Stop the Salt Import Monopoly, The Potential of Deviations Increase

INDUSTRY.co.id - The Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS) wants the government to halt the monopoly on imports of salt because it is considered to have a greater potential for irregularities.

Hizkia Respatiadi, Head of Research Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS), said on Monday that instead of stopping the import of salt, the government should stop the monopoly on import licenses this one.

Hezekiah reminded that the case of abuse of import license that befell the Managing Director of PT Garam Achmad Boediono some time ago indicates the existence of monopoly makes the risk of abuse of authority becomes greater.

"The policy to stop the import of salt should not be done, it will burden the citizens and small industries to get quality salts at affordable prices," he told media crew recently.

He argues that by removing the monopoly on import permits, the government means caring for the needs of the masses.

With regard to targeted salt self-sufficiency achieved by 2020, Hizkia said it would not be achievable any time soon.

This, she added, because the plan of land extendsification in a number of salt-producing centers covering tens of thousands of square meters is considered impossible because now Indonesia is beginning to lack of land for agriculture.

As proclaimed, the Coordinating Minister for the Ministry of Marine Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said in 2020 Indonesia is no longer importing salt because the government will continue to seek to increase national salt production.

Luhut in "Coffee Morning" along with journalists in Jakarta, Tuesday (17/10), explained one of the government's efforts is salt land extendsification in a number of locations, including NTT which has the potential to become one of national salt centers.

Coordinating Minister of Maritime said, salt land in Indonesia is very wide, reaching more than 30 thousand hectares including land owned by the people. Unfortunately, PT Garam, which also manages thousands of salt fields, does not maximize the land by holding private companies.

Previously, Secretary General of the People's Coalition for Justice of Fisheries (Kiara) Susan Herawati wanted the weather anomaly factor should not be an excuse for the government to open the salt import faucet.

"Salt imports continue to this day by sheltering behind the reasons for the scarcity of salt stocks as a result of climate damage and weather anomalies," said Susan Herawati.