China Keen On Salt Investment In East Nusa Tenggara

Kupang, July 27 (Bernama) - Chinese investors are keen to invest in the salt industry of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) due to the high quality of salt in the province, ANTARA news agency reported.

"Their interest has been conveyed by Tourism and Creative Economic Minister Mari Elka Pangestu at the "Strengthening Small and Medium Enterprises in Asean" symposium held in Jakarta," said head of NTT Investment Coordinating Agency Thobias Ully on Friday.

During his visit to Indonesia, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said that businesses from his country were keen to invest in many sectors in Indonesia, one them being the salt sector in East Nusa Tenggara.

"The province's salt industry has immense potential for growth and the province could become self-sufficient in salt production by 2014," said Thobias.

To promote the development of salt industry in the province, the local government had started a salt empowerment programme in which 119 groups of people, including 939 salt farmers, are given training on maximising production.

Sourced: bernama