NDFD Chairman expresses satisfaction with preparations for the first Green Innovations Summit

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Development Foundation of Dominica (NDFD) Nicholas Bruno expressed his satisfaction with the level of preparation done so far for the staging of the first Green Innovations Summit next week, starting from June 1^st.

Bruno arrived at his assessment after meeting with the NDFD’s Executive Director, Business and Entrepreneurial Development Manager, and overall Event Coordinator at the NDFD head office earlier this week.  He also expressed his approval on the program design and activities developed by the organizing team for the summit.

Fifteen participants were selected last week out of all entries received for the competition to proceed to the Idea Lab section of the summit on June 1^st where these participants get the chance to polish their ideas after listening to a panel discussion from experts in the environmental areas whose problems they intend to tackle.  The fifteen participants of the Idea Lab are then expected to present their ideas to a group of judges at the end of the day.

Only ten participants will be moving on to the formal three-day Green Innovations Summit where they will get to acquire multiple, high-level training on the different areas of business development and interact with their mentors who were carefully chosen by the NDFD to guide them as they further develop their business plans.  The mentors are also tasked to help them prepare for a final pitch that will determine the winners on the last day of the event.

NDFD’s chairman also articulated his contentment with the trainers and mentors selected for the summit and voiced his thanks to all of these trainers and mentors, together with the panelists, who have committed their support to the summit.

The first Green Innovations Summit is part of the Green Program launched by the NDFD last March. It is an open competition and capacity-building event which is geared towards assisting aspiring Green entrepreneurs develop environment-friendly business ideas, learn the most important aspects of effectively running a business, and acquire the most effective techniques in pitching their business ideas to potential investors.  The Green Innovations Summit is slated to happen from June 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th, this year.  June 5^th is also World Environment Day.

The first Green Innovations Summit is being organized by the NDFD, in partnership with the Dominica Youth Business Trust and the National Youth Council of Dominica and being supported by FLOW Dominica and Dominica News Online.

Other sponsors include Nature Islanders Productions, Cat 5 California Beach Bar & Restaurant, Nature’s Discount Nutrition Center, Jollys Pharmacy, Bunny’s Cakes & Catering, Jays Limited, and Tropi Pulp.

Audio clips from Nicholas Bruno below: