) and there must ‘extensification’. Technology innovation in production, especially washing plants, must be developed so post-production can ensure availability, especially in the form of storage warehouses,” the President said.  (TGH/DND/UN)

Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Edited by: Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas