"The factories are located each in the districts of Kupang, Sumba Timur, and Sabu Raijua, processing seaweed into carrageenan," Ganef Wurgiyanto said here on Tuesday (11/9).
The factories process edible seaweed into chips, which are then dried and packed before being sent to the market, he said.
He said he encourages more investment in seaweed processing industry in the province which has the raw material in abundance.
He said the province has wide areas potential for seaweed cultivation reaching around 51,000 hectares.
He said seaweed in NTT is superior in quality with enough rainfalls and sun rays in coral beaches.
"We will encourage investors to venture in the areas not yet having processing factory that marketing could be more efficient," he said.
Expansion of seaweed cultivation has to be followed with development of processing industry to ensure market foothold for the seaweed farmers, he said.
"We need large inflow of investment to create strong market and stability in the price of seaweed," he added.
