This is Susi's Response to the Issues of Salt Industry Leakage Problem

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - The commercial trade of salt has often overshadowed the issue of industrial salt leakage to the salt consumption market. Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Susi Pudjiastuti wants the community to participate in monitoring and supervising together the use of industrial salt.

"If there is an industrial company given permission for the industry but sold to consumers, report it! We monitor and supervise together," said Susi through a written statement in Jakarta (2/8/2017).

Susi believes that if imports are regulated, including only certain salts that may be imported by the industry, and the trade is controlled, then the price of salt farmers will be buffered.

To support the farmers, she said, the CTF has so far issued a budget for geomembranes to make salt whiter and cleaner so that the price of the commodity is better.

KKP also ordered PT Garam (Persero) to absorb the salt produced by farmers to support the price of people's salt. The SOE was asked to buy people's salt above the cost of production.

Susi also believes cartel salt rumors really exist. According to her, the cartel was formed by salt importers. "They are also leaking industrial salt into the consumption salt market in line with the volume of imports that exceed their production capacity," she explained.

She noted the average volume of salt imported by the industry of 2 million tons per year. "Finally they become traders, half more leakage to the consumption market, it happens when the harvest happens so that the price of people's salt falls," she said.

Susi said the CTF should be involved to provide import recommendation, especially after Law No. 7/2016 on Protection of Fishermen, Cultivators and Fishers of Salt appeared. The recommendations include volume, type, and when salt imports may be made.

"Unfortunately, the authority that makes the 'comfort' importers disrupted, which eventually led to cases that befall PT Garam (Persero) early June," added Susi.

Susi believes the case stems from the importer's displeasure with the one-door salt import policy through PT Garam. "It seems that with the next KKP set and monitor, many are disturbed," she concluded